McDonald’s launched the Happy Meal in 1979.
The Happy Meal was designed as a children’s meal combining food with a toy or another child-focused promotional item. Its distinctive packaging turned the meal itself into a piece of McDonald’s branding, helping the company build a stronger family-oriented identity.
The first Happy Meals were introduced in the United States after regional testing and became one of McDonald’s most recognizable branded products. Packaging, toys, and tie-ins have changed repeatedly, but the name has remained stable across decades.
A common misunderstanding is that every children’s meal at McDonald’s is automatically a Happy Meal. The Happy Meal is the specific branded offering, while individual menus and toy promotions can vary by country and period. Its launch also predates many later movie-based toy campaigns.