The Sun Devil is the official mascot of Arizona State University. It was chosen in 1946 when the student body voted 819 to 196 to change the mascot from an owl to a Sun Devil. The name comes from a weather phenomenon known as a whirlwind, dust devil, or dancing devil. The Sun Devil mascot was designed by Berk Anthony, a former Walt Disney employee, in the late 1940s. Sparky the Sun Devil is the current costumed mascot and has undergone several changes in costume over the years. The mascot is passionately loved by Arizona State Universitys maroon and gold fans. The Sun Devil is not an animal but a weather phenomenon. The mascot has been involved in several legal disagreements, but the university has kept the name and mascot.