Scrat is a fictional character and supporting character of the Ice Age film franchise. Scrat is depicted in the franchise as an acorn-obsessed saber-toothed squirrel that lived during the ice ages, attempting to store his prized acorn. Scrat constantly searches for ways to protect his acorn, but fate always gets in the way. He commonly ends up in humorous or painful situations, such as accidentally separating Pangaea, being struck by lightning, pursued by avalanches, and repeatedly getting knocked unconscious while fighting for his acorn. In a special feature in the second film's DVD, his name has been stated to be a mix of the words "squirrel" and "rat", his species allegedly believed to have been a common ancestor of both.
Since 2013, Scrat has served as the mascot of the Blue Sky Studios, a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox (now owned by Disney).
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Scrat and his adored Acorn made their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in the 2015 Parade, as they were transformed into ballooning behemoths for the very first time. Celebrating the best National Nut Day ever, as Ice Age's rambunctious saber-toothed squirrel made his Parade premiere ahead of his return to the big screen the following Summer in the fifth installment of the Ice Age franchise, Ice Age: Collision Course.
Concepts for the Scrat balloon began in early 2015. The Macy's Parade Studio design team's initial sketch showed Scrat with his arm out and a long tail behind, holding an acorn in a Thanksgiving pigskin classic pose. “That made him overall too long and too skinny,” said Parade Director John Piper. A compromise was reached where Scrat runs with his tail folded back, chasing a separate acorn balloon.
“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate a global icon such as Scrat than immortalizing him in one of the most beloved and cherished American events, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Zachary Eller, senior vice president, Marketing Partnerships, 20th Century Fox. “From the moment we began discussing a way for our Ice Age herd to participate, we knew that Scrat chasing that just out-of-reach acorn was the only possible idea!”
Transformed into prehistoric proportions at the Raven Aerostar headquarters, the Scrat balloon measures approximately 58-feet long, 24-feet wide and 41-feet tall. Scrat's bushy grey tail is said to be as long as the height of four woolly mammoths. Always focused on the hunt and chasing his favorite snack, he is posed ready to pounce on the 21-foot tall acorn (which can fit over 15 million standard-sized acorns) that is just slightly out of reach.
The Scrat balloon made subsequent appearances in the 2016 and 2017 processions, chasing his acorn every step of the way through. During the 2017 Parade, the Scrat balloon's arms began to bend along Central Park South due to leaking helium. Following this appearance, the Scrat balloon was retired from the line of march.
Although the Scrat balloon no longer makes appearances, the Acorn novelty balloon that accompanied the saber-toothed squirrel has since made appearances by itself, information for which can be read here.