Fantanas

The Fantanas are a group of spokesmodels who were created to promote Coca Cola's Fanta brand of soft drinks in the United States. The quartet has appeared since 2002 in advertising and personal appearances. There have been three different versions of Fantanas since its debut.

The "story" behind the Fantanas

According to their website, they live on Fantana Island and were accidentally discovered by an entertainment mogul named Sir Juan-Carlos Martinez after he fell off his yacht and washed ashore on that island, seeing their work. He later talked with an advertising mogul, Paul Gurbel, in a fictional New York City restaurant who brought them to the United States. There are rumors that a fifth Fantana, Lilly (apple flavor), was created in a lab by scientist Dr. John Soderberg in 2005. Leading Fantana scholars believe that this is just a myth. A Connecticut banker, Bill Powell, threatened a lawsuit claiming earlier use of the fantana trademark.

Incarnations

Original Fantanas (2002–2004)

The original Fantanas sported an island/party style. The members (with their real names) were:
*Nina (K.D. Aubert) - red (strawberry Fanta)
*Calli (Jennifer Diaz) - orange (orange Fanta)
*Leelee (Adrienne Janic) - yellow (pineapple Fanta)
*Raquel (Andrea De Oliveira) - purple (grape Fanta)

They gained attention outside their advertisements for their campiness and use of sexuality, and these original four were featured in a "Maxim" magazine [http://www.maximonline.com/girls_of_maxim/pictures_and_bio/958/TheFantanas.girl?src=wiki spread] in December 2002.

"Mod" Fantanas (2004–2006)

In 2004, the Fantanas returned, this time with a new look inspired by the mod fashion styles of the late 1960s. The members (some real names being withheld or not known) were:
*Capri - red (strawberry Fanta)
*Kiki - orange (orange Fanta); leader
*Lola - (Adrienne Janic) - yellow (pineapple Fanta)
*Sophia - purple (grape Fanta)

"Party" Fantanas (2006— )

In 2006, the next generation of Fantanas was introduced, this time sporting a contemporary party look. The members (real names being withheld or not known) are:

*Kaia - red (strawberry Fanta)
*Amie - (Dena Cali) - orange (orange Fanta); Leader. [On the Fanta website, Aime's signature reads "Amie". Shown in image above.]
*Mimi - yellow (pineapple Fanta)
*Sophia - purple (grape Fanta); character held over from the 2nd incarnation

MadTV Parody

The Fantanas were twice parodied on the sketch comedy series "MADtv". Both appearances (Episodes #1004 and #1009, aired 6 November and 18 December 2004, respectively) starred Daniele Gaither as Capri, Stephnie Weir as Lola, Nicole Parker as Kiki, and Paul Vogt as "Two-Liter" Beth. The commercials were similar to the actual Fantanas commercials, with Capri, Lola and Kiki offering Fanta to a series of men, only to be interrupted by Beth's attempts to seduce the men with her two-liter bottle of Grape Fanta (And some blurred nudity). The former episode featured the Fantanas representing similar Fanta flavors, but the latter episode (aired just before Christmas) featured the Fantanas representing holiday-themed Fanta:
* Candy Cane Capri (Gaither)
* Cinnamon Spice Lola (Weir)
* Frosted Gingerbread Kiki (Parker)
* Holiday Ham Dinner Beth (Vogt)

Other Parodies

The Fantanas also made an appearance in the popular animated show "Robot Chicken" in the episode "Adoption's an Option" in 2006.

In the "Peter's Daughter" Episode of "Family Guy", which first aired November 25, 2007, the Fantanas were parodied as four elderly women promoting Sanka.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.fanta.com Fanta's website]
* [http://www.adriennejanic.com Adrienne Janic's website]
* [http://www.denacali.com Dena Cali's website]