USA – American fast-food restaurant chain McDonald’s has announced a collaboration with renowned Japanese manga artist Acky Bright to launch manga-inspired packaging for anime fans.
This initiative is part of the company’s new campaign, WcDonald’s, an anime version of McDonald’s, set to be introduced in the US and more than 30 global markets on 26 February 2024.
The custom-designed WcDonald’s packaging aims to immerse customers in the WcDonald’s universe with each meal.
For a limited period, the packaging will feature WcDonald’s Crew characters, drawn by Bright.
Bright said: “I had a great time partnering with McDonald’s to help make WcDonald’s a reality for manga fans who have a genuine love for the brand.
“From the details of the diverse Crew characters to the manga plot itself, I loved being able to use my artwork to bring to life the dynamic, vibrant world of WcDonald’s for people around the world.”
As part of the WcDonald’s campaign, a new short animation will be released from 26 February until 18 March.
The four short animations, to be released every Monday, will pay tribute to a major anime subgenre: Action, Romance, Mecha, and Fantasy.
Customers can scan a code on the packaging to access weekly digital manga releases featuring a full cast of WcDonald’s Customers and Crew.
McDonald’s USA chief marketing and customer experience officer Tariq Hassan said: “Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years.
“The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honours their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”
This announcement follows McDonald’s initiative last year, in collaboration with Checkpoint Systems, to integrate food-safe RFID technology into its new reusable containers, a strategic move aimed at enhancing packaging tracking, optimizing reusable systems, and mitigating waste.
Moreover, this development aligns seamlessly with the French government’s recent nationwide ban on disposable tableware, aimed at addressing the waste crisis and fostering sustainability.
McDonald’s reaffirms its steadfast commitment to eliminating superfluous packaging waste from its operations, contributing to the ongoing enhancement of recycling systems on a global scale.
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