McDonalds TCG Promotion Coming to America

I didn’t like the seeds on the Burger King buns anyways.

Pokemon and McDonalds are teaming up for the first time ever in America! Between June 17th and July 7th, every Happy Meal will come with either a Pikachu, Reshiram, Zekrom, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Zorua, or Zoroark figure as well as one of twelve TCG cards. The cards will most likely be reprints from the Black & White set, perhaps as reverse holos or with a special stamp. Previously, Pokemon always partnered up with Burger King, but it seems they’ve now scored a partnership with McDonalds like the Japanese have for years now. The full press release is below.

BELLEVUE, Wash.– Pokemon Black and White-themed Happy Meals arrive in participating McDonald’s stores across North America beginning June 17, 2011, as one of the world’s most popular entertainment properties launches its Happy Meal promotion with the leading foodservice provider. Pokémon fans visiting North American McDonald’s locations June 17–July 7 can purchase a Happy Meal featuring one of eight McDonald’s exclusive Pokémon figures, including Pikachu and brand-new Pokémon Reshiram, Zekrom, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Zorua, and Zoroark, as well as one of twelve Pokémon Trading Card Game cards, to celebrate what has already been a blockbuster year for the franchise. The Pokémon Company International continues its McDonald’s Black and White Happy Meal promotion in major markets around the world later in 2011 and 2012.

“The Pokémon franchise is having an incredible year, and partnering with McDonald’s is definitely one of our highlights,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “We’re excited that our fans can visit McDonald’s, purchase a Happy Meal, and enjoy something special from Pokémon.”

The Pokémon Black and White Happy Meal promotion will be supported by McDonald’s through a fully integrated marketing campaign that includes television advertising, in-store POP, and online activities at McWorld.com and HappyMeal.com.

The Pokémon franchise continues to be one of the most enduring entertainment brands in the world. The release of the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video games for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems have shattered sales records with more than 11.5 million copies sold since their release in Japan last September and in the United States and Europe this March (Nintendo, March 2011). The all-new Pokémon Trading Card Game: Black & White expansion launched in April, adding to the more than 15 billion Pokémon TCG cards produced worldwide. A new season of Pokémon animation on Cartoon Network, Pokémon: Black & White, and a new feature length film, Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions, have also been released this year.