The Weirdest Animated Merchandise Ever Made
If it holds still long enough, somebody will put a cartoon on it.
Studios will put their characters on almost anything. Some of it is brilliant. Some of it makes you stop in the store aisle and say, "Who approved this?"
Here are the weirdest pieces of cartoon merch we could find. Every one of them is real.
7. Smurf-Berry Crunch cereal (1982)
REAL: a cereal based on the Smurfs' favorite food. The berries were bright, the sugar was plentiful, and your tongue turned colors. Weird factor: eating the same food as tiny blue forest people.
6. Ecto Cooler (1987)
REAL: Hi-C made a green citrus drink starring Slimer from The Real Ghostbusters. It outlasted the cartoon by years. Weird factor: a drink named after ghost slime. It was delicious.
5. Krabby Patty gummies
REAL: gummy candy shaped like SpongeBob's famous burger, complete with tiny gummy buns and a gummy patty. Weird factor: a burger made of candy, from a show about a sponge.
4. Minion Twinkies (2015)
REAL: Hostess made Twinkies with banana cream filling to celebrate the Minions movie. Weird factor: the snack cake became one of the Minions.
3. The Remy chef hat
REAL: Disney Parks sell a chef's hat with a little plush Remy from Ratatouille sitting on top, so it looks like he's steering you like Linguini. Weird factor: it's a rat on your head. On purpose. (It's adorable.)
2. Shrek Crocs (2022)
REAL: green Crocs with Shrek's trumpet ears sticking out the back. They sold out fast. Weird factor: you're wearing an ogre on each foot.
1. Lightning McQueen Crocs (2021)
REAL: red Crocs designed like Lightning McQueen, with headlights that actually light up. They sold out over and over, and adults bought them as much as kids did. Weird factor: if you wear them in public, you are legally required to say "Kachow!" (That law is ANARCHY. But you should still say it.)
Final thoughts
Most cartoon merch is forgettable. The weirdest stuff becomes legendary, because it's so strange we can't stop talking about it.
What's the strangest cartoon merch you've ever owned? Tell us in the comments.
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