McDonald’s introduced the character Grimace in 1971.
Grimace first appeared as part of the McDonaldland cast, the fictional world McDonald’s used to give its advertising a shared setting. The early version was portrayed as a mischievous character with multiple arms who stole milkshakes. The character was later redesigned into the large, purple, friendly figure most audiences recognize.
The redesign changed Grimace’s personality and visual role. Instead of being primarily a milkshake thief, he became Ronald McDonald’s good-natured companion and a friendlier presence for children.
Grimace’s introduction is often confused with the debut dates of Ronald McDonald or the Hamburglar. Ronald appeared in the 1960s, while Grimace joined the McDonaldland cast in the early 1970s.