Action figure:Batgirl DC Superhero Girls #8

In 1977, a St. Louis regional director of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain developed a meal specifically for kids. The "Happy Meal" included a burger, fries, cookies, a soft drink, and a premium stored in a box decorated with fun games and puzzles. At first, individual restaurant owners selected and provided their own premiums. Corporate HQ urged owners to offer toys that were safe for all ages and one suitable for children younger than age 3. Some of the early toys went through test trials. Regional variations of the toys were common. For instance the Hot Wheels toys offered in 1986 on the East Coast differed from the ones offered on the West Coast. Until 1995, restaurant managers in other countries were free to accept or reject premiums and release them on their own schedule. Later, McDonald's made attempts to coordinate the distribution of premium toys in restaurants throughout the world. Happy Meal toys often reflect characters and events related to the release of popular movies, like "The Lion King," or "Batman," or "E.T." Other toys related to the periodic reissue of Disney classics like "Bambi," "Cinderella," and "Sleeping Beauty." Happy Meal toys catalog the characters, events, and entertainments that have dominated American popular culture.