McDonald’s has teamed up with anime series Jujutsu Kaisen for its latest collaboration, which includes a Special Grade Garlic Sauce, available exclusively on the chain’s app beginning July 9. It is inspired by the signature black garlic sauce from McDonald’s Japan and features notes of garlic and soy sauce, balanced with a slight tangy sweetness. The sauce is available free with any order of McNuggets or paired with any order on the app. Each purchase also unlocks a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll, which offers full episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen and more anime content.
The sauce includes eight unique lid designs showcasing characters from the series, including:
- Yuji Itadori – A rare talent not seen in a thousand years who is able to withstand the poison of Sukuna and become his human vessel.
- Megumi Fushiguro – A genius who enrolled as a 2nd grade sorcerer and the only first-year student allowed to carry out solo missions.
- Nobara Kugisaki – A strong-willed 3rd grade jujutsu sorcerer who came to Tokyo from the countryside.
- Satoru Gojo – The strongest special grade sorcerer and teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
- Kento Nanami – A junior of Gojo who became a salaryman, but later returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High to become a 1st grade sorcerer – the most adult of adults.
- Suguru Geto – A villain special grade sorcerer whose goal is to create a paradise for sorcerers, free of humans.
- Mahito – A curse that originated from humans who can change the appearance of a person by touching their soul.
- Sukuna – A king who survived more than a thousand years ago and still threatens this world after his death.
Jujutsu Kaisen is produced by Toho animation and is based on the best-selling manga of the same title written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. It is currently serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, which has over 90 million copies in circulation. The prequel film, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, earned about $180 million in global theatrical box office revenue. Season 2 of the anime series was named Anime of the Year at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2024.
This is the second anime-themed campaign in recent months from McDonald’s. In February, the chain created WcDonald’s, a digital-only version of McDonald’s created by fans that included a new sauce, packaging and videos, as well as a popup in Los Angeles. For that campaign, the Savory Chili WcDonald’s sauce included ginger, garlic, and soy, with a slight heat from chile.
In a statement at that time, Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer, said, “Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years.”
Importantly, these campaigns not only tap into consumers’ affinity toward anime but also for sauces, which are now commanding a bigger spotlight. Technomic’s Flavor Consumer Trend Report finds that 34% of consumers consider what sauces and condiments are available when deciding what restaurants to visit.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]