On the 23rd of May every year, children delight as maverick chef and cult leader Ronald McDonald jumps out of people’s fridges and rams large clutches of French fries into people’s smiling mouths. Once kids get a little older, they realise that it’s not really possible for a single over-enthusiastic clown to do this for 7 billion people on his own every year and that he has to hire helpers.
Before you take a look at this compendium of the many forms R McD’s lackeys take around the globe, take a look at this. It’s the last ever McDonalds hamburger in Iceland. On October 30 2009 Hjörtur Smárason went to McDonalds and bought a burger. The next day McDonalds left Iceland. You can visit it at the Bus Hostel in Reykjavik. It’s got its own live video stream too so you can watch it gently decay.
Phuket, Thailand
While Ronalds in America tend to indifferently lounge about on benches, their Thai equivalents courteously greet customers with reverence in the form of a “wai”.
Indianapolis, Indiana
This Ronald is in shock at what’s happening. Later on, he gets a reassuring kiss to make it all better.
New York City, New York
Ronald is a ubiquitous and unstoppable feature of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Macy’s, NYC
Other than the parade, a Tarzan-loving Ronald welcomes shoppers in Macy’s department store itself, confusing people as to whether he’s supposed to be Peter Pan or Jack of giant beanstalk fame.
Venice, Italy
Part of an art exhibition, this depiction of Perseus holding the head of Ronald is an amusing mix of Banksy-like agitprop and Italy’s grand mythologising.
Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia
For a place famous for its surfing, it’s unsurprising Ronald has taken to his surfboard. Shame he’s not wearing boardies though.
Adelaide, Australia
An Australian child ponders whether that cold facade hides a ticklish Ronald.
Richmond, Virginia
This American Ronald seems to have talked his way out of a jam.
Chiba, Japan
A Ronald-centric panorama of Ichikawa, just east of Tokyo.
Chicago, Illinois
Ronald has difficulty buying shoes, as seen during this Thanksgiving parade.
Rouen, France
This mask-wearing French Ronald is a bit of a hoarder.
Chicago, Illinois
This terrifying statue near The Loop is guaranteed to hunt you down in your dreams tonight.
Nelsonville, Ohio
This suspicious-looking van was in fact part of a parade. Yes, for children.
Brussels, Belgium
A Belgian Ronald posing in front of what appears to be a Cindy Sherman exhibit.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
“D’you come here often?”
Shanghai, China – This baby fulfilled a lifelong dream when she got to sit on Ronald’s lap.
Indianapolis, Indiana
A wistful Ronald chuckling to himself about parking regulations.
Munich, Germany
Unlike all the others, this Bavarian Ronald is depicted with crude replicas of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Bristol, England
This down-on-his-luck Ronald was part of a Banksy exhibition.
Taipei, Taiwan
Okay, we’re not actually sure this is a Ronald or not, but maybe that’s just his look in Taiwan.
Amersfoort, Netherlands
A Dutch Ronald chilling on his balcony, trying to get a moment’s peace.
Columbus, Ohio
This Ronald is a particularly big fan of eye-liner.
It seems this Indian Ronald is sporting a fetching goatee.
Ilocos, Philippines
It’s so hot in the Philippines that this Ronald’s bum has melted.
Richmond, Texas
Probably the most enthusiastic Ronald on our list. Or maybe he’s just annoyed about being sold another needlessly large shoe.
Milan, Italy
This handy Ronald display is no doubt a companion piece to Maurizio Cattelan’s statue near Milan’s stock exchange.
Singapore
Evidently, it’s not just kids that love being close to Ronald.
London, England
The person who made this Ronald display in the Serpentine Gallery seems to have confused him with someone else.
Penang, Malaysia
This Malaysian Roland just looooooooooves to shop. High five!
Nieuwegein, Netherlands
This Dutch Ronald emanates youth and innocence. Perhaps it’s his pet birdhouse that keeps him so chipper.
New York City, New York
New Yorker Ronald loves catching the sun, but not all locals do.
Bangkok, Thailand
Another respectful Ronald, even on Bangkok’s infamous Khaosan Road.
Marlton, New Jersey
This giant Ronald seems pretty content despite being tethered to the grassy ground.
Maddur, India
This Ronald looks extremely pleased with himself.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This Ronald must be a little confused as he’s greeting people outside the wrong restaurant.
Lemon Grove, San Diego
Another giant Ronald, this one nonchalantly distracting drivers of heavy vehicles.
Luxor, Egypt
In Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx represents the bridge between man’s low animal-like instincts and his illuminated higher self, resulting in union with the holy guardian angel known as Ronald McDonald.
(Feature image: TAKA@P.P.R.S)
