We got the scoop on McDonald’s new WcDonald’s Universe

McDonald’s, a global household name associated with good-tasting and affordable food. Now, what comes to mind when we say WcDonalds? Aside from “you just flipped the letter M upside down,” WcDonalds is a Japanese anime parody of McDonald’s. For obvious copyright reasons, most anime series use a “W” instead of an “M.” Here at LATV, we got the inside scoop. We had the opportunity to interview Acky Bright, the artist who truly helped bring WcDonald’s to life.

What’s New about WcDonalds?

WcDonalds has been around since the 1980s, and it is now being officially co-signed by McDonald’s! McDonald’s is fully embracing this fan-made version of their restaurant by dropping weekly anime shorts, hosting real-life pop-up events, and creating an exclusive Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce. Additionally, most McDonald’s locations will be adorned in manga-style packaging, featuring a fresh crew of WcDonald’s characters!

The weekly anime pays homage to the four cornerstone subgenres of anime: Shounen (action), romance, mecha (robots controlled by humans), and fantasy. Here’s the plot breakdown:

• “The Race to WcDonalds”: Follows the intense rivalry between two characters as they engage in an epic race to reach WcDonald’s.
• “Love from Across the Booth”: Explores a blossoming romance between the protagonists, ignited within the confines of a WcDonald’s establishment.
• “WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000”: The protagonists are tasked with safeguarding the last remaining WcNugget from the clutches of a malevolent force amidst the vast expanse of space.
• “The Wisdom of the Sauce”: Three women embark on a journey to a remote locale, unraveling a mystery surrounding the elusive special sauce.

What is anime?

Anime is a wonderful medium of storytelling that involves animated characters and is produced in Japan. Sometimes mistaken for cartoons, anime is distinct because it is often intended for an adult audience. Some notable shows that you might not have known are anime are Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Attack on Titan. McDonald’s is truly taking this to the next level by releasing a four-episode OVA (original video animation) as part of the campaign. Acky Bright is taking the lead in making this into reality, and I had the opportunity to interview him about it.

Interview with Acky Bright:

His Reaction to WcDonalds and His Go To Order:

When offered the opportunity to help make WcDonalds into a reality he was extremely surprised, “I was surprised and without hesitation I took the opportunity just like any other mangaka would!” 

When I asked him what he would order at WcDonalds he said “any kind of chicken special they got going on or a cheeseburger fries and a coke” which is honestly an unbeatable order. 

His Love for Anime/Manga & His Unique Style.

By interviewing Acky Bright I got a unique perspective of WcDonalds and his vision. Acky explained his unique style of art as a combination of traditional manga and graphic design that is intertwined to create a new style. His style. He credits his passion for manga and anime to watching Dragon Ball and some of his other favorite anime are Full-Metal Alchemist (the original and Brotherhood). When it came to creating the manga he created characters with the intentions that anyone could relate to them.

Overall, WcDonalds is a fantasy turned reality and I can’t wait to check it out myself!