History Main / KidsMealToy

Despite the trope name, it's not always a toy. Some chains give out small books or coloring pages. And the franchises featured aren't always kid-friendly. There have been promotions for ''[[Literature/TheTwilightSaga Twilight]]'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' and more. In 1992, [=McDonald=]'s withdrew their range of Happy Meal toys for ''Film/BatmanReturns'', after complaints from parents that the film was unsuitable for children. This ties in with the AnimationAgeGhetto -- the mindset that if it's animated, it's for kids. Also see MisaimedMarketing.

* ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'' got launcher tokens with a surprise game code, compatible with UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

[[folder: Carl's Jr.]]

* Coco ran a ''VideoGame/DiabloIV'' promotion in late 2023, with two themed flavors along with goodies such as cup sleeves, trading cards, postcards, stickers, pins, mousepads and keychains. While a rare example of a Western franchise promotion at an Asian restaurant, it can easily be attributed to Creator/BlizzardEntertainment games being [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff popular in East Asia]], although the promotion ran worldwide.

* Coco ran a ''VideoGame/DiabloIV'' promotion in late 2023, with two themed flavors along with goodies such as cup sleeves, trading cards, postcards, stickers, pins, mousepads and keychains.

* In 1999, Jack in the Box released a set of four toys based on Creator/{{Sega}} PC games. They consisted of Sonic (''[[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland Sonic 3D Blast]]''), Knuckles (''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles Collection]]''), Ecco (''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin''), and Bug (''VideoGame/{{Bug}})''.

* ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'': Four toys were offered around Halloween in 1996 as a tie-in with the TV series then airing on Creator/FoxKids.

While these toys have a notable PeripheryDemographic of older collectors, some stores will run a variation targeted more towards teenagers and/or adults. Although actual toys may be offered on rare occasions (such as with the [=McDonald=]'s [[https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/mcdonalds-adult-happy-meal/ Cactus Plant Flea Market]] vinyl figures), these promotions are more likely to feature collector-focused items such as cups, cards, stickers and keychains. This type of promotion is fairly prominent in the West for [[ShonenDemographic shonen anime]] at Asia-centric chains, due to its demographic skewing slightly older than in Japan.

[[folder:The Alley]]
* Bubble tea chain The Alley ran a ''Manga/ChainsawMan'' [[https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2023/1/6/chainsaw-man-collabs-with-the-alley-for-special-devil-hunter-drinks promotion]] in North America and Europe, featuring two new drink flavors that came with sticker sheets, Pochita cup holders, and cardboard Denji ornaments for straws. Multiple locations (particularly in Canada) also encouraged fans to come in cosplay, offering a special discount if they did.

[[AC:The Alley]]

[[AC:Subway]]

[[AC:Film -- Animated]]

[[AC:Radio]]

[[AC:Web Animation]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

While these toys have a notable PeripheryDemographic of older collectors, some stores will run a variation targeted more towards teenagers and/or adults. Although actual toys may be offered on rare occasions (such as with the [=McDonald=]'s [[https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/mcdonalds-adult-happy-meal/ Cactus Plant Flea Market]] vinyl figures), these promotions are more likely to feature collector-focused items such as cups, cards, stickers and keychains. This type of promotion is fairly prominent in the West for [[UsefulNotes/ShonenDemographic shonen anime]] at Asia-centric chains, due to its demographic skewing slightly older than in Japan.

[[folder:In-Universe Examples]]

* ''WebVideo/AISponge'': One of the later versions of the stream parodies the ''Manga/SpyXFamily'' Happy Meal promotion with the Krusty Krab's ''Manga/ChainsawMan'' Krabby Meal toys ([[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids for ages 3 and up!]]) Fitting with the violent nature of the manga, [[MyLittlePanzer the toys are extremely dangerous and literally kill children]], such as the Denji toy having a real working chainsaw.