M&M’s Characters and Advertising Collectibles: A Colorful History of Mars Candy Merchandise

M&M’s characters have a way of making people smile before they ever open a bag of candy. Their colorful shells, expressive faces, and humorous personalities helped turn a Mars chocolate brand into a familiar part of popular culture. For collectors, those same characters offer something that lasts long after the chocolate is gone: M&M’s advertising merchandise.

From character-shaped candy dispensers to radios and collectible tins, M&M’s memorabilia brings the fun of candy advertising into everyday life. At Draben’s Toyland, our M&M’s product listings offer a look at how these colorful mascots moved from advertisements into homes and collections.

How M&M’s Became an Advertising Favorite

M&M’s chocolate candies were introduced in 1941. By 1950, the brand began stamping each candy with an “m” to help customers recognize the genuine product. Peanut M&M’s followed in 1954, expanding the candy line and giving shoppers another way to enjoy the brand.

The animated M&M’s characters also appeared in 1954, according to Mars’ account of the brand’s history. Giving the candies faces and personalities created an entertaining way to promote the product. Instead of simply showing a bag of chocolate, advertising could tell a story with characters audiences recognized.

That character-driven approach became a lasting part of M&M’s identity. Mars describes its “Spokescandies” as cultural icons built through decades of witty storytelling.

Meet the M&M’s Characters

Each M&M’s character brings a different personality to the group:

• Red: Bold and self-assured, with plenty of confidence.

• Yellow: Cheerful and good-natured, bringing an optimistic outlook.

• Blue: Relaxed and confident, with an easygoing attitude.

• Green: Expressive and confident, with a personality that stands out.

• Orange: Nervous and concerned, supplying a different kind of comic energy.

• Brown: Poised and authoritative, with a practical presence.

• Purple: Celebrates individuality and being comfortable with yourself.

These contrasting personalities give the brand opportunities for humor and help fans connect with a favorite character. The official M&M’s character pages reflect those distinctive traits.

For a collector, choosing a favorite character can also provide a starting point. A shelf dedicated to Yellow, a collection of Blue merchandise, or a display featuring several characters creates a personal connection to the advertising.

How M&M’s Merchandise Keeps the Brand in View

A commercial ends, but a candy dispenser can remain on a kitchen counter for years. A character radio becomes part of a room, and a collectible tin can stay on a shelf after its original contents are gone.

That is the advertising value of character merchandise: it gives the brand a continuing presence in everyday surroundings. M&M’s products also invite interaction. Pulling a character’s hand, operating a dispenser, or opening a colorful tin makes the mascot part of the experience.

The pieces listed at Draben’s Toyland illustrate several ways the M&M’s characters became collectible objects.

Character Candy Dispensers: Advertising You Can Interact With

1992 Red M&M’s Peanut Candy Dispenser

The 1992 Red M&M’s Peanut Candy Dispenser puts the character at the center of the design. Standing approximately 10 inches tall, it was designed to release candy through the side when its hand is pulled down.

Our listing includes the collectible box, making this a useful example of both character merchandise and branded packaging. For collectors interested in 1990s M&M’s memorabilia, it offers a direct connection to an earlier era of candy advertising.

1999 Yellow M&M’s La-Z-Boy Dispenser

The 1999 Yellow M&M’s La-Z-Boy Dispenser places Yellow in a brown recliner with a remote control. Its design uses a side handle to release candy beneath the footrest.

The scene gives the character a familiar human activity: relaxing in a favorite chair. That small story makes the dispenser entertaining as a display piece, while its candy-serving feature keeps it connected to the product it promotes.

Red, White & Blue Motorcycle Candy Dispenser

The M&M’s Motorcycle Candy Dispenser features Blue with a motorcycle and sidecar. The design releases candy into the sidecar when Blue’s foot is pushed down.

This piece combines character collecting with a vehicle theme, giving motorcycle enthusiasts another reason to enjoy M&M’s memorabilia. It also shows how a dispenser’s setting can be just as memorable as the mascot itself.

Make a Splash Candy Dispenser

The M&M’s Make a Splash Chocolate Candy Dispenser brings Red and Yellow together in a swimming-themed scene. Yellow wears snorkeling equipment and blue flippers, while Red appears as a lifeguard seated in a blue chair.

The playful setting makes it a colorful choice for a summer-themed collection or a display devoted to Red and Yellow. Our listing identifies it as a limited edition collectible dispenser.

Commemorative Merchandise Captures Advertising History

Some M&M’s collectibles preserve a particular campaign or moment in time.

The 2000 “The Official Candy of the New Millennium” Dispenser features Red and the millennium wording. The campaign had a clever connection to the brand name: “MM” is the Roman numeral for 2000.

For collectors, an object like this serves as a souvenir of the advertising surrounding the year 2000. The example in our listing is described as nonworking, making it a display collectible rather than an operating dispenser.

M&M’s Radios and Tins Bring the Characters Home

M&M’s merchandise extends beyond candy dispensers.

Our Yellow M&M’s Scuba Diver AM/FM Shower Radio features Yellow dressed for an underwater adventure. The approximately 10-inch design was made as a splash-proof radio and toothbrush holder, with the option to hang it or stand it on its flippers. It is an imaginative example of a candy mascot appearing on a household accessory.

For a smaller display, the Blue M&M’s 3-Inch Collectible Tin offers character artwork in a compact format. The round tin opens in half and measures approximately 1.5 inches high. Small pieces like this can fit neatly into an advertising collection without requiring the space of a large dispenser.

Together, these items show how character merchandise can keep a candy brand visible through both decorative objects and useful accessories.

Star Wars Meets M&M’s: Collecting Across Two Interests

Character crossovers give collectors another way to connect with M&M’s merchandise.

The Star Wars Darth Vader Red M&M’s Dispenser features Red dressed as the famous Star Wars villain. The listing identifies it as a 2015 M&M’s World dispenser.

A piece like this can appeal to someone who collects candy advertising, Star Wars merchandise, or both. Combining familiar characters creates a playful design and gives the collectible a place in more than one kind of display.

Tips for Starting an M&M’s Advertising Collection

A focused collection can begin with one character, one type of merchandise, or one theme. You might collect Yellow dispensers, compact character tins, vehicle designs, or pieces connected to specific advertising campaigns.

Before choosing a collectible:

• Read the condition description. Check for scuffs, fading, missing parts, and packaging wear.

• Check operating status. A dispenser or radio may be offered primarily for display.

• Consider the packaging. Boxes can preserve character artwork, product names, and promotional wording.

• Measure your display space. Large character dispensers need more room than small tins.

• Treat original vintage candy as part of the collectible. Any old candy remaining in a package should not be eaten.

Explore M&M’s Collectibles at Draben’s Toyland

M&M’s advertising merchandise turns colorful candy characters into objects people can keep, display, and enjoy. A reclining Yellow dispenser, Blue’s motorcycle, a character radio, or Red dressed as Darth Vader each tells a small part of that story.

Explore the linked M&M’s listings at Draben’s Toyland to find a piece that fits your favorite character or collecting theme. Check each product page for its current availability, photographs, and condition details.