How Tony The Tiger Has Changed Over The Years

If you were playing a word association game what would you say if someone said Frosted Flakes? Would it be "Tony the Tiger"? Becoming part of households across the county since the 1950s, kids and adults alike have delighted in the sugary cereal and its charismatic mascot. Since these vintage days, the cereal brand has changed tremendously, creating excitement in the mornings with creative box designs and flavors. (You might want to check out our 2022 rankings of every flavor of Frosted Flakes. Our fave is Cinnamon French Toast because it's not as sweet-tasting as some other varieties.)

Tony the Tiger has long been reminding us how good the cereal is with his declaration that "They're gr-r-reat!" And given how long Tony and Frosted Flakes have been around it seems that cereal fans agree. However, just as consumers have changed along with their tastes and preferences so too have the sheer amount of food choices that are available. Tony the Tiger hasn't stayed the same either. From the way he looks, to his voice, and how he dresses he's a mascot of innovation and success in the cereal market. Beyond Frosted Flakes boxes, Tony the Tiger has become a lifelike character with interests, ambitions, and goals. He's taken on a whole lifestyle approach and embraced technological changes.

Back when he was on his way to becoming the brand icon that he is today, Tony had a distinctive look. Compared to what he's looked like in recent years he was drawn quite differently when he was first introduced. You only have to look at depictions of him on retro TV adverts, cereal boxes, and posters to notice a really specific difference in his appearance: His head used to be shaped like a football.

There's no mistaking Tony's stripes and white markings, and his signature scarf. However, youngsters today might not recognize the older designs as the Tony the Tiger because he looks so different. The oval-shaped head gives the face a smiley, friendly appearance. And as he speaks in adverts he reveals sharp-looking teeth, although the number he has seems to vary depending on what he's saying and how his mouth is moving from just three to a whole set. And in some advertisements in the '60s, it looks as if he doesn't have any teeth at all. In some color adverts his teeth are back, but just a lot squarer and less threatening looking. What always stays the same though is his tongue sticking out a little as if he's just eaten some delicious Frosted Flakes or is licking his lips in anticipation of a bowl. 

Although he's a high-profile brand ambassador, Tony has had plenty of opportunities to reach his audience through public appearances, campaigns, and through media channels. He also still adorns boxes of Frosted Flakes that line the shelves of supermarkets and have been beloved by families for generations. In other words, Tony has become an institution that resonates with feelings of nostalgia while also being ever-present in the here and now. However, how much do you actually know about him? When he was first on TV screens, advertising what was then Sugar Frosted Flakes he was very much the family man. It's an image he seems to have shaken off over the years.

Tony the Tiger might be all grown up but he's still appeared in a TV advert with his mother who reveals that she's the reason he loves the cereal so much. And she also states that she taught her "little Tony" his famed catchphrase: "They're gr-r-reat!" He's also eschewing how good the cereal is in an advert with his wife who wears a dressing gown and curlers in her hair, and his two kids, Tony Jr. and Antoinette. The impression of an animated tiger version of an Italian-American family was a hit.

It's no surprise that the voice behind the tiger has changed over the years. However, not quite as much as you might imagine. Thurl Ravenscroft, voiced the character for half a century, not only in English but also in Spanish. The Nebraska native served in the U.S. Army Air Transport Control during World War II and made a name for himself in entertainment. As well as singing with different groups he also once sang with none other than the legendary Elvis Presley. He was also a highly regarded voice artist for Disney.

Following Thurl's death in 2005, and even as he was alive and still the voice of Tony, former sportscaster Lee Marshall took on the tiger's deep voice. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer in 2014 at aged just 64. Another Tony the Tiger voice is Californian-born Tom Clarke-Hill who has been playing the role since 2000 in the U.K. where Frosted Flakes are known as Frosties. The British voiceover artist focuses mainly on recordings for video games. In Canada, actor and musician Tony Daniels is the voice behind the Tiger. In an episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," that featured Tony, actor Andy Nagraj voiced the character. Other Tony voice actors are Tex Brashear, Keith Scott, Dallas McKennon, and Jeff Morrow.

Plenty of social media-savvy celebrities have shown their fun side with a silly dance on TikTok. And Tony the Tiger is no exception. Even though he's been around for decades, he's down with the kids. Part of his longevity has perhaps been because he has changed so much over the years. He's come well and truly off the cereal carton and into the modern world with a TikTok dance to celebrate his Mission Tiger campaign.

Tony the Tiger has been busy making funny sketches on TikTok, too. In one he's joking around on an out-of-control treadmill, and in another funny clip, he's leaving an office building with the statement on screen that he's taking his work home with him for the weekend. The video shows him clutching boxes of cereal as he heads out the door. Not bad work if you can get it. In another, he cycles into the Kellogg's office building with a basket full of Frosted Flake boxes. He pedals into the elevator and straight into a photoshoot. From shouting out his catchphrase with people outside Walmart to filming a launch event for a collaboration with PUMA, he's fun, friendly, and full of boundless energy.

Even before he talks in his low timbre and rolls out his catchphrase, Tony the Tiger is instantly recognizable. He always looks cheerful, interested, and alert and since he pretty much always wears a kerchief around his neck there's no confusion caused by his wardrobe which is seemingly non-existent. However, since he's got such a fun personality he's not against a little fancy dress from time to time. He's changed his look on the front of cereal boxes quite a bit. It's never random though as each different style reflects a specific theme on the box.

For chocolate-flavored Frosted Flakes with "Spooky Marshmallows," Tony dons a Frankenstein outfit design. His blue jacket is ragged on the arms, his kerchief is monster-green, and he's even got a bolt through his neck. He sports a green, jagged-edged hat with a cartoon-style scar stitched across it. Raising his hands as if he's a monster in a horror film adds to the narrative. A "Star Wars" edition with a Light Side Original & Dark Side Chocolate cereal features Tony with a lightsaber. He's also wearing a Jedi-style covering over his head while the background is designed as if it's a distant galaxy. For "Avatar: The Way of Water" promotional boxes, Tony's traditional red scarf has been replaced by a purple one with designs that fit with the movie. 

Tony the Tiger hasn't just changed over the years, he's been the mascot that's led the way for brand potential. As if he didn't seem real enough to fans over the years, he went totally 3D in 2022. He became the first character of his kind to live stream as a VTuber on Twitch. If you're wondering what this means, it means Tony embraced the digital world and went interactive. With headphones on and a swanky-looking set with neon lights, fans could reach out to Tony during his two-hour livestream in Chat and take part in the action.

Tony wasn't alone either, but he didn't appear on screen with other animated brand ambassadors. Instead, he played a battle game with well-known Twitch streamers: Brennon "GoldGlove" O'Neill, Chrissy Constanza, and Jakeem "BigCheese" Johnson. With users in the millions, Twitch is popular with gen z and it's no doubt this demographic that Tony is hoping to connect with. Many of the changes that he makes are to stay relevant in food markets that are moving as fast as technology. But he's still one cool big cat.