Happy Meal Asia | UNO + Anime

McDonald’s in Southeast Asia has diverse synergies and different markets under one region. It may not be like in Oceania with Australia and New Zealand, but with the way things work with cultural relatability, certain franchises or IPs are well known in this side of the region.This adds a unique difference between the toys released on the other side of the globe. In capturing the right audience, McDonald’s Asian rollout at the start of the year was inspired by popular anime from Japan, with Crayon Shin-Chan last month, and now, a collaboration between Mattel’s iconic card games with UNO and two Anime Series!

Happy Meal #1Shots | The Rise of Gru

The upcoming Minions: The Rise of Gru would have been released by 3 July 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic they would have scheduled it for this year, 2 July 2021. Due to barring further delays and the films largely unfinished with Illumination Mac Guf’s temporary closure it was pushed further to officially released for 1 July 2022 in response to the pandemic. But the rollout of the merchandise and tie-ins has begun since McDonald’s released the toys in November/December 2020. The releas of toys for Southeast Asia was about it until this recent unexpected second wave of Minions came out that would include the only human with Gru!

Happy Meal 2021 | Rise of Gru Wave II

McDonald’s drops a surprising Happy Meal for the month of June 2021 with another set of Minions from the Rise of Gru sequel, which the screen date has been pushed from July 2021 to next year. For those who are unaware this is considered a second wave of toys as the first wave was released sometime late in November 2020. The unexpected release of this second set of Minions is also the opportunity for collectors to get some of the characters that were supposed to be exclusive in other countries. This means another set bump up the number of minions from last year with another set of 20 characters that were sighted at one of the stores in Manila.

Happy Meal 40th | 3 Things You Should Know

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.

Happy Meal #1Shots | Barbie Astronaut

04.03.2019 – Every time a new set of Happy Meal toy is a mad scramble to their nearest store. But it all depends on the country that release them as you all know some parts of Asia they don’t release an entire set, but you have to wait a specific day of the week for its feature toy like in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong. But in the Philippines it’s a different story once they release the toys most of them get a set immediately within the day. It is also depending on the popularity which toy that might be. For April 2019, its Barbie and Hot Wheels as the latest that has been a regular for McDonald’s Happy Meal.

Happy Meal 2019 | Discovery #Mindblown Bots

03.08.2019 – Happy Meal toys has been a diverse kind of collectibles and kids play things that. Most of the toys released are well known licensed toy brands or having tie-up to movies, animated TV series, or videogames. Besides toys there are books Roan Dahl’s collection has been out in Australia and some parts of Europe possibly some would rather get the toys than books, and then there toys that are educational that McDonald’s tie-up with Discovery Networks would turn out to be something that would depend of the reception of which country it is going to be like these robots!

Rick & Morty | Happy Meal that Never Was

08.20.2017 – Rick and Morty has become popular with its series currently running for three seasons on Adult Swim. It has spawned limited merchandise and most recently action figures with build-a-figure for Morty’s mechanized family dog, Snowball. You’ve got shirts toys, board games and anything Rick and Morty related, but there never were any toys that came out as free for breakfast cereals or even Happy Meal toys that some collectors kept speculating and here’s the truth about this…

Happy Meal #1Shots | Sun: Pikachu

08.12.2017 – Pokemon has been one of Nintendo’s iconic brands since the 1990s. From an RPG game from their handheld game unit to animated series it continues to evolve, which recently introduced Pokemon Sun & Moon. To tie-up with the latest iteration of the game Nintendo and McDonald’s introduce it for their Happy Meal which is now the current toys in Australia this month along with Hello Kitty. One of the iconic Pokemon characters included is Pikachu!

Happy Meal Spotlight | The Secret Life of Pets

08.20.2016 – “The Secret Life of Pets” is the latest Happy Meal toys for this month in promoting the 3D animated feature film. This is also from the same producers who brought you Despicable ME and the Minions. In selected parts of Asia the pets are figurines that feature gimmicks from wind ups, push button, and sound bites. It’s definitely going to be another Happy Meal filled with new characters. McDonald’s is celebrating the fun. If you haven’t seen these toys find out who’s your favorite character as they released eight for you to collect.

Happy Meal Spotlight | Yo-kai Projector

07.02.2016 – Yo-kai Watch is a special device used to identify creatures causing mischief, which it can also be used to summon them to do battle. This very much the premise that started as a game on a handheld consoled in Japan. This actually popular now with the kids from the Manga series written by Yoichi Katō it had a cult following with the young generation. Its today’s Pokemon and an anime series has continue to expand with Yo-kai. Various merchandise where produced and McDonald’s in Japan caught up with the craze.

Happy Meal 2016 | Next Toys for Australia & US Release!

05.26.2016 – Happy Meal toys has become a sought after collectible that spawned communities around the world. In the Philippines its one of the biggest interest that is second only to the popularity of Funko Pop figurines. But the Happy Meal is unlike the above mentioned as it’s an inexpensive hobby that has been around since its introduction in the late 1970s. They are a unique collectible as some releases are different from other countries. Australia and the US have already set what their next Happy Meal toys you only need to look further…

Happy Meal Launches Angry Birds Toys & More!

05.15.2016 - The “Angry Birds” block screening presented by McDonald’s also promoting the latest Happy Meal toys and the exclusive treats was the highlight of the event that was transpired one Saturday afternoon at the Powerplant Mall. Parents with their children and some kid at heart were invited to the exclusive block screening of the “Angry Birds Movie” currently shown in cinemas. But what makes this day special was the theme based from the popular game app by Rovio.

Happy Meal Spotlight: Adventure Time!

04.19.2016 – McDonald’s latest Happy Meal toy featured is ‘Adventure Time’, which is now available that has begun availability since Monday April 18th. This is now the first time ‘Adventure Time’ was featured as a meal toy. The first time Jake and Finn was the featured meal toy was in 2013 that also have BMO and Ice King as part of the set, which also include another version of the lead characters. For this Happy Meal four more characters where introduced.

Happy Meal Spotlight 2014: My Little Pony!

05.17.2014 – For those who haven’t keeping track of the latest Happy Meal toys in the Philippines, for this month of May. You’ll probably not be surprised, but others might be underwhelmed by this set of promotions. But it’s definitely sure, there will be My Little Pony fans out there along with their male counterparts ‘The Brownies’ looking to get the latest ponies from McDonald’s. Last year, they released MLP figurines along with related to Transformers Prime.

Happy Meal Spotlight: Beware The Batman!

12.19.2013 – Beware The Batman is McDonald’s Philippines Happy Meal for December 2013. It was accompanied by Sketcher’s Twinkle Toes light-up sneaker danglers. But most of the promotion was dominated by Beware the Batman collectibles. Originally when it was launched in the US it released five items with the exception of Batman in an action pose shooting a projectile weapon. McDonald’s Asia has a maximum of 8 toys to release each month with the exception of the Minions & Smurf…

Happy Meal Spotlight: Smurfs 2!

08.14.2013 – It’s been almost a month since the release of the Happy Meal featuring the characters from Smurfs 2 was released and some of them are still available in selected McDonald’s store in the Philippines. They even held a special #ToyPhotography contest for you to be able to win a Sony Cybershot digital camera. The US release came out last July 1, 2013 and it’s not the same as how Despicable Me 2’s minions have ruled the toy meal world.

Happy Meal the Croods: Grug!

03.18.2013 – During the Croods press screening last Saturday everyone got treated to a surprise from McDonald’s which gave away the latest Happy Meal Toy for April 2013 ahead of the usual release date which is usually a week before end of the month. Most popular characters from the Croods that was given away were Nicholas Cage’s character in Grug and Emma Stone’s Eep. There are six more characters but those are entirely creatures that was featured in the film.

Happy Meal Spotlight: SpongeBob's Friends!

03.04.2013 – This month of March McDonald’s brings you the latest Happy Meal toys in SpongeBob SquarePants. Originally released in North America mid-2012 and they came out with sixteen different characters in its first run. Usually the ones that came out from North America makes it to Australia and parts of Asia but not completely intact. The maximum characters or toys they released is eight figurines depends on which region you’re in Asia its still a modest number compared to other competing fast food restaurants.

Happy Meal Asia Spotlight: Young Justice!

01.04.2013 – McDonald’s may yet have another set of DC Comics related toys that you’ll find to be interesting. If you have been following the hit series “Young Justice” surely you’ll be familiar with the characters by now. This was released in some parts of Asia including the Philippines paired up with Hello Kitty, which was originally released in the US much earlier in 2012 with a set of eight to collect. But due to how it’s marketed in Asia they only released four characters.

Happy Meal Spotlight: Rise of the Guardians!

12.05.2012 – The Happy Meal for December 2012 revealed the promotion featuring Rise of the Guardians the film shown for the Holidays based from William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood book series and The Man in the Moon short film with ReelFX. The toys consist of six characters based from the animated feature though it would be great if Santa Claus was not trapped inside a Snow Globe. The promotion started late November where the interest has not picked up yet.