Since When Was a Grimace a Good Thing?

McDonald’s Premiere Edition McDonald’s Cels
Classic, 1996
Mc6. Grimace

When you grimace, it’s a face you make when you’re unhappy or you disapprove. So what the heck is a restaurant using the name Grimace for one of their “happy” mascots? I guess I can’t say much considering the sign outside bragging about how many gazillions they’ve served no longer gets changed because the number is so big. And we get the point.

I spent many a years whilst in high school and university working at McDonald’s. I signed a waiver when I started saying I wouldn’t spill any secrets (although I doubt it’d hold up in court as I was a minor when I signed it) but I’m about to spill the beans on one thing - what Grimace’s origins. Contrary to popular belief, he’s not a dopey, happy-go-lucky purple blob. At least that wasn’t what he started as. Grimace is a taste bud. How’s that for useless trivia. Jeopardy!, I’m ready.

This card is printed like an animation cel. It’s on a clear plastic so Grimace shows up on both sides. Cel cards were inserted one in three packs of Classic’s 1996 McDonald’s Premiere Edition release. I just got the base set and this insert set rather cheaply. It’s nostalgic fun for me and my glory days working the grill and dealing with whiny children not happy with their Happy Meal toy. I kept telling them, “We change toys once per week. If you come three times in a seven-day span, you’re going to get doubles.”