McDonald's Opens Immersive Anime Experience in Los Angeles
McDonald's is giving its iconic golden arches a trendy makeover inspired by Japanese pop culture. For decades, the global franchise has been called "WcDonalds" in countless graphic novels, shows, and video games, with the name first appearing in the manga and anime franchise "Cat's Eye" in 1981. Now, the fast food chain is embracing its fictional doppelgänger and promoting it as a part of a bold and extensive anime-themed marketing campaign.
In a press release, Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald's USA, says, "Anime is a huge part of today's culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years."
Beginning February 26, McDonald's will invert its "M" and adopt the moniker WcDonald's, paying homage to the fictional fast-food chain regularly featured in Anime and Manga. The company's promotion involves four initiatives: limited edition manga-inspired packaging, four original anime shorts, a new savory chili dipping sauce, and an immersive dining experience.
On March 9-10, guests can immerse themselves in a multi-sensory dining experience in the first-ever IRL WcDonald's. The groundbreaking event will take place at a pop-up space located in the heart of West Hollywood at 8505 Santa Monica Blvd. Attendees will embark on a journey into the WcDonald's universe, surrounded by projections inspired by the four anime shorts commissioned for this project.
Not only is the experience a visual and sensory spectacle that transports diners into the dynamic world depicted in anime, but it's also a feast for the taste buds. Throughout the experience, guests will savor a curated menu featuring an array of WcDonald's signature food items, including the new, limited-time offering Savory Chili WcDonald's Sauce.
The 360-degree screen show and tabletop projections were technically impressive, captivating, otherworldly, and magical. It was clear that everyone was fully engaged and there to have fun as we all went on a fast-moving, high-flying journey into anime space.
Sauce: https://www.mashed.com/1535556/wcdonalds-immersive-dining-experience/