Thursday, September 17, 2026

'SpongeBob' x 'One Piece' Happy Meal Collab Confirmed to Set Sail Into McDonald's

It looks like what started as a food-leaker rumor is turning into a near-confirmed reality thanks to McDonald's Australia and New Zealand.

'SpongeBob SquarePants' x 'One Piece' McDonald's Happy Meal Collab

Key Takeaways (no pun intended)

  • McDonald’s is reportedly gearing up to drop a SpongeBob SquarePants x One Piece Happy Meal collab in Australia and New Zealand, after food leaker Snackolator first surfaced images of mashup toys online.
  • The leaked lineup includes seven character pairings like SpongeBob and Luffy, Squidward and Sanji, and Plankton and Usopp, with designs that look on-brand enough that fans are debating whether they're official or AI-made.
  • For now the promo appears to be New Zealand–only, following the region’s current Spider-Man: Brand New Day Happy Meal set, and McDonald's hasn't posted a launch date on its NZ site yet.

McDonald’s is rumored to be getting ready to launch Happy Meal toys that combine the worlds of two beloved franchises: SpongeBob SquarePants and One Piece.

According to popular food leaker Snackolator, the company's Australia and New Zealand locations will be releasing Happy Meals that feature seven different toys combining the worlds of one of Nickelodeon’s most popular TV shows and one of the biggest manga properties in the world.

(L-R) 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and 'One Piece'
(L-R) 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and 'One Piece.' | YouTube/Nickelodeon | YouTube/Netflix | Complex

Snackolator, who has a track record of accurately revealing food before it's officially announced, posted about the collab on Tuesday, July 28, unveiling seven different combo toys that should be released: SpongeBob and Luffy, Squidward and Sanji, Plankton and Usopp, Mrs. Puff and Linlin, Gary and Chopper, Mr. Krabs and Jinbe, and Larry and Franky.


Accompanying his announcement appears to be an official look at the toys. Keep in mind, it could be AI — but the collabs all look very realistic and properly reflective of the characters' aesthetics.

The bad news is that if you don’t live in Australia or New Zealand, you're out of luck. It appears that this collab is for Australia and New Zealand only for the time being, however, the image does tease that collab may rollout in additional countries.

SpongeBob SquarePants x One Piece

The promotion would follow McDonald's currently active Spider-Man: Brand New Day toy set in the Australia/NZ market. A specific launch date has not been posted on McDonald’s websites in either region at the time of posting.

Update (8/18) - The SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal collaboration has been confirmed!

The collaboration will be available with every purchase of a McDonald’s Happy Meal, and according to the official One Piece website, is happening this month (August 2026, subject to region) in the following countries:

  • Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Canada, United States
  • Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia, Turkey
  • Asia: China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia
  • Oceania: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand
  • Middle East: Israel

Ironically, there are no current plans to roll out the collab in Japan, however.

The advertisement was directed by Parker Simmons, who provided storyboards to both Toei and Paramount, who each animated their separate properties and handled post production internally. SpongeBob's boarding and posing was done by crew member Simon Edwards with animation from Rough Draft Korea.

The Happy Meal box features pictures of SpongeBob and Luffy's face joining as one. Each meal also comes with a pack of SpongeBob x One Piece trading cards.

Update (8/26): The One Piece x SpongeBob SquarePants McDonald's promotion is now live in Canada, and will be coming soon to the U.S.!

Update (9/1): The One Piece x SpongeBob SquarePants collab will launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, September 15!

SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal characters

  • Plankton × Usopp
  • Sandy Cheeks × Nami
  • Larry the Lobster × Franky
  • Mrs. Puff × Big Mom (Charlotte Linlin)
  • Squidward × Sanji
  • Flying Dutchman × Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach)
  • Pearl Krabs × Nico Robin
  • Gary × Tony Tony Chopper
  • SpongeBob SquarePants × Monkey D. Luffy
  • Patrick Star × Roronoa Zoro
  • Mr. Krabs × Jinbe
  • SpongeBob SquarePants × Gear 5 Luffy

Update (9/15) - via the official McDonald's USA Menu Spotter website:

SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal

09.15.2026

Aye, Aye, Captain! A legendary adventure is about to make waves at McDonald's.

Starting September 15 for a limited time, McDonald’s fans in the U.S. can set sail with the new SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal toys. For the first time ever, two of the most iconic franchises of the ocean are coming together for one treasure-filled adventure.  After all, what happens when a fry cook with big dreams crosses paths with a young captain determined to become King of the Pirates?  Obviously, an unforgettable voyage packed with friendship, adventure, and imagination.

The SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal features 15 exclusive collectible toys that reimagine Bikini Bottom’s beloved characters with the legendary Straw Hat crew. Fans can discover mashups like SpongeBob as Monkey D. Luffy, Patrick as Zoro, Squidward channeling Sanji, adorable Gary dressed as the lovable Tony Tony Chopper and more!

Grab your mateys (and maybe even a straw hat) and set sail for your local McDonald’s to hunt for all 15 toys, available at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time.

SpongeBob SquarePants x One Piece Happy Meal Promotion
McDonald's

Commercial:

Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories | Really Helpful Engines | FULL SPECIAL! | Thomas & Friends

Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories | Really Helpful Engines | FULL SPECIAL! | Thomas & Friends


Thomas is on a mission to prove he’s the most helpful engine on Sodor! When Thomas finds out that Percy and Gordon all have a mission for their day, Thomas goes on a mission to find a big important job to do!

Based on a series of children's books, Thomas & Friends features Thomas the Tank Engine adventures with other locomotives on the island of Sodor. Thomas often gets into trouble, but never gives up on trying to be a really useful engine. Other members of Sir Topham Hatt's Railway include: Percy (Thomas' best friend), and Gordon (the fastest and most powerful member of the team).

Connect with Thomas & Friends Online:
▶ Subscribe to Thomas & Friends on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTF
▶ Thomas & Friends WEBSITE: http://www.thomasandfriends.com/en-us/
▶ Thomas & Friends FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasandFriendsUS
▶ Thomas & Friends TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thomasfriends
▶ Thomas & Friends INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thomasandfriends
▶ Thomas & Friends PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thomasfriends

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New 'Thomas The Tank Engine' Series to Feature the Voice of Harry Sparkes; to Be Narrated By Henry Golding

Henry Golding is one of the voices leading an all-new animated Thomas The Tank Engine series.

Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories
The new series is titled Thomas & Friends Railway Stories (Mattel 2026©)

The blue locomotive, who has entertained children for more than 80 years, will soon be back on screens with a new look and voices.

Titled Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories, the latest animated series in the franchise launches with a special 30-minute episode titled "Really Helpful Engines" on YouTube on Thursday 17th September 2026 and Netflix on Wednesday 30th September 2026. It will then air on Channel 5’s Milkshake! in October.

Henry Golding is narrating a new 'Thomas The Tank Engine' series
Henry Golding is narrating a new Thomas The Tank Engine series (Mattel)

Actor Henry Golding, best known for appearing in Crazy Rich Asians and The Gentlemen, takes up the role of the narrator made famous by Sir Ringo Starr.

The British actor, 39, said he was in the “shadow of giants” following in the footsteps of Sir Ringo and Pierce Brosnan, who narrated a 2008 movie special.

“I think we bring a new spin and a new sort of excitement to Thomas, and we’re kind of bringing it back up to date, which is the exciting part,” Golding said.

Speaking about the message contained in the series for children, he said: “I think some of the most important sort of themes that run through Thomas & Friends really is sort of all about friendship and teamwork, and this series and special strengthens that.

“And I think it’s so important to impart that on our children, because, you know, sometimes we often feel alone, but we need to realise that our friends are more than willing to help. Sometimes we just have to ask them.”

Thomas will also now be voiced by 13-year-old Harry Sparkes, from Harpenden in Hertfordshire, who is making his professional voice-over debut.

Harry Sparkes wearing a black polo and headphones standing in front of a microphone and Thomas The Tank Engine poster
The character of Thomas will be voiced by Harry Sparkes (Mattel 2026©)

Over the past nine months, the student has kept his weekly recording sessions a secret – telling his classmates he was going to physiotherapy for a foot injury.

He said: “It feels amazing, because I played and watched Thomas as a kid, and now I get to be Thomas. It just feels insane.”

Sparkes said he was excited he gets “to be part of something which kids from the next generation will get to grow up to watch”.

Harry Sparkes wearing a black polo and headphones looking at a Thomas The Tank Engine figure
Harry Sparkes, 13, records the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine at Soho Square studios in London in his voice-over debut for Mattel's new animated series 'Thomas & Friends Railway Stories'. (Image: David Parry/PA Media Assignments)

He added that he thought his friends would be shocked to find out he was voicing the character.

“I think my friends will react really weirdly to hearing like someone that they see every day and hearing their own voice just come out of TV, because it’s not something which you would normally see in school. So yeah, I think it would just be crazy,” he added.

Mattel – which owns the Thomas The Tank Engine franchise – has teased the new series will “introduce fans to a refreshed world of Sodor, while still celebrating the iconic railway action we have all known and loved since its debut as a classic book in 1945”.

Mattel’s general manager and global head of vehicles and building sets Ted Wu said: “Thomas & Friends has been a trusted companion for families for over 80 years. This relaunch celebrates the meaningful stories about friendship and helping others that have defined the franchise, while bringing it to life in ways that feel fresh and relevant for today’s preschool audience.”

Thomas The Tank Engine first appeared in The Railway Series, a collection of British books about anthropomorphic locomotives such as Thomas and his friends Gordon, Henry and James, by the children’s author Reverend Wilbert Awdry, first published in 1945.

Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories
It will debut in early 2027 after a special episode is released this week (Mattel 2026©)

The cheerful tank engine, who lives on the Isle Of Sodor where he runs on the Sir Topham Hatt’s (also known as the Fat Controller) North Western Railway, was later adapted for TV by the late British writer and producer Britt Allcroft as Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends, narrated by Beatles drummer Sir Ringo.

Characters appeared as models in their first TV iteration, before a live action film – Thomas And The Magic Railroad – was released in 2000, starring Peter Fonda.

In 2009, the series, now known as Thomas And Friends, saw its characters depicted in CGI for the first time, having seen CGI effects used in 2008, while in 2021 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go saw the characters as 2D animations.

New Thomas The Tank Engine series to be narrated by Henry Golding
Henry Golding (Mattel/PA)

Thomas & Friends Railway Stories launches on the Thomas & Friends YouTube channel on September 17, with the Really Helpful Engines special before airing on Milkshake! in October.

The full series will then debut in early 2027.

Paramount+ is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Paramount+ is also available with Sky Cinema at no extra cost.



Originally published: September 17, 2026 at 11:1x BST.

Original sources: Radio NewsHub, indy100; H/T: @EAxcount17934.

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South Park | New 'South America' Season 29 Intro (Original Song) | South Park Studios

New Season 29 Intro (Original Song) | South Park Studios


Welcome to season 29 of South America.

About South America: South America is the Emmy and Peabody-award winning animated series co-created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone about four boys living in one screwed-up Colorado mountain town. Between local and global tragedies, as well as parental and celebrity interference, Kyle, Stan, Cartman, and Kenny manage to have themselves a time. 

Watch full episodes of South America: https://cart.mn/episodes

Shop official South America merch: https://www.paramountshop.com


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Can Katara Heal Aang? | Avatar: Chibi Minis | Avatar Legends

Can Katara Heal Aang? | Avatar: Chibi Minis | Avatar Legends


Aang gets sick with an intense cold that's heightened by his Airbending abilities! After he launches across the forest and catches the attention of Prince Zuko, it becomes a race between Katara & Zuko to find the poor Avatar. Who will reach the ailed airbender first, and who will totally blow it?

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