| 11.23.2019 – The Happy Meal toys that celebrate the 40-year legacy of the brand has finally been released simultaneously in the Asian region that includes Southeast Asia and Australasia that previously indicated what the confirmed toys are and those are exclusively available in selected territories.
The excitement of a “surprise” toy from Happy Meal takes you back from the days that these toys are not displayed behind a glass. For the sake of nostalgia McDonald’s did not put any toys on display bring back the “thrill of the hunt” that was met with some backlash from parents and collectors that forgotten what used to be fun. |
To sum it up what used to be “fun” collecting Happy Meal in most Asian countries no longer applies to be “surprised” but in Australasia the thrill to collect these Happy Meal toys are still the same type of offering they have in Australia and New Zealand.
But in Southeast Asia majority of the Filipinos in Manila was not excited about getting a “surprise” toy as most would only want to purchase ‘the toy they want’ in the line-up. But that’s not the case in some regional branches for McDonald’s in the province. The idea of “surprise” is no longer that exciting for most as they want the toys immediately given without the adventure behind this retro celebration.
● Fourteen Toys Only
If you’ve grown up having trips to your nearby McDonald’s then you must have remembered that the toys where the “surprise” and they brought in FOURTEEN TOYS for Southeast Asia. For those who didn’t track on the release there were three toys that were exclusive to some territories.
Those THREE EXCLUSIVE toys that were not available for Southeast Asia are:
● [14] Power Rangers
● [17] Mickey Mouse
● [18] 101 Dalmatian
The story behind it is simple and most who collect these toys didn’t know about it because they thought everything that is released in another country is the same. NOT! Disney toys has not been available to Southeast Asia since 2010s due to the company pull out because the controversy about Happy Meal being unhealthy for children.
But Disney did come back ONLY TO HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT with McDonald’s USA that means the properties owned that includes Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars are exclusively released only for North American market.
While the Power Ranger gets to be released along with the fourteen toys in Australia and New Zealand while in Southeast Asia it will be restricted due to the licensing conflict with Bandai Asia as Hasbro owns the American licensing for the reason why the Red Ranger was not included.
Besides these exclusives the Southeast Asian release renumbered from 10 to 14 with the Red Ranger removal from the roster, which moves Hello Kitty to No. 15 while the Tamagochi switches to No. 14 and still retain No. 9 to be non-existent.
● Some Stores Let You Choose your Surprise
Majority of the stores in the Philippines don’t let you choose the toys you want. In some regional branches outside Manila they do and one in General Santos City was not that strict. There might be other branches in Manila that would let you choose the toy you want because the number is indicated in the white bag.
● There is No Number Nine
For those who were unaware, there is no 9th toy as indicated in the original line up it just so happens McDonald’s just left that slot empty. You only need to worry about is getting all fourteen just base it to the original numbering on the toys that were first presented when it was first revealed via social media.
You got less than five days that means they're only until 24 November 2019 from the date. But expect to have these toys sold out less than two days better head to the store and get them all!
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