COMMENTARY
animal crackers
Animal Crackers are no longer depicted to be in cages thanks to advocacy efforts by PETA. (Mike Allen)

They’re finally free! We did it!

Until this past week, I did not know there was an effort from PETA to change the box art for Barnum’s Animal Crackers, an effort that has been going on for two years complete with artistic suggestions apparently. Another thing I never realized: The animals were in cages on the original boxes. I guess I always had interpreted those lines (which are behind the animals, oddly) as wood paneling inside their cars, perhaps as some sort of mid-century bowling alley aesthetic.

I am of two minds on this very important subject. First, I agree with the effort, and I think the new box art is much better than the century-old look they’ve gone with for so long. Secondly, however, I don’t think a 5-year-old will notice or care about this change, and by the time they are old enough to really grasp the idea, circuses will be mostly, if not completely gone. That same 5-year-old will probably bite the head off of a cracker and laugh about it.

In any case, I think it’s been over a quarter of a century since I last ate an animal cracker. How are they tasting these days?

— Mike Allen


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  • Mike Allen

    Mike Allen is a graphic designer, painter, printer and tailor. He has a fine art degree from the University of Oklahoma.

  • Mike Allen

    Mike Allen is a graphic designer, painter, printer and tailor. He has a fine art degree from the University of Oklahoma.