McDonald’s introduced the McDonaldland character world in 1971.
McDonaldland was a fictional setting populated by characters connected with McDonald’s products and restaurant imagery. It gave the company a colorful, recurring story world for television commercials, packaging, playgrounds, and promotional materials.
The setting included figures such as Mayor McCheese, Grimace, Birdie, and the Hamburglar. Ronald McDonald was central to the wider branding but had already appeared before McDonaldland was introduced.
McDonaldland is sometimes dated to the first appearance of an individual character, which can cause confusion. The year 1971 refers to the launch of the broader branded world, not to the debut of every character associated with it.