Mario Joins Goku Luffy and Pikachu at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade

Nintendo has announced that Mario will make an appearance at the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, timed to celebrate 40 years of the Super Mario Bros. franchise. The character first appeared in Donkey Kong back in 1981, though the Super Mario Bros. game itself launched in 1985.

Mario will not be the only familiar face at the parade this year. The Goku, Luffy, and Pikachu and Eevee floats are all returning as well, making for a strong lineup of anime and gaming icons at one of the most-watched holiday events in the United States.

The Pikachu and Eevee float made its debut at the parade in 2021 and has been a crowd favorite since. Seeing all four properties represented together is a clear sign of how deeply anime and gaming culture have made their way into mainstream entertainment.

My take: Anime and gaming floats at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade feel completely normal at this point, and honestly, that is a wonderful thing. Mario, Goku, Luffy, and Pikachu all in the same parade is a lineup that would have seemed unbelievable a generation ago.