Damn the Cereal! Give me the Flicker Stickers! - Collectible of the Week Pt. 4
Collectible of the Week Part4
KELLOGG’S TRANSFORMERS FLICKER STICKERS
-Special Features: Transforming Before Your Very Eyes
-Manufacturer and Year: Kellogg’s, 1985 and 1986
-Key Words: Transformers, Lenticular, Motion, Flicker, Stickers
The Story So Far:
I can honestly say that I’ve been waiting 25 years to tell this story, and practically envisioned this whole Collectible of the Week column to give me means, motive and opportunity to post this story.
But let’s start from the beginning. The year is 1985 and Transformers are marketing gold. Literally, any opportunity to put something related to Transformers on the market is tried and that includes cereals. Now it may seem hard to believe from cereal packaging these days, but back in the 1970 and 1980s, you couldn’t escape cool promotions just waiting inside the packaging of your favourite cereals. A perennial favourite for me was Sheddies with their Black Hole pencil holders. That is, at least, until 1985 and Kellogg’s introduced a series of eight motion stickers.
Flickering Away My Days
Measuring about one inch cubed and based on the line art associated with each character’s two modes superimposed on a blue background, the stickers were thicker than the usual decals of the day to allow kids to transformed the character in question from robot to vehicle with a flick of the wrist. The sticker set was equal representative of each factions, with four Autobots and four Decepticons. Of course there was going to be an Optimus Prime and a Megatron, and it’s really no surprise that Bumblebee and Soundwave also made the cut. What’s interesting then is, like other promotions of the day, which other characters were seen to have high marketability. In this case, it was Laserbeak (posing in Buzzsaw colours) and Skywarp, Prowl and Sideswipe that ultimately won the day.
The promotion must have been successful because Kellogg’s returned the next year with another series of stickers. Once again, both factions found equal representation. What was curious about this line-up though was the choice of characters. First, Kellogg’s was clearly drawing on source material pointing to Ultra Magnus as the next leader of the Autobots, as Rodimus Prime is nowhere to be found. In fact, Magnus and his counterpart, Galvatron, were the only 1986 characters included in the set, with the rest of the assortment drawn from the 1985 line-up. Even here, it is a curious choice of characters. Omega Supreme was paired with Swoop and Beachcomber, both of whom are surprises from a toy assortment that included the likes of Grimlock and Jetfire. The Decepticon assortment ignored the chance to add Starscream or Shockwave, and went instead for Kickback, Mixmaster and Astrotrain.
Just a Marginally Taller Version of My Twelve Year Old Bad Self
In any event, both assortment led to much encouragement for my mother to buy Kellogg’s cereal, so clearly the promotion was a success, with the spoils ending up in a box where I kept various paper promotions and tech specs, where they remained until I found a way to put them in with various card sets gathered over the years. But I cannot take credit for the entire collection. As difficult as it has been to round out the numerous holes that existed in the collection for decades, I was able to virtually double my collection overnight when a fellow traveller gifted me her collection some years ago (still in their original wrappers I’m astonished to report). That said, finding the remaining four flicker stickers has proved elusive indeed, primarily I suspect because of the lack of a common terminology for the stickers, a problem I believe originates from the absence of original packaging.
That is, until now!
This is one of those occasions that the obsessive collector of today is grateful for the somewhat-less-meticulous-but-nonetheless-obsessive collector of his youth. You see, I didn’t just save the stickers from being applied to items lost in the winds of times, I also thought it was a good idea to squirrel away the packaging for the 1986 promotion. Why I only put aside one such box and neglected to take similar care to retain the 1985 cereal box is lost to me, but I can relate the reason why the promotion is in the piece meal form it finds itself today. Boxes were to be thrown out, so the only way to spare the information and pictures a similar fate was to break them down for a possible entry into a scrapbook along the way. So like all my cards and boxes of the day, I cut the cereal box apart, threw away anything that my younger self didn’t deem to be relevant, and put the remainder in a box.
Now this is where things get particularly exciting for me. I’ve known for a long time that I salvaged most of the back of the box in question, because I’ve kept it pretty close to the top of the pile. Some years ago, I even photocopied the artwork and sent it off to Raksha for her interest. But it’s the other pieces of the puzzle that fill me with glee. You see, as I was expressing my love of this collection, I was also lamenting the fact that I didn’t have other pieces of the puzzle. And then it hit me, that maybe, just maybe, I saved more than just the back of the box.
So I went to the basement to take a look. And sure enough, I had saved three more pieces to the puzzle in the box containing my earliest paper collection. In typical cut-what-is-important-style, I saved the front advertisement, a copy of the small Transformers logo on the box, and a picture of the mail-in promotion from the side of the box. Because Kellogg’s also managed to find its way to offer the deluxe Insecticons to kids at the same time as it promoted its flicker stickers. While the details of the offer have yet to surface, beyond the assortment of characters available, it’s incredibly likely that it involved box-tops from the cereals in question. Given I was able to locate these bits after literally a quarter century (!), it’s probably worth it a second, more thorough examination to see if I have the actual text.
Did I Really Say Four?
Excluding this long-overdue review and particularly tonight’s discovery, information on these stickers was almost as hard to come by as the stickers themselves, even on the internet. What information is out there seems to be confined to a few historical sites like Raksha’s site and TFMuseum.com. The most organized source of information, however, really has to be Lui’s Transformers page, which somehow manages to effectively tell their story in a very few words and some very successful links. (Clearly I could learn a thing or two from Lui.)
This link came to my attention when I decided I should do a thorough check to see what was actually written out there on the subject. Before that day, I honestly thought I was dealing with a mostly Canadian phenomenon, three-quarters of which I could lay claim.
Then I learned of the Ralston promotion in the U.S., and suddenly the number of missing stickers doubled over night.
Now it’s probably not surprising that I didn’t put two-and-two together and realize there was a U.S. component to this story. When even finding hardcore fans look confused when you raise a topic is usually a sign of some level of exclusiveness. But the signs should have been there, given that I was well aware of the Cookie Crisp Jazz, and should have deduced a promotion associated with him.
But what is so striking about this new information is the particulars of the U.S. campaign. Running in 1985, Ralston relied for the most part on second wave characters. Keeping its promotion to six characters in a two-to-one ratio this time, what is striking is that there are only two stickers that are duplicated across the promotions: Soundwave in Kellogg’s wave one and Omega Supreme in wave two. Of the remaining four, Blitzwing makes a great complement to Astrotrain, just as Slag and Snarl complement Swoop. Perceptor seems to be there as a foil to Soundwave more than anything.
And there we have it. Twenty stickers (excluding duplicates) little seen and known. And the hunt continues…
…well, I finally found someone who remembers those Flicker Stickers. I’ve had seven of the eight from Transformers wave one ( all except Sideswipe, and an extra Prowl) sitting in a Coffee Hound mug since they were first included in the cereal. Never even took them out of their plastic wrap. Finally, I know what they were called. Thank you.
Comment by Clayton George — May 27, 2013 @ 8:24 pm
I remember them, but what I remember most, is visiting my family in BC, Canada, & getting a Sideswipe card from the cereal box one morning, (I was 9 in 1985,) & my older cousin (who was a girl & was only joking,) said she was gonna keep it, & I was like “Yeah right! It’s mine!”
I had taken a bunch of TF toys with me on vacation to BC, & my older family & their neighbours were going on about how they never had toys like that when they were my age…
Comment by KPearson — August 22, 2017 @ 8:49 pm
Hierbei gilt die Anbaufläche als Grundlage.
Comment by Humberto — June 1, 2019 @ 2:49 pm
Nach dessen Auflösung durch Heinrich VIII.
Comment by Matilda — June 1, 2019 @ 4:15 pm
Es sind maximal 0 von 31 Trophäen erspielbar.
Comment by fw.ax — June 1, 2019 @ 5:22 pm
Are sex toys a thing in Toy Storys world?
Comment by https://sexwithsister.com — November 3, 2019 @ 8:54 pm
?????????? ??????????? ??????????? ? ??????, ???????????? ????????, ??????? ????????,
??????? ?????? ??????? – ??? ???
?????? ???? ?? PartyPoker ???????? ??? ??????? ????? ???????.
Comment by ????? ?????????? ????? ???? 2020 — June 11, 2020 @ 5:21 am
LOVE the story ! I have been collecting those recently and not super easy to find indeed but they are super cool!!!
Comment by Canadian Geek — April 28, 2021 @ 8:55 am
I precisely wished to thank you so much once again. I am not sure the things I could possibly have sorted out without the points provided by you about such a theme. It became an absolute traumatic case for me personally, however , observing this professional approach you resolved the issue took me to jump for happiness. I’m happy for this assistance and as well , pray you find out what a powerful job you are putting in instructing some other people all through your site. More than likely you haven’t come across all of us.
Comment by golden goose — November 21, 2023 @ 2:38 am
I wanted to make a brief comment so as to express gratitude to you for some of the wonderful tactics you are sharing at this website. My considerable internet lookup has now been recognized with brilliant know-how to talk about with my friends and family. I would suppose that many of us site visitors actually are extremely endowed to dwell in a superb community with many brilliant professionals with good methods. I feel very fortunate to have used your web pages and look forward to tons of more pleasurable times reading here. Thanks again for all the details.
Comment by adidas yeezy — December 6, 2023 @ 8:25 pm
Do you know that your articles can help others? Regards, IDProperti.com | Pasang Iklan Properti
Comment by Iklan Properti — December 11, 2023 @ 12:43 pm
I simply wanted to send a quick word in order to express gratitude to you for those marvelous ways you are showing at this site. My long internet investigation has at the end been honored with extremely good tips to go over with my partners. I ‘d express that most of us site visitors are rather fortunate to be in a fabulous website with many marvellous individuals with good techniques. I feel pretty blessed to have discovered the website page and look forward to many more fabulous moments reading here. Thanks a lot once more for all the details.
Comment by golden goose glitter — December 25, 2023 @ 4:40 pm
Thank you so much for giving everyone such a wonderful opportunity to read articles and blog posts from this blog. It really is very brilliant and stuffed with a good time for me and my office mates to search your website the equivalent of thrice in one week to study the latest secrets you have. And of course, I am also at all times fulfilled with your astounding solutions served by you. Some 1 tips in this posting are without a doubt the best we have all ever had.
Comment by kd 14 — December 27, 2023 @ 3:22 am
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any means you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
Comment by ggdb — December 28, 2023 @ 10:30 pm
Needed to post you this very little word in order to give thanks again for your personal striking principles you’ve documented on this page. This is simply shockingly open-handed with people like you to convey freely precisely what a lot of folks would have distributed for an ebook to get some cash for themselves, even more so considering the fact that you could possibly have tried it in case you considered necessary. Those guidelines additionally worked to be a great way to be certain that most people have the identical zeal similar to my very own to understand a lot more with reference to this problem. I’m sure there are thousands of more fun periods ahead for folks who take a look at your website.
Comment by supreme clothing — December 29, 2023 @ 10:05 am
I simply desired to thank you so much again. I’m not certain the things I could possibly have carried out without the secrets documented by you over such area. Certainly was a real daunting dilemma in my circumstances, nevertheless understanding a expert fashion you treated the issue forced me to cry over fulfillment. I’m just happier for this advice and sincerely hope you really know what a powerful job you happen to be putting in training some other people using a web site. Most probably you haven’t got to know any of us.
Comment by kyrie 7 shoes — December 30, 2023 @ 3:30 pm
I actually wanted to type a small comment to say thanks to you for all the great steps you are placing on this site. My long internet lookup has now been honored with wonderful ideas to share with my family. I ‘d believe that many of us readers are extremely blessed to live in a decent site with very many outstanding people with very helpful opinions. I feel quite happy to have discovered your entire website and look forward to some more amazing times reading here. Thank you once more for all the details.
Comment by kyrie shoes — January 1, 2024 @ 4:39 pm
I? have to examine with you here. Which isn’t one thing I normally do! I take pleasure in reading a post that can make individuals think. Also, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Comment by golden goose purestar — January 3, 2024 @ 11:10 pm
I not to mention my friends were digesting the excellent helpful hints located on your web page and then immediately came up with a horrible suspicion I had not thanked the site owner for those techniques. The men happened to be as a consequence passionate to study all of them and already have absolutely been making the most of those things. We appreciate you turning out to be quite kind and then for making a choice on this sort of smart guides millions of individuals are really needing to know about. My sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to you sooner.
Comment by hermes — January 4, 2024 @ 10:04 am
I have to show my thanks to you for rescuing me from such a incident. After looking throughout the online world and seeing techniques that were not productive, I thought my life was over. Existing minus the solutions to the problems you’ve solved by way of the write-up is a crucial case, as well as ones that would have negatively damaged my career if I hadn’t noticed your site. Your main mastery and kindness in playing with every aspect was important. I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a solution like this. It’s possible to now look forward to my future. Thank you very much for this professional and amazing help. I won’t be reluctant to endorse your blog post to any person who should receive guidance on this matter.
Comment by kd 15 — January 5, 2024 @ 5:13 pm
I would like to show my appreciation to the writer just for bailing me out of such a crisis. After looking throughout the the web and obtaining notions which were not productive, I believed my life was well over. Existing devoid of the approaches to the problems you have solved by means of your good report is a serious case, and the ones which might have badly damaged my entire career if I had not come across the website. Your own personal competence and kindness in playing with all the things was crucial. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a thing like this. I can at this point look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for the professional and sensible guide. I will not think twice to recommend your web blog to any individual who desires guidelines about this topic.
Comment by bape — January 6, 2024 @ 10:59 pm
Unleash Your Gaming Beast Join the Adventure Now! Hawkplay
Comment by Hawkplay — January 8, 2024 @ 3:15 am
Thanks for your own efforts on this web page. Ellie enjoys managing investigation and it’s easy to see why. A lot of people learn all of the powerful mode you create precious tricks through your blog and increase contribution from other individuals on the article and my daughter has been being taught a lot. Have fun with the rest of the new year. You’re the one carrying out a useful job.
Comment by supreme hoodie — January 8, 2024 @ 8:32 am
I needed to write you the very little word to be able to give thanks once again relating to the fantastic advice you’ve featured on this website. It is incredibly generous of people like you to deliver openly all a lot of folks would have offered for sale for an ebook to make some dough for their own end, specifically since you might have done it in case you decided. The basics likewise served like a good way to fully grasp most people have similar dream similar to mine to realize a whole lot more with regards to this problem. I am certain there are thousands of more pleasant situations ahead for many who go through your blog.
Comment by hermes outlet online — January 9, 2024 @ 1:55 pm
I wish to voice my passion for your generosity for men and women who need assistance with this theme. Your personal commitment to passing the solution around appeared to be certainly interesting and have always enabled professionals like me to attain their goals. Your amazing valuable useful information implies this much to me and still more to my mates. With thanks; from everyone of us.
Comment by supreme — January 10, 2024 @ 7:06 pm
I definitely wanted to write down a small comment to be able to appreciate you for those stunning techniques you are sharing at this website. My considerable internet lookup has finally been paid with wonderful points to go over with my friends and family. I would admit that many of us visitors actually are truly endowed to be in a magnificent site with very many brilliant professionals with valuable solutions. I feel extremely fortunate to have come across your weblog and look forward to plenty of more fun times reading here. Thank you again for all the details.
Comment by bape — January 12, 2024 @ 12:51 am
Thank you so much for giving everyone remarkably marvellous possiblity to discover important secrets from this web site. It really is very ideal and jam-packed with a lot of fun for me and my office acquaintances to visit your web site really 3 times in a week to read through the latest secrets you have got. Not to mention, I am at all times pleased with your eye-popping advice you give. Certain 4 ideas in this post are ultimately the most effective we have had.
Comment by off white — January 13, 2024 @ 6:14 am
I enjoy you because of all your valuable work on this blog. My mum really likes working on internet research and it’s really obvious why. I learn all regarding the dynamic ways you deliver simple tips on your blog and in addition increase contribution from some others on that subject matter plus our favorite princess is in fact studying a lot of things. Have fun with the remaining portion of the new year. You’re performing a pretty cool job.
Comment by giannis shoes — January 14, 2024 @ 1:14 pm
Spot on with this write-up, I actually assume this web site wants much more consideration. I?l most likely be once more to read way more, thanks for that info.
Comment by golden goose dad star — January 15, 2024 @ 1:05 am
I am just commenting to let you know of the beneficial encounter my cousin’s princess developed visiting your webblog. She discovered such a lot of details, with the inclusion of how it is like to have an amazing helping style to let many more smoothly know just exactly certain very confusing topics. You truly exceeded readers’ desires. Many thanks for presenting such interesting, trustworthy, educational as well as unique thoughts on that topic to Julie.
Comment by nike dunks — January 15, 2024 @ 4:32 pm
I want to express my passion for your kindness supporting folks that require help with the study. Your real commitment to getting the message all over was amazingly advantageous and have really enabled employees just like me to arrive at their dreams. The valuable report implies a whole lot a person like me and far more to my office workers. Thanks a lot; from each one of us.
Comment by kyrie 9 — January 16, 2024 @ 4:32 pm
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with such a nice possiblity to read in detail from this site. It’s usually so kind plus packed with a great time for me and my office co-workers to visit the blog the equivalent of 3 times in 7 days to read through the new guidance you have got. And indeed, I’m just certainly fulfilled with your superb inspiring ideas served by you. Certain two points in this post are absolutely the simplest we have ever had.
Comment by cheap kyrie shoes — January 17, 2024 @ 5:04 pm
My wife and i ended up being very ecstatic John could round up his researching through the precious recommendations he came across in your site. It’s not at all simplistic to just always be giving freely things some others have been trying to sell. We fully understand we’ve got the blog owner to thank because of that. All of the explanations you have made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships your site give support to foster - it is all unbelievable, and it is letting our son and us feel that this issue is pleasurable, which is tremendously fundamental. Thank you for the whole lot!
Comment by bapesta — January 18, 2024 @ 6:55 pm
I am glad for writing to let you be aware of of the impressive experience my wife’s child found viewing yuor web blog. She figured out several pieces, which included how it is like to have an incredible coaching heart to get other folks without hassle know certain grueling topics. You really did more than my expected results. Many thanks for offering such effective, safe, revealing not to mention fun tips on that topic to Kate.
Comment by jordan outlet — January 19, 2024 @ 7:58 pm