New Faces Floating High: 2025 Macy's Parade Balloons

The 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to dazzle with five new giant balloons, each representing beloved characters from movies, games, and TV shows. This year's parade will kick off at 8:30 a. m. with performances from a mix of country, pop, and Broadway stars, including Cynthia Erivo, Lainey Wilson, and HUNTR/X from the hit Netflix musical "KPop Demon Hunters. " Among the new balloons, Buzz Lightyear from "Toy Story" is making a comeback after a 12-year break. This isn't just any return—it's a brand-new balloon design. Buzz is known for his role in the "Toy Story" movies, which are all streaming on Disney+, and his own spin-off projects like "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" and the 2022 film "Lightyear. " Fans of "KPop Demon Hunters" will be thrilled to see Derpy Tiger, a blue tiger, and Sussie, a magpie, floating above the streets of New York. These characters are pets of Ahn Hyo-seop, the leader of the Saja Boys, the main antagonists in the movie. The parade will also feature live performances from HUNTR/X, the singing voices of the movie. Mario, the iconic Nintendo character, is making his first-ever appearance in the parade. This debut celebrates the 40th anniversary of the original "Super Mario Bros. " game. Mario's adventures don't stop at video games—he's also starred in TV shows like "The Super Mario Brothers Super Show, " which can be streamed on Prime Video. Pac-Man, another video game legend, is back as a balloon after a 45-year hiatus. Known for his arcade game, Pac-Man has also had his own cartoon series and a CGI show called "Pac-World. " The parade is a big deal for fans, especially with the 45th anniversary of the game. Lastly, the whole "Shrek" crew is making an appearance, including Shrek, Fiona, their three kids, and Donkey. This is a big deal because usually, only Shrek flies solo. The "Shrek" movies and specials are streaming on Peacock, and a new movie is coming out in 2027. The holiday special "Shrek the Halls" will air on NBC in December.