McDonald's Commercials And Their Characters
By DarthJustice
@DarthJustice (2013)
United States
May 6, 2009 4:20pm CST
This is something I've been wondering about for a while now. If you're old enough (and at least live here in the US because I'm not sure how the commercials were done elsewhere) to remember, then you'll likely remember the commercials and characters involved in them that McDonald's used to do. Of course I'm referring to their old characters such as Birdie, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and most obviously Ronald McDonald to name a few.
Of course over time it seems that most of these characters, aside from Ronald, have disappeared altogether from McDonald's commercials. BUT...to my surprise, they actually used Grimace in a pretty recent commercial for the Aliens vs. Monsters movie that was released not too long ago.
That kind of helped spark this question I guess.
Why did McDonald's stop using all of these characters, aside from Ronald McDonald? Does anyone know?
2 people like this
7 responses
@Ozarkgirl (774)
• United States
6 May 09
OK Great I never thought of that until now when you put that question into my head. Thanks alot...lol.But seriously I have not thought of that but now I want to know why too????
Maybe they just tried to change with the times, I dunno.....
1 person likes this
@DarthJustice (2013)
• United States
6 May 09
Sorry lol. I've been wondering that for a while now as I said in my original post. Maybe that was the reason or part of it.
1 person likes this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
6 May 09
I dont know but when I was a kid I love thoes characters. They made it seem more fun. Once in a while when we were there they would have a character running around visiting us. They also had a hamburgular slide where you could climb up a ladder into his head and take a twirl slide down. They toys now are safer but not as fun.
Now I am wondering why too...
1 person likes this
@DarthJustice (2013)
• United States
6 May 09
I loved those characters too when I was a kid. You're right about how they did make the commercials a lot more fun it seems. I remember those playground equipment too. I remember one where it was the mayor or chief where you crawled up in his head which was surrounded by bars.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
9 May 09
Maybe the voices of the original characters is no longer alive, or they actuallly used to use real people who are no longer able to do it. But I do remember the commercials of old, and really think it would be Cool to bring some of them back and help make the commercials more exciting again as well.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
6 May 09
Ohhhh I remember all of them! They used to be plastered all over the walls in our local restaurant until they remodeled it. As far as I understand it, McDonald's stopped using those characters because of the issues with child obesity and trying to frame themselves as offering "healthier" eating options. Those characters were targeting children, ie., the 12 and under set, and apparently the corporation agreed to stop marketing directly to them.
@DarthJustice (2013)
• United States
6 May 09
Yeah, that sounds pretty likely. Unfortunate, if so. Whatever the reasons, I used to love the characters in the commercials.
1 person likes this
@Kowgirl (3489)
• United States
6 May 09
I think they got more response to their commercials when they started using real people. Not only that but it cost more to use animated cartoon characters.
Believe it or not some children were afraid of those characters therefore were afraid to go in their restaurant. So in keeping their customers coming they changed to happy faced humans.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
6 May 09
I agree with some of the other comments about marketing targeted towards children. As I recall McDonalds started the family friendly campaign...making their product appear to be more convenient than cooking, bringing the family together and the answer to the last minute "what to make for dinner". Of course, now their marketing is way too hip and cool to use characters like that. 
@Mikaela_taz25 (1842)
• Philippines
7 May 09
It seems that those characters had their become famous in their time.but not the popularity,which didn't really last Long. Hmmmm, i didn't notice that one of the Characters there were actually from Mc Donalds? Maybe they prefer real people to be in the commercial to signify human life with Mc Donalds. have a nice day..