The Monsters Cereals Are Back for an Encore Collab with The Jim Henson Company – Here’s Why

By Heather Taylor, Editor-in-Chief, PopIcon

Spooky season is just around the corner and this year the Monsters Cereals are back for an encore collaboration with The Jim Henson Company.

Yes, this means beloved spooktacular icons Boo Berry, Franken Berry and Count Chocula are returning to puppet form on their respective cereal boxes but don’t be quick to write it off as Monsters Cereals 2: Electric Boogaloo just yet.

Megan Brooks, Business Unit Director at General Mills, joins us to share sneak peeks at the surprise twists behind this year’s partnership, like the next Monster to get his own fuzzy cereal box (diehard Monsters fans will remember Franken Berry received this honor last year) and how you can turn your cereal box into your very own Monsters puppet.

Keep reading for all things Monsters if you dare…

The Monsters are back as Jim Henson-ified puppets, the sequel! What factors went into bringing this partnership back for an encore presentation?

Fans loved seeing the Monsters come to life through Jim Henson’s Creature Shop last year, and it reminded everyone why Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry have been a part of Halloween traditions for decades. With Monsters cereal turning 55 this year, and seeing the level of excitement last year, it only made sense to build upon that magic to celebrate the nostalgia people have for the cereal and its characters.

How does the 2026 partnership differ from 2025?

Last year was all about introducing the Monsters in puppet form for the first time. This year, we’ve taken that excitement and made it even bigger.

The packaging is entirely new, with updated puppet designs, and we have an exclusive fuzzy cereal box for Count Chocula this year available exclusively on Walmart.com starting October 1. We’ve also added an interactive twist as fans can now transform the regular boxes into their own Monster puppets.

How do you turn the cereal boxes into Monsters puppets?

Each box includes step-by-step instructions on how to turn it into a puppet, complete with a character cut-out and folding guides. It’s a simple, creative way for fans of all ages to engage with the Monsters beyond the cereal bowl.

Besides the cereal box, where else can we spot the Monsters?

The Monsters are sticking to their cereals this year, but as another avenue for festive fun, we’ll also have limited-edition Lucky Charms x Monsters Just Magical Marshmallows available on shelves this fall.

These bags will be available exclusively at Target and feature the Lucky Charms marshmallows fans know and love alongside Halloween favorites from the Monsters cereals like bats, ghosts, and monsters.

Has there been any talk about bringing back Frute Brute, Yummy Mummy, or Carmella Creeper to the cereal lineup?

The Monsters lineup has such a rich history, and we know fans have an affinity for all our past characters too. Right now, the focus is on our trio of Count Chocula, Boo Berry, and Franken Berry and making their 55th anniversary as special as possible.

Will there be any other Monster-themed product releases this Halloween?

This year, we’re focused on spotlighting the cereal as it returns to shelves with creative touches from Henson. We’re excited to see how fans celebrate Halloween while pouring bowls of Monsters Cereal and Lucky Charms x Monsters Just Magical Marshmallows all season long.

Image Credit: General Mills

About the Author

Heather Taylor is the senior writer and editor-in-chief of PopIcon, Advertising Week’s blog about brand mascots. Got a pitch on brand mascots or want to wax nostalgic about characters? Drop her a line at howveryheather@gmail.com.