Awesome Costumes Made From Balloons

Here are some seriously impressive costumes made entirely from twisty balloons. You know, those long, skinny balloons that clowns turn into dogs and swords at birthday parties? Well, some people have apparently decided that balloon animals just aren’t ambitious enough. Why make a balloon poodle when you could turn yourself into a freaking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?

Take balloon artist Jeff Wright of Balloon Distractions, who created an elaborate Ninja Turtle costume using more than 500 balloons. The original post reported that the whole thing took 12 hours to complete. That’s a lot of twisting, squeaking, and praying that nothing pops.

And the video is a MUST-WATCH. Michelballoongelo promises, “Major league butt-kickin’ is back in town!” And thank goodness, too. I am sick and tired of this minor league butt-kickin’ that’s been going on. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it butt-kickin’. It’s more like wrist-slappin’. And nobody’s about to stand around and watch that business. I’ve got better stuff to do, like take a nap. Or watch balloon videos on the interwebs.

More Incredible Costumes Made Entirely From Balloons

Of course, the Ninja Turtle isn’t the only character to receive the balloon treatment. Other talented balloon artists have created elaborate costumes inspired by everything from superheroes to cartoon characters and video games.

And we’re not talking about ordinary Halloween costumes with a few balloons glued to them. These are wearable sculptures made from dozens, sometimes hundreds, of inflated pieces twisted together into recognizable shapes.

Imagine spending hours carefully assembling one of these masterpieces, only to have some little kid run up and give you a hug. POP! There goes three hours of work and possibly your dignity.

The level of patience required is almost as impressive as the finished costumes. I can’t even untangle a pair of headphones without threatening to throw them across the room. Meanwhile, these people are twisting hundreds of balloons together into wearable works of art.

And consider the noises. Every twist comes with that horrible rubbery squeak that makes you wonder whether the balloon is seconds away from exploding. Building one of these things must sound like an entire pet store full of angry mice.

The Trouble With Wearing a Balloon Costume

As amazing as these creations look, there are a few practical issues to consider. For starters, you’re essentially walking around inside a giant collection of inflated rubber tubes.

Sharp objects? Your worst enemy. Pointy furniture? Absolutely terrifying. A particularly enthusiastic handshake? Potentially catastrophic.

And forget about squeezing into a crowded elevator. One wrong move and your elaborate costume might turn into a pile of colorful balloon scraps before you’ve even reached the second floor.

Then there’s the question of how long these costumes actually last. Balloons gradually lose air, and latex balloons can become more fragile over time. Even if you manage to avoid every sharp corner in the building, your incredible creation isn’t going to remain in perfect condition forever.

Which is kind of tragic when you think about it. Imagine spending half a day building an incredible costume, only to watch it slowly deflate into something resembling a sad pile of spaghetti.

On the bright side, at least you won’t have to worry about finding closet space for it next Halloween.

Still, there’s something wonderful about turning an ordinary party decoration into something this elaborate. It’s equal parts sculpture, costume design, and a test of how many times one person can hear a balloon squeak before losing their mind.

Personally, I’m impressed by anyone who can make a balloon dog without accidentally turning it into a sausage-shaped tragedy. Creating an entire wearable character out of the same material? That’s some next-level wizardry.

Now somebody get these balloon artists a giant bag of balloons and ask them to make a life-size Millennium Falcon. Preferably one I can sit inside.

I promise not to bring anything sharp.