Grimace was originally portrayed with four arms when McDonald’s introduced the character.
Early versions of Grimace were presented as a mischievous creature associated with stealing milkshakes. The four-armed design emphasized that role by making the character appear able to take several drinks at once. McDonald’s later redesigned Grimace as a large, friendly, purple character with two arms and a much gentler personality.
That redesign is why many audiences remember Grimace differently from his earliest appearances. The familiar purple character became a companion to Ronald McDonald and the other McDonaldland figures rather than a villainous food thief.
Grimace’s history illustrates how McDonald’s adjusted its branding for tone and audience. The character’s name stayed the same, but his appearance, behavior, and role changed substantially over time.