The group of French-fry characters in McDonaldland was called the Fry Kids.
The Fry Kids were brightly colored, furry advertising characters whose visual design suggested portions of French fries. They belonged to McDonaldland, the fantasy world McDonald’s used in television commercials, packaging, and promotional material beginning in the early 1970s.
McDonaldland characters gave the company a way to turn menu items into a larger cast of recognizable brand personalities. The Fry Kids were especially useful for connecting the restaurant’s signature side dish with children’s entertainment and toys.
Names and designs changed over time, which can cause confusion with the earlier names Fry Guys and Fry Girls. Those names were used for related versions of the characters, but the collective name most associated with the later group was Fry Kids.