It’s official. The world of Dragon Ball will soon be showcased on the national stage when the legendary hero, Goku, makes his debut in the 92nd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year! Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue form from the anime series Dragon Ball Super will be the newest balloon in a lineup that is populated with other iconic characters such as Charlie Brown, Spongebob Squarepants, and Ronald McDonald.
An annual tradition that began in 1924, the massive three-hour event of the Macy’s Parade will start its course from the heart of Central Park in Manhattan to Macy’s Herald Square. Goku’s balloon will stand at over 50 feet tall, float through New York City by about 90 parade handlers, while being watched by millions from the ground and on national television.
The road to the final design of the balloon was a meticulous and intense process in order to give Goku a posture and expression that will be the perfect depiction of the character for his parade debut. Representatives from Toei Animation worked with Macy’s Studio artists to finalize the clay model design of Goku based on drawings and color palettes. Many adjustments and versions were made before the final version of Goku was decided. The process took 3-4 days.
