Editing M&M's (section)

==M&M's characters==
[[File:M&M spokescandies.jpeg|thumb|500px|The seven [[cartoon]] "[[Spokesperson|spokescandies]]" for M&M's since 2022]]
Early black-and-white adverts for the candy in 1954 featured two talking, anthropomorphic M&M characters—one plain and one peanut—diving into a swimming pool full of chocolate.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://adage.com/article/rewind/1954-ad-shows-m-ms-characters-a-chocolatey-swim/241375/ | title=Rewind: 1954 Ad Shows M&Ms Characters Go for a Chocolatey Swim | work=Advertising Age | date=May 9, 2013 | access-date=November 18, 2015 | author=Schultz, E J | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119082727/http://adage.com/article/rewind/1954-ad-shows-m-ms-characters-a-chocolatey-swim/241375/ | archive-date=November 19, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The first incarnation of the characters in CGI was a 1994 celebrity campaign which had the characters interacting with celebrities on which M&Ms candy color is their favorite. This campaign was created by [[Blue Sky Studios]]. Concurrent with 1995's blue M&M campaign, M&M's introduced second computer-animated [[Mascot|"spokescandies"]] in their [[television commercial]]s. The depiction and campaign of the M&M's were made by [[Will Vinton]] in 1995. Vinton previously created the [[Clay animation|clay-animated]] [[The California Raisins|California Raisins]] in 1986. Around the time he worked on CGI projects, he made the depiction of the M&M's as more mature than most food mascots. These include the team of the [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynical]] and [[Sarcasm|sardonic]] Red (originally voiced by [[Jon Lovitz]], thereafter [[Billy West]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/Red/ |title=Behind The Voice Actors M&M's – Voice of Red |publisher=Behind the Voice Actors |access-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114062243/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/Red/ |archive-date=November 14, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> who is the mascot for [[milk chocolate]], [[peanut butter]], and crispy M&M's, and the happy and [[Gullibility|gullible]] Yellow (originally voiced by [[John Goodman]], thereafter [[J.K. Simmons]]), who is the mascot for Peanut M&M's (he was originally known as "Peanut" when first introduced). Other mascots include the "cool one", Blue (voiced by Robb Pruitt)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/56353136|title=Behind the Bowl with Robb Pruitt|via=Vimeo|access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/|title=M&M's|website=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=March 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044223/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/|archive-date=March 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> who is the mascot for [[Almond]] M&M's; the [[Sexual attraction|seductive]] Green (her personality is a reference to the 1970s [[urban legend]] that green M&Ms were aphrodisiacs)<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/green-mms-aphrodisiacs/ Green M&Ms as Aphrodisiacs] in snopes.com</ref> (voiced by [[Cree Summer]] and Larissa Murray),<ref name=":0" /> who is the mascot for both [[Mint chocolate|Dark Chocolate Mint]] and [[Peanut Butter]] M&M's, and the slightly [[Neurosis|neurotic]] Orange (voiced by Eric Kirchberger), who was introduced when Crispy M&M's were first released and is currently the mascot Pretzel M&M's, which debuted in 2010. As the mascot of Pretzel M&M's, Orange was joined by the second non-M&M mascot, Pretzel Guy, who "supports" him and offers helpful advice as he hates the idea of having a pretzel put inside his body.

Other mascots that were introduced, but no longer used, are Almond, the original green guy; Orange, a female peanut character; Chocolate Bar (voiced by [[Phil Hartman]]),<ref name=":0" /> the first non-M&M character that always gets foiled or outdone by Red and Yellow by being melted, as M&M's do not melt; and the Swarmees for M&M's Minis candies, which are portrayed as destructive yet crafty troublemakers whom Red and Yellow are always trying unsuccessfully to contain after they accidentally released them in the product's initial commercial.

Female M&M's mascots were introduced in 1995. Green was the Milk Chocolate mascot and Tan was the Peanut. Marketing discontinued Tan when they introduced the then-new Blue mascot. Green was the only female M&M's mascot from her introduction in 1995 until 2012 when M&M's unveiled a new additional spokescandy, Ms. Brown (voiced by actress [[Vanessa Williams]]), the "Chief Chocolate Officer".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31942-tv-qaa-the-good-wife-awards-shows-and-the-little-couple|title=TV Q&A: 'The Good Wife,' awards shows and 'The Little Couple'|last=Owen|first=Rob|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090309/http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31942-tv-qaa-the-good-wife-awards-shows-and-the-little-couple|archive-date=February 22, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> During a [[Super Bowl LII]] advertisement, Red was transformed into a human after finding a lucky penny and wishing that he was inedible. As a human, he is portrayed by [[Danny DeVito]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wagstaff|first1=Niala|title=Watch: M&M's Super Bowl LII commercial with Danny DeVito|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/03/watch-m-ms-super-bowl-lii-commercial-danny-devito/304313002/|publisher=The Enquirer|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205184446/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/03/watch-m-ms-super-bowl-lii-commercial-danny-devito/304313002/|archive-date=February 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In January 2022, Mars announced plans to alter the design of the M&Ms characters. The company announced that the aim of this change was to make their characters more representative of a broader array of human personalities and personal backgrounds. Among these changes is the adoption of more casual clothing for the Green and Brown M&Ms, both of which are generally interpreted to be female characters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hiebert |first1=Paul |title=M&M's Mascots Change to Represent a 'Progressive World' |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/mms-updates-mascots-to-re2022-a-more-dynamic-and-progressive-world/ |access-date=January 28, 2022 |date=January 20, 2022}}</ref> In September 2022, they introduced a new Purple M&M voiced by [[Amber Ruffin]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/culture/amp/2022/09/30/mms-introduce-purple-a-new-character-designed-to-re2022-inclusivity | title=Is the new M&Ms colour really about "inclusivity" or empty solidarity? | date=September 30, 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> who first appeared in a commercial singing "I'm Just Gonna Be Me".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.today.com/food/news/mms-reveals-new-purple-candy-character-first-decade-rcna49686 | title=M&M's reveals new purple candy character, first in a decade | date=September 28, 2022 }}</ref> 

Referencing criticism surrounding the changes from [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] media outlets, the company teased a [[Super Bowl LVII]] commercial in January 2023 by making a fictitious announcement that the characters were being temporarily retired and replaced by comedian [[Maya Rudolph]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peyser |first=Eve |date=2023-01-27 |title=The M&M's Aren't Done With Us Yet |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/style/mms-maya-rudolph-super-bowl.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="rudolph">{{cite web |last=Moye |first=David |date=January 23, 2023 |title=M&M's Ditches Spokescandies After 'Woke' Uproar, Introduces Maya Rudolph |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mms-dumps-spokescandies-maya-rudolph_n_63ceb72ee4b04d4d18e0949e |accessdate=January 23, 2023 |work=HuffPost}}</ref> In subsequent teasers leading up to the game, Rudolph was shown hijacking the M&M's brand in her own image, re-launching them as "Ma&Ya's" candy-coated [[Clam|clams]]. Concurrently, the M&M's characters were depicted as "exploring their outside passions", collaborating with other brands such as [[Cheddar (TV channel)|Cheddar]], [[eBay]], [[Snickers]], [[Spotify]], and [[Zappos]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=M&M's strange Super Bowl LVII saga continues: Maya Rudolph adds clams to the Ma&Ya's mix |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2023/02/02/mm-s-strange-super-bowl-lvii-saga-continues-maya-rudolph-adds-clams-the-mayas-mix |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=The Drum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiner |first=Deb |date=2023-02-02 |title=M&M's characters will return after the Super Bowl and 'exploring their outside passions' |url=https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/02/mms-characters-will-return-after-the-super-bowl-and-exploring-their-outside-passions.html |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=pennlive |language=en}}</ref> During the eventual ad for Ma&Ya's, Red makes a cameo during its final scene alongside Yellow, holding up a sign reading "Help!" Following the game, M&M's posted a "[[press conference]]" confirming the spokescandies had been reinstated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=M&M's spokescandies are 'back for good' after Maya Rudolph's Super Bowl ad debut |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/mm-maya-rudolph-super-bowl-ad-rcna70312 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=NBC News |date=February 13, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; text-align:center; padding:0 9px;"
!scope="col"| Character
!scope="col"| Type
!scope="col"| Voice actor
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #B11224; color: white; text-align:center;" | Red
 | Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Crispy
 | {{ubl|[[Jon Lovitz]] {{small|(1995–96)}}|[[Billy West]] {{small|(1996–present)}}|[[Bill Rogers (voice actor)|Bill Rogers]] {{small|(''[[M&M's Kart Racing]]'', ''[[M&M's Adventure]]'', ''[[M&M's Beach Party]]'')}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #FFF200; text-align:center;" | Yellow
 | Peanut and Dark Chocolate Peanut
 | {{ubl|[[John Goodman]] {{small|(1995–96)}}|[[J. K. Simmons]] {{small|(1996–present)}}|[[Bill Rogers (voice actor)|Bill Rogers]] {{small|(''[[M&M's Kart Racing]]'', ''[[M&M's Adventure]]'', ''[[M&M's Beach Party]]'')}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #2F9FD7; text-align:center;" | Blue
 | Almond, Raspberry, Dark Chocolate, and Hazelnut Spread
 | {{ubl|[[Phil Hartman]] {{small|(1995)}}|Robb Pruitt {{small|(2004-present)}}|[[Bill Rogers (voice actor)|Bill Rogers]] {{small|(''[[M&M's Kart Racing]]'', ''[[M&M's Adventure]]'', ''[[M&M's Beach Party]]'')}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #31AC55; text-align:center;" | Green
 | Dark Chocolate, Mint, and Peanut Butter
 | {{ubl|[[Cree Summer]] {{small|(US)}}|Larissa Murray {{small|(UK)}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #F26F22; text-align:center;" | Orange (Crispy)
 | Crispy and Pretzel
 | {{ubl|Eric Kirchberger|[[Bill Rogers (voice actor)|Bill Rogers]] {{small|(''[[M&M's Kart Racing]]'', ''[[M&M's Adventure]]'', ''[[M&M's Beach Party]]'')}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #603A34; color: white; text-align:center;" | Ms. Brown
 | Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Fudge Brownie
 | {{ubl|[[Vanessa Williams]]}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #c203fc; color: white; text-align:center;" | Purple
 | Peanut, Caramel, Cold Brew, Vegan, and Hazelnut Spread
 | {{ubl|[[Amber Ruffin]]}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #FF8C00; text-align:center;" | Caramel (cube)
 | Caramel
 | {{ubl|[[David Cross]]}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #996600; color: white; text-align:center;" | Pretzel Guy (symmetrical)
 | Pretzel
 | {{ubl|[[Maurice LaMarche]]}}
|}