In an internet age when animals and people seem to constantly be getting photographed together, it was especially cool to see a New Yorker dressed as Pikachu snag the coveted Pikachu float during last month’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Pikachu float at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with @kanyewest ☺️ (via @marckoo_ :https://t.co/WWQBQVjlAj) pic.twitter.com/5nIyAie6Bh — People’s Daily, China (@PDChina) February 8, 2018
This is Brandon Romo, 23, an Ithaca native and native Manhattanian who works for a company that brings special events and business to Taiwan, including a recently held branch in Taipei. Romo chose Pikachu for his float to incorporate the anime character, obviously, and also to honor his beloved cousins, the Maymers, who helped him find Pokemon.
As Bryant Gumbel, co-host of CNBC’s Squawk Box, quipped, Romo had the edge on the Pikachu float because it was smaller. Romo didn’t hold back from making light of the wildly popular franchise’s giant success and the consequent organization, and has been posting pictures on Twitter in his Pikachu attire every day since. Even a suggestion that Kanye West like him makes him nervous.
The NYC @PikachuForNY2018 float is so off the charts ahead of tomorrow’s parade!!!!!! Almost ready to take off tomorrow! #PikachuForNY #HappyThanksgiving pic.twitter.com/Y9hpTkW2YY — Brandon Romo (@kanyewest) November 27, 2017
His candidacy isn’t just about fun though. He’s taking a serious stand against civic speaking censorship. Romo wore a paper crown over his Pikachu headpiece and a sign saying “I am so American” and then had the Pikachu float float take selfies with onlookers.
With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, we think Romo is going to be remembered in New York as a legend, a symbol of all New Yorkers who love Pikachu and New York City together, and a likely future candidate for Parade King.