McDonald's Happy Meal Changeables Chicken McNuggets Used Figure

Changeables – McDonald’s Food That Transformed into Robots (1987-1990)

In the late 1980s, McDonald’s surprised kids with one of the most creative Happy Meal toy lines ever: the Changeables. First released in 1987, these clever little plastic toys looked like everyday McDonald’s menu items – burgers, fries, drinks, and nuggets – but transformed into robots reminiscent of Transformers.

The first wave (1987) introduced six toys, followed by expanded series in 1989 and 1990, which added more colors, creative variations, and even dinosaur versions. Each toy had a double identity: fast food on the outside, a robot or creature within.

The Changeables perfectly captured the spirit of the late 80s and early 90s – the golden age of transforming toys – while cleverly tying McDonald’s branding to kids’ love of robots.

Today, they are considered highly collectible vintage toys, sought after by nostalgic fans who remember the thrill of unwrapping a Happy Meal and discovering a tiny “burger-bot.” The Changeables remain a quirky, brilliant mashup of fast food and robot culture.