BART is excited to announce the release of five BART- and Bay Area-themed anime mascots that will help us in our mission to promote public transportation use, especially among youth riders — a growing and reliable ridership demographic.
Inspired by BART frontline employees and BART-contracted animals who have gone on to reach national fame, like Pac-Man the Harris hawk and the goats that graze BART property, the anime mascots contain numerous details highlighting the tight-knit connections between BART and the Bay Area. BART’s new mascots were inspired in part by public transportation agencies in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which use anime mascots to connect with their riders and communities.
The mascots were the result of an open call for California-based artists BART released in Summer 2022. The call was wildly popular, receiving nearly 500 submissions. Following the call, BART worked with selected artists to conceptualize and create the mascots, which will serve as BART’s friendly and approachable avatars.
BART’s anime mascots will make their formal debut at FanimeCon, a popular anime convention held at McEnery Convention Center in Downtown San Jose from May 26 to 29. BART staff will be tabling at the convention and will have BART-themed anime merchandise, promotional tickets, collectible charms and postcards, and more.
Likes: BART, public transit, train sounds, burritos, video games
2 comments
I would suggest that BART concentrate on improving its system reliability and security instead of wasting its time on such trivia as this.
It’ll take more than a few weebs to save the public transit system formerly known as BART.
Their desperation is palpable and I love it.
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