The key to connecting Gen-Z to MacDonald's was the "Fry-station alarm sound" that has been used in McDonald's restaurants for many years. A sound that boasts 82% awareness among the Japanese, commonly known as the McFries Alarm.

We elevated the alarm sound to the musical content to send Gen-Z into a frenzy.

By combining a sound familiar to all Japanese with some songs by popular artists with two different fan bases, the goal was to create a buzz among the target Gen-Z audience.

This mashup created "a song that everyone knows the sound of, but no one has heard before," and from there expanded the actions to various touch points.

For Gen-Z, McDonald's had been around since they were born and had become such an iconic, familiar brand they took for granted.It was time for McDonald's brand perception to be transformed into something special for them.

McDonald's had to become a brand that Gen-Z chose because they loved it, not because it was close or a lower-priced option.

Japan is a country where fans' derivative works are very active, as evidenced by the Comic Market (the world's largest comic book convention).

In addition to manga, there are many creative, organic social posts as fan art and music under headings like "I tried singing," "I tried dancing," and "I tried playing." So for this project, as part of our activation, we provided the song, well-developed, unique 3D characters, a dance game, and a sound sample that could easily be used for such derivative works.

"The music video, with its overwhelmingly unique and iconic appeal, together with the official release of the alarm sound as a free sample, stimulated the creativity of Gen-Z big time!

A string of brand-new songs was created from the McFries Alarm, and the organic videos created by the young people went viral.

Impressions | 100 million

Derivative works | 1,500＋

Sales UP | 269%（Gen-Z’s hot spot in Tokyo)"

For Gen-Z, McDonald's had been around since they were born and had become such an iconic, familiar brand they took for granted.It was time for McDonald's brand perception to be transformed into something special for them.

McDonald's had to become a brand that Gen-Z chose because they loved it, not because it was close or a lower-priced option.

The key to connecting Gen-Z to MacDonald's was the ""Fry-station alarm sound"" that has been used in McDonald's restaurants for many years. A sound that boasts 82% awareness among the Japanese, commonly known as the McFries Alarm.

We elevated the alarm sound to the musical content to send Gen-Z into a frenzy. First, we released a music video mashing up popular youth songs and alarm sounds, and also developed it into a music game on TikTok.

Furthermore, when the alarm sound was released as an official free sample for the first time ever, various derivative works were shared. McDonald’s created a social networking movement with the music featuring the unmistakable alarm sound.

By combining a sound familiar to all Japanese with some songs by popular artists with two different fan bases, the goal was to create a buzz among the target Gen-Z audience.

This mashup created ""a song that everyone knows the sound of, but no one has heard before,"" and from there expanded the actions to various touch points.

Mashing up the two songs (Ado “Odo” – 190M plays on YouTube, asmi “PAKU” – 3B plays on TikTok) and the McFries Alarm which became extremely popular among Japanese youth. It was also released as a music video.

Original game on TikTok combines dance and music.

The alarm sound was released as an official free sample for the first time ever. Everyone was immersed in creating their own original songs. A string of brand-new songs was created.

The music video, with its overwhelmingly unique and iconic appeal, together with the official release of the alarm sound as a free sample, stimulated the creativity of Gen-Z big time!

A string of brand-new songs was created from the McFries Alarm, and the organic videos created by the young people went viral.

Impressions | 100 million

Derivative works | 1,500＋

Sales UP | 269%（Gen-Z’s hot spot in Tokyo)

Japan is a country where fans' derivative works are very active, as evidenced by the Comic Market (the world's largest comic book convention).

In addition to manga, there are many creative, organic social posts as fan art and music under headings like ""I tried singing,"" ""I tried dancing,"" and ""I tried playing."" So for this project, as part of our activation, we provided the song, well-developed, unique 3D characters, a dance game, and a sound sample that could easily be used for such derivative works.

LYRICS

Jerks deserve a K.O.

Be sweet, if you like

Get ready for the show

Cry or laugh, just love me

C’mon “Say No”,

Bring the bass

Just wondering. Who’s wrong, anyway? eh?

Smiles are free, but sadness moves in

Can’t take this anymore

Time to drop and drown in mud

Wounded and depressed, rolling thunder, moving

Face painted…but who knows me?

Alright leave it to me, don’t mind

Ride the waves,

We’ll get though.

Jerks deserve a K.O.

Be sweet if you like

Get ready for the show

Cry or laugh, just love me

C’mon “Say No”,

Bring the bass

Party in the dark

Wanna take a bite

Wanna connect with you

Woah

Dance, dance

Kill the loneliness with you

Wanna take a bite

A selfish reason

Woah

Share the pain

Time to say bye-bye, let go

Hit, hit with a swatter

Can’t move, feel like a sloth

No vacations, just all-nighters

Drinking juice, feeling fuzzy

Up and down,

Stressed out

Give yourself away

Fool yourself, but its no solution

The end of an ongoing thing

Send a signal, prr prr prr

Come together, all night

Let’s roar

Wanna take a bite

Wanna connect with you

Wanna take a bite

Wanna talk with fingertips and words

Wanna take a bite

A selfish reason

Wanna take a bite

Let’s call it even

Woah woah

Dance, dance

Kill the loneliness with you

Wanna take a bite

Wanna connect the sounds

Wanna take a bite

Can’t find anything real

Woah woah

Come again soon…woo

Woah woah

Take care

Time to say bye-bye, let go

The key to connecting Gen-Z to MacDonald's was the "Fry-station alarm sound" that has been used in McDonald's restaurants for many years. A sound that boasts 82% awareness among the Japanese, commonly known as the McFries Alarm.

We elevated the alarm sound to the musical content to send Gen-Z into a frenzy. First, we released a music video mashing up popular youth songs and alarm sounds, and also developed it into a music game on TikTok.

Furthermore, when the alarm sound was released as an official free sample for the first time ever, various derivative works were shared. McDonald’s created a social networking movement with the music featuring the unmistakable alarm sound.