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(Trad 5/31/23) Farewell, Hubert T. Lion... 1960s-2023
It was a long time ago that I have been to Chicago and was in the AMTRAK/METRA Union Station there ( https://chicagounionstation.com/ ) and I saw this genteel lion being the mascot of a bank-he would represent "Lion Power Checking."
In history, Harris Bank was a local bank for Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and a bit of Iowa. Recently it has branched out to Florida and Arizona, but before going to the sun belt states, it was standalone. In 1984, the Canadian bank, Bank of Montréal (Well known as BMO- USA Site: www.bmo.com/en-us/main/personal/ ) bought the bank. It was before in 1958, to boost revenue and have more customers come in to do loans and store their funds, this lion, Hubert T. Lion debuted. He was very popular, and Midwesterners whenever they go to Harris Bank will see Hubert as a plush, a bank, a clock and many more items to market their bank. Here a commercial animation mashup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71jZNVgKzPc , and a commercial for the Hubert plush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jbd-7dvd1w (There are more on YouTube.)
His voice was by Frank Nelson. He has been a mainstay as a memorable, loveable mascot that the Midwest would recognize- he has been a balloon on the Chicago Parade of Lights on Thanksgiving Night, and has been tagging along with Chicago sports teams as a mascot suit.
After BMO had gone across the Atlantic to France to talk to BNP Paribas ( https://group.bnpparibas/en/ ), they have purchased the chiefly US west coast bank, Bank of the West. From there, the Montréal based bank was going to undiversify and be one name-BMO everywhere. They have also decided to practically, kill Hubert. He would have been mascot for ALL locations, but the BMO minds don't seem to have an inner child on their march to the Pacific, and the states where there are Bank of the West-only branches will NEVER see Hubert at a branch.
It was a sad thing for me to see as I was intending to see him come to California, but it was not to be. My intention too is now that there will be a Canadian presence 2/3 across the USA, I would put money in, have the ability to go across the border and access banks there, and be at the same time happy to see Hubert everytime in both USA and Canada. That won't happen. It is the reason why that I decided to draw him as a future remembrance to him. What will he do after BMO lets him walk like you see here?? Sad.
~~~~~~~~
This art was traditional, and after some delays, I did spend 2 months working on him. I did blend marker and crayon together to make him alive. Yes, the cartoon Hubert had three toes, but made him more real with four and digitrade. I did cheat a little by using Paint Tool SAI to do blending and make him pop out a little bit from the exit door that he went through for the last time at the main HQ of BMO-Harris Bank, which as you can see at the logo, it is just BMO. He got his green umbrella that he carries around sometimes, and he's on his way to life after being a mascot. It is like one is fired, what can one do after being let go? He was a handsome genteel lion with a proud voice, and he will be missed once the restructuring of operations is complete. I would have made some improvements, but I feel I did well enough to post, and he's recognizable to the Midwest and other states that had Harris Bank in their community. I rate my art as a 5.4/6- B+, but I know that it is a great stepping stone for more traditional arts.
(I will file this as traditional- what do you think despite I cheated in using SAI? Constuctive criticism is welcome. This is the site where I got a reference of Hubert, and news of him leaving: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/fin.....national-brand )
Hubert Lion: © (UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2023) BMO Harris Bank
Draw: ©
Excelsior30
In history, Harris Bank was a local bank for Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and a bit of Iowa. Recently it has branched out to Florida and Arizona, but before going to the sun belt states, it was standalone. In 1984, the Canadian bank, Bank of Montréal (Well known as BMO- USA Site: www.bmo.com/en-us/main/personal/ ) bought the bank. It was before in 1958, to boost revenue and have more customers come in to do loans and store their funds, this lion, Hubert T. Lion debuted. He was very popular, and Midwesterners whenever they go to Harris Bank will see Hubert as a plush, a bank, a clock and many more items to market their bank. Here a commercial animation mashup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71jZNVgKzPc , and a commercial for the Hubert plush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jbd-7dvd1w (There are more on YouTube.)
His voice was by Frank Nelson. He has been a mainstay as a memorable, loveable mascot that the Midwest would recognize- he has been a balloon on the Chicago Parade of Lights on Thanksgiving Night, and has been tagging along with Chicago sports teams as a mascot suit.
NOT ANYMORE AFTER SEPTEMBER 2023.
IN ADDITION TO CONFIRM THAT HE'S DEAD, THE 2023 CHICAGO MAGINIFICENT MILE PARADE OF LIGHTS DID NOT FEATURE HIM AS A BALLOON ANYMORE.
After BMO had gone across the Atlantic to France to talk to BNP Paribas ( https://group.bnpparibas/en/ ), they have purchased the chiefly US west coast bank, Bank of the West. From there, the Montréal based bank was going to undiversify and be one name-BMO everywhere. They have also decided to practically, kill Hubert. He would have been mascot for ALL locations, but the BMO minds don't seem to have an inner child on their march to the Pacific, and the states where there are Bank of the West-only branches will NEVER see Hubert at a branch.
It was a sad thing for me to see as I was intending to see him come to California, but it was not to be. My intention too is now that there will be a Canadian presence 2/3 across the USA, I would put money in, have the ability to go across the border and access banks there, and be at the same time happy to see Hubert everytime in both USA and Canada. That won't happen. It is the reason why that I decided to draw him as a future remembrance to him. What will he do after BMO lets him walk like you see here?? Sad.
~~~~~~~~
This art was traditional, and after some delays, I did spend 2 months working on him. I did blend marker and crayon together to make him alive. Yes, the cartoon Hubert had three toes, but made him more real with four and digitrade. I did cheat a little by using Paint Tool SAI to do blending and make him pop out a little bit from the exit door that he went through for the last time at the main HQ of BMO-Harris Bank, which as you can see at the logo, it is just BMO. He got his green umbrella that he carries around sometimes, and he's on his way to life after being a mascot. It is like one is fired, what can one do after being let go? He was a handsome genteel lion with a proud voice, and he will be missed once the restructuring of operations is complete. I would have made some improvements, but I feel I did well enough to post, and he's recognizable to the Midwest and other states that had Harris Bank in their community. I rate my art as a 5.4/6- B+, but I know that it is a great stepping stone for more traditional arts.
This is the first art of Hubert on FA!
BUT-
I guess this can be the last...
(I will file this as traditional- what do you think despite I cheated in using SAI? Constuctive criticism is welcome. This is the site where I got a reference of Hubert, and news of him leaving: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/fin.....national-brand )
Hubert Lion: © (UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2023) BMO Harris Bank
Draw: ©
Excelsior30
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Fanart
Species Lion
Size 1575 x 2339px
File Size 6.55 MB
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