Reebok “Belly’s Gonna Get Ya”

Forgotten Adverts · 2000

Reebok “Belly’s Gonna Get Ya” was a 40-second British television commercial from 2000 in which a runner is chased through the city by an enormous anthropomorphic beer belly. Campaign catalogued the work under the alternate title “Reebok ‘Blob’”; the recurring warning “Belly’s gonna get ya” remains the preferred archive identity.

Why It Mattered

Its comic, slightly grotesque pursuit turned exercise into something more familiar than elite sporting aspiration: trying to stay in shape, feel good and enjoy yourself. The character became a recognisable advertising reference point, later inspiring Reebok and Hanon’s 2018 Workout Lo Plus “Belly’s Gonna Get Ya” footwear homage.

The Chase

  • The belly pursues the runner through an urban environment, taking shortcuts along the way.
  • Its shortcuts include using a lift and riding a motorbike.
  • The runner escapes by clinging to a gutter as the belly goes into the water.

Built Monster Effects

  • Lowe Lintas designed the belly, which Asylum made from hollowed foam, latex, artificial hair and synthetic moles.
  • An actor performed inside the costume.
  • Post-production removed the actor’s legs and extended the body.

Associated With

Reebok - advertiser; Lowe Lintas - advertising agency

Defining Feature

An enormous anthropomorphic beer belly pursuing a runner

Status

Unresolved - Canonical; exact transmission schedule unresolved

Campaign Credits & End Frame

  • Client: Reebok; agency: Lowe Lintas; writer: Brian Turner; art director: Micky Tudor.
  • Traktor directed the film for production company Partizan.
  • The closing shoe shot read “Lose your beer belly,” followed by “Reebok. Whatever your goal.”

Primary Records

Image Sources

Rights Notice

Images are included for historical and archival reference.

Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.

Gallery and image credits

Low-resolution still of a man in a white T-shirt running toward the camera on a city street, with a large flesh-colored rounded object behind him near double yellow road lines.art.

Image source

elephant.art

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A large flesh-colored belly-shaped form with a visible navel is mounted over a dark motorcycle or motorized vehicle on a paved path beside trees and a metal railing.art.

Image source

elephant.art

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A large flesh-colored rounded object rides above a dark wheeled vehicle on an elevated roadway beside a glass-fronted building.art.

Image source

elephant.art

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Close-up of a pale hairy belly above white briefs printed with the words "Lose the beer belly" and a Reebok logo.

Image source

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHlvKQwZFSI

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White Reebok T-shirt hanging from a black hanger, printed with blue text reading "BELLY'S GONNA GET YOU," a small Reebok logo, and a small image of a large rounded belly-like form on a vehicle.

Image source

https://picclick.co.uk/Reebok-Belly-Gona-Get-You-Plus-Nike-s-Scorpion-226085923009.html

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