Japanese anime has been absolutely thriving lately, exploding in popularity both domestically and internationally. Its soft power is undeniable, especially with its massive boom during the pandemic, making the global market a huge force to reckon with.
It's no surprise then that brands worldwide are tapping into Japanese ACG (Anime, Comics, Games) culture for their marketing, proving just how mainstream and commercially viable it's become. Case in point: McDonald's US recently dropped a hilarious series of memes on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The theme? "What if anime characters ordered McDonald's?" Fans went wild, calling it "pure genius!"
Turns out, this meme spree was a clever promo for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025, the annual bash hosted by the US anime streaming platform Crunchyroll. Held on May 25th, this ninth edition saw "Solo Leveling," adapted from a Korean web novel, snagging the coveted "Anime of the Year" award.
McDonald's US's official X account used the #AnimeAwards hashtag to unleash these "If Anime Characters Ordered McDonald's" images. The genius? No actual characters appear! Instead, each image features a background color matching the character's vibe, topped with a McDonald's paper bag. A receipt is taped to the bag, listing the character's name and their "likely order."
▼ "Solo Leveling's" Sung Jinwoo
He snagged an Egg McMuffin, but with a *ton* of grape jelly. The official caption? "brb activating domain of the monarch skill with grape jam." A hilarious jab at his ability to summon an army of shadows, reimagined as a jam-fueled power-up.
▼ "Attack on Titan's" Colossal Titan
Who knew the 60-meter-tall Colossal Titan would only order a "small" coffee? McDonald's couldn't resist a jab: "With that height and name, are you sure you ordered the right thing?"
▼ "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End's" Frieren
Her order? A Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel – a US-exclusive sandwich packed with steak, egg, and cheese. The caption playfully noted: "She really loves steak, huh?" A nod to her iconic scene where she orders an absurd amount of steak.
▼ "Dandadan's" Momo Ayase & Okarun
These two grabbed two Egg McMuffins, milk, and orange juice. The caption teased: "Is this a date or just a friendly hangout?"
▼ "Blue Lock's" Yoichi Isagi
Isagi went for Hotcakes and a whopping 10 hash browns. The caption? "He usually only eats this after winning a good match."
▼ "One Piece's" Luffy
Luffy also ordered the Steak Bagel, but in true Luffy fashion, he piled on extra steak, bacon, and sausage! The caption perfectly captured his vibe: "Heroes share meat, but pirates devour it all." A direct callback to his famous line: "Heroes share their meat with others, but I want to eat all the meat!"
Each image was a total hit with fans, sparking plenty of laughs. Some even wondered, "Can an official account really get away with such obvious character references?" But since the memes cleverly avoided using any actual character art or illustrations, they were totally safe. Still, McDonald's US definitely proved they know how to nail a fun social media campaign!