The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald

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The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald was a series of retail animated direct-to-video features produced by the ka-chew! division of Klasky-Csupo for the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. A total of six forty-minute tapes were produced, released at various times between 1998 and 2003:

Scared Silly, a haunted house tale
The Legend of Grimace Island, dealing with the Grimace's origin
Visitors From Outer Space, a science fiction tale dealing with extraterrestrials
Birthday World, dealing with a scheming mad scientist's plot
Have Time, Will Travel, A story of Time Travel
The Legend of McDonald-Land Loch, homaging the Nessie myth

Although the series is "free-standing," ongoing artistic influences can be inferred from the ways certain characters were drawn for animation. For example, the character Birdie shares certain aspects of grooming and costume with Eliza Thornberry, and the rendition and bearing of the Hamburglar, reminiscent of Darwin and of Chuckie Finster, may have been an influence on the design of Otto Rocket. Elements of early K-C "house style" are also very evident on other supporting characters like Sundae the dog and the Chicken McNuggets. Co-protagonist Tika, however, is a very normal looking human girl of colour.

[edit] Miscellany

Voice talent on these tapes includes K-C veterans such as Christine Cavanaugh, Kath Soucie, and Charles Adler. Mysteriously, and probably in compliance with some McDonalds company policy, the role of Ronald McDonald is listed in the credits as being read by "Himself."

By various accounts, the titles turned out to be rather popular, and individual McDonald's locations frequently ran out of tapes. Klasky-Csupo therefore agreed to carry them for direct sale at their online giftshop, which closed in the fall of 2005.