TNB's cat mascot Jero gets an animated makeover

Malaysian utilities provider Tenaga Nasional (TNB) teased the return of its festive film favourite yesterday with an Instagram post asking, “Adakah anda merindui Jero?” ('Did you miss Jero?'), alongside clips of the beloved cat.

This morning, it revealed a new animated mascot version of Jero, now dressed in TNB-branded gear and powered with special electrical abilities. In the caption of its post, the company said that Jero was not just a regular cat, but an extraordinary one, as it now has special electrical powers. Based on the new Jero's profile, the animated cat mascot now comes with a full TNB swag suit.

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The suit's features include the "kilowatt tune", a device that can change Jero's voice into a high-powered robotic voice, a "solar cell" function to absorb and contain solar energy, and even a pair of "mega turbo boots". Based on TNB's post caption "Misi diaktifkan" ('Mission activated"), it seems that Jero might be sent on a mission of sorts, especially since it's now geared up with a special suit.

For many years, the real-life Jero has been the star of several TNB festive brand films. In 2022, the feline appeared in the "Raya macam cara" film ('Raya in this style'), as a cat who was left behind at home as its family traveled faraway for the festive period. Jero can be seen enjoying a TV show while lazing on the couch, before being picked up and brought over from Johor. 

For Raya in 2024, the utilities company released a comical Raya film titled "Misi Raya Jero" ('Jero's Raya mission'), with Jero the cat taking center stage. In the film, Jero is on a mission to teach viewers the importance of good manners, courtesy, respect and appropriateness. The film starts with Jero on a rooftop that later transforms itself to a solar-powered drone. 

This year, fans were not left disappointed, as Jero appeared again in TNB's heartwarming Chinese New Year film, titled "The family anchor", which highlighted the often-unseen efforts of family members who work tirelessly to ensure the spirit of togetherness shines bright during Chinese New Year. The film centered around Mei, the oldest daughter of the family, who makes it her mission to keep a promise she made to her late parents. In the "Kenangan Raya Aida" ('Aida's Raya memories') Raya film released in April earlier this year, Jero made yet another appearance, donned in a traditional Malay outfit and songkok ('hat').

Given Jero’s popularity as a festive film icon, he is definitely the ideal inspiration for TNB’s new animated mascot.

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