Which McDonaldland character was introduced in 1971 as the mayor of the fictional world?
Answer
Mayor McCheese
Mayor McCheese was introduced in 1971 as the mayor of the fictional McDonaldland world.
The character had a large cheeseburger-shaped head, a mayoral sash, and other civic-style details. McDonaldland placed McDonald's food and restaurant imagery into a fantasy setting populated by recurring characters aimed primarily at children.
Mayor McCheese appeared alongside Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and other figures in commercials, promotional materials, and restaurant-related merchandise. His design made the connection to the cheeseburger immediately visible.
Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac because both used official-looking roles and hamburger imagery. Officer Big Mac was a separate McDonaldland character. The mayor's distinctive feature was his cheeseburger head and civic title.