The 15 Coolest Balloons in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade History

Image via Complex Original

Let's be real: All other traditions aside, nothing rings in the holiday season like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since 1924, the annual ceremony has been thrilling children, angst-ridden teenagers, and grown-ass men alike with its heaping servings of nostalgia in the form of balloons the size of your house.

In addition to rappers, actors, and other cheery no-name float wavers, you'll also find Sonic the Hedgehog, Spider-Man, and other throwback superstars making cameos, bringing viewers back to the days when their biggest pressing issue was annihilating Dr. Robotnik. If only things were still that simple. In honor of the ceremony's 85th year, we've decided to pay homage to the best of the best fictional floating stars, ranking them in order of which most make us want to break out the Goo Punch (My Brother and Me? Anyone?) and be merry. Before you, our list of The 15 Coolest Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons.

15. Spider-Man

Long before Spider-Man was singing show tunes and breaking a leg nightly (in the literal sense) on the Broadway stage, he was flying high above Macy's paradegoers as early as 1987. In 2009, however, the soaring superhero received an image reboot of sorts. That November, a new 78-foot-long, 29-feet-high Spider-Man balloon made its debut. Now that's nothing to mess with.

14. Tim Burton's "B. Boy"

The awesomely eerie filmmaker has already tackled Christmas and Halloween. What better a holiday for the director to make his weird mark on than wholesome Thanksgiving? This year, the Tim Burton-designed "B. Boy" balloon will take flight. While it doesn't beatbox or sport Adidas pants with one leg rolled up, here's what it does have: stitches, giant eyes, and scary-ass teeth. (Yep, that sounds pretty Tim Burton-y to us.) According to the visionary's back story, the Franken-balloon was created from a series of other leftover balloons from children's parties, which apparently, it was never allowed to attend because it was too frightening-looking. Awww.

13. Sonic the Hedgehog

If anyone is in need of further proof of the badass-ness of the Sega icon and first-ever video game character to be featured in the parade, they only need examine the headlines that emerged after 1993's festivities. In a move that we're sure N.W.A. would've approved, Sonic injured an off-duty police officer after smashing into a lamp post. Fuck the police!

12. Felix the Cat

While Felix might not pack the same punch as some of the parade's more modern additions, his balloon dates almost as far back as the parade itself, having made its first appearance in 1927. If only we could look that fresh at 84. Must be something in that bag of tricks.

11. Spongebob Squarepants

When not kicking it in his pineapple under the sea, Spongebob Squarepants takes to the skies to bring joy to big kids and stoners across the country. It's kinda hard not to crack a smile looking at that delirious face. However, we've got to admit, it's kinda hard for us to get nostalgic about Spongebob when we're Netflixing him on the regular. We can't grow up, we're just grown-ass kids.

10. Charlie Brown

Without a Lucy balloon on hand, maybe there's a chance the herby Peanuts star, introduced back in 2002, will at long last be able to kick the enormous football that proceeds him. Maybe.

9. Popeye

Sure, he might look constipated, but we can't imagine Popeye is too self conscious when he's got guns the size of people's apartments. And dude was born in 1957 - before the rise of steroids.

8. Garfield

Look at Garfield - as everyone around him goes nuts, our favorite feline is just chilling. Per usual. Come to think of it, is it us or does the potbellied cartoon cat seem perpetually blazed? With his eyes constantly at half mast and his frequent jonesings for lasagna, it'd certainly put things in perspective.

7. Shrek

Anyone who says they don't have a soft spot for the twisted fairy tale of the cartoon ogre who wants nothing more than to enjoy some cold lamping in his swamp is straight up lying. If the replica of the above doesn't make you feel the love, then perhaps the memories of Eddie Murphy in one of his last-ever family movies worth seeing will.

6. Kermit the Frog

With the new Muppet movie hitting theaters the day before, we'll be glad to see the crew's sanest member showing up to represent. We've got to admit, though, while we're glad to see Kermit doing his thing so long after his first 1977 appearance, the parade's long overdue for a Swedish Chef cameo. Just saying.

5. Babar

Remember Babar? While we might not have retained too many of the cultured elephant king's important life lessons, we do certainly remember his dapper outfits. Bow down to the freshest member of the animal kingdom

4. Buzz Lightyear

Poor Woody. He always seemed to get upstaged by Tim Allen's iconic cartoon counterpart - and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appears to be no exception. With a sick balloon like this, though, we'll take the space ranger over Andy's loyal, but bland cowboy anytime. To infinity and beyond!

3. Wild Thing

Before Spike Jonze's 2009 flick caused everyone to flash back to the good ol' days of being reckless sans consequences, a pre-movie Wild Thing inspired by the Maurice Sendak classic made a cameo at the parade in 1998. Yep, looks just as menacing as we remember in the books.

2. Snoopy

That said, we can't help but award the higher spot to Snoopy, who's always going to outshine his distraught owner, regardless of medium. He always seemed to While Snoop's rocking his aviators in the parade, we like him best as dance sensation Flash Beagle.

1. Takashi Murakami's Kaikai and Kiki

The king of Japanese pop art unveiled these balloons, based off his characters Kaikai and Kiki, in the parade last year. Just another sign that high/low art distinctions are meaningless.