One pastime anime fans love is looking for parodies of famous company names in their favorite anime and grabbing screenshots to share on the internet. In this post, let’s explore the history of anime and manga creators adding humorous versions of popular logos into their works, and list the most famous fake anime brands!
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The History of Fake Brands Used in Anime
All fans know the joy of finding a parody version of a world-famous brand in the background of their favorite anime or manga. Maybe it’s a character wearing a pair of Somy headphones, or buying a can of Bepsi cola at their local Eight-Eleven convenience store. It’s great fun to see how many of these you can notice.
Why are these parody anime brands so common?
- Naturally, brands like Seven-Eleven and Starbucks are trademarked, and no one can use their official names and logos without permission. So creating a parody version is a no-brainer.
- Going with fake brands allows for creative freedom. They can show characters making off-color jokes or insert pantyshots without getting permission from the company.
- To avoid giving free advertising. Obviously, if Yebisu Beer or UCC Coffee want to be featured in the latest Evangelion movies, they need to pay up for that (and they do).
- Finally, fake anime brands have become a worldwide meme, to the point where even McDonald’s used the famous “WcDonald’s” name to promote their food.
The Top Parody Anime Brands!
Let’s look at some of the most famous fake anime brands we love to see in anime.
The History of WcDonald’s, the Most Famous Restaurant in Anime.
One of the most recognizable faux brands used in anime is WcDonald’s, although it often shows up as MgRonald’s, BakuDonald’s, or EcDonald’s. It’s a convenient place to eat and has many locations…if you’re an anime character.
In the early ’80s, anime would just add famous brands like McDonald’s or Lucky Strike cigarettes without a second thought. Then came the first instance of “WcDonald’s” in 1983’s Cat’s Eye, an anime about three sisters who were secretly art thieves. The “W” logo shows up in episode 48, and I guess a lot of other creators took notice. Eventually, an entire anime about a fake version of McDonald’s would get made, in the form of The Devil is a Part-Timer.
The meme became so famous around the world that even McDonald’s got in on it. In 2024, the company created a series of anime-inspired TV commercials with anime-style packaging. They even gave you a manga with your order of “Chicken WcNuggets.”
Dr. Pepper, the Intellectual Drink for the Chosen Ones
Next is Steins;Gate, which featured characters drinking a slightly obfuscated bottle of Dr. Pepper. The anime (and game) single-handedly made the drink a hit in Japan. Japanese people have traditionally disliked the drink (along with root beer), but the power of anime can change anything.
Naturally, parody versions of Dr. Pepper became a running gag in anime. Of course, my favorite version is Mr. Peter!
Parody Brands in Anime Convenience Stores
It’s also common to see characters visit a parody version of a convenience store, like Eight-Ten. If you see a proper version of a convenience store (such as Family Mart) in an anime, it means the company paid to be included in the show. They’re likely part of the “anime production committee” that owns the IP and will be tasked with promoting the show in their stores.
Would You Like Some Fake Anime Beer?
There’s nothing like cracking open an ice-cold can of Anohi, or Asagi, or Yuuhi, after a hard day at work!
Anta Burger? Read my review of McDonald’s + Evangelion burger line here.
My Favorite Anime Coffee: Sudoh-Bucks
The meme of fake anime brands is so big, sometimes characters reference it directly. Like the time Ryuji was at Sudoh-Bucks, wondering why they hadn’t been sued for trademark infringement.
Another Popular Restaurant: Fake Denny’s
Another staple in anime are parody versions of family restaurants like Denny’s or Jonathan’s, which naturally have varieties of names. Would you like to eat at Daddy’s restaurant?
And Many More Parody Anime Brands
Everything from Costaco to D+M Okinawa Juice to “Massochist Cider” (presumably made by someone who hates the taste of root beer).
Actual Product Placement in Anime
While parody versions of our favorite companies are common, it’s not rare for real brands to show up. The rise of product placement deals can be traced to 2006’s Code Geass, which partnered with Pizza Hut to promote their anime with pizza boxes with characters printed on the outside. While the company expected sales to rise in Japan due to the promotion, anime fans all around the world found themselves hungry for Pizza Hut after watching the sexy C.C. eating pizza in her underwear. This worldwide explosion in sales caused a huge rise in interest in promoting real products in anime, especially through feature films.
Thanks for reading this blog post about the meme of fake brands in anime, like WcDonald’s. What was the first one you noticed? Tell us in the comments below!
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