McDonald’s steps up efforts to offer cartoon links

Following the resounding success of the temporary rebranding of some McDonald’s locations to WcDonald’s – a meme in the anime that renamed the chain and reversed the famous arches to avoid copyright issues – the chain has partnered with the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen to launch its very first garlic sauce.

Starting July 9, fans will be able to use the company’s app to order the condiment inspired by the black garlic sauce served at McDonald’s restaurants across Japan. And since it wouldn’t be a promotion without some sort of collectible, the sauce will be sold in eight separate packs, each representing a different character from the series: Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki, Satoru Gojo, Kento Nanami, Suguru Geto, Mahito, and Sukuna.

These names may not ring a bell, but while some customers might argue that McDonald’s caters to a niche audience, the enthusiasm of anime fans really can’t be overstated.

The new garlic sauce (and its packaging) can be obtained with any McNuggets order. Ordering it will also unlock a 30-day trial of the Crunchyroll streaming service, where customers can watch as much anime as they want, including Jujutsu Kaisen.

McDonald’s will debut the sauce cover designs on NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s car this Sunday.

The fast-food chain made a splash in February by embracing the animated meme and temporarily changing its brand name. It even opened a physical WcDonald’s restaurant in Los Angeles, which it describes as “a multi-sensory dining experience.” And, of course, it introduced a new sauce, WcDonald’s Savory Chili Sauce, to accompany its McNuggets and other menu items.

The company also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce WcDonald’s first official anime.