Chronicle Of Crunch: 96 Years Of General Mills’ Iconic Cereal Box Art

No company knows cereal better than General Mills — it’s been in the business since launching Wheaties in 1928. Beyond tasty bowls, iconic characters like Honey Nut Cheerios’ BuzzBee and the Trix Rabbit have left an indelible mark on our childhoods. In celebration of the recent National Cereal Day on March 7, we decided to make a list of our favorite cereal boxes and moments from popular General Mills brands  — leading to its new puffed-up and crème-filled Loaded cereal.

The company’s legendary line of cereal brands includes Lucky Charms, its Monster Cereals line, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more. From Michael Jordan’s iconic Wheaties run to mascots like the Cookie Crook, let’s just say it’s loaded with nostalgia.

Wheaties (1921)

Wheaties was the first cereal released from General Mills. The now iconic brand was created by accident due to a wheat bran mixture spilling into a hot stove, which subsequently cooked it into a crispy flake. General Mills also holds the honor of recording the first-ever commercial radio jingle in 1926 to promote Wheaties.

Cherri Oats (1941)

Released in 1941, Cheeri Oats is one of the first oat-based dry cereals. Though the name was eventually updated to Cheerios due to legal reasons, it comes in the same iconic yellow box that it originally did. General Mills’ team of cereal masterminds tested over 500 formulas and ten shapes and sizes before deciding on its iconic “o” shape. In 2021, the company brought back its original Cheeri Oats spelling as a limited-edition anniversary box.

Trix (1960)

The legendary Trix Rabbit was the first character introduced to the public by General Mills. Unlike today’s cartoony depiction, the original Trix looked closer to claymation. It was the first fruit-flavored cereal on store shelves, too.

Monster Series (1972 & 1979)

Count Chocula and Franken Berry were the first cereals released as part of General Mills’ legendary Monster Series, with Boo Berry coming a year after. The characters were designed by illustrator and cartoonist George Karn, who was responsible for the original Trix Rabbit. Released for a limited-time during the Halloween season, the series originally expanded to include two others: Fruit Brute and Fruity Yummy Mummy. Unfortunately, they were less popular and were discontinued shortly after. They did see a limited-time resurgence in 2013, marking it as the first time all five monster cereals were available.

Cookie Crisp Cookie Crook & Chip The Dog (1977)

Every kid rooted for Cookie Crook and his trusty companion, Chip The Dog, as he narrowly escaped the clutches of his determined pursuer, Officer Crumb. In each commercial, the chase would continue, with Cookie Crook masterfully stealing his beloved cookie crisps. Much to the dismay of my childhood, Cookie Crook was replaced with Chip The Wolf in 2005, a character with the combined attributes of Cookie Crook and Chip The Dog.

Michael Jordan’s ’80s-90s Wheaties Box Run (1988)

For athletes, landing a spot on the Wheaties cereal box is a holy grail, as the legendary orange box has been highlighting athletes since 1934. During the 90s, Michael Jordan had perhaps the most iconic run of Wheaties boxes in history. He has graced it a total of 19 times, more than any other athlete. Signed boxes of his are collectible items and are now sold on sites like eBay for thousands of dollars.

Berry Berry Kix (1992)

When it comes to berry-flavored cereals, nothing held a spoon to the legendary Berry Berry Kix. Released in 1992, it was the perfect balance of sweet and tasty artificial berry flavor. Kids absolutely obsessed over it. While still available, it was rereleased with a new recipe some years ago, much to the dismay of fans of the original. An online petition was even created to bring back the OG.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs (1994)

Known today as simply Reese’s Puffs, this iconic cereal packs the classic taste of a Reese’s peanut butter cup. Crunchy, nutty, and melts in your mouth, it’s one of the most beloved cereals for a reason. Over the years celebrities like Travis Scott, Tinashe, Lil’ Yachty, and KAWS have partnered with the brand. As one of the only official cereals based off of a popular candy, Reese’s Puffs has definitely earned its place as one of the best.

LOADED Series (2023)

General Mills’ latest cereal creation puts a loaded spin on popular brands like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, and Trix. It’s inspired by living “Cereal Rich,” which is about living your life to its filled-est. LOADED is for true cereal lovers and includes sweet vanilla créme in each bite.