Here stands Twipsy. What appears to be a quirky, colorful figure is actually the official mascot of the Expo 2000. It was a world’s fair held right here in Hanover.
Twipsy was created by Spanish designer Javier Mariscal. In 1995, his design won against 17 other proposals. An international jury made that decision.
During Expo 2000, Twipsy was everywhere. You could find Twipsy on stuffed animals. Also on T-shirts, mugs and watches. Stamps featured Twipsy. Full-sized Twipsys roamed the Expo grounds. They advertised the event in other countries.
Let’s talk about Twipsy’s appearance. He has a drop-shaped body with colorful stripes. His head is yellow and demilune-shaped. A large, turquoise nose sits on his face. Black marks surround his eyes. The back of his head also has a black extension. Even his chin is black.
Twipsy wears mismatched shoes. One is pointed and high-heeled. The other is rounded and flat. He has a thin arm and an oversized orange arm. This orange arm looks like a wing. The color scheme of Twipsy can change. It depends on the version you see.
Mariscal described Twipsy as a burst of energy. He said Twipsy came from a distant past. Like the Big Bang. A spark that grew into a star. Then a cell. Later an invertebrate, a reptile, a bird, and a mammal. Finally, Twipsy took his present form.
Mariscal wanted Twipsy to embody three themes. Humankind, Nature, and Technology. So Twipsy became a new type of being. A human-animal-technological species. Also, Twipsy harmonized with Expo’s design. He was adaptable in shape and color. This made him a playful partner for the Expo logo.
Before Expo 2000, a Twipsy animated series aired. It started on November 1, 1999, on German TV. There were 52 short episodes, each 13 minutes long. Often, two episodes were paired. That made 26 episodes with 25 minutes each.
The series introduced children to the Expo. However, it focused on Twipsy’s backstory. It had no direct connection to the Expo itself.
In the first episode, a boy named Nick falls into Cyberspace. There, he meets Twipsy. Twipsy shows Nick the virtual world. Nick misses home. Twipsy sends him back. But Twipsy accidentally goes with him.
A special scanner becomes a transporter. It takes them into the internet’s universe. Other kids join them including Nick’s sister Lissie and his friend Albert. They have adventures and explore cyberspace. Twipsy learns about the real world. He discovers weather. And he develops a love for food.
In Cyberspace, the characters are computer-animated. In the real world, they are drawn in comic style. Almost everyone is the same size as Twipsy.
Today, Twipsy remains a symbol of Hanover’s Expo 2000. It is a reminder of the world coming together in this city. It’s a burst of color and energy. A unique creation. The Twipsy Sculpture stands as a playful memory. It connects us to a significant event in Hanover’s history.