Offbeat Cereal Mascots: 8 Forgotten Stars (Slideshow)

The Cheerios Kid was General Mills' first cereal mascot superstar. As a sponsor of The 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.

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.

A werewolf named Fruit Brute joined an all-star lineup of General Mills cereal monsters, including Count Chocula and Franken Berry, 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.

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.

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