EVERYTHING ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN POKÉMON AND MCDONALD'S
You’ve surely heard about the McDonald’s Pokémon cards! With their recent reappearance in Europe and America to celebrate Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, these promotional cards from the Japanese franchise have made a big splash. While the latest collaboration didn’t happen in Japan, it’s fascinating to explore the history of this partnership, which forever changed the way we collect our favorite cards. Today, we’ll explain the successful collaboration between the fast-food giant and our beloved pocket monsters, summarizing its history to make you both nostalgic and more knowledgeable about your favorite trading card game.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF POCKET MONSTERS AT RONALD MCDONALD'S
The very first Pokémon cards at the fast-food star were part of the McDonald’s Pokémon-e Minimum Pack collection, launched exclusively in Japan between January 26 and February 24, 2002. A booster pack containing six cards, including one holographic card, was given with every Happy Meal. This first collaboration between these two giants was a massive success.
At the time, McDonald’s wasn’t very popular in Japan—it was declining in the early 2000s—and sought to appeal to a younger audience by combining American dining culture with Japanese pop culture to revitalize its brand. These legendary cards can still be found in some stores today, with certain ones fetching hundreds of euros! This hybridization of two vastly different cultures was a resounding success, delighting collectors and paving the way for future collaborations that would expand to more countries.
A STRATEGY TO BRING JAPANESE CULTURE TO AMERICA
The second collection marked a new direction for the Pokémon-McDonald’s alliance. The Collection Sheet Journey Partners booster, released in Japan on September 18, 2010, was translated and made available in English on June 17, 2011. It was a first, as McDonald’s Pokémon boosters had never left Japan before. However, this 2011 collection was only available in North America, with French translations exclusive to Quebec, but it never made its way to Europe.
Centered on the 5th generation (Black and White), this set included nine holographic cards in Japan and 12 in North America, where it also featured eight collectible figurines (Zorua, Zoruark, Reshiram, Zekrom, Pikachu, Tepig, Oshawott, and Snivy). The collaboration’s success in North America surpassed that in Japan, leading McDonald’s to shift its promotional card strategy more toward the U.S. market.
JAPAN STEPS BACK AS THE COLLABORATION BECOMES PRIMARILY AMERICAN
The 2011 edition’s success in North America resulted in Pokémon and McDonald’s focusing primarily on Canada and the U.S. The 2012 Pokémon TCG collection at McDonald’s, also centered on the 5th generation and called the McDonald’s Collection 2012, launched on June 15, 2012, and was exclusive to North America. French translations remained limited to Quebec.
This collection included 12 cards and six new figurines (Pikachu, Tepig, Oshawott, Snivy, Woobat, and Axew). By this point, Japan was no longer part of the collaboration.
In 2014, McDonald’s and Pokémon introduced their collaboration to Australia for the first time with the McDonald’s Collection 2014, released on May 23, 2014. This set focused on the 6th generation (X and Y), featuring 12 cards and 12 figurines. This shift marked the beginning of a more global strategy for the collaboration.
A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL IN FRANCE AND EUROPE
In a major first, the McDonald’s Collection 2015 finally made its way to France, and it was a massive hit! While previous collections were available in French (but only in Quebec), distributing them in Europe for the first time made collecting Pokémon cards much easier for local fans. Released on October 14, 2015, in France and November 27, 2015, in North America, this series featured 12 cards and four figurines.
Following its success, the McDonald’s Collection 2016 was made available in even more countries, including the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, alongside France and North America. Released on August 19, 2016, this collection included 12 cards and six figurines, solidifying the collaboration's global reach.
THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION AMID THE POKÉMON HYPE
After skipping 2020 due to the global pandemic, the McDonald’s Collection 2021 celebrated Pokémon’s 25th anniversary. This year saw the release of numerous products and events, including TCG Celebration displays, Pokémon Go events, and the long-awaited Diamond and Pearl remakes.
However, the Pokémon hype of 2021 created challenges for genuine collectors. Scalpers bought up stock solely to resell cards, undermining the playful and childlike spirit of the franchise. The McDonald’s Collection 2021 fell victim to these issues, with stores being emptied, cards stolen, Happy Meals sold out, and food wasted. Unfortunately, neither Pokémon nor McDonald’s took measures to address these problems, casting a shadow over this iconic collaboration’s image.
WHAT ABOUT JAPAN?
Since 2012, Japan has focused on other collaborations to offer Pokémon-themed promotions, often through convenience stores like 7-Eleven, which provide exclusive promo cards and boxes during special events. Yoshinoya, a fast-food chain specializing in gyudon (beef bowls), has also launched numerous Pokémon campaigns, primarily offering figurines.
Japan’s Pokémon Centers, legendary for fans, frequently release exclusive promo cards like the recent Pikachu Yu Nagaba and Pikachu Kanazawa cards. Despite McDonald’s absence, Japan’s TCG scene thrives independently, much to the delight of fans.
C.P.C’s TAKE
While it’s tough for French expatriates to miss out on McDonald’s Pokémon cards, recent issues with scalpers show that restaurateurs might not be ready to handle such a powerful collaboration. We hope Pokémon finds solutions, like limiting boosters to one per person, as is done in Japan during promotions.
Regardless, it’s exciting to see more establishments offering Pokémon-themed events. We hope this collaboration continues to evolve while staying true to its playful and nostalgic roots!