McDonald’s moon-faced character introduced in 1971 and associated with milkshakes was Grimace.
Grimace first appeared as a large purple character in McDonaldland advertising. Early versions were more mischievous and were associated with stealing milkshakes, but the character was later softened into a friendly companion of Ronald McDonald.
The character’s simple shape and bright color made Grimace especially recognizable in restaurant advertising, toys, packaging, and promotional campaigns. Unlike the Hamburglar, whose identity centered on mischief and hamburgers, Grimace became known primarily as a cheerful, child-friendly figure.
Descriptions of Grimace’s exact species have varied, and McDonald’s has not always emphasized one definitive real-world identity. That uncertainty is why “purple character” is safer than assigning him a specific animal. His stable branding role is as a friendly McDonaldland character linked historically with milkshakes.