LA Metro's 'Rude Dude' Mascot Preceded LADOT's Viral Poop PSA

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Before the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) launched its now-viral poop emoji campaign to shame bad behavior on buses, the LA Metro transit agency had already rolled out its own bizarre mascot-driven public service announcement (PSA) called 'Metro Manners.' The campaign featured an anime-style superhero named Super Kind battling a rule-breaking orange monster called 'Rude Dude' who exhibited common commuter annoyances like seat hogging, eating on board, and blocking aisles. While the quirky videos drew mixed reactions from riders, Metro turned Rude Dude into a mini-brand, selling merchandise featuring the character.

Why it matters

The Rude Dude campaign and LADOT's more recent poop emoji PSA both reflect transit agencies' struggles to address quality-of-life issues on public transportation through unconventional public messaging, rather than more direct enforcement or service improvements. These efforts highlight the challenges agencies face in promoting civic behavior when riders may feel the root problems lie elsewhere, such as a need for cleaner vehicles, safer streets, and more visible enforcement.

The details

The Metro Manners campaign, directed by YouTube filmmaker Mike Diva and featuring online star Anna Akana, leaned into bright colors, J-pop vibes, and cartoon chaos. In one scene, the superhero character Super Kind uses laser-eye powers to obliterate Rude Dude's pineapple stash. While some riders found the videos funny or nostalgic, others felt the campaign missed the mark, arguing that the people causing problems aren't the same ones watching etiquette cartoons online. Despite the mixed reception, Metro turned Rude Dude into a mini-brand, selling hats, shirts, backpacks, and other merchandise featuring the character.

• In 2017, LA Metro rolled out its 'Metro Manners' campaign.
• The LADOT poop emoji campaign was launched recently.