Mario could have been a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon as early as the late 80s. He was certainly popular enough. He could’ve been there in the 90s, mocking the popped Sonic balloon that couldn’t make it (“Hoho, Mario does what Sega don’t! Who’s-a got the blast processing NOW?”) He could’ve joined the ranks in the 2000s or the 2010s. But it took until now, the 40th anniversary of the NES and the Super Mario Bros game, for the portly plumber to gain the Balloon power-up and float down Herald Square.
Mario will measure 51 feet and 2 inches long, 37 feet wide, and 43 feet and 8 inches tall. Forty-plus years is a long time to wait for something like this. But if anything, it testifies to the character’s evergreen status that Mario could have joined the parade at any time, and that he remains so iconic when countless other characters have had their fifteen minutes. And hey, he did beat Bubsy!
“Having Mario join this iconic holiday tradition is an incredible way to honor the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.,” says Devon Pritchard, EVP of Revenue, Marketing & Consumer Experience at Nintendo of America. “Since he first emerged from a Warp Pipe, Mario has embodied our goal of bringing smiles to faces all over the world. We are excited for Mario fans of all ages to see his new balloon’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut.”
Of course, these characters never show up without an ulterior motive, and Mario DOES have a new animated movie coming up soon. The pose he’s making bears an intentional similarity to the one he had on the box art for Super Mario Galaxy, the basis of Illumination’s upcoming feature next spring. The balloon will surely return next year to call attention to the Blu-Ray and digital release. And oh yeah, look what’s on the video game store shelves this very moment! It’s Mario Galaxy itself; who woulda guessed?
Mario will be featured in the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that airs Thursday, November 27 on NBC and Peacock. He could appear at any time from 9:30 AM to 11:55 AM, blocking out the space for Broadway dancers and Santa. Keep your eyes on the set!
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