15 Crazy Cereal Mascots That Time Forgot (Slideshow)

King Vitaman's reign only lasted a couple of years. The cartoon figurehead of the nutrient-enriched cereal was quickly replaced by a live-action king played by actor George Mann.

This cereal, introduced by Kellogg's in 1990, was a "big mix" of rolled oats, rice, toasted corn flakes, and whole grain wheat. Their mascot was also a "big mix" of a whole bunch of animals, with the head of a rooster, moose antlers, the snout of a pig, and the fur of wolf. Within two years, he was gone. 

The least-remembered of General Mills "Monster Cereals," which also includes Count Chocula, Fraken-Berry, Boo-Berry, and Fruit Brute (how's that for a trivia question?), this frosted fruit-flavored cereal with vanilla-flavored marshmallows was around from 1987 to 1993, and made a triumphant return last Halloween along with the other Monster Cereals, with updated packaging, at Target. 

In the late 1950s, Post rolled out a cereal called Heart of Oats, a Cheerios knockoff. It didn't sell very well, but its mascot, Linus the Lionhearted, lived on as a mascot for Crispy Critters, which was introduced in 1963. Commercials for the cereal were so popular that the following year Linus got his own cartoon, which ran for 39 episodes, as well as a coloring book and a full-length record album. 

Post's Alpha-Bits has gone through more than a dozen mascots since the 1950s, including long-forgotte comedian Jack E. Leonard, Sailor Boy, a young girl and boy named Alpha and Bitsy, a St. Bernard named Alphie (and his nemesis, Nasty McEvil), a monster, a wizard, dogs named Rough and Ready, and even "Alpha the Magic Computer" in the late 1990s. One of the longest-running mascots, however, was a postman with the bizarre name of Lovable Truly, who would deliver Alpha-Bits letters (get it?). he lasted from 1964 to 1971. 

Headed by their leader Boss Moss, the Freakies made a magical cereal tree their home and won over kids on Saturday morning TV in the 1970s. The unusual crew retired by '75.

Did you know that Cap'n Crunch has a nemesis? Neither did we, but apparently his name is Jean LaFoote, a play on pirate Jean Lafitte. Known as "the barefoot pirate," LaFoote chased after Crunch's shop, The Good Ship Guppy. He also popped up as the mascot for Cinnamon Crunch in the 1970s, and still makes (very occasional) appearances in Cap'n Crunch commercials. 

Weetos, a chocolate-flavored variation of Weetabix sold in the UK, had a mascot for decades called Professor Weeto, an old man in a white labcoat who wore Weetos for glasses. He dropped off in 2006, when the sugar content in the cereal was dropped, and replaced by generic images of kids playing sports. 

Crazy cow was one of the more intriguing cereals to come out of the 1970s: The round, multi-grain cereal was coated with what was basically a drink mix, so when milk was poured onto the cereal it became either chocolate milk or strawberry link, depending on the chosen flavor (both artificially flavored, of course). The mascot was a cow wearing a silly hat and a broad smile, proudly displaying his four teeth. 

The Cheerios Kid was General Mills' first cereal mascot superstar. As a sponsor ofThe Mickey Mouse Club when it first aired, the cereal company introduced the super-strength kid during a commercial break in 1955. Over the years, the Cheerios Kid scored some new gear, like this space suit in a 1960s ad.

In 1958, Post gave Corn-Fetti cereal a new name (Sugar Coated Corn Flakes) and a new mascot, Cornelius W. Sugarcoat. The simple star touted the sugary cereal with a rotation of corny jokes. 

A werewolf named Fruit Brute joined the all-star lineup of General Mills cereal monsters in 1973. He didn't howl for long, but his costars found continued success.

Hanna-Barbera's Huckleberry Hound passed off Sugar Stars to his cousin Hillbilly Goat in a 1965 commercial. Soon the goat made a name for himself and began appearing without the help of Huck.

Before Snap, Crackle, and Pop, took over Cocoa Krispies, a caveman named Ogg was the cereal's spokesman. Ogg lasted a few years after his 1968 debut, then headed back to the Stone Age. 

When Quaker Oats introduced Quisp cereal in the mid-1960s, its trademark propeller-driven pink alien had an archrival named Quake. Eventually Quisp won the battle of the boxes, forcing Quake to retire in 1972.