Kellogg's - Canada - Cereal Box Cards (1997)

Canada, even more than the United States, promotes the sale of cereal through what is on the box, instead of just relying on placing toys inside the box. For card collectors, this led to a real bonus during the Special Editions. Two different Canadian cereal box designs came packaged with cards.

The first set of Canadian cereal box cards is fairly well known among collectors. It includes three 3D cards packaged on a special 3-pack of cereal boxes. These cards are oversized (7 1/2" wide by nearly 6" tall), and have some of the best 3D images ever made for Star Wars. The 3-pack of cereal included Frosted Flakes, Corn Flakes, and Corn Pops. The 3-pack was shrink wrapped together with a cardboard footer underneath the boxes explaining that they were a Special Edition 3-pack in both French and English.

There was one card for each movie. The Star Wars card shows X-Wings in space, The ESB card shows AT-ATs on Hoth, and the ROTJ card shows the cockpit of the Shuttle Tydirium as the rebels approach Endor. The quality of these 3D cards must be seen to be believed.

These cards were not difficult to trade for, and can still be found at fair prices either still attached to the cereal boxes (which makes a great display), or separated from the boxes.

A second set of Canadian cereal box cards also exists. This set is not attached to the boxes, but actually has cards that are part of the boxes, and must be cut out. There are a total of 16 SOTE (Shadows of the Empire) trading cards to collect. These were printed four to a box on the backs of specially marked Honey Nut Corn Flakes, Corn Flakes, and Bran Flakes (all by Kellogg's). Marked boxes advertised a special SOTE contest (winners could either get a SOTE novel, or better still a full Star Wars library). The SOTE cards on the back are slightly smaller than regular trading cards, but have nice images. Text on the back (even though these are cut-out cards, they do have text on the backs) is in both English and French.

Box One features the first four cards: C-3P0, Darth Vader, SOTE artwork (the novel cover), and Jabba the Hutt. Box Two (boxes are not numbered) features: SOTE artwork (Leia, Boba), Han in Carbonite, The Emperor, and Obi-Wan Box Three features: Chewbacca, Luke, Slave Leia, SOTE artwork (Xizor) Box Four features: Boba Fett, R2-D2, Lando Calrissian, SOTE artwork (Black Sun emblem)

All of the character cards show photos from the films, with each box also containing a card that is artwork, rather than a photo.

These cards were more difficult to locate than the 3D cards, and are a terrific addition to any collection. Definitely an item to look for.

Canada also had a number of Kellogg's cereal boxes that featured some 3D images for Star Wars. The type you stare at until a picture emerges.