Tootsie Pop’s Legendary ‘How Many Licks’ Commercial Just Got A 2025 Revamp
Unless you’ve lived under a rock or were born recently, odds are you’ve seen the iconic 1970s Tootsie Pop animated commercial, featuring an owl who humorously answers a question that still haunts the world’s greatest minds:
“How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?”
The commercial is one of the longest-running in television history and has aired every Halloween since its debut. In the original, against a textured backdrop of colors that alternate, a young boy visits various animals seeking the answer to the question.
He first visits Mr. Cow, who admits he doesn’t know and suggests asking the clever, cool Mr. Fox. But Mr. Fox doesn’t know either—he’s never made it through without biting. Mr. Fox then sends the boy to Mr. Turtle, saying that since he’s been around much longer, he might have the answer.
But even he admits to never making it to the center, and recommends asking Mr. Owl, who is the wisest of all the animals. In response to the question, Mr. Owl cheekily demonstrates how many licks, but to the boy’s disappointment, only takes three before biting into it.
This simple commercial has captured the hearts of people for decades, and recently, Tootsie Roll decided to remake it for a new generation. The remake is reminiscent of the classic 1970s “Mikey loves it!” commercial from Life cereal that was remade with an adult Mikey in 2000, and again in 2024 with a new kid altogether.
Except, Tootsie Roll has managed to recreate the second half of its iconic commercial down to a tee, and it looks amazing. The candy maker retained the vintage aesthetic of the original, from the simple line illustrations to the textured backdrop of colors. Even the same voiceovers were used.
It’s the perfect example of how to breathe new life into a childhood classic, bridging the past with the present, while staying true to the spirit of the brand we’ve come to love. Maybe now, with today’s foodie culture, or with the help of AI, we can finally figure out how many licks it really takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
