Americans are craving anime, both through streaming platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll and in the drive-thru lane. As market forecasts signal explosive growth in the years ahead for the U.S. anime scene, restaurants are proving eager to tap into that demand with promotional efforts targeting fans of the Japanese style of animation and film production.
While the quick-service restaurant industry boasts years of anime-inspired collaborations and marketing initiatives, 2026 is proving particularly robust in those efforts.
Popeyes, for instance, which is among the world’s largest chicken QSRs with more than 4,000 locations,
launched its first-ever anime collaboration April 13, according to a press release from the Florida-based brand. The fried chicken giant partnered with Japanese animation studio Toei Animation for “Popeyes X One Piece,” bringing limited-time menu items and collectibles inspired by one of the most successful and enduring anime franchises to U.S. and Canadian locations.
Similarly, Jollibee, a Filipino chain widely recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant brands, announced a limited-time collaboration with popular anime-inspired video game Final Fantasy XIV, launching April 21. The partnership introduces themed meals, exclusive merch and in-game emotes to U.S. and Canadian restaurants through May 31.
In mid-April, Jollibee announced a limited-time collaboration with popular anime-inspired video game Final Fantasy XIV, complete with an in-game “Eat Chicken” emote available through May 31.
“Jollibee and Final Fantasy XIV are both powered by passionate fan communities and a strong sense of shared experience, which makes this partnership especially meaningful,” Luis Velasco, senior vice president and marketing head at Jollibee North America, said in a press release. “Final Fantasy XIV has built a world that brings people together, and that spirit closely reflects Jollibee’s joyful, fun-loving way of creating memorable moments around great-tasting food.”
The recent flood of anime-related QSR promotions comes amid anime’s popularity boom across America. According to the 2025 U.S. Anime Market Analysis Report from Grandview Research, the market was valued at $2.59 billion in 2024, with a 13 percent compound annual growth rate projected between 2025 and 2033, reaching $7.93 billion in seven years.
The research credited much of the recent growth to the democratization of access to anime by popular streaming platforms, expanding anime beyond Japanese and niche U.S. markets and allowing viewers to explore vast libraries of titles and genres. Additionally, the increased availability of subtitled and dubbed (translated) versions widened the consumer base, with growth across age groups.
In 2024, McDonald’s proved eager to satisfy the growing anime crowd in the American consumer base with its “WcDonald’s” campaign. The effort acknowledged and embraced references to the fast-food giant made in many anime movies and shows where animators included restaurants named “WcDonald’s.”
For that campaign, McDonald’s rolled out an anime-inspired sauce, manga-inspired packaging (including
McDonald’s embraced an anime-inspired marketing approach to its “WcDonald’s” promotion in 2024.
WcDonald’s Crew characters designed by iconic Japanese manga artist Acky Bright), episodic shorts for social media and more, according to a February 2024 press release. That promotion reached more than 30 global markets, aiming to connect with anime enthusiasts worldwide.
“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” Tariq Hassan, former chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald’s USA, said in a 2024 press release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”
McDonald’s continued that initiative in 2026, teaming up with Netflix for the March 31 launch of a promotion incorporating the Academy Award-winning film “KPop Demon Hunters,” which, although technically not an anime, draws inspiration from the genre’s aesthetics.
McDonald’s partnered with Netflix for the rollout of a “KPop Demon Hunters” inspired marketing effort featuring characters and themes from the film for limited-time menu offerings and photo cards.
According to a March 24 press release, the marketing effort looked to connect with the film’s fanbase, which Netflix reported as the platform’s most popular film ever, having garnered more than 325 million views and upwards of 540 million watch hours. The promotion featured two themed meals, a character-inspired dessert and exclusive photo cards that unlock first-access content for a limited time.
“Everything we do at McDonald’s is for the fans, and no one can relate to that more than Netflix and KPop Demon Hunters,” Alyssa Buetikofer, McDonald’s chief marketing and customer experience officer, said in a press release. “Big things happen when you bring two massive fandoms together, and this partnership was a natural fit. We found authentic ways to unite our iconic worlds — inviting HUNTR/X and Saja Boys fans into the rivalry in ways that feel true to the film and unmistakably McDonald’s.”
The trend of anime-themed marketing extends beyond the brands mentioned above, including Taco Bell’s Fry Force campaign in 2021, Burger King’s Dragon Ball Z promotion in 2003 and several others.
Taco Bell’s Live Más Productions announced the return of Nacho Fries to the brand’s menu in 2021 with an anime-inspired ad campaign.,
With anime continuing to grow in popularity, the recent uptick in related promotions with restaurant brands may only be the beginning of a trend that becomes more commonplace alongside the genre.
