McDonald’s Japan has been on a hot streak in recent years, launching collaborations with popular anime and pop culture icons that have thrilled fans. Recently, the fast food chain ran a memorable a tie-in with Vocaloid sensation Hatsune Miku. Even Godzilla—the King of the Monsters—has gotten his own Happy Meal set in Japan. These limited-edition campaigns often sell out quickly, trend on social media, and lead to long lines at McDonald’s locations across the country.

Now, the next McDonald’s anime collaboration is being unveiled in Japan—and it features a classic anime and manga icon who’s been solving mysteries for nearly 30 years. Detective Conan, known internationally as Case Closed, is teaming up with the golden arches for a new campaign centered on McDonald’s Japan’s beloved Chicken Tatsuta sandwich series. Created by manga artist Gosho Aoyama, Detective Conan debuted in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 1994 and has become one of Japan’s longest-running and most recognizable franchises. The manga has published over 100 volumes, with more than 270 million copies sold worldwide, and the anime adaptation has sured 1,000 episodes. With its sharp mix of mystery, suspense, and charming characters, the series has become a fixture of Japanese pop culture.

New Anime Shorts Put Conan on the Case at McDonald’s

Chicken Tatsuta: A Cult Favorite with a Crunchy Twist

This marks the second time Detective Conan has partnered with McDonald’s Japan, following a similar promotion in 2023. The new campaign includes two original anime shorts: Chicken Tatsuta: Detective Conan Golden Delicious, which features Conan, Haibara, and Professor Agasa on a quest to uncover a legendary treasure hidden inside a McDonald’s; and Gohan Chicken Tatsuta: Detective Conan Sunset Delicious, where Conan, Kogoro, and Amuro dash into a McDonald’s at 5 p.m. The commercials mix the playful energy of the fast food chain with the iconic mystery-solving antics of the series.

The Chicken Tatsuta series itself is a cult favorite in Japan, known for its crispy ginger soy sauce-flavored fried chicken, shredded cabbage, and pillowy buns. The "Gohan" version swaps the bread for a grilled rice patty, offering a uniquely Japanese twist. This limited-time menu item is brought back annually with fresh packaging and promotions, making it a natural fit for anime tie-ins. For this campaign, four types of special Conan-themed packaging will be available while supplies last, adding a collectible layer to the fan experience.

Detective Conan: Still Solving Crimes—and Breaking Records

Fans React with Gusto to Conan x McDonald’s Campaign

Meanwhile, Detective Conan continues to dominate Japan’s cultural landscape. The 2024 film The Million-dollar Pentagram broke franchise box office records, reaffirming the series’ long-running popularity. In a recent national character poll, Conan Edogawa ranked first, followed by Ai Haibara, showcasing strong fan engagement across generations. The series remains highly visible, not just through anime and manga, but through high-profile collaborations like the new McDonald’s campaign, which keeps the brand fresh and relevant with younger audiences.

Since the new Conan commercials aired, excitement has been building across Japanese social media. Fans have praised the creative spots, posted photos of the exclusive packaging, and even speculated about Easter eggs hidden in the ads. Some are already collecting multiple packaging types, treating the campaign like a mini treasure hunt. It’s a testament to Detective Conan’s staying power—and to McDonald’s knack for turning limited-time anime collaborations into nationwide pop culture events.

Source: Comic Natalie