The Fantanas are a group of spokesmodels who were created to promote the Fanta brand of soft drinks in the United States. The quartet has appeared since 2002 in advertising and personal appearances. There have been five different Fantanas rosters, the latter reintroduced as a co-ed dance ensemble in 2017. Their jingle is "Wanna Fanta! Don't you wanna?".
The "story" behind the Fantanas
According to the Fantanas's website, they lived on Fantana Island and were accidentally discovered by an entertainment mogul named Sir Juan-Carlos Martinez III after he fell off his yacht and was washed ashore on that island, seeing their work. He later talked with an advertising mogul, Paul Gurbel, in a fictional New York City restaurant who brought them to the United States. In actuality, the advertisements were created by Ogilvy and Mather in 2002.
Incarnations
Original Fantanas (2002–2004)
The original roster of Fantanas sported an island/party style. The members were:
They gained attention outside their advertisements for their campiness and use of sexuality, and these original four were featured in a Maximmagazine in December 2002.
"Mod" Fantanas (2004–2006)
In 2004, the Fantanas returned with a new look inspired by the mod fashion styles of the late 1960s. The members were:
Capri - red
Kiki - orange ; leader
Lola - yellow
Sophia - purple
"Party" Fantanas (2006–2009)
In 2006, the next-generation roster of Fantanas was introduced, this time with a contemporary party look. The commercials featuring this Fantanas roster were filmed in Argentina. The members are:
Kaia - red
Amie - orange ; leader.
Mimi - yellow
Sophia - purple ; character held over from the second incarnation
In April 2009, it was announced that New Fantanas would be advertising the drinks with the original Fanta flavors. Each of the Fantanas would have an individual fashion style. This roster of the Fantanas had these members :
Lily - yellow ; cute, chic style. Brittany was voted the winner of the 4th Fantana Search in summer/fall 2010. Replaced Shakira Barrera.
"Be More Than One Flavor" Fantanas (2017-current)
In 2017, Fanta reintroduced the Fantanas with a modern style and encourages consumers to "be more than one flavor". It is the first time the group includes a male member.
Eva - orange
Coco - purple
Jordan - red
Lauren - yellow
MadTV Parody
The Fantanas were twice parodied on the sketch comedy series MADtv. Both appearances starred Daniele Gaither as Capri, Stephnie Weir as Lola, Nicole Parker as Kiki, and Paul C. Vogt as "Two-Liter" Beth. The commercials were similar to the actual Fantanas commercials, with Capri, Lola and Kiki offering Fanta to a series of men, only to be interrupted by Beth's attempts to seduce the men with her two-liter bottle of an odd savory flavored Fanta. The former episode featured the Fantanas representing similar Fanta flavors, but the latter episode featured the Fantanas representing holiday-themed Fanta:
The Fantanas also made an appearance in the popular animated showRobot Chicken in the episode "Adoption's an Option" in 2006. In the "Peter's Daughter" episode of Family Guy, first shown on November 25, 2007, the Fantanas were parodied as four elderly women promoting Sanka. The Australian comedian Pam Ann uses the Fantana jingle as a catchphrase when she does her routine as the Iberia Airlines stewardess Conchita Rosa María González Gómez in her shows.