Grimace became McDonald’s purple mascot after first appearing in advertising in 1971.
The character’s original design was much different from the friendly purple figure known today. Early Grimace advertising portrayed him with multiple arms, which were used to suggest that he could take customers’ milkshakes. McDonald’s later simplified the design and repositioned Grimace as a gentle, child-friendly companion.
This evolution is why older descriptions of Grimace may not match modern images. He was part of the expanding McDonaldland cast, which gave McDonald’s advertising a shared fictional setting and a group of recurring personalities.
Grimace eventually became one of the chain’s most recognizable characters, alongside Ronald McDonald. His color and distinctive silhouette made him especially effective on packaging, signs, toys, and promotional materials.