You can’t celebrate 30 years of Pokémon without 30 years of starters, plus a few more Pocket Monster all-stars.
The Pokémon franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and the latest partner in the birthday party is McDonald’s Japan, who’s just announced that brand-new Pokémon Happy Meals featuring 30 different Pokémon species are on the way.
In what’s become its standard style for big-name collaborations, McDonald’s will be releasing the Pokémon Happy Meals in three rounds. Six different toys will be available in the first, six more in the second, and then any of the 12 could be included in Happy Meals in round three. The toys will represent all 27 starter Pokémon that have appeared across the games’ nine generations so far, face-of-the-franchise Pikachu, Eevee, and Snorlax (who’s also getting time in the spotlight these days at the Pokémon Sleep event going on in Yokohama).
Round one kicks off with disc-shooting, ring toss, spinner, and rolling toys for the Kanto (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle), Johto (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile), Hoenn (Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip), Sinnoh (Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup), and Unova (Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott) starters. The Pikachu Poké Ball Roller is part of this group too, with Pikachu adorably wagging his tail back and forth as you push the ball forward.
Round two brings with it more spinners and shooters for the Kalos (Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie), Alola (Rowlet, Litten, Popplio), Galar (Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble), and Paldea (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly) region starters, as well as the Eevee Poké Ball Roller…
…and Snorlax Name Tag, which you can clip to your or anyplace else where you want to simultaneously deliver the messages “This belongs to me” and “I love the sleepiest Pokémon.”
▼ There’s space underneath なまえ (“name”) for you to write your name.
The Pokémon 30th anniversary Happy Meals come after last month’s McDonald’s Japan Summer Chance Bag, which included items such as a Pikachu French fry timer and color-changing Pokémon beverage cups.
Round one starts on August 7 and round two on August 14. Round three begins on August 21 and runs for an indefinite amount of time, ostensibly until stock of the toys runs out, which likely won’t be very long. If you’re looking to get some for yourself, keep in mind that in order to deter scalpers, McDonald’s Japan will be limiting purchases to six Happy Meals per customer group on August 7, 8, and 9, and online orders will be limited to the official McDonald’s Delivery Service on those days as well. Though not yet announced, similar policies will likely also be in effect when round two starts.
Source: McDonald’s Japan
Top image: YouTube/マクドナルド公式（McDonald’s)
Insert images: McDonald’s Japan, YouTube/マクドナルド公式（McDonald’s）, (1, 2, 3)
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