Mr. ZIP, the beloved USPS character, makes a guest appearance on a holiday special featuring Blippi, a popular YouTube children’s star.
The special, “Blippi x Mr. ZIP Mail a Holiday Card,” begins with an animated sequence in which Mr. ZIP interacts with his pals, B. Franklin the eagle and Farley the collection box, then delivers a letter to Blippi’s PO Box.
Blippi then goes to the Post Office to retrieve the letter, where he meets several real-life Postal Service employees who show him how the organization works.
The 18-minute special was released Nov. 15 and has attracted more than 600,000 views.
Mr. ZIP’s appearance in the special is part of the Postal Service’s broader strategy to give the character new life and enter the world of licensed entertainment characters, the most lucrative segment of the licensing market.
The USPS licensing team worked with Moonbug Entertainment, the producer of the Blippi videos, on the special. Additional collaborations are planned.
“The Blippi holiday special is a crucial step in our larger licensing strategy to introduce the new, redesigned Mr. ZIP to kids and get them excited for what’s coming next,” said Amity Kirby, the USPS licensing and creative manager.
The Post Office Department adopted Mr. ZIP as a mascot in the 1960s to help introduce the nation to the ZIP Code.
In his new iteration — which also includes children’s books and toys — Mr. ZIP remains a teacher of sorts, helping kids learn how to be good members of their community.
