Grimace was the McDonald’s character created in 1971 with a purple, blob-like design.
Grimace first appeared in McDonald’s advertising in 1971. His earliest concept was different from the friendly, simple character most audiences later recognized: early versions had multiple arms and were associated with the theft of milkshakes. McDonald’s subsequently simplified the design and changed Grimace into a large, gentle companion for Ronald McDonald and the other McDonaldland characters.
The character’s undefined shape became part of his appeal. Unlike Mayor McCheese, whose identity was visually tied to a cheeseburger, Grimace did not represent a particular menu item in his later form. His purple color and slow, friendly personality made him distinctive in commercials, packaging and promotional material.
A frequent mix-up concerns Grimace’s original role. Many people know only the later friendly version and assume he was always a harmless companion. The early four-armed character had a more mischievous milkshake-related concept, while the redesigned Grimace became one of McDonald’s best-known mascots.