Freddie Mercury-Inspired Angry Birds Character Introduced to Support Freddie for a Day Initiative

PRNewsFoto/Rovio EntertainmentRovio Entertainment, the company behind the Angry Birds app and video game franchise, has teamed up with the Freddie for a Day charity campaign to create a special cartoon character based on *****'s Freddie Mercury. The Freddie-inspired Angry Birds character, which sports a dark mustache, a crown and a white jumpsuit reminiscent of one of Mercury's famed stage outfits, is featured in a new animated video that debuted Monday online. The quirky 40-second clip is set to the tune of *****'s "Bicycle Race."

Fans will be able to buy a limited-edition T-shirt sporting the Mercury-styled Angry Bird via the Angry Birds and the Bravado webstores. Some of the proceeds raised from the shirt sales will benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity co-founded by *****'s Brian May and Roger Taylor in honor of Freddie.

The Freddie for a Day campaign, which is held annually on or near Mercury's September 5 birthday, encourages people to spend a working day dressed up as the late ***** singer and ask friends to sponsor them to raise money for the Phoenix Trust.

In related news, May and Taylor were scheduled to host a special annual fundraiser for the Freddie for a Day charity Monday night at London's Savoy Hotel.