X-Entertainment.com X-Entertainment UGO
You are all doomed. Why not surrender? We might let you live.

04/05/2007: Trix Cereal has serious balls.

I know this is pretty close to old news by now, but in case you haven’t heard, Trix cereal has a brand new shape…that isn’t brand new at all.


Yes, after a fifteen year mistake, General Mills has finally caved into the demands of old school Trix-lovers and switched back to the familiar ball-shaped cereal bits of the year-before-yesteryear. At least, that’s how I’d like to think it went down. I never voiced my disgust when Trix swapped to marbly fruit shapes in the early ’90s, but surely someone did.

Okay, so it’s a stretch to imagine that General Mills was catering to a market of people in their late 20s and 30s with the switch back to ball shapes, but if not that, then why? Cost-cutting measure? Product of a focus group where demographically diverse children aged 5-7 unanimously agreed that making grape-flavored cereal bits grape-shaped was overkill?

Whatever…the cause isn’t as important as the effect: We’ve got our Trix back! To celebrate, here’s a look back at one of the few times in history that the Trix Rabbit was actually allowed…to eat Trix cereal.


I won’t say that it was the only time, because that’s not true. But you could count the number of times that the Trix Rabbit got to eat Trix cereal on one hand, and you’d still have enough fingers leftover to violate someone three different ways. I don’t remember the exact specifics of this promotion, but it involved our bunny pal racing a couple of kids for the right to eat a bowl of Trix. There was some kind of viewer vote aspect to the promotion, and of course, everyone watching at home thought that those cartoon kids were assholes — of course we voted for the Trix Rabbit to have his Trix.


And so, in this commercial — the big finale for the months-spanning promotion — we finally got our wish. The Trix Rabbit wins the vote, wins the bike race and wins a big, beautiful bowl of ball-shaped Trix cereal. Gotta be honest…it’s pretty anticlimactic. The heroic hare (pardon the lame nicknames — I’m just trying to avoid using the word “Trix” a hundred times per paragraph) doesn’t show much more excitement in eating Trix as he did just thinking about eating Trix. With years of bittersweet near-successes under his belt, you’d think he be a little more orgasmic about this. Oh, sure, he still floods the screen in various shades of fruit colors with excitement, but it’s just not what I expected. I needed a little more. I needed him to rocket up into the sky and write “I LOVE TRIX” with ass-made cloud letters. Then again, this wasn’t my moment…it was his.

Click here to watch the commercial, which aired sometime in the early ’90s. Note how they cut the rabbit’s celebration short to talk up the free packs of Life Savers found in every box of Trix cereal. General Mills was so hoping we’d vote the other way.


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Bookmark and Share


Discussion Thread: 99 comments

I also want to point out how hungry I am for Trix, now. I think I’ll grab a box on my way home from work. Matt, you are like a cool man’s Oprah. Anything you feature on your site, I suddenly want to purchase. Do you recommend any particular religion or brand of automobile?

On another note, does anyone else want to start some kind of retro-food company? We can buy the old recipes from various snack food companies and make classic cereals the way they were supposed to be made. We could make fruit roll-ups that taste like they actually have a small amount of real fruit in them! We could also make Ninja Turtle pies. I would start this company myself, but I’m out of money, and also work ethic. If everyone else wants to pitch in and get things going, I will agree to only take 10% of the profits.

Ghosted by Casual Jeff @ 04/06/2007 3:14 PM EDT


Eating Trix right now, because that’s what I do: act snarky and have what Matt covers readily on hand. :)

Ghosted by K- @ 04/06/2007 4:07 PM EDT


I swallowed a piece without chewing. I can only imagine how bad that would have been with fruit shaped pieces.

Thank you, “new” ball shape!

Ghosted by K- @ 04/06/2007 4:35 PM EDT


There is that word again, snarky. for the longest time I thought it was something only used in my in-laws family. where did you first hear snarky?

Ghosted by RAS @ 04/06/2007 5:11 PM EDT


Hey Matt & all other Wii owners, are we ever gonna finalize the X-E Wii code exchange? I remember putting in a lot of folks from that post but only a few ever added me in return….so what gives? On-line comes are coming over the summer months; if we’re serious about it we should set it up soon…I’ve also got a lot of folks I probably need to delete, and I’d it to be a fellow X-Eer that I might one day have a chance to play against…or at least swap Mii’s and WiiMail with…..

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 04/06/2007 5:12 PM EDT


–I have a Wii–
I am
3868 0068 9234 3096

Ghosted by Joker @ 04/06/2007 5:23 PM EDT


Much appreciated Joker, but I was really wondering if Matt might consider starting an ‘official’ post about it or something…I’d hate to take over another entry with Wii codes

But I’ll add you anyway! :)
Mine is 6253 9471 2462 3907

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 04/06/2007 6:55 PM EDT


Greg, “It should be noted that this General Mills cereal brand is essentially the only one not available in Canada. Reasons for this move, given the popularity of other GM cereal brands, remains a mystery“-Wikipedia. Those bastards.

Well, now I need to go scouring for it, because I’m pretty sure I had it about 14 years ago. If/when I wind up in the States, I’ll probably get some Cookie Crisp too.

Ghosted by Tutsuro @ 04/06/2007 8:03 PM EDT


Thank you for confirming about the Trix shape. Being denied sugary foods in my early years, I never had Trix. As an adult, I got so used to seeing the fruit shapes that when I recently saw the sphere shape at my cafeteria, I stood there puzzling over it for several minutes.

Ghosted by Jemmy @ 04/06/2007 8:26 PM EDT


RAS: I’m not sure. It’s just part of the large family of adjectives used to describe me, and every other arsehole on the planet. Pretty sure I learned it before starting my online life, though.

Ghosted by K- @ 04/06/2007 9:03 PM EDT


I have cocoa bunny Peeps.

I am happy.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 04/06/2007 9:55 PM EDT


Meet me in the park, Northwest corner. Make sure no one follows you. I have value information they don’t want you to know…about smuggling Coca-Cola into Bar Harbor.

Ghosted by K- @ 04/06/2007 10:00 PM EDT


I use ’snarky’ all the time…I got it from a friend from the UK; in our lingo it usually refers to a person or an attitude that gives the appearance that someone is better than ever thing else in the world

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 04/06/2007 10:38 PM EDT


General Mills has the Spider-man 3 license and they released a SM3 Cereal that’s basically Trix but with just red and green balls. I prefer Kellogg’s Spidey cereals from the first two movies where it was fruity flavored red and blue web-shaped cereal pieces.

On the plus side, however, several of the regular General Mills cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Reese’s Puffs come with little Spider-Man 3 water squirting figures inside.

Ghosted by Luap @ 04/06/2007 10:42 PM EDT


I am so ungodly depressed right now. I spent like 4 hours combing all the stores down Hamilton Blvd in Trexlertown searching for Peeps stuff and found NOTHING. After I got home, I found out that the Peepsmobile was on display TODAY ONLY like 3 miles down from where I was.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 04/07/2007 12:56 AM EDT


Speaking of Spiderman 3, I read that it’s premiering at Tribeca in NY on the 30th of this month, followed by a week long citywide promtional campaign.

X-E exclusive? Me hopes…

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/07/2007 1:11 AM EDT


Got to love Wikipedia for the useless info I find.

Planet Saturn has 56 moons. Very Cool.

Ghosted by Pangia @ 04/07/2007 1:19 AM EDT


I just snagged MCR tickets for the 28th. Brianfax, you lurking man? Gonna be at that show?

Ghosted by K- @ 04/07/2007 1:22 AM EDT


I’m not a big fan of Trix (and I didn’t notice the switch back to balls), but I do remember that commercial. I think my sisters and I cheered when that poor rabbitt finally got himself some Trix.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 04/07/2007 1:26 AM EDT


I’m 20, and I sure as hell don’t remember no round Trix cereal. In fact, I thought this *WAS* a new thing, and felt the exact same way it seemed some kids did when they swtiched to fruit shapes: ie, pissed as hell.

It’s not Trix without the fruit shapes. Now it’s just… CoaCoa Puffs with fruit.

Ghosted by RageTreb @ 04/07/2007 2:49 AM EDT


Hey everyone! Sorry I haven’t commented in a while, but I have some huge news. McDonald’s has an upcoming Shrek 3 promotion, and my manager says it’s going to be BIG(Matt should be happy about this). I don’t know anything specific, but I’m hoping this’ll include the sort of stuff we used to see with movie tie-ins in the 90s. Tray liners, collector cups, etc. We can only hope…

Ghosted by Hoverbored @ 04/07/2007 6:04 AM EDT


Did they change the taste of Trix back to the original flavor? It used to be closer to Froot Loops. Now it’s closer to ass. I haven’t eaten Trix since the first (and last) box I bought after the “New Taste” disaster.

Ghosted by Adam W. @ 04/07/2007 6:51 AM EDT


Just got the new Spiderman 3 Choc Web cerial. I live in Australia so don’t know if you got it (we don’t get many of the cerials you get especially the sugary one, and none with mashmellows). Matt E-mail me if you want to organise a cerial exchange program.

Greg.

Ghosted by Greg @ 04/07/2007 7:03 AM EDT


You know, I’ve been thinking. And it’s really amazing how divisive children’s cereal commercials are. Pretty much all of them. It’s like the entire industry is dedicated to instilling them with an instinctive fear and loathing of the Other. Screw you, rabbit, no Trix for you. Only we get Trix. You grownups suck, you have no idea why Cinnamon Toast Crunch is so mad delicious. Only we get Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Hey, Suzie, you bring your torch and pitchfork? Right, lets get that filthy little leprechaun! It even sets best friends at one another’s throat, except at Christmastime when Santa’s there to bully Fred and Barney into getting along.

And then there’s a bear who uses his own cereal as a rage-inducing steroid to beat twelve kinds of hell out of everyone else he encounters in his commercials. The Honey Nut Cheerios bee would seem to be the only decent character in the entire medium, if he didn’t have the wheedling air of a playground pusher from an old anti-drug ad.

Right. That’s about as far as my thoughts have gone so far. I’m gonna go get some coffee, and then come back in an hour or so and be embarrassed on my own behalf.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 04/07/2007 7:26 AM EDT


And then there’s a bear who uses his own cereal as a rage-inducing steroid to beat twelve kinds of hell out of everyone else he encounters in his commercials.
I’m drawing a blank on this one.

Ghosted by Anonymous @ 04/07/2007 10:09 AM EDT


And then there’s a bear who uses his own cereal as a rage-inducing steroid to beat twelve kinds of hell out of everyone else he encounters in his commercials.

That would be Sugar Bear from the Golden Crisp cereal commercials.

Ghosted by BJ @ 04/07/2007 10:22 AM EDT


I’m pretty sure that would be Golden Crisp.

Also, Jedoc, you forgot about Apple Jacks – we eat what we like! Nobody understands.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 04/07/2007 10:22 AM EDT


Anonymous: Sugar Bear. I haven’t seen him around lately, but that was one crazy guy. Click my name, and you will find your answer…but you will find so many more questions. You have been warned.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 04/07/2007 10:24 AM EDT


RE: Wii codes: isn’t there an X-E wiki (What’s the URL for that???). That seems to me to be the best place to put Wii codes. That way we keep them off the blog…

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 04/07/2007 10:30 AM EDT


*removes mask* it was I who asked the question. . . and forgot to write his name. Anyways, yes I remember Sugar Bear but I blocked him out of my mind because I hated him and his always stale cereal. I could go on about how much I hate him but why speak ill of the dead? (put a bullet threw his head a couple new years ago after his wife died of cancer on Christmas)

On a lighter note, did the people who did that commercial the ones who did the animation for shows like Underdog?

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 04/07/2007 10:31 AM EDT


“But you could count the number of times that the Trix Rabbit got to eat Trix cereal on one hand, and you’d still have enough fingers leftover to violate someone three different ways.”

Brilliant!

I didn’t like TRIX, but my fav was always Pac Man cereal. I can’t find it anywhere now. I wonder if they make it anymore? I could go for some Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde marshmallow goodness about right now.

Back into lurking…

Ghosted by Ms.Pacman @ 04/07/2007 12:21 PM EDT


IFFFFFYOOUUUDDOOONTLIKEETRIXPOPSKHALISMAAAASSHHHYYOU!

Ghosted by The Great Khali @ 04/07/2007 2:03 PM EDT


Anyone remember Jell-o 1-2-3? It was a dessert in the 60’s-70’s that separated into three layers, the top almost like meringue, the middle layer like a frothy mix between pudding and jello, and the bottom layer jell-o. Jell-o stopped making it in the early 80’s, probably due to lack of demand.

It turns out that a company named Doctor Uechter’s (sp?) has just recently released a similar product in several flavors – tastes pretty much like I remember 1-2-3 tasting. Check it out if you’re interested, or just feeling nostalgic.

Ghosted by Old Jim @ 04/07/2007 3:14 PM EDT


Okay, it is snowing here in Waco, Texas, in April.

That’s just WRONG.

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 04/07/2007 3:19 PM EDT


One time, I was prepared to meet Khali…….., IN HELL!

Ghosted by kingklash @ 04/07/2007 3:29 PM EDT


okay i know the cadbury egg thing was a hundred posts ago, but it got me thinking….does anyone know where you can buy the german chocolate eggs with toys inside that Matt reviewed once??

Ghosted by citygirl @ 04/07/2007 3:55 PM EDT


Heh, I pulled up three articles before I realized citygirl wasn’t looking for a link, but a place to buy them. According to the original article, a reader mailed them in. They’re technically illegal in the States, so you have to get creative if you want to get ahold of them.
People not remembering the ball version of Trix makes me feel old, like when I see kids running around in “Class of 07″ shirts. I’m not even that old, stop making me feel that way!
The Wii codes in the Wiki is an interesting idea. I haven’t added anyone because I haven’t gotten around to writing my console number down. I’m very lazy/busy. I did manage to create some Miis based on the cast of Lost…they really need to add some more noses to the schnoz stable, don’t they?

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 04/07/2007 5:32 PM EDT


I never tried Trix till after it changed to fruit shapes, but when I did as a kid I was SO disappointed. Tasted like crap. Fruit Loops was a MUCH better fruity cereal.
Ditto on Count Chocula- now there’s a cereal. I know that all the General Mills cereals have changed their recipes, however, especially in the move towards whole grain. It will always be my favorite. There’s a big distinction between Count Chocula and Choculate Lucky Charms, though (imposter!)- Chocula is a corn based cereal, Choc Charms is an oat based cereal.
Did anyone else (who was too young to read at the time) use to think Cocoa Puffs was Cocoa POPS? LOL. I always thought it was Cocoa Pops until I was able to read the box- retarded bird character made it sound like pops. To me anyways.

Ghosted by Deedalus Dimperton @ 04/07/2007 6:45 PM EDT


illegal!!! maybe i have to contact a german person to send them to me. i have about 6 that i got in highschool when i was in german class and our teacher got them for us. They are wicked! Thanks for the effort though SQUEE! btw, i LOVE the JTHM comic!!

Ghosted by citygirl @ 04/07/2007 7:21 PM EDT


Like the McDonald’s food-tray-mat Hot Wheels article, yet another post hits home. I voted in that. You cut the Yes or No peice of cardboard out of the cereal box, and mailed in it in an envelope. No idea why, but I remember feeling all important and influential. It didn’t take much to thrill me as a child.

Ghosted by The Kraken @ 04/09/2007 8:41 AM EDT


I just want to know, what ever happened to Alpha-Bits? That was the only sugar cereal I was allowed to have in our house back in the 80’sand I loved it. That was until my dad got sick of the plain ‘adult’ cereal and begged for something with flavor!

Ghosted by Alyssa @ 04/10/2007 12:58 PM EDT


pfft, wii codes suck and so do ds codes. It is way to complicated for me, just give us user names like, i dont know, EVERY OTHER SYSTEM ON THE PLANET?

Nintendo dropped a major ball with their online system ofr the ds and the wii.

Their only idea of online with the wii is that you buy old games for to much money.

what happened to, i don’t know, online gaming?

Ghosted by the80sruled @ 04/10/2007 8:13 PM EDT


I wish they made really awsome egg coloring kits. The ones they have now are boring.

Ghosted by CdoubleJ @ 04/11/2007 7:56 PM EDT


I stopped eating Trix before they went to fruit shapes. I barely paid attention to the fact they changed shapes. I didn’t know they changed the formula, either.

I got a box of Trix tonight, just for nostalgia. It was OK. They don’t seem as sweet as Froot Loops… I was hoping it would taste like 1989.

I also got a box of Choco Cap’n Crunch. I’ll try it in a little while. I hope I survive.

Ghosted by Spacezombie @ 04/13/2007 1:33 AM EDT


Matt, I saw this in the store the other day and I literally lept into the air with excitement when I saw it. Ball Trix has been a dream of mine for so long, an idea so ridiculous.. why would they ever go from fruit shapes and back to balls? It’s the equivalent to all of a sudden switching blue for tan m&ms, but hey, it could happen right? I’ve just seen water turned to wine here.

Did you pick out the blue and purple trix for a nostolgic treat, too?

Ghosted by AJ @ 04/13/2007 4:11 PM EDT


Sugar Bear, didn’t he sound like Bing Crosby?

Ghosted by Julie @ 04/15/2007 4:09 PM EDT


Well, first, you must forgive me for my eleventh hour post!

I quite miss the fruit – shaped Trix :(

Granted, I rarely eat them, but I can’t remember them being ball – shaped!

I was only six when they changed to fruit – shapes.

I had no idea until you posted this, in fact, heehee :)

Well, I’m glad that you’re happy about all this, Matt! Heehee :)

♥, Anousenka :)

Ghosted by Anousenka @ 05/07/2007 4:45 PM EDT


I miss the tan M&Ms too!

Ghosted by Anousenka @ 05/07/2007 4:47 PM EDT


I had been telling people and no one believed me when I said that the rabbit got to eat the trix!!!

Ghosted by Zannoah @ 04/29/2009 5:48 PM EDT


Add A New Comment!