Opera Bear

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Opera Bear is a fictional cartoon bear who appeared in a single commercial for Honeycomb cereal in the mid 1990s. His white face-mask, flowing purple cape and name all seem to indicate that he was meant to be the anthropomorphic, ursine equivalent of the Phantom of the Opera. Although he only appeared in a single commercial, it is a relevant one since it was the last ad to feature the cereal’s long time mascot The Honeycomb Kid.

Opera Bear’s one appearance was the final commercial of a several part series, in which the Honeycomb Kid was seeking what he called “The Honeycomb Secret.” (It is important to note that in the first few ads of the series the Kid had instead referred to this boon as “The Secret of Honeycomb’s great taste.”) Honeycomb Kid had learned from his prior adventures that the secret was comprised of three separate parts: The first was the Crunch, the second was the Shape, however the third and most important answer had always eluded him.

In what would be his final adventure the Kid entered an abandoned opera house. Presumably clues from his past adventures had led him to this location. Suddenly he was attacked by Opera Bear, who swung in on a rope. Opera Bear tells the Kid that he will never discover the honeycomb secret. The Kid responds “I don’t think so Opera Bear!” (This is how his name was revealed to the viewer). Upon defeating Opera Bear, Honeycomb Kid discovers the third component of the Honeycomb secret to be the Taste. Since the Kid had originally claimed to have been looking for “The Secret of Honeycomb’s great taste”. The taste seems a somewhat unusual third component to the riddle. For further examination of this issue see the Honeycomb Kid's own entry.

At the end of the commercial Opera Bear and the Kid take a bow on stage, leading one to believe the entire series of commercials were meant to have all been a play. This was the last the world would see of both Opera Bear and the Honeycomb Kid as Crazy Craving would become Honeycomb’s new mascot by the next commercial. There would be no oranges.