# Wacky Fast Food Characters McDonald's Creates Alternative Happy Meal Characters to Appeal to Kids By Tia Clarke | Published 2013-04-07 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/happy-meal-characters References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/356871/McDonald-s-Launches-New-Whacky-Happy-Meal-Characters/) & [creativebloq](http://www.creativebloq.com/character-design/mcdonalds-3132271) McDonald's has unveiled a range of wacky Happy Meal characters that will appeal to children of all ages. The designs feature the iconic Happy Meal box transformed into three dimensional playful characters, including everything from magicians to cowboys. Paris-based agency TBWA created these distinctive designs for McDonald's latest Happy Meal campaign. McDonald's has created some memorable ad campaigns and children's characters over the years, from its hilarious Eurosaver recession busting ads in Europe, to Ronald McDonald. The brand also has a savvy PR team that's re-marketing McDonald's as a healthy choice, by making their ingredients and sources more transparent. Despite the recession, McDonald's is one of the few brands whose revenue continues to increase year after year. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 53% | Activity: 52% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Alternative Happy Meal Characters:** Creating alternative Happy Meal characters can disrupt the fast food industry by appealing to a wider range of children and encouraging more sales. - **Three Dimensional Playful Characters:** The use of three-dimensional playful characters in fast food promotions presents an opportunity for innovative marketing strategies that captivate and engage younger audiences. - **Transparent Ingredients and Sources:** The trend of increasing transparency in fast food can disrupt the industry by rebuilding trust with consumers and positioning brands as healthier choices. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast Food:** The fast food industry can leverage alternative Happy Meal characters and creative marketing to attract and retain a wider customer base. - **Advertising:** The advertising industry can harness the trend of three-dimensional playful characters to create captivating campaigns that resonate with younger audiences. - **Food Packaging:** The food packaging industry can explore innovative designs to transform traditional packaging into three-dimensional playful characters, enhancing the overall dining experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Playful Adult-Oriented QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adult-happy-meals.md) - [Retro QSR Meal Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonaldland.md) - [Nostalgic QSR Miniature Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/happy-meal-collectibles.md) - [Reimagined Fast Food Mascots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-and-mcdonalds.md) - [Sustainable Forest-Themed Kids Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-happy-meals.md) - [Nostalgic Fast Food Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheeky-maccas.md) - [Nostalgic Adult QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonaldland-meal.md) - [Mental-Health Awareness QSR Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/happy-meal-box.md) - [Expressive Meal Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blank-happy-meal.md)