We are all aware that McDonald’s has come up with some amazing Happy Meal toys over the years, from cool to innovative, and even scary.
If you were a kid in the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, you probably remember the joy of receiving a popular toy alongside your tasty fries. However, some of these Happy Meal toys were simply… weird.
Let’s dive into the most unusual toys McDonald’s has ever released.
1. The McNugget Buddies in Halloween Costumes (1990s)
McDonald’s definitely wanted to keep the Halloween spirit alive in the ’90s by introducing The McNugget Buddies in Halloween Costumes.
These scarily charming nuggets came dressed as pirates, witches, and even Frankenstein.
Children enjoyed them because they were both scary and cute, and they gave kids inspiration for their own Halloween costumes.
2. Ronald McDonald’s Changeables – Food That Transformed Into Robots
Wouldn’t it be cool to have a cheeseburger that can transform into a robot warrior? Well, no need to imagine it because McDonald’s made it happen.
In their pretty weird version of Transformers, McDonald’s decided to mix food with technology – and somehow it totally worked.
Changeables were favorites among children who loved this new idea of robots and transformation.
3. Fry Kids with Hair You Could Comb (1980s)
Fuzziness and food usually do not mix, so this Happy Meal toy was more than unexpected. Fry Kids looked like small trolls with frizzy hair you could comb.
You could also give them small hairdos or pull out their hair entirely. They were a fun idea, but it was not so great if some of that hair got into your Big Mac.
4. Chicken Run Figurines With Vacant Eyes (2000)
These little plastic chickens were imagined as adorable movie tie-ins, but most of them looked traumatized. With a stare like they’d seen things, they were not popular with all the children.
Also, their rigid poses were more eerie than cute, and that is why they are on our list.
However, they remained popular, and adults enjoyed collecting them as well.
5. The Michael Jordan Fitness Tracker (2000s)
Imagine a fast food restaurant motivating children to exercise. Ironic, right? Well, in the 2000s, McDonald’s gave out a toy that counted your steps after digesting your nuggets.
It was a popular toy, especially for Jordan’s fans, but most kids were not too impressed. Who wants to feel pressure to exercise right after enjoying a delicious meal?
6. Mr. Potato Head Disguised as Star Wars Characters (2009)
Mr. Potato Head was suddenly Yoda… or Darth Vader. This concept of disguising Mr. Potato Head into Star Wars Characters was a bit genius… and a bit creepy.
Star Wars fans surely enjoyed it, but smaller children probably thought this was another Halloween Happy Meal edition.
7. Hello Kitty Plushies with Oddly Long Legs (2000s)
We all know Hello Kitty as this tiny, adorable toy, with tiny arms and legs, and a bubbly head. These Hello Kitty toys had legs longer than life, and it made them look quite disturbing.
Cute from the top up, but quite unsettling from the knees down, these toys were a perfect mix of adorable and weird.
8. Ronald McDonald Pencil Toppers That Looked Like Voodoo Dolls (1980s)
Pencil toppers were a huge thing in the ’80s, and many loved how personalized and cute they felt. However, when McDonald’s released their Ronald McDonald pencil topper, not everyone was impressed.
What was meant to be a fun desk companion turned out to be a scary-looking miniature.
Their beady eyes and creepy smiles didn’t help. How this was meant to be fun for children, we may never know, but their impact surely lasts.
