Grimace was the large purple, fuzzy McDonaldland character introduced by McDonald’s in 1971.
The character originally appeared as an antagonist who could steal customers’ milkshakes, with four arms in some early depictions. McDonald’s later changed Grimace into a friendly, simple-minded companion of Ronald McDonald and the other McDonaldland characters.
Grimace’s design and role changed several times over the decades. The modern version is usually shown with two arms, a rounded purple body, and a cheerful personality. This evolution is why older advertising may show a character who looks noticeably different from the one familiar to later audiences.
Grimace is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar or Mayor McCheese, but those characters had different visual designs and story roles. The Hamburglar was associated with stealing hamburgers, while Mayor McCheese was the elected mayor of McDonaldland. Grimace’s defining features are his purple color, large size, and fuzzy, friendly appearance.