WcDonald's (ワクドナルド, Wakudonarudo; also spelled as WcDonald, WacDonald's and Wacdnald, among others) is a popular fast food restaurant chain with a surprisingly large number of locations, even in the most unexpected of places. It originates from the 1981 manga and anime franchise Cat's Eye (キャッツ♥アイ, Kyattsu♥Ai), first appearing in the 1983 anime adaptation's 48th episode "A Mystery for a Winter Night" (冬の夜はミステリー, Fuuyu no Yoru wa Mystery). Since then, WcDonald's has appeared across many different manga, anime, video games, light novels, webtoons and other forms of animated media, usually as a background element or cameo.
On the 21st of February 2024, official anime and manga adaptations revolving around WcDonald's were announced by McDonald's with animation by Studio Pierrot. Both the anime and manga were released on the 26th of February, with both being an anthology miniseries made up of 4 shorts and 4 manga chapters: The Race to WcDonald's, Love from Across the Booth, WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000, and The Wisdom of the Sauce.[1][2] To coincide with the anime special's release, select McDonald's restaurants also underwent a special makeover on February 26 of 2024, featuring promotions for the anime and manga, selling food in WcDonald's packaging, and even changing their signs to read "WcDonald's", complete with upside down golden arches.[3]
Overview[]
WcDonald's restaurants are usually small and cozy establishments which are always easily identifiable by their unique "W"-shaped golden arches which dot the signs of every store. They are most commonly found in sprawling cities and urban districts within Japan or Japan-like settings where they attract all manner of customers while also serving as a popular hangout for teenagers looking for a place to relax and gossip while having a good meal.
Menu[]
The menu of WcDonald's frequently changes based on the setting and timeline it appears in, but the most regularly served food items across WcDonald's restaurants with known food items are as follows:
- Hamburgers
- Cheeseburgers
- Fish Burgers
- Big Wac
- Hot Dogs
- French Fries
- Nuggets
- Ice Cream
- Cola
During McDonald’s’ “WcDonald’s” promotion in 2024, the promoted product was a limited time Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce featured alongside a 10 piece Chicken McNuggets, Fries, and a drink. As part of the promotion, McNuggets were renamed as “WcNuggets” and bag packaging included manga.
WcDonald's Anthology Characters[]
Below are a list of characters featured in the 2024 WcDonald's anime shorts and manga chapters.
- Mitero:
- A driven businessman, Mitero strives to be the best. As the youngest of five, everything’s a competition. Once, he had a stare down with a squad of bikers for his WcDonald’s fries. Rumors say he hasn’t blinked to this day. Mitero appears in The Race to WcDonald's manga, "The Race to WcDonald's" anime short, the Love from Across the Booth manga, The Wisdom of the Sauce manga, and in the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024. Art of Mitero appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Hashirune:
- Raised to be a champion driver just like her grandma, Hashirune has learned never to back down from a challenge. When she's not on the track, she can be found traveling cross-country reviewing new food that brings the heat. Hashirune appears in The Race to WcDonald's manga, "The Race to WcDonald's" anime short, The Wisdom of the Sauce manga, and in the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024. Art of Hashirune appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Shizuru:
- In search of her next webcomic inspiration, Shizuru can be found frequenting art exhibits and libraries. During breaks, she catches up on her latest romcom shows while snacking on WcNuggets–her OTP. Shizuru appears in the Love from Across the Booth manga, the "Love from Across the Booth" anime short, and The Wisdom of the Sauce manga. Art of Shizuru appear in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite. Shizuru also appears in the promotional artwork for the WcDonald's x Young Miko collaboration.
- Kazuki:
- Kazuki holds study sessions at WcDonald's in hopes to run into his coding class friend and crush, Shizuru. His older sister, Wicke, nags him not to wear headphones so much, but lofi beats quiet his loud inner thoughts. His cool composition can only do so much to hide the butterflies. Kazuki appears in The Race to WcDonald's manga, the Love from Across the Booth manga, the "Love from Across the Booth" anime short, and The Wisdom of the Sauce manga. Art of Kazuki appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite. Kazuki also appears in the promotional artwork for the WcDonald's x Young Miko collaboration.
- Yarutokya:
- Sent on a mission by WHQ to beta-test WcDizer 3000 on the moon, Yarutokya records atmospheric data to optimize the mecha’s lunar mode. If you see a blur of neon lights, don’t worry, it’s just Yarutokya speeding his way to his next odyssey. Yarutokya appears in the WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 manga and the "WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000" anime short. Art of Yarutokya appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Yaruzo:
- Working at the Moon-Base WcDonald’s can bring unpredictable events, but Yaruzo is always ready to lead the team. In his downtime, he boulders on moon craters and holds sci-fi movie marathons (his watch was a gift from the set of Return of the Star WcDonald’s!). Yaruzo appears in the WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 manga and the "WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000" anime short. Art of Yaruzo appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Demi
- Demi is the fearless leader of the group who is always ready to say “yes” to any adventure. She explores new cities by day and roams fantasy RPGs by night. Her friends joke that she’s always on her phone but doesn’t text back. Demi appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga and "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short. Art of Demi appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Shiori
- Don’t be fooled by Shiori's quiet appearance. Underneath, she carries worlds of imaginative stories–that even hold her 3rd grade students’ attention span. She balances her friends’ bold personalities, keeping them out of trouble. Shiori appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga and "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short. Art of Shiori appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite, including Shiori's signature shield.
- Mei
- Being one of the first in her small town to move to the big city, Mei is destined to leave a lasting legacy. She often volunteers at animal rescue shelters and hikes with her dog. Her fierce loyalty and strategic mind make her the backbone of the group. Mei appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga and "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short. Art of Mei appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Midnight:
- Ever since his first shift, Midnight has made it his goal to make everyone feel welcome. Receiving Manager J's kindness was the canon event that brought him out of his rebellious phase and into a new era as a manager-in-training. Midnight appears in The Race to WcDonald's manga, "The Race to WcDonald's" anime short, and the bag manga. Art of Midnight appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Wicke:
- Wicke keeps the vibes fresh even during high-pressure shifts at the Moon-Base WcDonald's. She transforms the kitchen into her stage during breaks (using Quart Sr.'s spatula as her mic) and ends shifts on a high note by sharing a new WcDonald's fun fact. Wicke appears in the WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 manga, the "WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000" anime short, in the in-world ad for WcDonald's Sauce featured on packaging and receipt tapes, and as an interactable NPC in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode within Fortnite.
- Flurry:
- Flurry has every moment of her job mastered to the second, from timing the golden crispy fries to serving the perfect WcNuggets. After hours, she uses her watch to transport her and Wicke for tech explorations across dimensions. Flurry appears in the WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 manga, the "WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000" anime short, the bag manga and as the host of the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles on March 9-10, 2024.
- Mr.Bev
- Mr. Bev is the jokester of the crew. With his trusty belt, he can accurately guess everyone’s perfect drink order. He travels the world on a quest to uncover all of WcDonald’s drink hacks—you should see what he can do with Sprite! Mr. Bev appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga, "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short, the bag manga and as an interactable NPC within the WcDonald's Tycoon mode within Fortnite.
- Mia:
- Effortlessly cool, Mia's experimental style has a flair that unintentionally starts trends amongst her besties. Recently, she wore WcDonald's Sauce earrings that went viral. Mia appears in The Race to WcDonald's manga, "The Race to WcDonald's" anime short, and the bag manga. Art of Mia appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite including an Employee of the Month poster. Mia also appears in the promotional artwork for the WcDonald's x Young Miko collaboration.
- Carm:
- Just look at that face! Carm is a beloved crew member who's reserved yet charming. On the chance he's running late, he's probably taking his grandma to the park or going to dance class with WcDizer 3000. Carm appears in the Love from Across the Booth manga, the "Love from Across the Booth" anime short, the bag manga, as well as the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles on March 9-10, 2024. Art of Carm appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Burg:
- Burg is Burg, and that's just what everyone loves about him. Burg's thoughts echo as loud as his emotions run deep. Outside of work, his friend circle is small but lively. Word has it, Burg had the burger mask even before working at WcDonald's. Burg appears in the Love from Across the Booth manga, the "Love from Across the Booth" anime short, the bag manga, and as an interactable NPC in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode within Fortnite. Burg also appears in the promotional artwork for the WcDonald's x Young Miko collaboration.
- J:
- The well-respected manager at WcDonald's that everyone trusts. While he comes off cool-headed and chic, he can't help but melt when bonding over food. Anytime you catch him daydreaming about love, soft piano music is probably playing in his head. J appears in the Love from Across the Booth manga, the "Love from Across the Booth" anime short, and the bag manga. Art of J, including an Employee of the Month poster, appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- WcDizer 3000:
- WcDizer 3000 is the Moon-Base WcDonald's trusty mecha, a large robot piloted by the crew. Underneath hardware lies a soft heart–when WcDizer is on autopilot, you might catch ‘em stargazing until 3 AM. WcDizer 3000 appears in the WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 manga, the "WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000" anime short, the bag manga, the WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024, and as an interactable NPC in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode within Fortnite.
- Quart Sr.
- Quart Sr. comes from a long line of legendary spatula wielders. He made WcDonald’s history for being the undefeated champion for burger flipping. His ultimate goal is to attain the highly-coveted golden spatula by out-flipping the greatest cooks. Quart Sr. appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga, "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short, the bag manga and as an interactable NPC within the WcDonald's Tycoon mode within Fortnite. Quart Sr.'s golden spatula appears as an Easter egg in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode.
- Wakudon:
- Wakudon is a species found in the depths of lunar craters and can only be found roaming at night. This particular Wakudon has been spotted during the day wearing sunglasses... Wakudon appears in the WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 manga, the "WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000" anime short, The Race to WcDonald's manga, and the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024. Art of Wakudon appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Mayor William
- Mayor William aspires to welcome every visitor with the shared warmth that food brings to people's hearts. Growing up, his family always bonded over a good meal, and he continues to honor that tradition with his townspeople. Mayor William appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga and "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short.
- Cinnamon
- Cinnamon is curious of the universe, and her strong sense of smell has often led to many legendary adventures. Her tail – reaching a length of five WcDonald’s Sauce packets – gathers power from the sun to create a force field around her friends, keeping them from harm’s way. Every full moon, she’s been spotted having get-togethers with a certain shiba inu and space monster. Cinnamon appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga and "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short. Art of Cinnamon appears in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode in Fortnite.
- Princess Shizuka
- Shizuka is the heiress to the throne and a master sorceress. Always on the move, she has fostered many close friendships and often visits WcDonald’s on Earth to grab a meal with Mr. Bev and her sorcerer bestie J. Princess Shizuka appears in "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short.
- Gyogetsu
- With the ability to shape-shift based on environment, Gyogetsu keeps watch over heroes of prophecy who traverse across the land. This rare creature radiates an ethereal aura when it soars through the sky and has a melodic chirp that can be heard from miles away. Only Mayor William has seen Gyogetsu’s full range of mysterious abilities. Gyogetsu appears in "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short.
- Kenja
- Legend has it Kenja only appears to those whose hearts are true. His life compass is guided by the mysteries of what the future holds. Countless tales of triumph dating thousands of years carry his mythical name. Kenja appears in The Wisdom of the Sauce manga, "The Wisdom of the Sauce" anime short, and the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024.
Additionally, a Shiba Inu appears in The Race to WcDonald's manga and in the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024. A portrait of a black cat appears in the "Love from Across the Booth" anime short, at the WcDonald's Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles, March 9-10, 2024, and in the WcDonald's Tycoon mode within Fortnite.
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- It is an obvious reference and copyright-free stand-in for the real life fast food chain, "McDonald's", with many of its varied and more extreme spellings being an example of "Engrish".
- While Aim for the Ace! 2 prominently featured WacDonald's, its main character Hiromi instead ate at "Nooz Hamburger" (ヌーズハンバーガー, Nūzuhanbāgā) in the original 1973 anime run of Aim for the Ace!.
- Although WcDonald's/WacDonald's is now mostly associated with its appearances in manga and anime, the earliest known instance of "WacDonald's" in fiction comes from MAD Magazine which first used the name "WacDonald's" in its 172nd issue (a direct parody of the 1973 TV show The Six Million Dollar Man), where Russian spies had kidnapped American scientist Dr. Balsawood in order to force him to build for them a Bionic Man, with them threatening the good doctor by feeding him ghastly Russian food if he did not cooperate. Once the doctor agreed to help, the spies offered him a meal from "WacDonald's" made by a clown chef that they claimed they had kidnapped from America, but Dr. Balsawood only showed greater disgust at the new meal.
- Although its appearance here was clearly a humorous jab at McDonald's while avoiding copyright infringement, it was never made clear if the WacDonald's mentioned here was a legitimate business within the story or simply another of the Russians spies' poor attempts at copying America.
- WacDonald's and the inverted W golden arches were also used in some Season 2 episodes of Canadian, French-speaking comedy series in Quebec Rock et Belles Oreilles (RBO) in 1988 as a sketch involving an parody of a McDonald's commercials featuring Mac Tonight/Pierrot McDo as Pierrot WacDo and the other that resembles pianist-singer Claude Léveillée.
- A WacDonald's was seemingly mentioned in a brief sketch from the 1980 episode of the UK BBC sketch comedy series Not the Nine O’Clock News.
- On April 27th 2017, Kings Day, the King of the Netherlands "Willem-Alexander" visited the Dutch town Zwolle, and to commemorate the event, McDonald's inverted its trademark golden arch into a "W" at some local branches and even replaced food containers and wrappers that bared the standard "M" with ones that now bared a "W", effectively turning McDonald's into a WcDonald's in honor of King Willem.
- In March 2018, McDonald's inverted the trademark golden arches into a "W" at some of their California branches in support of International Women's Day.
See Also[]
- Donald Mag
- BakuDonald's
- EcDonald's
- MgRonald's
- YcDonald's
- NcDonald
- Ng Donand
- NacDomald's
- McDowell's
Other "W" arches[]
- Burger World
- Wonder land.co
- Weenie Burger
- Wag Burger
- Wing Burger
- WkDonaid's
- Welcome Burger
- McWuncler's
- Wigwam Burger