For decades, the Trix Rabbit has been one of the most tragic—and hilarious—mascots in breakfast history. This poor bunny has one goal in life: to finally taste the sweet, fruity goodness of Trix cereal. But despite countless schemes, disguises, and near-victories, he’s always foiled at the last second by those infamous words: “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!” Still, there have been moments when our floppy-eared friend almost succeeded—times when he got the box, took a bite, or came within inches of victory before the universe snatched it away. Here are the Top 10 Times The Trix Rabbit Almost Got His Cereal—heartbreaking, hilarious, and totally iconic.
#10: The Magician’s Vanishing Act
In this commercial from the early ’90s, the Trix Rabbit tried his hand at magic—complete with a top hat, cape, and sparkly wand. He dazzles the kids with a sleight-of-hand routine that includes pulling scarves from his ears and juggling oranges that somehow turn into cereal balls mid-air. After a dramatic poof of glittery smoke, he successfully makes a box of Trix appear in his paws. Amazingly, the kids are so impressed that they actually let him keep it! For a moment, it seems like the rabbit has finally cracked the code: impress them enough, and they’ll share. But just as he prepares to take that long-awaited bite, the wind snatches the bowl right out of his hands. Poof—gone, again. It’s a classic case of cartoon karma, but also a reminder that even magic isn’t enough to beat the Trix curse.
#9: The School Cafeteria Sneak
In one of the more grounded Trix commercials, the Rabbit goes undercover as a lunch lady. Wearing a hairnet and apron, he sneaks into a school cafeteria, blending in with the humans surprisingly well. He even gets in line and snags a tray with a heaping bowl of Trix. With shifty eyes and trembling paws, he’s just about to dig in… when one of the kids recognizes him. The record scratch moment is both tragic and hilarious. He’s escorted out of the cafeteria, bowl still untouched. What makes this one hurt is that it felt so real. No fantasy, no disguises—just a rabbit desperately trying to fit in. And failing.
#8: The Costume Party Con
This commercial is an absolute fever dream. It’s Halloween night, and the Rabbit dons an over-the-top superhero costume, complete with a cape made of Trix cereal box cutouts. He crashes a kids’ costume party and uses the chaos to sneak his way to the snack table. He actually gets a handful of cereal into his mouth before the kids gasp, realizing who he is. He’s tossed out with confetti still clinging to his ears, and he sighs as he floats away in a pumpkin balloon. This was one of the few times he ever actually tasted the cereal—albeit briefly—before being denied his happy ending.
#7: The Trix Game Show
In a ’70s-style commercial parodying quiz shows, the Rabbit is a contestant competing for the grand prize: a lifetime supply of Trix. He nails every question—fruit trivia, cereal history, even math puzzles about the number of Trix in a bowl. He’s grinning ear to ear as the host declares him the winner. But the twist? The show is “Kids Only,” and when they realize he’s not technically eligible, the prize is yanked away. The look on his face as the giant bowl of cereal is rolled offstage is burned into every viewer’s memory. Even the announcer says, “So close, silly rabbit!”
#6: The Dream Sequence Slip-Up
In one of the most imaginative commercials, the Trix Rabbit dreams he’s in a candy-colored world where kids chant “Trix are for everyone!” He surfs on a wave of milk, rides a rollercoaster made of bananas, and even waltzes through a field of strawberries that whisper his name. At the climax, a giant spoon feeds him an endless bowl of Trix. He laughs. He cries. He eats. And then he wakes up. His eyes widen in horror—it was just a dream. His paw is in an empty bowl. Cue the sigh. This moment perfectly captured the endless frustration of his plight, wrapped in a beautiful, surreal package.
#5: The Winter Cabin Close Call
In this cozy holiday-themed commercial, the Trix Rabbit stumbles upon a group of kids enjoying a snowy day in a log cabin. He helps them build snow creatures, light the fireplace, and decorate cookies. As a reward, they invite him to join their cereal feast. It’s one of the most touching scenes ever animated in a Trix ad. He’s shocked—but elated. As he’s about to eat, the snowman he helped build earlier melts and causes a domino effect, knocking the bowl out of his paws. The kids gasp. “Better luck next time, silly rabbit.” Ouch. Still, this one stood out for its warmth—and the rare goodwill shown toward our determined friend.
#4: The Rocket Launch Mishap
In a high-tech, sci-fi flavored commercial, the Rabbit disguises himself as an astronaut and sneaks aboard a rocket ship carrying a shipment of Trix to a “space school for kids.” He floats through zero gravity, dodging floating spoons and marshmallows, and finally grabs a pouch of space-age Trix. As he tears it open and prepares to eat, the ship hits turbulence, launching the pouch into the atmosphere—and straight into a wormhole. The Rabbit’s ears go limp as he’s left floating alone, mouth open, cerealless once more. It’s a perfect blend of epic and ridiculous, made even better by the deadpan delivery of the onboard computer: “Trix trajectory: unavailable.”
#3: The Reality Show Ruse
In a 2000s-era parody of reality TV, the Rabbit joins a contest where mascots compete in physical challenges to earn “Trix Tokens.” He crushes the obstacle course, wins the fruit puzzle round, and even survives the “Marshmallow Maze of Doom.” He racks up enough points to earn a single glorious bowl of Trix. The tension is real—he sits down, the spoon trembling in his paw. But then the host says, “One last twist!” and reveals the final vote is up to the viewers at home. The poll ends: “Should the Rabbit eat Trix?” 51% say no. The heartbreak is palpable. This was the commercial that made kids start rooting for the rabbit more vocally than ever.
#2: The Kindness Clause
In a more wholesome entry, the kids actually give him the Trix without any tricks or challenges. It’s a brief moment of pure kindness, and the Rabbit can’t believe it. He’s in tears. The music swells. He takes a spoonful, and we see it going into his mouth—finally. But before he can chew, the screen fades to black. Did he eat it? Did he just imagine it again? The ad never clarifies, leaving fans in eternal debate. It’s one of the most surreal and meta entries, playing with the fourth wall and the audience’s expectations.
#1: The Vote That Changed Everything
In 1991, General Mills ran a real campaign that let kids vote on whether the Trix Rabbit should finally eat his cereal. Millions participated. The result? Yes—he won. And in the follow-up commercial, we watched in stunned silence as he finally tasted the cereal he’d chased for decades. It was triumphant. Kids cheered. Parents cried. Okay, maybe not cried, but it was a huge deal. The Trix Rabbit was happy—for once. Of course, in future ads, he was right back to scheming, which makes this moment even more special. It was the one time when marketing, fandom, and breakfast all aligned to give a cartoon bunny his long-awaited reward.
The Trix Rabbit’s journey is one of the most endearing tragedies in advertising history. His endless quest to taste that fruity, colorful cereal has become a metaphor for all of us chasing something just out of reach. And even though he rarely gets to enjoy his beloved Trix, his determination, charm, and resilience have made him an icon. Silly? Maybe. But the Trix Rabbit is also persistent, passionate, and—just maybe—a little heroic.
