I Want More From Yu-Gi-Oh Sanrio McDonald’s Happy Meal Crossover
I eat lunch or dinner at McDonald’s every day. as of August 20, 2024. Why? It’s the day Yu-Gi-Oh The Sanrio Happy Meal, which features nine plush characters in special “costumes,” has launched in the United States. I’m on a quest to find Silfer the Sky Dragon Kuromi and Exodia Pompompurin. But in the meantime, I’ve picked up a few other characters, and what’s here leaves me wanting more than just a one-off crossover with all the quality a fast food joint can offer.
So, to refresh, in case you missed it, in the UK, McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion featured ten Sanrio characters dressed up as Yu-Gi-Oh The character debuted in May 2024. Depending on when you went, you’d get one of the mascots with your meal. This promotion was no more expensive than usual, like the recent collectible trophy event. Now, in August 2024, that same crossover event has been repeated in the United States.
Yeah, almost identical. Our trip didn’t include the whole “set”. Badtz-Maru as the Red-Eyes Black Dragon ended up being left out. I don’t know why. Yeah, I’m sad about that too.
Anyway. My quest resulted in the acquisition of four Yu-Gi-Oh The Sanrio Happy Meal plushies so far. They’re pretty cool in some ways! I ended up with Dark Magician Hello Kitty (#1), Blue-Eyes White Dragon Cinnamoroll (#2), Kuriboh Keroppi (#4), and Obelisk the Tormentor Tuxedosam. These plushies aren’t as soft or fluffy as the others. Instead, McDonald’s used printed fabric that focuses on accurately displaying the characters in their costumes. The attention to detail means that both the front and back of each mascot have printed designs. So let’s say if you flip Tuxedosam over, you’ll see his little penguin tail and Obelisk the Tormentor wings. So cute! They also seem to be surprisingly durable. At least the quality seems better than some of the Happy Meal toys.
But honestly, it’s also a little disappointing. The loop attached to the end of each stuffed animal is incredibly small! It makes me feel like the best way to display it, once you have one, is probably to buy a cork board with push pins and hang it or arrange some hooks somewhere. Using some sort of elastic band would give more display options. Or, even better, a plastic hook. It probably wouldn’t be secure enough to use as a large key chain, but it would give more options.
I think McDonald’s should lean towards Yu-Gi-Oh The Sanrio Happy Meal also crosses over a bit further. Now, it’s definitely a boon for Sanrio fans who want a cute mascot to display or use as a decoration. But… why not an actual card? We’ve seen Pokemon Trading Cards previous Happy Meal promotion game. I mean, I want a Blue Eyes White Dragon card that is exactly like the ones found in real life Yu-Gi-Oh card game, only replace the dragon image with an image of Cinnamoroll dressed as that monster.
Also, while I’m very excited about these plushies and plan on ruining my health even further by continuing to eat Happy Meals until I have Slifer the Sky Dragon Kuromi, Exodia the Forbidden One Pompompurin, and The Winged Dragon of Ra Chococat, the items we received leave me wanting more merchandise based on this crossover. I’d love a cute bag or case with the characters on it. A more durable acrylic or rubber keychain would be fun. Maybe a small plastic figurine an inch or two tall.
Basically, I’m saying that Yu-Gi-Oh Sanrio’s crossover concept is too cool to be limited to these McDonald’s Happy Meal plushies. I really like them, you know. But because I like them, I think Konami and Sanrio should do more with this idea. Also… I’m starting to get really bored of McDonald’s chicken nuggets…
The Yu-Gi-Oh Sanrio Happy Meal plush toys now available at McDonald’s stores in the United States while stocks last.
