Grimace was the McDonald's mascot introduced in 1971 as a large purple character.
The character first appeared as part of McDonald's fictional McDonaldland advertising world. Early versions of Grimace were more closely associated with stealing or loving milkshakes, while later advertising presented him as a friendly, simple-minded companion to Ronald McDonald and the other characters.
His appearance and role changed over the decades. The later Grimace was recognizable for his purple color, rounded body, large size, and limited speech. These traits made him visually distinctive in television commercials, toys, restaurant promotions, and other branded material.
Grimace is sometimes confused with McDonald's other McDonaldland characters, including Birdie, Captain Crook, and Officer Big Mac. Those characters had different designs and story roles. Grimace's defining branding features are his purple appearance and his evolution from an early milkshake-related character into a friendly mascot.