The concept of WcDonald’s stands as a twist on its iconic brand, blending into the parallel universe of anime. Stemming from its first appearance in the 1983 episode of “Cat’s Eye,” where alternate reality versions of brands are often used by many anime to avoid trademark issues, WcDonald’s has since become a recognizable trope within the anime landscape. Through its physical embodiment, McDonald’s acknowledges and honors the creativity of anime artists and fans alike, enriching the bond between the corporation and the vibrant anime community.
The vintage frames of a 1983 “Cat’s Eye” episode, an emblematic manga and anime franchise that subtly debuted the now-iconic upside-down M, is the first anime to feature the iconic WcDonald’s. Throughout the years, this nod to McDonald’s has cultivated a sense of familiarity. Countless other anime shows feature WcDonalds, including Serial Experiments Lain, InuYasha, Sonic X, and Assassination Classroom. The fictional establishment’s menu playfully mimics its real-world counterpart, with items similar to nuggets, fries, and burgers all looking the same. WcDonalds is usually shown in Slice of Life anime where characters face tasks similar to those that viewers can relate to. Having WcDonalds in these anime further increases the tendency to want to connect to the characters more. McDonald’s has decided to take matters into its own hands to create its anime out of it.
In a surprising move, McDonald’s has partnered with Studio Pierrot, a studio well-known for its contributions to the world of animation. The studio is assisting McDonald’s in creating the first official WcDonald’s anime with four episodic shorts, mainly focusing on the exclusive WcDonald’s Sauce. The series was set to be unveiled weekly starting February 26 through March 18, to bring their animations to life. Eager fans can anticipate the release of these shorts either on the WcDonald’s website or by accessing a special code found on WcDonald’s bags, marking a unique marriage of fast-food culture and anime artistry.
According to Today, McDonald’s has not only joined forces to make an anime but also collaborated with esteemed Japanese manga artist and illustrator, Acky Bright. Through this unique partnership, McDonald’s introduces custom WcDonald’s packaging designed by Bright, offering patrons a limited-time opportunity to experience the vivid manga universe with every meal. All of these episodes and manga can be accessed digitally by scanning the QR code on a WcDonald’s bag to unlock them one at a time. These two collaborations demonstrate McDonald’s willingness to pay homage to Japan, which was the first to feature WcDonalds in its anime.
But how good is the dining experience in the actually opened WcDonalds? When McDonald’s materialized the concept of WcDonald’s, they inaugurated the first corporeal WcDonald’s in West Hollywood, California, concocted as a fleeting pop-up immersive dining expedition. Guests who managed to reserve their participation were greeted by vast images of anime characters coming to life, meticulously decorated to echo the exact replication as they were portrayed in the show. As they ventured inside, diners found themselves enveloped in the WcDonald’s cosmos, courtesy of an enveloping 360-degree projection mapping that cascaded over the interior space, with tabletops illuminating with vignettes inspired by the quartet of WcDonald’s anime shorts. This clever blend of culinary service and narrative fantasy helps give diners an otherworldly experience.
WcDonald’s, the whimsical, anime-inspired rendition of McDonald’s, has made a significant global impact with its presence now in over 30 markets around the world. It is evident that McDonald’s did an amazing job of bringing what could only be seen in anime into reality.
