Curse of the Were-Whatsit hits Wallace & Gromit posters

by Ben Bold, Brand Republic 07-Oct-05, 09:00

LONDON - Poster ads promoting the soon-to-be launched animated film 'Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit' have been banned on the Dorset island of Portland because they feature the word 'rabbit'.

In a story that sounds suspiciously like a plotline from Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, Portland locals are insisting that the posters must go. Apparently the word "rabbit" is considered taboo on the island and local people instead refer to the creatures as "underground mutton", or simply "furry things".

The ban on the poster campaign came into effect when officials were approached by publicists wanting to put posters up to promote the film, which is released in a week's time. The officials claimed that the ads would offend local people.

The only poster for the film on Portland is one which uses the line "Something bunny is going on", without mentioning the word rabbit.

In Portland the R-word is bad luck because rabbits risked the lives of stonemasons quarrying for the world famous Portland stone. The furry critters' burrowing undermined quarries and caused landslides.

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