*DISCLAIMER*: The following rankings are the opinion of Mason Arneson and do not reflect the opinion of The Maneater as a whole.
After a year with no Homecoming fanfare, the 110th rendition of MU’s Homecoming kicked into full gear when campus organizations and the Greek life community unveiled banners in Tiger Plaza on Monday.
Since the Homecoming theme, “A Reason To Roar,” centers around video game decorations, passersby of the plaza will be treated to excellent artwork from various organizations until Sunday.
To celebrate the opulent artwork of these organizations, assistant sports editor Mason Arneson ranked the top 10 awe-inspiring banners that bring the MU Homecoming spirit to life.
10. Alpha Phi and Delta Tau Delta — Animal Crossing
With a sandy setup and waves crashing into the bottom of the banner, Alpha Phi and Delta Tau Delta have a creative take on Animal Crossing, which recently hit app stores with a mobile version.
The expanded base for a larger beach is a great addition, and the artwork on the cartoon characters from the game are vibrant and colorful.
9. Sigma Kappa, Alpha Sigma Phi, Phi Kappa Theta and Delta Kappa Epsilon — Minecraft
One of the most popular video games of the 21st century hits the banner universe as Sigma Kappa, Alpha Sigma Phi, Phi Kappa Theta and Delta Kappa Epsilon teamed up. The banner features a blocky Truman the Tiger and a Missouri football player running past Jesse Hall.
The banner contains many of the typical creatures you’d find around the realm mixed in with Jesse Hall painted in signature Minecraft style, which would certainly be a fine piece of architecture to build with some free time on the game.
Minecraft blocks and a football protrude as 3D portions of the banner, a fine nod to the game.
8. Kappa Delta, Phi Kappa Psi and FarmHouse — Subway Surfers
The app that takes players around the world running in the animated subways of various big cities stops in Columbia for MU Homecoming. Kappa Delta, Phi Kappa Psi and FarmHouse’s Subway Surfers banner features lots of 3D artwork that builds elements of the mobile game’s loading screen while injecting some nods to MU.
Truman joins in on the fun as he rides on a hoverboard right above Jesse Hall. The iPhone design of the banner and the characters looking spot-on from how they’d look on a phone, making this a banner to keep your eyes peeled for.
7. Kappa Alpha Theta, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Tau Gamma — Webkinz
Prepare to be transported back to your childhood with Kappa Alpha Theta, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Tau Gamma’s Webkinz creation.
The banner allows you to step up to the Curio Shop, one of the most beloved aspects of the popular computer game. Truman assists Arte behind the counter in selling rare artifacts or guiding a gem hunt.
The bumped-out counter at the shop is one of the best components of the banner, and the artwork for both Arte and Truman are top-notch artistry as well.
6. Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Sigma — Angry Birds
Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Sigma came together for a simple yet well-executed Angry Birds banner that incorporates the premise of the addictive game nicely.
Perched on top of the columns are Truman and one of the pigs with a football and Jesse Hall balanced on top of them. The way the Columns are used as balancing blocks for all of the boxes is an experimental use for the monument.
The popout Angry Birds text plus the Greek letters for the two houses fulfill the fun 3D aspect of this banner in a really crisp design.
5. Transfer Experience and Advising Mentors — Fruit Ninja
TEAM’s move to include 3D fruit and a throwback to the classic iPod touch screen design earns them a spot as the only non-Greek pairing to make the list.
A mixture in painting styles bring some rich detail into the Fruit Ninja display: messy splatters of paint emanating from the cleanly cut fruits. Another fun portion of note is how TEAM left some of the board unpainted for the cutting board — a solid creative risk that pays off well.
4. Phi Mu, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon — PAC-MAN
The quartet of Phi Mu, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon collaborated on a color-packed, historical look into MU’s Homecoming past and present with this classic arcade game.
The horizontal layout of the board with the titular character eating up the 3D point balls with Truman facing off against North Texas’s Scrappy the Eagle in the Homecoming PAC-MAN showdown.
A cool historical aspect the banner incorporates is the most recent Homecoming victories for Missouri football, naming off the mascots of the teams that MU has defeated in its five most recent Homecoming wins and its first Homecoming win back in 1913 against Kansas.
The 3D aspects of the banner are subtle, yet add some texture to the mix, and the color that fills up the right side of the banner makes the board pop out.
3. Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Gamma Rho — Pokémon
A Pokémon showdown between Truman and Scrappy sets the stage for a great banner from Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Gamma Rho.
The different elements of the battle screen, such as the name plates for the mascots and the choice of what Truman will do for MU’s Homecoming popping out, are a nice touch, and the detail of Truman being Level 99 while Scrappy sits at a lowly Level 1 adds a bit of comedy to the banner. This banner also takes home the prize for coolest Faurot Field incorporation with a 3D “Rock M” in the upper part of the board.
The pairing also incorporates the “A Reason To Roar” theme well, saying that Truman’s move to Roar “gives every tiger A Reason To Roar.”
2. Alpha Delta Pi and Delta Chi — Club Penguin
Unique implementation of MU landmarks? Check. Fun Tiger mascot allusion? Check. 3D element? Multiple checks.
Alpha Delta Pi and Delta Chi’s Club Penguin banner takes the runner-up spot with several standout pieces of 3D woodworking. While Truman doesn’t make an appearance on this banner, a 3D penguin with tiger stripes makes up for that.
The penguin on the banner fishes in the fountain on Tiger Plaza while Puffles hang out under the water. The free-hanging fish on the line is the coolest part of the display, and the underwater part in a glass box serves as yet another 3D addition that makes it a favorite.
1. Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta — Super Mario Bros.
How can you vote against a banner with a moving element and a creative Nintendo DS element for the top spot?
Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta teamed up for an incredible Super Mario Bros. — or should I say “Super Mizzou Bros.” — banner that features several Easter eggs alluding to MU. The map in the DS’ bottom screen includes many landmarks around campus, from the Columns and Jesse Hall to Shakespeare’s Pizza. On the DS itself, the buttons are replaced with “MIZ!”
And as mentioned above, Truman (cosplaying as Luigi) and Mario are wired up to give the appearance of jumping, which puts an already impressive banner into a league of its own.
The attention to detail and creativity this pairing put together makes for a legendary banner and the top spot in this list.
Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com
