Grimace was introduced by McDonald’s in 1971 as a purple, shake-associated character.
The earliest version of Grimace was presented as a more troublesome figure connected with stealing milkshakes. McDonald’s later changed his personality and appearance, making him a large, friendly companion in the McDonaldland cast.
That evolution is why descriptions of Grimace can seem inconsistent. The character’s modern image is gentle and cheerful, while historical advertising sometimes gave him a mischievous role. His purple color and rounded shape became his most durable visual traits.
Grimace is often mixed up with the Hamburglar because both appeared in McDonaldland commercials. Their roles differed: the Hamburglar focused on hamburgers, while Grimace became especially associated with shakes and friendship.