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NEW YORK, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A giant helium balloon in the shape of Po, the titular character in the "Kung Fu Panda" cartoon franchise, will appear in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. DreamWorks Animation made the announcement Monday regarding the panda's debut in the 84th annual event, which is to take place Nov. 25.
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The balloon features 16,000 cubic feet of helium, more than half a mile of fabric and 17 gallons of paint.
It is 42 feet tall, 46 feet long and 34 feet wide, DreamWorks said.
"Po is an incredible new addition to the Macy's Parade balloon lineup," Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, said in a statement. "He is poised to become an instant Parade classic. From the moment we saw 'Kung Fu Panda,' we instinctively knew Po would be a huge hit with millions of children and their families that tune in to the Parade year after year. We anticipate his inaugural flight down the streets of New York this November will further establish Po as everyone's number one panda!"
"Po makes us feel like there is a hero inside of everyone and it is very exciting for millions of fans to get to witness our Panda balloon make its kung fu-kicking debut in the skies of Manhattan alongside DreamWorks Animation's iconic 'Shrek' in the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," added Kerry Phelan, head of worldwide consumer products for DreamWorks Animation.
