McDonald’s introduced Grimace in 1971 as a purple character in its McDonaldland advertising world.
Grimace was initially presented as a much more mischievous figure than the gentle character recognized today. Early advertising portrayed him with multiple arms and an association with milkshakes, while later redesigns gave him the large, simple purple form that became his lasting appearance.
The character joined a broader cast that included Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, and Birdie. These figures helped McDonald’s turn advertisements into a recurring fictional setting aimed primarily at children and families.
People sometimes place Grimace’s debut in the 1980s because his later design became especially familiar through that decade’s advertising. The character, however, dates to 1971. His recent renewed popularity has also led to confusion between the original advertising character and newer internet memes built around him.