# Office Program Character Pranks Clippy Makes a Return to Microsoft Office on April Fools By Itai Buenahora | Published 2014-04-01 | Updated 2014-04-03 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/april-fools1 References: [mashable](http://mashable.com/2014/04/01/clippy-is-back/) & [neowin.net](http://www.neowin.net/news/clippy-returns-in-microsofts-april-fooks-pranks) [Microsoft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agent-mode) Office is the latest to chip in on the [April Fools festivities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innocean-berlin), bringing back the infamous Clippy in their office program character pranks. Our favorite little helpful paper clip makes a return to Microsoft Office, for all users visiting the freely accessible office.com. After years of being rid of the obnoxious and in-your-face Office character, Clippy's big eyes stared right back at users on this day of all pranks. Clippy stealthily made his way into Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint, and even [Twitter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rocktangle) as a personal little assistant for tweeting. Those opposed and annoyed by the infamously helpful paper clip got a real scare, whereas those who admired the aid of the Office character were pleasantly surprised and welcoming of his return. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 87% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Character Pranks:** Exploring new ways to incorporate characters in pranks can create memorable and engaging experiences for users. - **Obnoxious Characters:** Finding innovative ways to reintroduce old and disliked characters can generate nostalgia and novelty for users. - **Personal Assistants:** Utilizing characters as personal assistants in various platforms can enhance user interaction and productivity. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Software Development:** Developing software with interactive and customizable characters can provide unique user experiences and drive user engagement. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Incorporating characters in marketing campaigns and advertisements can create a lasting impression and build brand recognition. - **Social Media:** Integrating characters as virtual assistants in social media platforms can improve user engagement and provide a personalized experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Updated AI Workflow Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agent-mode.md) - [Tech-Inspired Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-crocs.md) - [Software-Inspired Clog Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/windows-xp-crocs.md) - [Video Creation Web Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clipchamp.md) - [Slacking Support Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/office-slacker.md) - [Branded Cookie Breaks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-365-oreo.md) - [Millennium Era OS Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-windows-xp-x-crocs.md) - [Ai Personal Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mico.md) - [Retro Tech Sweaters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-holiday-sweater.md)