A historic cartoon mashup is on the horizon. Are you ready, kids?
On Aug. 31, McDonald’s announced that U.S. customers will be able to get their sea legs on Sept. 15 with a new animated mashup: the SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal.
Two of the most iconic seafaring franchises are joining forces as treasure for us all to seek out.
“What happens when a fry cook with big dreams crosses paths with a young captain determined to become King of the Pirates?” asks McDonald’s on its menu spotter. “Obviously, an unforgettable voyage packed with friendship, adventure, and imagination.”
The SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal comes with one of 15 exclusive collectible toys that reimagine Bikini Bottom’s beloved characters as the legendary Straw Hat crew from “One Piece.”
The @snackwire Instagram account gave social media users a closer look at some of the Happy Meal toys, which include the following characters:
The toys will be available at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time.
Earlier this month, the House of Grimace dropped its first dual-collab Happy Meal, which combined characters from the Hello Kitty universe with monsters from the “Godzilla” film franchise in eight toys.
McDonald’s isn’t the only chain that SpongeBob has graced with his rectangular presence in recent memory. In October 2024, Wendy’s partnered with Paramount to celebrate the absorbent character’s 25th anniversary with the Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab, which featured a Krabby Patty burger with a “top-secret” sauce and Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty.
Even more recently, Popeyes teamed up with “One Piece” in April for its first-ever anime collab, taking inspiration from McDonald’s many anime-based launches. The meal, which featured exclusive menu items, was inspired by the series’ eclectic, vagabond characters.
Joseph Lamour is the food reporter at TODAY.com and is based in Washington D.C.
