Vodafone’s new series of advertisements feature lovable white, large-headed creatures that have attracted more than 28,500 fans on Facebook. “They are so cute,” “They remind me of Casper who was my favourite cartoon.”

But for all those who think the Zoozoos are animated, here’s the shocker: they are real people in costume.

Rajiv Rao, executive creative director (South Asia) of Ogilvy & Mather, the agency that handles Vodafone advertisements, said: “We wanted to make real people look as animated as possible.”

Bangalore-based Nirvana Films shot the ads in Cape Town, South Africa, just in time for IPL.  Said Prakash Verma, Nirvana’s owner and director of the Zoozoo campaign: “Our actors were small-bodied, thin women covered in layers of white fabric. Each facial expression was made of rubber and pasted on the actors.”

In about 10 days, O&M completed the campaign shooting two-three films a day, each selling a product or a service offered by Vodafone. A dozen more films are expected as the league progresses.

The characters, which look like distant cousins of the Pillsbury dough boy, were enacted by professional ballet artists in white body suits. “What makes them so endearing is that they are innocent people living in a simple world unlike ours, who laugh loud when they laugh. And who seem to be in an in-between world of animation and reality,” said Mr Rajiv Rao, Executive Creative Director, O&M.

A film shot at 20 frames per second  made the Zoozoo’s movements hurried and comical. Of the 29 different Zoozoo ads created for the IPL, there will be a new one everyday.

So which is your favourite Zoozoo?