The McDonald's characters that resemble French fries are called the Fry Kids.
The Fry Kids are small, shaggy, ball-like McDonaldland creatures with legs but no arms. Their defining behavior was trying to steal French fries from other characters, which made their visual design and name a direct reference to McDonald's signature side dish.
The characters were originally introduced in 1972 as the “Gobblins.” They were later renamed the Fry Guys, and the female characters were called Fry Girls. The broader group eventually became known as the Fry Kids, the name most commonly used for the characters as a group.
Fry Kids are often mixed up with other McDonaldland figures. Birdie is a yellow bird associated with breakfast, Grimace is a large purple character, and the Hamburglar is a burger-stealing character. The Fry Kids are distinct because they are anthropomorphic fry-themed creatures rather than people or animals. They appeared in commercials, merchandise, PlayPlaces, and other McDonald's children's marketing.