Welcome to WcDonald’s

You don’t have to watch anime for long to notice something curious about most series: they don’t use the names of actual brands. This is likely due to the legal issues surrounding the use of brand names and copyright infringement. It’s hard to create an entirely new world with its own mega corporations and brand names for everything, so anime creators have come up with a way of saving time and energy thinking about it, simply take existing brands and rename them.

One of the most well-known brands in the world is McDonald’s, which can be found in nearly every corner of the Earth and is by far the most popular fast food chain. Due to its prominence in the real world, it’s hard for it to avoid being shown in anime. Of course, the name “McDonald’s” can’t be used in anime so a lot of series have simply flipped the M upside-down to create the most popular fast-food chain in anime, WcDonald’s. Below you can see some WcDonald’s appearances as well as similar fast food chains.

In the fourth episode of Accel World, Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime walk by a WcDonald.

In the first episode of Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, Menma comments that a WcDonald has replaced the Bomu-Bomu that used to be there.

Nanami is seen eating at a Mcdymaid’s in the first episode of Chaos;Head.

Yuuta and Rikka spend some alone time in an EcDonald’s in the tenth episode of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai.

A WcDonald’s advertisement can be seen above the entrance to the subway in Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.

During the eleventh episode of Hanasaku Iroha, Ohana runs out on a meal with her mother only to wind up in a WcDonald’s by herself.

In the fifth episode of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the SOS Brigade have lunch in a WcDonald’s while drawing straws to decide how to split up the group.

Sadao from Hataraku Maou-sama works at a MgRonald, which is prominently featured throughout the series.

The students at Academy City in A Certain Magical Index like to spend time at the local Macronall Hamburger.

Kagome and her friends discuss her love life in a Wacdnald in the 69th episode of Inuyasha.

Rin and Kuro from Kodomo no Jikan can be seen having burgers in a WcDonald’s in the first episode.

Azusa expresses her concern about her seniors to Ui in the tenth episode of K-ON while in a MAXe Burger.

At MaskDonald Hamburger you can get a free wrestling mask with every happy meal, as seen in episode 8 of Kore wa Zombie Desu ka.

In episode 17 of Ouran High School Host Club, Haruhi treats Kyouya to a commoner lunch at WcDonald’s.

A WcDonald’s can be seen in the background in episode five of Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt.

When the body-swapped Shana and Yuuji encounter Wilhelmina on the street in the first episode of Shakugan no Shana S, they are standing outside a WcDonald’s.

In the fifth episode of Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru, Hikky runs into his “friends” in a Wacnordo.

If you know of other instances of WcDonald’s appearing in anime, feel free to share.