figure: California Raisin with Trumpet

In 1986, the California Raisin Advisory Board hired Will Vinton to work on an ad campaign. Vinton created The California Raisins, a musical group comprised of anthropomorphized raisins that sang Marvin Gaye����_��s ����_�I Heard it Through the Grapevine.����_�_ His creation of The California Raisins demonstrated the future potential of claymation. Vinton����_��s clay puppets possessed refined facial expressions, rich details, and amusing personalities. TV audiences responded enthusiastically to the campaign����_��high school students did the raisin shuffle, children asked to dress as members of the band for Halloween, and a variety of California Raisin merchandise was released including toys, lunch boxes, notebooks, clothing, and posters, among other items.