# Plush Toy QSR Meals McDonald's Presents the Special Squishmallows Happy Meal Offer By Amy Duong | Published 2025-05-16 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squishmallows-happy-meal References: [corporate.mcdonalds](https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/USmenuspotter.html)  [McDonald's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-squishmallows-happy-meal) is bringing back the adorable [Squishmallows Happy Meal](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giftable-squishmallows) offer along with the selection of 12 new toys. The two forces first worked together back in 2023 and the 12 latest plush toys kicks off with Halley. Halley is an intergalactic axolotl who is making its debut in the world of Squishmallows. Each Squishmallow plush toy is made in collaboration with [Jazwares](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jazwares-1). It all features a tag with a character narrative along with a code where fans can scan to participate in an interactive mobile game. This promotion is running until June 9th at participating locations in the US. Other familiar faces that can be seen include cats, bats, butterflies, and much more -- it is available until it runs out. Image Credit: McDonald's ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 86% | Freshness: 41% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cross-merchandising Collaborations:** By integrating beloved plush toy brands into traditional fast-food offerings, companies create novel hybrid experiences that appeal to broader audiences. - **Gamified Consumer Engagement:** Including interactive mobile games with traditional purchases transforms passive consumer interactions into engaging experiences that increase brand loyalty. - **Pop-culture Collectibles Craze:** Limited-edition toy promotions leverage the growing demand for pop-culture collectibles, driving traffic by tapping into the collector's market. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast-food Chains:** Fast-food chains are experimenting with partnerships in the toy industry to enhance meal appeal and drive foot traffic. - **Toy Manufacturing:** Toy manufacturers are capitalizing on cross-industry partnerships to expand their market reach beyond traditional retail channels. - **Mobile Gaming:** The mobile gaming industry benefits from collaborations with consumer brands to enhance brand engagement through interactive content. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [QSR Plush Toy Offerings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squishmallows-return.md) - [Squishy QSR Toy Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-squishmallows-happy-meal.md) - [Plush Toy-Inspired Desserts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squishmallows-mcflurry.md) - [Expansive QSR Toy Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-happy-meals.md) - [Shareable QSR Meal Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-happy-meal-1.md) - [Easter-Ready Toy Plushies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jazwares-1.md) - [Fast Food Plushie Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-singapore-and-hello-kitty.md) - [Plush Anime Monster Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pokmon-squishmallows.md) - [Snuggly Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giftable-squishmallows.md)