General Mills is starting Halloween early with a new monstrous mascot, Carmella Creeper, but her realization represents a 35-year endeavor.
After having haunted television screens and breakfast tables, General Mills’ new monster mash (inspired by the Universal Monsters) marks a delightfully frightful event. Consisting of the core horror collective of Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry, General Mills Monster Cereals have been a mainly exclusive group. However, as a new member, Carmella Creeper joins the band of breakfast mascots, her unveiling not only rings in the upcoming Halloween season but an endeavor multiple monsters failed to achieve.
In 1971, General Mills introduced a brand of breakfast cereals headlined by homages to Universal’s iconic monsters, starting with Count Chocula and Franken Berry. The year after, Boo Berry joined the lineup on grocery store shelves, followed by the audacious Frute Brute and colorful Yummy Mummy. Despite seasonal Halloween appearances as symbols of nostalgia and various gimmicks to keep the cereals fresh, it wasn’t until 2023 that General Mills announced the addition of Carmella Creeper to their morning monster mascots. Carmella Creeper’s reveal left eagerly awaiting consumers wondering who she was and what sinfully sweet cereal she would offer for the upcoming Halloween season.
The Lost General Mills Monsters, Explained
The first new monster to join General Mills’ monsters after 35 years, surprisingly, Carmella Creeper wasn’t the first new character considered since Yummy Mummy’s discontinuation in 1992. For years, General Mills toyed with new characters to complete the monster mash of mascots. However, now that Carmella Creeper finally joined the other monsters, it raises the question of who were these lost monsters and why they never got their spot on the front of a cereal box.
Why Carmella Creeper Is the Perfect Addition
Similar to rock mockumentaries like This is Spinal Tap, the ensemble of monsters joined forces in recent years for a promotional snack mix aptly named “Monster Mash.” Taking its name from the iconic novelty song by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers, General Mills’ beloved characters reunited to record a new cover, only to comedically disband once more. Amidst this cereal-induced chaos, Carmella Creeper emerges as a perfect addition to the narrative, brandishing a caramel apple-flavored cereal alongside the newly released boxes of Monster Mash. With her role as a zombie DJ and as Franken Berry’s cousin, Carmella Creeper fits into the story, not only carrying on the imaginary band’s legacy but also reminding audiences that classics never grow stale.
Sometimes for something to grow, it takes time. After an astonishing 35-year period, during which the beloved characters became as iconic as McDonald’s Ronald McDonald, the General Mills Monsters have finally welcomed a new addition to their ensemble. Carmella Creeper is a testament to something extraordinary after so many mascots failed to find their way onto a cereal box. Perhaps BerryPatchra, Bride of Frankenberry or one of the other forgotten monsters will rise from their graves someday. But until then, the stage is set, and it seems Carmella Creeper promises an exceptionally sweet Halloween season as she makes her historic debut.
