The Happy Meal, introduced by McDonald's in 1979, became a major part of the chain's children's branding.
The product combined a child-sized meal with a toy or other promotional item. Its packaging and contents gave McDonald's a branded experience aimed specifically at children and families, rather than simply offering a smaller adult meal.
The Happy Meal was first tested in the United States before becoming a standard McDonald's offering. Its recognizable box, changing toy partnerships, and links to popular films and characters made it a recurring advertising platform.
The Happy Meal is often grouped with McDonaldland because both were central to children's marketing, but they are not the same thing. McDonaldland was a fictional advertising world; the Happy Meal was a menu product and packaging concept.