Big kids, here’s some happy news to start your week. Macca’s has just launched a limited-edition ‘Adult’ Happy Meal in Australia, and it’s giving all the nostalgia of the pre-2000s. Having launched in stores on February 14, these grown-up goodie boxes include a ten-piece box of Chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac, alongside fries, a drink and a collectible toy that’ll whisk you right back to your childhood – the McNugget Buddies.
If you’re unfamiliar with the McNugget Buddies, blame your parents. These iconic ’90s figurines debuted in Australia back in 1998, as part of a limited-time Happy Meal featuring glow-in-the-dark McNugget Buddy collectibles. Although they were discontinued in 2019, the toys are now making a welcome comeback more than 25 years since their debut.
The fast-food giant collaborated with American street-style icon and visionary artist Kerwin Frost, who designed the adult-sized box and gave the McNugget Buddies a modern makeover. Frost styled each of the six characters with its own quirky persona, funky outfit and wacky hobby, drawing inspiration from his childhood in Harlem and his belief in the freedom of self-expression. The 2024 line-up includes:
- Kerwin Frost: The Mayor
- Don Bernice: The Wise Stylist
- Uptown Moe: The Neighbourhood Hero
- Waffutu: The Curious Optimist
- Brrrick: The Cool Guy
- Darla: The Dreamer
This is McDonald’s second-ever ‘Adult’ Happy Meal, following a US-exclusive collaboration with fashion label Cactus Plant Flea Market in October 2022. However, it’s the first time Aussies are getting a taste of the nostalgia with the limited-time Kerwin Frost Box.
The boxes are available nationwide for a limited time, and each box not only comes with a toy, but for the first time, comes with its very own collector’s trading card. Sounds like time for a trip down memory lane to the Golden Arches.