Snap, Crackle and Pop

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Snap, Crackle and Pop! are the cartoon mascots of Kellogg's breakfast cereal Rice Krispies (Rice Bubbles in Australia).

[edit] History

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The three elf characters were originally designed by illustrator Vernon Grant and made their debut in 1933. Although rumored to be drug references, the names of the elves are actually derived from a Rice Krispies radio ad. The ad said "Listen to the fairy song of health, the merry chorus sung by Kellogg's Rice Krispies as they merrily snap, crackle, and pop in a bowl of milk. If you've never heard food talking, now is your chance." Inspired by this ad, Grant drew three elves and named them Snap, Crackle, and Pop. He brought the characters to Kellogg's, who bought them on the spot. In the United States and Canada, opinion varies concerning Crackle's occupation, but Snap is always portrayed as a baker and Pop as a soldier.

Snap!™ is the oldest and the leader of the group. He solves the problems his two brothers create and wears a baker’s hat.

Crackle!™ is the good-hearted, fun middle child. He gets stuck keeping order between his brothers’ personalities and wears a red-and-white-striped stocking cap.

Pop!™ is the mischievous, clumsy younger child. He plays jokes, doesn’t take things seriously and wears a military hat.

Snap, Crackle and Pop as they are usually portrayed in the USA today.

The Elves' large ears and noses have been softened and downsized over the years. With the introduction of television, the Snap! Crackle! Pop! campaign, with animated characters, initially targeted such children's shows as The Howdy Doody Show. The voices of the original elves were provided by the late Daws Butler, Paul Winchell and Don Messick, and in more recent days by Chris Evans and Keith Chegwin, as well as Chad Doreck, Eddie Deezen and Thom Adcox-Hernandez.

The names have also been proposed for physical quantities - see jerk.

For more illustrations by Vernon Grant see Mr. Mixie Dough.

[edit] Trivia

In the anime Naruto, there is a ninja team with a name similar to Snap, Crackle, and Pop. Their names are Dosu, Kin, and Zaku; these are Japanese onomatopoeia for Slash, Clang, and Crunch.
In the episode "Blind Ambition" of Family Guy, Crackle and Pop are in a bar after an attack by the Keebler elves. They end by raising their mugs "to Snap".
In Britain in the early 90s, the characters were depicted as superheroes, (picture here) but this proved unpopular and they were eventually changed back. In the late 90s they changed from 2D animated characters to 3D, but they reverted to 2D in 2006.
In the 1950s, there was actually a fourth brother named Pow. This character was not as popular as the other three.