McDonaldland character Grimace was introduced in McDonald’s advertising in 1971.
Grimace was originally presented as a large, purple character associated with milkshakes. His early portrayal was more mischievous than the friendly, simple character audiences later recognized. McDonald’s subsequently softened and simplified the design as the company developed its family-oriented fictional world.
The character joined a wider group of McDonaldland figures used to create recurring stories around McDonald’s products and restaurants. These characters helped the company make its advertising more recognizable to children and families during the 1970s.
Grimace is sometimes confused with the later Grimace Shake promotion or with the entire McDonaldland campaign. The character predates those modern references by decades. The 1971 date identifies his introduction, while later redesigns changed his appearance and personality without changing his name.