McDonald’s introduced Grimace as a McDonaldland character in 1971.
Grimace first appeared as a large, purple character associated with McDonald’s advertising. Early versions were portrayed differently from the friendly figure most customers recognize today, and the character’s design and personality were later simplified for children’s marketing.
Grimace joined a growing cast of McDonaldland characters that helped McDonald’s turn its advertising into a recognizable fictional world. Ronald McDonald had already become the central mascot, while characters such as Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, and Birdie the Early Bird served supporting roles.
The 1971 date is sometimes confused with the introductions of other McDonald’s characters. It is also separate from the later redesigns that made Grimace appear softer and more approachable. In 2023, renewed online interest in the character led McDonald’s to promote a limited-time Grimace Shake, but that modern campaign did not mark Grimace’s original debut.