The Puttermans

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, The Puttermans starred in a series of commercials for Duracell Batteries in the 1990s. Made to combat the successful Energizer Bunny ad campaign, the Puttermans were a family of plastic robots, who outlast the others, thanks to their Duracell brand batteries. The company slogan was "No battery is stronger longer."

In a campaign by ad man Steven Johnson, of New York-based firm, the Ogilvy & Mathers Agency. The actors were made up to look as if they were clay animation or computer animation cartoon characters. The costumes consisted of boxy modular units of stiff foam rubber, coated with urethane. Their faces were made of state-of-the-art latex prosthetics, and complete character wardrobes.

The family consisted of:

• Herb, the father
• Flo, his wife, the mother
• Son Zack
• Daughter Trish
• Grandma Putterman, who was actually played by a male actor.

Each character had a large copper top battery protruding from their backs. The actor identities were not revealed, to perserve the family's mystique.

Some of the earlier commercials included:

• The Puttermans attend a family reunion picnic. A talkative relative falls face first into a plate of spaghetti, and the Puttermans remark that he was obviously not a Duracell.
• Trish Putterman and boyfriend Bruce sit on a porch swing, and hope that their romantic night could go on forever, with the help of Duracell.
• Grandma Putterman is so filled with energy, she can't stop dancing.

In all, these characters tended to creepy out viewers, due to their non-human yet non-toy or cartoon appearance, and the series of commericals were abandoned.

Halloween costumes with latex masks, of Herb and Flo were released in North America.