Hello Kitty (also called Kitty White) is a fictional character of Japanese origin, created by Yuko Shimizu and owned by Sanrio. Depicted as a young anthropomorphic Japanese bobtail cat with a sweet, cute, cheerful, and kind-hearted image, she was created in 1974 and has since become a marketing phenomenon and a staple of the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture.
History with the Macy's Parade
Hello Kitty made her Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 1995, appearing in the form of a walk-around character costume. During this appearance, Hello Kitty was joined by fellow Sanrio characters as they waved to the crowd from the formerly-named Fruit Juice Valley float.
The first Hello Kitty balloon debuted in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2007. The balloon was 33 feet tall, 45 feet long, 33 feet wide, and required 16,200 cubic feet of helium to be fully inflated. This balloon was made to resemble a "Super Cute" superhero version of Sanrio's trademark character, donning a cape and tiara to complement her trademark red bow. This balloon version of Hello Kitty made its final appearance in the 2011 Parade.
The following year in 2012, Hello Kitty returned to the Parade's line of march as a brand-new balloon. The second Hello Kitty balloon featured herself riding in a classic retro airplane, wishing her many U.S. fans a very happy thanksgiving. The balloon measures 36 feet tall, 50 feet long and 38 feet wide, making the second Hello Kitty balloon one of the widest at the time of its debut. This Hello Kitty balloon became an instant Parade staple, making six consecutive appearances until its retirement shortly after the 2017 Parade.
Since then, Hello Kitty has yet to be represented in the Parade again in any way.
