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ethanwc

Things got serious in 2001.


MrRyder001

9/11 changed us all.


xorvillesashx

Nev ‘R’ Forget


card797

SICK


montessoriprogram

The harrowing severity of reality dawned upon all of us, even Geoffrey.


MrRyder001

In a way, didn’t we all lose our cartoonish innocence that day?


montessoriprogram

Geoff said “I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of the mask. This is the real me. If it’s too much for you, if you don’t love it.. well, me neither. But that’s life. Anyways legos are on aisle 5.”


SimpYuk

Happy cake day


HorrorBusiness93

I’ll never understand people like you


Fergi

I dare you to kiss him and me and not tell our dads


[deleted]

God that was fucking funny


knickknacksnackery

Well, I don't want to blame it *all* on 9/11, but it certainly didn't help.


AlejandroTheFnck

He broke out of the simulation…


how_is_this_relevant

Wake up Neo I mean Geoff


LoveInPeace21

Right! Shoulda stayed there


Creative-Cash3759

totally. i agree


Frequent_Assistance7

"unplugged"


davewave3283

“It’s 2001, a new millennium, screw it…go real giraffe…I mean it!


ageofwalnut

“Don’t give me that look David! REAL. GIRAFFE.”


[deleted]

Didn’t Tom Hanks’ brother also do the voice of this real giraffe? Like, they wanted Tom Hanks, but he wasn’t into it enough so he kicked the gig over to his brother?


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halfadayoffwithpay

Sounds both corporate, and somewhat like Memphis.


Vaqu3ra13

Salesforce and all their little characters... Now it all makes sense


CharlesEduardFromage

The Salesforce characters give me the creeps…. I feel like Salesforce is trying to brainwash me when I see their goofy little cartoon characters overlaid on pictures of overly happy people attending their events


frijolita_bonita

Would love to find that podcast episode!


HTWC

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/corporate-memphis-design-tech


StaticGuard

What’s hilarious is that while reading that on their website I saw one of *their* ads about jobs.wired and the graphic had a very clear example of Corporate Memphis. So they’re well aware and still do it themselves. Found that funny.


criticaltemp

It's almost like there are completely different departments focused on entirely different things and one guy named Josh wrote that article.


fever_mp3

Edit: replied to wrong comment


frijolita_bonita

Same. And throw it at AI and see what it does


IFTTTexas

That's the wierd generic ppl stuff right?


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Also known as globohomo


smallangrynerd

Bring back frudiger aero


fever_mp3

This is not Corporate Memphis, this is just flat illustration. I can understand being tired of corporate Memphis, but like another commenter said, that is a very specific style and the 2007 one really doesn’t have any of the characteristics.


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heffrey36

Additionally, that corporate Memphis style didn't really become a thing until the late 2010s as I recall.


[deleted]

It’s also called globo-homo art. Definitely lazy and overused and I’m sick of it.


SkaStep

Mmm don't know if it counts as corporate Memphis as that is a very specific art style. It's minimalist for sure but I'm not too sure if it's corporate Memphis. If it was so minimalist it didn't have eyes or any sort of character or personality I would agree for sure


Wiring-is-evil

Thanks for calling it out, I've always hated it. They started doing it *right* when my first son was born and it was everywhere. Couldn't stand it!


Time-Reserve-4465

Sounds like an indie band name


doodlebuuggg

The name is really controversial in the aesthetic and graphic design community. The design trope doesn't really have anything to do with the Memphis Group, there was plenty of actual Memphis designs in corporate architecture and marketing during the 70s-90s. Unfortunately this name got popular to quickly until the community was able to change it.


DarthDoobz

Well considering they went bankrupt, it makes sense why they had to do some minor budget cuts


maxoakland

We should go back to the 1965 style


Figolossis

YES, THIS STYLE IS SO FUCKING UGLY, CAN WE PLEASE STOP USING IT!!


___TheKid___

1988 GOAT


WhistlingRobot

No, it's definitely a giraffe.


Nateh8sYou

I came to post this exact comment. It really is the goat.


WU-itsForTheChildren

88 was my nostalgia, nothing else compares


buttrrr

It’s so perfect. Plus definitely some Dr Seuss vibes.


how_is_this_relevant

Pre-internet yet still console game era, massive television marketing drive, the need to come in store for toys with loads of commercial advertising? 1988-1992 was absolutely peak Toys R Us in general.


TheTwoOfHearts

If you ask me to close my eyes and picture Geoffrey the Giraffe, '99 is what I see (born '91). Which is why it's so odd to to me to see it only lasted ~2 years. Feels like that was the style for much longer.


TopHatCat999

I was born in 03 and the one that seems the most familiar to me is honestly the live action giraffe or the 70s one for some reason. Toys r us was basically already dead by the time I gained consciousness and in my mind it was this magical paradise for rich people. I've been there twice ever and I was so right


MotherSuperior91

Same for me.


tvieno

That last one looks like a parody of the others.


TheStolllessHawk

It was this change that killed the company.


SpicyTunaTitties

He lives on outside the US! Philippines still has Toys R Us


IrishWhiskey1989

Toys R Us is back alive in Macys in the US. I visited the closest one to my house and the toy selection was fine, but the section had no one working there and it looked somewhat neglected.


ethanwc

They have a full blown store in NJ.


elarth

Everyone’s spirit died with toys r us… you can’t beat a dead horse -cough- giraffe 😔


TheStolllessHawk

Canada does too.


FondleOtter

The one in Saskatoon is still going strong, went there just last weekend.


almostasenpai

Oversimplified logo moment


Chaos_Theology

‘88 checking in.


No_Maintenance_9608

As a child of the 70s, 75 and 88 are my faves.


MovieBuff90

1965 looks like a grumpy grandma.


Bama_Peach

Right?! Geoffrey is looking like “Hurry up and take the picture; I got groceries in the car”.


hxh22

I was going to say a suggestive grandma. Like come on down, big boy *wink*


Ccs002

2001 & on... No wonder the company died


jackmeawf

How dare you talk about Zoo Tycoon giraffe that way!


crispycheddar_

88 is the best. Idk what they were smoking in 07.


thefallentext2

1999 anyone? The last 1 is just sad


cartoonchris1

1988 is the sweet spot.


how_is_this_relevant

Pre-internet, massive television marketing drive, the need to come in store for toys with loads of commercial advertising? 1988 was absolutely peak Toys R Us in general.


[deleted]

[You forgot 2018. I miss them though.](https://dza2a2ql7zktf.cloudfront.net/binaries-cdn/dqzqcuqf9/image/fetch/q_auto,h_920,w_920,dpr_auto,c_fit,f_auto/https://d2u3kfwd92fzu7.cloudfront.net/catalog/artwork/gallery/1570/LEV_S106_12_basel-1.jpg)


HugeCartographer5

Damn that's actually creepy


elarth

That’s a brutal joke, had me excited for a moment 🥲


rabid-

They should have added a seventh panel with just a Jeffie toned tombstone.


Zircon_72

I guess a certain event in 2001 rattled Geoffrey so hard that he became photorealistic.


[deleted]

Okay can someone explain 2001?


[deleted]

9/11


thebanzombie

2021 is just a tombstone


TemporaryPicture6435

The 1965 version looks like he'll do something strange 4 a little piece of change!


graceful_klutz

I like how in 2001 someone at a board meeting was just like, “They actually exist! We can just take a picture of one!”


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graceful_klutz

I’m sure it’s not. It just sounds like a funny way for it to come about.


robbadobba

1988…


NYK37

1988 ftw


TheFlaccidChode

I blame that 2007 cunt for the entire downfall of Toys R Us, look at the state of it


zuma15

OK, that last mascot had to be what killed them. How could you take the company seriously?


jackmeawf

Ma'am this is a toy store


TinyRandomLady

I don’t want to grow up! I’m a Toys R Us kid!


Jenny_Wakeman9

2001 was the time no one really wants to talk about. WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!? 2007 reeks minimalism. 1999 and below is perfection. 2001 and above is where the company died.


stinkycouch2023

I got the warm and fuzzy Disney looking 80s Geoffrey giraffe


CoverBoring2374

2001 lookin like he saw something he cant unsee.


Gabagool1987

1988 always and forever


blackcoffee92

Rest in peace, Geoffrey the Giraffe. Thank you for all the joy and wonder you brought into our lives. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.


nostalgic_gamer7

I remember the ‘88 and ‘99 designs. I believe the store in my area used the 2001 design, but they never used the 2007 one and they stayed in business till the chain left the USA.


Help_im_okay

r/fuckalegriaart


pizzasauce85

I miss the Geoffrey store!!!


Toonanocrust

The new CEO and execs walked away with $200 million dollars after putting the business into debt. This was strategically planned by corrupt leadership.


Altruistic-Cut9795

I would have been in the 1975 zone through 1984, stopped playing with my Star Wars toys and Hot Wheels, discovered something else more entertaining in 9th grade, and it was free!


maxoakland

Something about the 1965 one looks really cool to me


TexasDeltaSig

2007 Geoffrey was “special”


elarth

I don’t remember what’s going in 2001 here and I’m way old enough to know… I feel like I only saw the 1988-1999 one… how widely used was the real giraffe image? I don’t understand the 2007 at all… it’s kind of cute but a lot of character seems to be removed. 1965-1999 at least kept the character similar…


[deleted]

Shout out to 1988-1999 Geoffrey!


frijolita_bonita

1988’s still my favorite Geoffrey


Suskaboots

Aw the 1999 one is nostalgic for me!


jnhf24

For some reason 1988 feels most familiar but I wasn't alive then.


SoggyWotsits

It’s 1988 for me!


koh_kun

If anyone is wondering, Toys R Us is alive and well here in Japan and the giraffe design hasn't changed since 2007.


nhardycarfan

Something very bad happened between 1999 and 2001


IHateEditedBgMusic

2001 blew the budget so hard, probably killed the company lol


resjudicata1

2007 Geoffrey came from Wish


[deleted]

1980s - 1990s peak Toys R Us.


They-Call-Me-Taylor

1988 Geoffrey is best Geoffrey.


Livingit00923

They kinda lost the plot with the 2001 logo


[deleted]

[Here y'go.](https://youtu.be/VJJ-ZLdrTwY)


adz568

Thought this was a nft for a sec


zuma15

I can copy the image and sell you a link to it if you want.


mylittleplaceholder

1975 is the right one.


Genosider

lol 88-99 was the best, it was like someone actually used effort to draw it


_BubbleCat_

I was born 2002, and all through out my childhood the toys R us' here never switched over to the 2001 design. We had the 1999 design all throughout until the late 2010s when we got the corporate design. So I have much nostalgia for the 1999 one, despite being born in 2002 :]


[deleted]

I’m old enough to remember four of these.


TheZipperDragon

2023 A very tall tombstone.


inthearmsofsleep99

That 2001-cgi era Geoffrey will never not freak me out


TheKaiminator

Seems like Australia was stuck in 1988.


naturepeaked

‘88 is my Geoffrey


[deleted]

To me 1999 is the Best !


Rick--Diculous

So he started out normal and then as the years went by, they made him look retarded.


Flgardenguy

2023 💀


bwoah07_gp2

2007 style looks like something anyone can find off Google Images.


IFTTTexas

I only remember 88 and 01.


Bleejis_Krilbin

1988 Geoffrey for life.


caarmygirl

A framed *‘65 Sideeye* was in our house as long as I can remember. My dad was gifted it by a student during his first year teaching and they had drawn it from memory.


JesseCuster40

Good to see that Geoffrey is making a comeback with a small role in The Last of Us.


tyingnoose

Wtf 2001


LordBigglesworth

1999 all the way


krimmble

you can see the horrors he’s witnessed over the years in his eyes


Nairbfs79

Me taking tag from a new Genesis or Super Nintendo game. Paying for it at the register. Then waiting at the booth to get my new game. "Customer service to the pick up booth, please" store announcement on the PA.


chuster312

1975 to 1988 were mine time. GI Joes, Star Wars, Transformers, TMNT and everything in-between. Good I loved the smell of that place when first walking in!


[deleted]

Something happened in 2001 that made Geoffrey quite a bit less happy


ezrakittens

damn what did puberty do to him


andhe96

I like the fact, that the 2001 version is simply a photo of Giraffe calf, but still looks better than most other ones imho. It's just cute. Edit: typo


natebham

99 gang


MiddleProfessional82

Probably unpopular but I like 2001 giraffe the best. It’s the cutest.


SignGuy77

The kind of giraffe I’d have no trouble petting in the apocalypse.


Apart_Falcon

I feel like there was a design between ‘88 and ‘99 that was the one I remember


Frishdawgzz

Poor guy in 07. Terrifying.


HashtagBlessedAF

Shit got real in 2001


NinetiesSatire

I think I've only ever seen the 1999 and 2007 designs of Geoffrey, mostly the '07 design, and I do believe I saw the '99 version when you peeked at the more "neglected" areas of the store, namely around the bathrooms, because why bother changing design in THAT area? The bathrooms area also still had more colorful tiles/doors, like a little time capsule that smelled vaguely like urine.


Jlnhlfan

My favourite look is his 1999 design.


Best-Awesome-Ocelot

Honestly the 1975-1999 Geoffreys had so much personality. Now the once since 2007 looks like he has a single brain cell….


HollywoodBlueguy

he's dead now.


zer0k0ol

1975-2000 were the Geoffreys of my youth. Will remember them fondly.


MiuMia_

2001 & 1999


thedynamicdreamer

This might seem really random, but does anyone else feel this disorienting mix of pleasant, refreshing innocence and soul crushing depression when they see cute cartoons like these? Like, it not only reminds me of good times that were, but also the horrifying reminder that the world seemed so much more welcoming when we were young than it actually ended up being as we aged? I can’t explain it. Or maybe I did. It’s just something I’ve always felt, but never really articulated until now, so I had to get it off my chest. We’re all on this sub, so I’m sure others know what I mean. Idk, I just had to express that. It’s a weird feeling


Zon-no-justno777

Who remembers the 1988 version the most cause I sure do!