Grimace is McDonald's purple mascot introduced in 1971.
The character first appeared in McDonald's advertising as a much more unusual figure than the friendly, simple mascot familiar today. Early versions were associated with stealing milkshakes, but the character was later redesigned as a large, gentle, childlike companion.
Grimace became part of McDonaldland, the fictional advertising setting that also included Ronald McDonald and other branded characters. His distinctive purple color and rounded shape made him easy to identify in television commercials, restaurant displays, and licensed products.
Grimace is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar because both were introduced as McDonaldland characters. Their roles were different: the Hamburglar was a mischievous character, while Grimace evolved into a friendly member of Ronald's group.