MANILA, Philippines - Dave, Stuart, Tom Googly Eyes, Tim, Jerry and two Evil Minions became the most-sought after celebrities after fast food chain McDonald's included them in the Happy Meal pack mid-June.
Collectively called "Minions" in Universal Pictures' hit animation Despicable Me, the yellow, jumpsuit-wearing characters populated social media posts as costumers young and old rush to buy meals to complete the plastic toys.
"McDo Trinoma and SM North should still have the Despicable Me Happy Meal. Please ohh please please please!" Twitter user Kristine Anne Lim posted on her account.
A minion toy sitting atop a stack of international policy books in a Manila university. CHERYL ARCIBAL
Young rock fan Samuel (@slashersam16) confessed on Twitter even his parents are involved in his efforts to collect the creatures.
"Bumalik sila mama at papa sa Trinoma... then nagpabili ulit ako ng happy meal... OH YEAH! Minions!" Samuel said.
Sibling rivalry also applies in the search for minions as one Antonette Andres notes, "Nagpalibre ako ng Happy Meal para sa laruan, pero sa kanya daw yung laruan. Kainis si Kuya."
Several McDonald's branches in Manila have in fact run out of Minions and fans go on lengths to travel to farther locations to complete the set. Darlene from Manila recounted: "This is the fourth McDonald's branch that's all out of minions! I've never been so motivated to complete a Happy Meal toy set."
Quezon City resident Manjo Jiordolin gave a tip on where more minions can be found.
"Sa naghahanap ng minion happy meal, Mcdo-Banawe (yung tapat ng ortho) magbubukas sa July 1. Baka may stock sila since reopening," he said.
McDonald's made the toys available simultaneously this June in 17 countries to promote the worldwide premiere of Despicable Me 2 following the converted super-villain Gru, his three adopted daughters and his yellow henchmen is scheduled to hit Philippine theaters.
According to the film's producer, the fictional minions have existed since time immemorial, evolving from amoeba-like substances to fully functioning and tech-savvy henchmen whose mission is to serve "history's most ambitious villains."
A full length film Minions is scheduled to be released in 2014 produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal.