McDonald’s fans ‘can’t wait’ as iconic Happy Meal collaboration is revealed
McDonald’s has done it again: its latest Happy Meal collaboration is going global, featuring adorable characters designed by a five-time Grammy-nominated K-pop band.
This year, the fast-food titan has offered fans exciting partnerships with Nintendo, bringing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to life through clippable action figures, and Stranger Things to celebrate the release of animated spin-off series, Tales from ‘85.
Currently, the FIFA World Cup Squishmallows are still available to purchase in Happy Meals across the globe, with 23 available to collect, including plushies based on the three tournament co-hosts, Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The sports-inspired Squishmallows will remain inside Happy Meals until 14th July, which is when another cute collectable collab comes into play, as per McDonald’s.
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Later this month, kids and adults alike will be able to get their mitts on one of eight BT21 characters designed in collaboration with K-pop supergroup BTS, as per USA Today.
BTS, who debuted in 2013, partnered with Line Friends in 2017 to create BT21, an avatar brand in which each character is based on a member’s personality.
For example, Jungkook's BT21 character is named Cooky; he’s loyal and ‘always full of heart and boundless stamina’, as per the BT21 website.
Meanwhile, Koya, a ‘sleeping cutie’ who is shaped like a koala bear, was created by RM (Kim Nam-joon), and Prince Tata, an off-the-wall, curious soul, is a magical alien engineered by V (Kim Tae-hyung).
Other collectable favourites include:
- RJ - a kind and fluffy alpaca. Created by Jin.
- Shooky - a prankster chocolate chip. Created by Suga.
- Mang - a purple squirrel who is the main dancer of the pack. Created by J-Hope
- Chimmy - a hardworking puppy. Created by Jimin.
- Van - a space robot who represents the BTS’ fanbase, ARMY Created by the company’s creative designers.
Two more toys are included in the promotion: one which has ‘all of the characters on a ship’ and a poster with stickers’.
Each BT21 Happy Meal toy comes with a clip so you can ‘hook Tata to your purse, put Chimmy on your keyring, or take the whole group of universtars with you on your backpack’, as per McDonald’s Menu Spotter
Each McDonald’s x BTS Happy Meal will feature a QR code which will allow your ‘inner artist to flow alongside your favourite characters as you create different tracks and bring their performance to life’, as per the fast-food outlet.
“Head to your nearest McDonald’s starting July 14 and let BT21 bring the universe together—one beat, dance move and Happy Meal at a time!,” the brand added.
Fans have been having their say, with one taking to X to write: “Pick me up one of each @McDonalds.”
“Can't wait to add to my collection,” a second commented.
A third typed: “Can't wait, please make it available in India as well.”
“My store just received the display! They're so cute!! I'm so ready!!!!,” added someone else.
BTS’ Happy Meal collaboration comes as the band prepares to perform at the FIFA Men’s World Cup halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July with Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.
The group recently launched its fifth studio album ARIRANG, and its first tour since the members finished their mandatory South Korean military service.
The BTS tour returns to the United States on 1 August.
Ella Scott