Danica Davidson
July 2, 2024 
A lot of anime give McDonald’s some love, and in Japan it’s common for McDonald’s to give the love back, like with their new Kiki’s Delivery Service commercials. But McDonald’s in America is starting to show more love for anime as well, including a new, limited-time Special Grade Garlic Sauce inspired by McDonald’s Japan’s Black Garlic Sauce and by the fan-favorite Jujutsu Kaisen.
Special Grade Garlic Sauce contains garlic and soy sauce and is described as having a “slight tangy sweetness.”
The sauce packets have different lids that showcase the characters Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki, Satoru Gojo, Kento Nanami, Suguru Geto, Mahito, and Sukuna.
The sauce becomes available on July 9, but you’ll need to use the McDonald’s app to get it. McDonald’s is offering a tasting event in New York City the day before the official release. While it’s been made clear these sauces are only going to be around for a while, it’s not clear how long these sauces will be available.
Earlier this year McDonald’s in America got into the anime love by having a WcDonald’s campaign (WcDonald’s being a common spoof name for the chain in anime and manga) that had anime shorts from Studio Pierrot.
VIZ Media publishes the original Jujutsu Kaisen manga by Gege Akutami and gave this description for the first volume:
Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…
Do you think McDonald’s will continue to embrace anime themes in America? What do you think of these campaigns?
Source: USA Today
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
