Today marks Pikachu’s 17th consecutive appearance in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! And although seventeen isn’t an especially exciting or important number, I thought we could take a look back at the parade and Pikachu’s multiple appearances! also because #newsdrought
The Parade: A Brief History
The roarin’ twenties were a rather glamorous time in America’s history: flappers were a plenty, speakeasies were open for business, and Macy’s was beginning to become the house hold name it is today with all time high profits. It was 1924 when Macy’s president Herbert Straus realized how big the department store had become, and how it deserved an even larger event to celebrate it. You see, at this point, Macy’s had officially taken over an entire New York City block becoming the biggest store in the world, so Straus’ promise of a “holiday event like nothing the city had seen before” didn’t seem that Farfetch’d. Planned and executed only two weeks before the holiday, the first ever Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was born! Over the years the parade has evolved and undergone several changes: TV gained interest, broadcasting the annual celebration to millions every year, and massive character balloons slowly became the focus. Watch it or not, you can’t deny the parade has become an American institution and tradition; and reaching close to it’s 100th anniversary, it doesn’t look like it’ll be stopping anytime soon. Fast forward to 2001, and we see Pikachu’s first appearance in the parade…
Flying Pikachu, 2001-2005
Fresh off the “Pokémania” craze of thd late 90’s and early 2000’s, Pikachu made it’s debut at Macy’s 75th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade! Preceded by a Pokémon themed Volkswagen Beetle, the balloon’s design had the TV audience more in mind with it’s belly down and friendly face shooting straight to the city’s horizon. In the balloon’s first year, due to Pokémon’s crazy popularity, Pikachu had the honor of having a walk-around style mascot costume appearance on the 75th Parade SuperStars float – one usually reserved to showcase characters and properties from retired balloons of parade’s past. The Pokémon themed VW Bug was moved to follow the Flying Pikachu balloon from 2002-2004 until it’s sudden disappearance in 2005 to make room for…
Pikachu & the Pokéball, 2006-2013
Come 2006 a new design of the Pikachu balloon was unveiled! This new balloon featured a more spectator-friendly design (with it facing slightly downwards in a more bipedal position) with light-up cheeks, and an additional Pokéball balloon. Although the Pokéball almost always came before Pikachu, this era had the most “variations” among the three: To celebrate 10 consecutive years in the parade and the upcoming release of Pokémon Black & White in 2010, floats carrying larger-than-life size statues of game mascots Zekrom and Reshiram guided the main balloons along the parade route. And although it’s more of a mistake, Pikachu’s ears weren’t inflated properly in 2012, causing it’s ears to be deflated for most of the parade.
Holiday Pikachu, 2014-Present
Inspired by the facelift Generation VI gave to the main series games, the balloon got another re-design in 2014 bringing Pikachu to its current iteration. This new balloon features a much more cartoon-y style, and is explicitly holiday with its scarf and little Pikachu snowman in hand. With 17 consecutive parades under its belt Pikachu rounds out the the top 5 most appearances by a single balloon character in the last 40 years of the parade – only behind much older brand and character juggernauts like Ronald McDonald (McDonalds), Snoopy (Peanuts), Big Bird (Sesame Street), and Spider-Man (Marvel).
As time has gone on I’m admittedly less and less interested in the parade; What started as me watching godzilla-size versions of all my favorite characters fly by on TV as my parents prepared a turkey turned into the parade passively being on in the background as I checked social media on my phone. Nowadays I tend to just specifically look up the Pikachu balloon up every year to keep my nostalgia in check. Either way, I see our favorite yellow mascot being a parade regular for the past two decades (and the changes it’s undergone) as a testament of Pokémon’s permanent stamp on the past, it’s current influence, and it’s continued evolution as a brand that will forever withstand the test of time.
Anybody else have memories of watching the parade? Which iteration of the balloon is your favorite?
Whenever I see Hapu in the game I imagine her to have the voice of Tree Trunks from Adventure Time. I know Hapu isn’t old like Tree Trunks, but that’s the voice I hear haha
I hear a Sadie voice but more southern
I have certain voices I imagine for the characters in this game. A few of them being:
Ilima-Vic Mignogna
Colress-Ian Sinclair
Guzma-Matthew Mercer (Think Kanji from Persona 4)
Lusamine-Caitlin Glass
Dulse-Kyle Hebert/Ben Diskin
Those are some examples, but there are more
I don’t disagree with your choices. I also imagined Vic Mignogna for Ilima. He has that kind of voice that I’d think would fit the character. I can see Ian Sinclair too for Colress. When Colress was in the anime I wasn’t the biggest fan of the actor they chose for him. They had Sean Schemmel play him in the animated trailer and that seemed better. Ian Sinclair has good range for how he uses his voice. He can do goofy higher pitched voices and can lower more serious ones too.
So much yes to Illima
:3
Hmm think it’s stupid to make a Pokémon based on a prism that isn’t related to Necrozma?
I would give it prism armor, but that seems too close to Necrozma still, Ehh Idk I already gave it a name Pristal, the Prism Pokémon
Would Pocket Camp be good as my first AC game?
Yes and no. It’s built around a single component of the games (fulfilling animal requests) with restricted fishing and bug catching, but all the important gameplay stuff is mostly there. And it’s free. Nintendo wants this to be people’s first AC game, so you should go for it!
Just suck it up and buy new leaf or wild world
Don’t bother with Mobile gaming that pretends to be actual quality gaming
I was wondering the same
Hey, does anyone know if the Roto Powers stack with certain items or abilities (An example being Roto Hatch and Flame Body)?
How can you possibly get even a half decent Mantine through breeding, when one of the parents has to hold a Wave incense? Cant do it with destiny knot smh
Is there an egg move exclusive to Mantine you need? Because if not it’s better just to breed a Mantyke
Wait swap the names, if you don’t need a Mantyke specific egg move just breed a Mantine
Mantyke cant breed. You need to breed Mantine whilst its holding a wave incense
I was meaning hatch without the incense but got the two mixed up, because Mantine can just breed to make more Mantine so unless you need a Mantyke exclusive move it’s not worth bothering with Mantyke
I had this problem with munchlax. Was definitely tricky. Best bet is to leave the everstone out of the equation and keep swapping out the parents till they’re 6IV
Huh. Never realized this, in USUM the starters each got a new level up move
Rowlet- Ominous Wind
Litten- Double Kick
Popplio- Icy Wind
Sweet I found a Shiny Timid Lombre
Unfortunately its packing Rain Dish,
Nice. Shiny Ludicolo looks great. Too bad the ability sucks though
Is it just me or is the Kantonian gym a missed opportunity? I mean even if the number of trainers was always the same at around 5 trainers. And even if the interior never changed design. Even if you always got just about the same prize at the end every time. Why in the world did they think it was a good idea to have all but one trainer use Pokemon that are NOT from Kanto??? The next closest Pokemon is a baby Pokemon that evolves into one from Kanto. So really how in the world is it a “Kantonian gym” if most of the trainer use Pokemon from other regions and other than the layout of the building/prize at the end there is nothing of note from Kanto? I just don’t even understand…….
My Mantine surf scores are getting better and better. Still don’t have all the special moves, once I do ima be breakin all dem records :]
Normal course: 33,032
Super course: 42,515
Soooo I’m back home for Holiday.. and Making I repeat Making my mom get me Pokemon Ultra Sun. She thinks I should get out and get it .. lol. No!
Low-key geek.
Anyone else this way?
Yes I could afford it myself.. but if she’s offering.. Wynaut ?
https://mynintendonews.com/2017/11/24/the-pokemon-games-have-shipped-over-300-million-copies-worldwide/
300 million Pokémon games sold over the franchise history. That is something to be proud of.
not proud of USUM though.
I won’t be satisfied until there is one sold for every human living on this planet.
Even Donald Trump?
I have a theory about RR and the true origin of all Team leaders.
Look at their faces very closely….
They are all Giovanni! That was the plan of the original one, to find “himself” in other universes and gather together to conquer them all, so that’s why he disappeared!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cfb1a8519d0fd3d1caa993bf4daa5f4079d8ee1e13b5272b6835c907425171b2.png
Uhh, what now?
Oh my god, trying to breed a Shiny Event Rockruff is so hard. I’ve already filled up like 4 boxes
Do you have the shiny charm or are you using the Masuda Method?
Masuda Method
Ah. I wouldn’t sweat it. I had the shiny charm and used Masuda Method and I still didn’t get a shiny Stuff yet. It will take awhile. Some people even hatched thousands of eggs before they even get anything.
Okay. Who’s great idea was it make the Wormhole shiny encounters so damn high? I just went through the wormhole yesterday for the first time and I already got four shines. It’s insane and I love it. I don’t even have the shiny charm yet. (Still missing Cosmog)
Probably some genius who felt bad for us unlucky folk.
All Ula’ula totem stickers collected! 😀
Just hit 2350 srs for Poipole! Passing the time by watching old episodes of Game Grumps. Right now I’m at the very end of Super Mario 3D World. Any suggestions for what I should rewatch next?
Fire Red is one of my favorites but I’d rather watch the 4 hour mega compilation which cuts out them not knowing where to go
Wind Waker is another good one.
Oh man, FireRed! I loved all the reactions Danny had to Pokemon! Thanks for the help!
I can never keep track of SR or eggs, I have the attention span of a goldfish XD
I used to never keep track but i just stick a calculator next to me now and it kinda works as a motivator to me. It kinda gives me the mindset of “Well, I’ve come this far, might as well keep going!”
Watch Mario Head singing.
Currently watching this, very interesting and i would love a Pokemon region based on Scandinavia. GF already touched a bit upon Norse mythology with Xerneas, Yveltal and Zygarde as well,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HxA_Cxlj4E
I’d like more European-based areas as the U.S is not exciting enough and Japan has basically been milked away. I hope a Finnish/Norweigan like region happens, or even some famous place such as Istanbul, or Berlin.
Australia or Norway/Sweden are high up my list for the gen 8 region, because Ice and Poison types are under-represented imo & a region based on either of these countries would fix that issue (Australia has a lot of native poisonous animals and Norway/Sweden have large rugged snowy mountains, perfect for ice types)
I agree, and I also have some ideas for Gen 8 regions:
Finland – This place could have ~60% of the region in snow and ice, and 80% of the region have visible forests (yes they interlap but parts can be normal forests, parts can be snow forests). The percentage of the Pokemon being Ice-Type should be at a whopping 35-40%, although of them ~50% only being pure Ice and the rest dual-typed.
If by “touched a bit” you mean “touched about 0.01%” then yeah, you are correct.
Today was a total waste of time…
Should’ve tried to do some shopping but what’s the damn point…
Pokemon is slowing down too, I can’t even go into PU without being annoyed by regis of all kinds, I don’t care what anyone says Regigigas still is annoying since all they do is spam sub, twave
Yay! I visited Route 1 and discovered and caught these two https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/52e96c8ef18004a2ff280dbba8b6d56d59841c5753399348a2ece8f321219dc6.jpg
Now all I’m missing is the Starter trio
The wind up Rowlet, The fireball spitting Litten and The water gun Popplio
Oh cool.
Yeah I already collected the Light up trio, Pikachu, Solgaleo and Lunala
These two are wheeled toys as the Grubbin spins in circles and Yungoos rolls around and opens and closes his mouth
I’d really like a Lunala, but something that they should do in relation to Lunala and Solgaleo is hand out their toy forms at EB Games/Game Stops/whatever game store and have them have shiny forms of the legendaries. I WANT a shiny Lunala badly!
After a lengthy Thanksgiving I am finally challenging the Akala grand trial! I feel quite confident in my team, especially since I have a strong type advantage.
Punk the Glaceon Lv. 30
Drunk Ubear the Beware Lv. 30
Astolfo the Brionne Lv. 30
Here we go!
You’re just going to have a 3-member team?
As of now, yes. I will get the rest of my team probably on Ula’ula Island.
Ah, nice. For a sec I thought you had gotten rid of your starter and just had three non-starter Pokemon but then I noticed Brionne, lol.
I always have trouble remembering the names of the middle evolutions. I guess that is because they usually have the least impact.
Yeah, usually they’re just there as a connection.
Hmm what to do…
Play US to try and beat Lana’s trial so I can go back tonight for Luna?
Draw a few of my new Pokémon, probably Bountopia and Pristal?
Play around with my new Grubbin and Yungoos?
I’m indecisive and want someone else to pick for me
Play US!
Alright
Gonna go teach Totem Araquanid a lesson in manners
Alrighty
i am so glad Diancite is available immediately in US/UM. When I first checked the Battle Tree for the Mega Stones, I’m pretty sure all but it was there, so I was a bit nervous. Luckily, it turned out to be available via speaking to someone, which I found actually pretty neat.
Yeah, just caught a shiny Hippowdon! Was a bit hard telling if it was as it’s not that different from its normal form though.
Should I teach Lola, Charge Beam?
The Totem is weakening Lola’s Return attack and it can learn it (if you didn’t know the TM is hidden in Brooklet hill) and Electric beats Water so…
Also is Araquanid better at Special Defense or Regular defense
What Pokemon is Lola BTW? also, it has a higher special defence than normal.
Ok and Lola’s a Lopunny
Well then I think you should. I dunno much about Pokemon stats but a Lopunny with Charge Beam sounds pretty cool!
And it’s a better alternative than pound
Definitely, Pound is a much weaker move and it’s not really that effective on many Pokemon, whereas Charge Beam is stronger and has a stronger effect on tons of Pokemon.
Lopunny is a physical attacker tho, Charge Beam wont help it much
Ah, sorry. I’m not good at all with Pokéstats.
”Scandinavian” Stantler (based on a reindeer)
Ice/Fairy (Fairy typing because Stantler in this region hang around Xerneas which in time caused them to adopt some of Xerneas’s fairy attributes)
Thick Fat/Ice Body
”Scandinavian” Ralts line (based on Huldra)
Fairy/Dark (Huldra are forest spirits in Norwegian mythology who watch over certain areas in Scandinavia. They take on the appearance of young women, but are mischeavous at nature)
Shadow Tag/dark type Refrigerate
”Scandinavian” Shinx (based on eurasian Lynx)
Electric/Ice
Keen eye/Refrigerate
Shinx line adapted to the region’s rigid cold climate, while retaining their electric abilities.
”Scandinavian” Honedge line (based on Mjölnir)
Electric/Ghost
Volt Absorb/Ghost type surge surfer
GIVE IT ALL TO ME I WANT THEM NOW
“Scandinavian” Popplio line
Ice-Fairy
They are all female and have Scandinavian-esque blond hair, and have the special ability of charming male Pokemon. They were a result of the original Popplio line being transported to the ice region for a Popplio show.
The description for the stantler was nothing short of cringeworthy
You should’ve just made it an ice or a psychic type