McDonalds product placement

[borboleta]

I know that product placement has already been discussed a bit on this forum, but I had a few thoughts to add, specifically about McDonalds.  Now KA said that she never got any money from mentioning the brands in the Animorphs books, which is probably true.  But... why is McDonalds the only burger joint she mentions?  No Burger King, no Shake N Steak, etc.

Scholastic has had a bit of a relationship with McDonalds; check this out:
http://directmag.com/casehistories/marketing_mcdonalds_scholastic_launch/

This quote is my favorite:
"McDonald's intent is to associate its mascot, the clown Ronald McDonald, with preschoolers' emotions toward learning to read, and to raise awareness of Ronald as a brand icon among kids."

How do you guys feel about this?  Did Scholastic's marketing relationship with McDonald's penetrate the Animorphs series?  Is this product placement?

[Phoenix004]

Actually I believe Burger King is mentioned at least once. Taco Bell is also mentioned (yes I know it's not a burger place).

[paul1991]

In the book where Visser 3's brother comes to earth to kill said visser, they mention a different place near the end.
The conversation had something to do with the fact that Tobias destroyed the McDonalds for quick access to the yeerk pool and they were going to have to eat at another restaurant.
Can't remember the restaurant, just that it was mentioned.

[Red]

All that 'with extra happy' stuff; I like that McDonalds is associated with evil :p

[Chad32]

Maybe McDonald's is KA's favorite burger place. I know I don't mind it, though I do know people that hate it.

[Essam 293]

How do you guys feel about this?  Did Scholastic's marketing relationship with McDonald's penetrate the Animorphs series?  Is this product placement?

Fairly sure K.A never got anything for plugging McDonald's in her books. And if she says she didn't, then I believe her.

Also, aside from a few books (#12, #14, #16, etc), she always tried to reference real people and real world things (bands, tv shows, toys, etc) rather than make up fake ones, so that kids could relate with them better. And it worked too, because one of the biggest things that appealed to me when I first read the series was that you could actually believe that this was happening in your town, or any other town.

And honestly, who in the world hasn't heard of McDonald's? IMO, it was a smart choice, and was the main reason for it. It's the most accessible of all burger places. There's a McDonald's everywhere, and insinuating that your local McDonald's was actually a Yeerk front was a brilliant way to add to my childhood paranoia.

(In fact, I probably wouldn't mind if they added Starbucks to that, as a way of updating with the times with these new releases coming out. )

[AniDragon]

There was a Starbucks mentioned in book.... 45, I think. But yeah, just once. Actually, I'm not big into Starbucks, because in Canada, it would be Tim Horton's. But obviously they couldn't use Timmy's, so... Yeah.

[Essam 293]

There was a Starbucks mentioned in book.... 45, I think. But yeah, just once. Actually, I'm not big into Starbucks, because in Canada, it would be Tim Horton's. But obviously they couldn't use Timmy's, so... Yeah.

Haha, true. Tim Hortons is the equivalent of Starbucks here. But I was thinking in terms of U.S. Though, wouldn't it be awesome if they made little changes like that for every country? (OMG, I would love to read the Ani's talking in Australian. Nate would have to send us all copies! )

[LisaCharly]

They're in a Burger King in #20, I think!

[Phoenix004]

In the book where Visser 3's brother comes to earth to kill said visser, they mention a different place near the end.
The conversation had something to do with the fact that Tobias destroyed the McDonalds for quick access to the yeerk pool and they were going to have to eat at another restaurant.
Can't remember the restaurant, just that it was mentioned.

That's when they mentioned Burger King.