Like stock car races or primary debates, balloon parades are an alleged form of entertainment that’s mostly just boring until something goes wrong. Fortunately, with balloon accidents the resulting injuries are primarily psychic in nature—measured in months of therapy for poor Jacob after seeing Pikachu disemboweled by a lamppost—making them much more fun to watch.
In honor of this morning’s Macy’s Day Parade (the primary venue for parade balloon slayings), here are five deflation videos I couldn’t not watch today, in order of most to least essential.
Barney, Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade 1994
This one really has it all: a wildly careening balloon, an audibly gasping crowd and, best of, a beloved children’s icon experiencing violent decompression. 5 out of 5 months of therapy.
Rex and Sonic, Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade 1993
Another winner, this video suffers from not showing Sonic at the actual moment of his demise—a fact it makes up for with a slow pan of the hedgehog’s lifeless, crumpled body. 4 out of 5 months of therapy.
Rudolph, Richmond Christmas Parade 2010
While Rudolph’s puncture is less dramatic than some of the ones seen above, the more intimate Richmond parade makes the accident feel more personal. 3 out of 5 months of therapy.
Raggedy Ann, Festival of Trees Parade Davenport Iowa 2010
Good but nothing special really. 1 out of 5 months of therapy.
Peter Rabbit and the Cat in the Hat, Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade 1997
Certainly the most dramatic balloon accident, points are taken off the Cat in the Hat accident because someone was actually injured as a result. The good news: the victim subsequently sued the city for $395 million and settled for an undisclosed amount. The weird news: Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle later crashed a single-engine airplane into her apartment (she was unharmed). 5 out of 5 spooky coincidences.
via Gizmodo
I Can’t Stop Watching These Parade Balloon Accident Videos