The World of Eric Carle is partnering with McDonald’s Japan to launch the “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Happy Meal, including a choice of one of six gardening-themed toys. The Happy Meal will be available at McDonald’s restaurants nationwide starting May 19 for five weeks and will be promoted with a dedicated TV commercial, in-store point-of-sale, exclusive packaging and a digital and social media campaign.   

The licensing campaign for the World of Eric Carle is managed worldwide by The Joester Loria Group and in Japan though local agent, Cosmo Merchandising.

The first “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Happy Meal is a total of six different toys packed with creative and colorful themed cards.

The toys are designed to help children develop a natural scientific interest in plants and insects, as well as an awareness of shape and space as they identify the shapes of living things. Cards included with the toys have the days of the week written both in Japanese and English, so children can learn the names and order of the days of the week while familiarizing themselves with the two languages.

License Global recently told the history of the McDonald's Happy Meal, from its beginnings in Guatemala to the advent of the adult Happy Meal and how McDonald’s is the go-to partner for some of the biggest IPs in the world.

Joester Loria Group was recently named as one of License Global's Top Brand Licensing Agents 2023 and will be exhibiting at Licensing Expo in June.