| Tony the Tiger | |
|---|---|
 "They're GRRRRREAATT!!!" | |
|
Real Name |
Tony |
|
First Appearance |
Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes Cereal boxes (1951) |
|
Original Publisher |
Kellogg Company |
|
Created by |
Eugene Kolkey |
Origin[]
Tony the Tiger is the advertising cartoon mascot for Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal, appearing on its packaging and advertising. More recently, Since his debut in 1951, the character has spanned several generations and become a breakfast cereal icon.
In 1951, Eugene Kolkey, an accomplished graphic artist and Art Director for Leo Burnett, sketched a character for a contest to become the official mascot of a then brand-new breakfast cereal. Kolkey designed a tiger named Tony and selected Martin Provensen for the finished artwork. Tony competed against three other potential mascots for the public's affection: Katy the Kangaroo (originated by Robert Dulaney in the early sixties), Elmo the Elephant, and Newt the Gnu. Within the year, the other mascots were dropped (with Elmo and Newt never once gracing the front of the box), and Tony was given a son, Tony Jr. Tony the Tiger would eventually become a cereal icon.
Initially, he was voiced by Dallas McKennon, but shortly after the initial Sugar Frosted Flakes advertisements aired, McKennon was replaced by Thurl Ravenscroft, who spent the next five decades providing the characteristic deep bass voice associated with the character, notably the familiar "They’re Grrrrreat!" catchphrase. John E. Matthews came up with this phrase while working as copywriter for Leo Burnett.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Superhuman Strength
- Speed
- Claws
- Charisma
Notes[]
- The earliest TV Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes commercials and Cereal Boxes were released without copyright notices.
- Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Tony the Tiger are still trademarked by the Kellogg's Company, so the character’s name can only be used within the interior of a story, not to promote a brand.