In 1894 French tyre/tire manufacturer Michelin introduced Bibendum, who later became better known as the Michelin Man. Today, Bibendum is one of the world’s most recognized trademarks, representing Michelin in over 150 countries.

Here are two versions of the Michelin Man. On the left Bibendum on a poster from 1898, on the right the modern version in an American 2010 campaign, illustrated by LA-based artist Ronald Kurniawan. Click the first to read about Bibendum’s origins, click the second to visit Kurniawan’s gallery.

The Michelin Man also plays a lead role in the Oscar-winning animated movie Logorama, featuring spectacular car chases, an intense hostage crisis, and wild animals rampaging through the city…. Here’s the full version (with Spanish subtitles):