麦兜是一只右眼上有个胎记的小猪。他有一颗金子般的心，但他不是很聪明，什么方面都平平无奇；尽管如此，他也有自己的梦想。每一次他尝试着达成自己的理想，他都会失败；他会感到失望，但依旧进取，追逐着自己其它的梦。他就是这样创造了自己的一片天地。他单纯而简单的生活，以及虽不完美，却积极向上的生活态度，和永不放弃的精神，使得他受到了大众的欢迎。

　　麦兜名字的由来有一个故事。麦太临盆去医院准备生麦兜的时候，她看到了一只神奇的塑料盆(粤语中叫做“胶兜”)从她头顶飞过。由此她向塑料盆许了一系列的愿望，希望将来的儿子能很聪明、读书好，长得帅，像梁朝伟或者周润发，还有运气要好，最后塑料盆终于落地。麦太认为这是老天爷传递的异象，而麦胶这个名字不好听，于是决定取名麦兜。

　　McDull is a male pig who can be distinguished by a birthmark on his right eye. He has a heart of gold, but he isn't very smart and ordinary in every way; nevertheless, he has many dreams. However, every time he tries, he fails; he is disappointed, but tries again, exploring other dreams. In this way he creates his own colourful world. He lives his life simply and naturally. He is not perfect, but his attitude towards life, namely of never giving up, makes him a popular character。

　　The name McDull actually has a story itself. When Mrs Mak was going to give birth to McDull, she saw a magical plastic basin (pronounced roughly as "dull" in Cantonese) flying over her head. Believing it a sign from the gods, she named her son as "Dull"。

　　麦兜系列主要人物中英文名对照：

　　麦兜 McDull

　　麦唛 McMug

　　麦太 Mrs. Mak(麦谭玉莲 Mak Tam Yuk Lin)

　　麦炳 Mak Bing