The iconic Dolmio family returns in Australia - with the opportunity to ‘puppetise’ your own family for a chance to be featured on a billboard

If the name isn’t enough to jog your memory, then the slogan certainly will.

“When’s Your Dolmio Grin?” was a familiar catchphrase on Aussie TVs until 2015, featuring an Italian-inspired puppet family sitting down to share dinner.

The same characters could also be spotted in the aisles of Coles and Woolies, appearing on jars of Dolmio pasta sauce.

Now, after more than a decade off screens, the famous Dolmio Family is making a comeback.

Celebrating the joy of sharing a meal with family, the iconic Mama and Papa , along with the rest of the family, have been given a refresh to reconnect with the generations who grew up watching them.

“The Dolmio Family has been part of Australian households for more than two decades and remains one of the most recognisable parts of our brand’s history. says Rachel Humphrey, Marketing Director at Mars Food & Nutrition Australia.

“Bringing them back is about reconnecting with that nostalgia, while introducing them to a new generation in a way that feels fresh, relevant and true to what made them so memorable in the first place.”

But there’s a little-known Australian connection behind the famous family — they were actually made Down Under.

The Dolmio puppets were created in Sydney back in 2003, by special effects studio Make-Up Effects Group , using handcrafted puppets, costumes and animatronics.

The studio brought the characters to life before they went on to feature in major campaigns around the world, and quickly became one of Australia’s most recognisable brand marketing exports.

Now in 2026, they are making a return to our screens in animated form, hand-crafted by 3D creators and voiced by Italian-born actors.

The best-selling Dolmio range remains a household staple for families across the country.

Aussies can even become part of the Dolmio story by creating their very own AI-generated puppet characters.

To celebrate the family’s return to screens, Dolmio has launched the Puppetiser — a limited-time digital experience which turns family portraits into puppets.