The McDonald's Anime Recruitment Video meme stems from the 'Mirai no Watashi' (The Future Me) advertisement series released by McDonald's Japan in 2016. Featuring professional animation by Studio Colorido and voice work by AKB48 members, the ads depict a young girl named Sumire joining the team and flourishing under the guidance of her mentor. The internet quickly latched onto the stark contrast between the ad’s cozy, 'slice-of-life' anime atmosphere and the notoriously stressful reality of working in fast food. Memes typically utilize the high-quality stills to parody corporate propaganda, compare Japanese versus Western advertising styles, or humorously depict the 'expectations vs. reality' of starting a new job.