Nintendo really shocked the whole world with their great news and brought immense cheer to the gamers and the parade lovers. Everyone’s favorite Italian plumber, Mario is going to fly over New York City this Thanksgiving! A gigantic Mario balloon is going to accompany the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 27th, and that is all for the 40th anniversary of the first Super Mario Bros. game. They even shared the 3D model of the new balloon, and honestly? It indeed looks absolutely crazy hanging in the cloud-like form of the digital realm before it gets to actually touch the real sky.
So it is confirmed, once again! Mario is going to be stretched over the skyline while the turkey is being served for Thanksgiving. What a great and perfectly timed celebration it is – 40 years since we first entered the “plumber’s underworld.” Nintendo‘s tweet became the talk of the gamers very soon with lots of reactions coming in pretty fast.
Some were just nostalgic without any restrictions. A user, Terrilisa6, wrote, “We miss ya Macys Parade! We had a blast representing OHIO 2006 with @SHSBand1 retired band!” along with heart and music note emojis. Really, the parade is a source of nostalgia for a huge number of people, and Mario’s presence just contributes to the existing custom.
Though gamers, by their nature, soon turned the comments into a very amusing and somewhat critical matter. Some players noted what they regarded as flaws in the balloon’s design. User BeerusFied remarked, “Missed opportunity to give him the wing cap from SM64” – this indeed is a very strong point because it would have been quite appropriate for a flying balloon. Another user, Scursh, even went too far: “No tanooki? No wing cap? No cape?? I’m outta here!” What a thing to say! One can say without a doubt that people have very powerful views regarding Mario’s outfit and which power-ups he can wear.
And then, again, there was the still-valid comparison to a certain blue hedgehog. Many responses mentioned and joked about the incident of Sonic’s balloon in the 1993 parade when Sonic’s balloon literally popped. User YuruInuyama answered someone with “Sonic balloon was popped back in 1993 attempting to do this. Happy to help lil’ zoomie” along with a photo of the pierced Sonic balloon. The bitter competition still continues to be played out even in balloon forms after so many years.
Another user, AdvocaciaMvf, boldly asked “Could you IMAGINE if history repeats itself?” and attached a GIF of Sonic’s balloon losing air. At the same time, user fabianno876 replied “But at least this won’t pop. So Nintendo does what SEGA couldn’t” – which kind of hurts. That is a very harsh and scathing remark about the balloons and their properties.
The venue was also brought up. User SeabassSebas commented, “He is finally back at his hometown, the New York City area. It is not Brooklyn but Manhattan is close enough” and attached a Mario sprite graphic. In a way, Mario is going back home even if it just involves his inflatable character.
Some comments were just plain hysterical. User PikaRaichu1 made a funny remark “Someone pop the new balloon lol” but then quickly added in another reply “I am kidding btw that’s property damage I don’t actually condone it, this reply was a joke” – which suggests they suddenly realized that even if jokingly they could be in trouble when it comes to balloon popping. Meanwhile, MadDoodlezArt confessed “the pose was so odd i briefly thought it was ai and was abt to get super disappointed until i read the post lol” – and, honestly, I can relate. The pose does look a bit strange for Mario.
And the inevitable comments about Nintendo switch 2 were also there because really there is never a time when this isn’t the case? User LOSTLEAD8R simply asked, “Nintendo switch 2 achievements please” as if the balloon announcement was the most opportune moment to make that request.
What is really cool though is that this brings together different generations. The Parade at Macy’s has been a Thanksgiving event for ages and Super Mario Bros. has been the king of gaming for 40 years. To combine them is more like putting together a puzzle, kind of genius. It is a way of introducing gaming culture to a mainstream American tradition in a very fun way. No complicated lore, no convoluted plot, just Mario, flying high over New York City, Buddha style, and making people happy.
Also, the time is interesting – shortly after the Super Mario Bros. Movie which was a massive success and has introduced Mario to a whole new generation of fans. Now those kids can see their new favorite character in the parade they watch every year. It is a smart move by Nintendo to keep the momentum and relevance across different media.
Really, it is hard to believe that a character from a 40-year-old game could still be in the limelight like this. Most of the entertainment sectors are dead or forgotten long before the four decades are up. Mario still proves to be the winner, hopping, collecting coins, and now – flying over Manhattan as a giant balloon. That is awesome power of endurance.
The whole idea of the parade has always been to bring joy and amazement, and Mario has been doing just that in living rooms since 1985. The marriage of tradition is simply right. It is a party for something which has brought delight to millions of people, spanning different generations. And in today’s world, we all could use a little bit more of that pure and simple joy.
So save the date: November 27th – whether you are a hardcore gamer that has been with Mario since the NES or just someone that enjoys seeing giant balloons floating in New York, this one will be something you remember. Mario is taking off and to be honest? it is about time.
