McDonald's redesigned the Hamburglar into his best-known child-friendly look in 1985.
The earlier Hamburglar was presented as a short, older-looking character with a more exaggerated criminal persona. In 1985, McDonald's gave him a younger appearance, including a black-and-white striped outfit, red cape, and more playful styling. The redesign made him fit more comfortably into the company's family-oriented advertising.
The character remained associated with hamburgers and mischievous behavior, but the tone shifted from an unsettling fantasy villain toward a cartoon companion. This was part of a broader effort to keep McDonaldland characters visually appealing to children.
The Hamburglar's original introduction and his major redesign are separate dates. He had appeared before 1985; 1985 is the year associated with the familiar modernized version that dominated later advertising.