Where the Wild Things Are Gets the Balloon Animal Treatment

Despite it being a little trippy, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are is still one of my favorite books from my childhood. As our young protagonist Max enters the world of the Wild Things, he encounters a variety of wondrous and scary looking beasts, yet manages to win them over and become their king.

While I don’t recall any of the Wild Things being named in the book, the horned and striped fur-wearing character was called “Carol” in Spike Jonze film adaptation about a decade ago. Now, thanks to the masterful work of Balloon Guy Entertainment, we have an epic balloon animal version of Carol.

They built this incredible inflatable sculpture of the Wild Thing for Utah’s Millard County Fair, and it looks amazing. I just love all of the details – especially the hair made from skinnier, less inflated balloons. It’s really an amazing creation, and brings back all of the feels from the classic childhood story.

[via Facebook]

Classic Comic Book Covers Recreated with Balloons

Comic book covers are an amazing artform. They can be done in so many styles. Sometimes they are paintings, other times they are finely-detailed color pen and ink panels, but one thing I have never seen on a comic cover are balloon sculptures. Until now.

These comic cover recreations by balloon artist Phileas Flash are so awesome. Each of the sculptures fit in a 10 foot by 10-foot space and take Phileas many days to make. First he finishes the main sculpture, then uses Photoshop to add in the lettering, which are made from un-inflated balloons with wire inside.

These are great. I hope that DC or Marvel honors this guy by recruiting him for some actual covers in the future. Amazing work, Phileas.

[via Neatorama and Bored Panda]

Two Roombas in a Knife Fight: Who Will Emerge Victorious?

The latest sport taking the world by storm is Roomba knife fighting. You can see the fight in the video below. Both Roombas have knives taped to them as they try to pop each other’s balloon as if in Mario Kart battle mode. It’s super exciting. Plus when two Roombas fight, your floor gets cleaned twice as fast. Unless they stab you – then you’ll need a Scooba to clean up the blood.

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If you do watch this amazing battle you may want to skip to about 2:00 into the video, because the first two minutes is just a lot of talking, like in any sport. Can you guess which color balloon wins? Wanna put money on it?

You know what’s a better sport? Standing drunk, barefoot and blindfolded in the arena as two Roombas knife fight. Nah. bad idea. Do not try that!

To paraphrase from Beyond Thunderdome:

“Listen all! This is the truth of it. Vacuuming leads to killing, and killing gets to warring. And that was damn near the death of us all. Look at us now! Busted up, and everyone talking about dirty floors! But we’ve learned, by the dust of it all… Bartertown learned. Now, when Roombas get to fighting, it happens here! And it finishes here!

Two Roombas enter; One Roomba leaves!”

[via Geekologie]

Poptimus Prime: Balloon Animals in Disguise

Balloon artist John Reid built this huge balloon sculpture for this year’s Salt Lake City Comic Con. He says that it’s the largest balloon sculpture ever built by a single person. It is certainly the most vulnerable Transformer ever. One pinprick and the Decepticons win.

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Guinness World Records has not given John the title just yet, but record observers were on hand to watch Reid. Good thing that Reid made a time-lapse video. That should help him secure the Guinness record.

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This sculpture is an impressive 50 feet-tall and made of a crazy 4,302 balloons. It is so huge that it can’t even stand in the convention center upright. This thing took Reid 42 hours to build. It left him and the visitors breathless. Mostly him.

[via Geeks are Sexy via Nerd Approved]

Balloon AT-AT’s

balloon atats Balloon AT ATs
So sweet! The Force is strong with this one. These balloon AT-AT walkers were created by Balloon Guy Entertainment and just might be the coolest balloon “animal” ever. The toddler strikes back. Maybe the Empire would have been more successful in the Battle of Hoth if they used inflatable AT-AT’s instead of armored ones. They could just float over the rebel ships. Ok maybe not. I’d love a whole fleet of these but unfortunately I can barely even blow up a balloon, much less tie them up into shapes. Leave that to the experts. (via technabob)

Balloon AT-AT’s
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Shelter Awareness

The Life-Light is a unique directional system that includes inflatable balloons integrated on streetlights. During an emergency situation, the balloons inflate and guide people to the nearest shelter. It displays the most efficient route, thus speeding the navigation process.

  • Life-Light is automatically activated by the central service system when a disaster warning alert is activated.
  • The system inflates balloons around streetlight poles, which indicate evacuation information and allow people to take a precise and speedy route to a shelter.
  • It is installed on streetlights at intervals of fifty meters.
  • The light flashes on and off, and a sound alert is also incorporated.
  • The dual mode of communication allows the system to be understood by those with visual or hearing impairments.
  • The lack of complex language or lettering also allows foreigners to readily understand it.
  • The system’s battery is charged by the city’s electricity supply as well as by solar power, so even if the city’s power grid goes down, it can still function.
  • The system also uses smart technology; if a route is blocked by a collapsed building, for example, the system updates and leads people to the next closest shelter point.

Life-Light is a 2013 red dot award: design concept winner.

Designers: Lee Jae Yong & Kim Pill Yoon

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(Shelter Awareness was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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  1. Water Shelter – Sustainable Shelter Solutions by Robert Nightingale
  2. Subtle Reminders for Eco-Awareness
  3. AWARENESS at Łódź Design Festival

    






Game of Thrones Balloon Sculpture: A Pin is Coming

Entertainer Phileas Flash made this gloomy balloon sculpture of Ned Stark sitting on the Iron Throne. I think it’s based on this poster from the first season of Game of Thrones. A series so heartwrenching it even makes balloon sculptures a sad sight. We get it George! Nice guys finish last. We get it.

game of thrones ned stark balloon sculpture by phileas flash

A balloon sculpture of Joffrey would have been more appropriate.

[via Obvious Winner]