Gecko gets extreme makeover

Been wondering why Geico's gecko's accent abruptly went cockney? AdFreak explains it all for you. (Actually, somebody in creative at the animation studio that Geico's ad agency worked with does most of the talking here:

“We used our CG experience to train the new gecko guy to act cheekier and show a lot more ‘sales savvy.’ Ultimately we honed an East End geezer type performance, and his cockney accent and mannerisms make for tons of fresh comedic possibilities.” So there it is: Cockney = humor.

[Via Tim Cain.]