The Pink Panther Gets His Own Pantone Color

At 57 years old, the Pink Panther has established quite a legacy, with feature and short films as well as TV series and specials making him a hit. Looking to give the character a touch-up, Metro Goldwyn Mayer paired with Pantone to give admirers a new appreciation for the anthropomorphic cool cat and potential new fans a reason to make him the cat’s meow. Pantone created Pink Panther Pink, a hue that has us already considering the branding possibilities.

The iconic figure has had its signature hue freshened up by @Pantone. https://t.co/bSW8dwriqR

— WWD (@wwd) June 11, 2020

Though it did not have anywhere near as much clout as, say, the “Star Wars” saga when we were growing up, “The Pink Panther” movie series was a big part of our youth, particularly thanks to the comedic genius of Peter Sellers. As The Pop Insider notes, we have not seen the animal in a show or film in some time, but that drought has not dwindled the public’s connection to the Pink Panther. Metro Goldwyn Mayer could have elected to have fans continue to revisit the works that have come since 1963, but why rest on one’s laurels when Pantone can become a partner in promoting nearly six decades of success?

As we have explored, Pantone has acquired a knack for making color-infused headlines, so since what many might deem an eternity has passed since the Pink Panther has received a big or small screen opportunity, the entity seemed the perfect ally to broaden the Baby Boom-aged beast’s scope. Given that fashion and retails brands had already been working hard to do just that through other campaigns, Pantone could prove itself a vibrant contributor to the news cycle, since it has said that the Pink Panther Pink shade captures its inspiration’s “irreverent charm and suave sophistication, conveying the signature ultra-cool style of this lovable prankster.”

We love those colors together! And yes, the Pink Panther is definitely deserving—although that color makes us think of bubble gum.

— Maple Ridge Farms (@MapleRidgeFarms) June 12, 2020

That assessment might be only scratching the surface of the options that marketers could have now that the character has become a brighter component of the color world. Earnshaw’s and The Pop Insider do not explore the commercial aspect in depth, so we could easily see the revamped Pink Panther becoming somewhat of a summer sensation in the apparel world.