A Conversation* with Baby Yoda, Before His Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Debut
On a bright Saturday morning in November, Grogu makes his debut in the Bronx. He is buoyant—not simply in the way that balloons are literally buoyant, but also in the metaphorical sense of the word. This is a moment that has been two years in the making. When Grogu (fans have dubbed him "Baby Yoda") made himself known to the world on The Mandalorian two years ago, he experienced a meteoric rise unlike anything we've seen since Jennifer Lawrence. He is an internet sensation that seems to be too big to cancel. His merchandise is everywhere. Grogu is the moment.
The fanfare has culminated in this balloon—a brainchild of Funko and Lucasfilm. Macy's approached Funko with the opportunity to create a balloon, and Funko has a deep bench of figures it could potentially bring to life. But the answer was obvious: Grogu was the only option. Funko's CEO Brian Mariotti put it simply, "The Mandalorian carried us through the pandemic. To be asked to be part of the parade was utterly surreal. Then we started thinking about what the balloon was—it was so obvious it should be Grogu, based on what’s going on." And thus, the giant Grogu balloon came to be. "I love that there’s discussions about this stuff. I love that people get so interested in the creation process, Mariotti adds. "I love that people care that much about pop culture."
The company has created six figurines of Grogu (including a special edition bobble head one for the parade that replicates the balloon), and he remains one of the company's best sellers. But while Grogu is adorable and cute, he's also been embroiled in his own controversy. Late in 2020, Grogu came under fire for eating two of Frog Lady's eggs on The Mandalorian. Though scripted, the moment split the internet—was he a child who knew no better or The Child who knew all too well? Either way, as the saying goes, it's better to be talked about than not. Much like Scarlett Johansson, Grogu remained unbothered, mostly because he is not on Twitter, and thus, is much harder to cancel.
We seem as a culture always to be talking about Grogu, never with Grogu. What are his thoughts on this fame? This enshrinement? Being blown up to 41 feet high and 37 feet wide? He joined Esquire over a couple piping hot, soy milk matcha lattes to discuss what it's like to be a figure of pop culture history.
*The below interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. It is also fake, meant for entertainment purposes, and not representative of Lucasfilm, Funko, Macy's, or Disney.
Esquire: Grogu! What a pleasure it is to spend the afternoon with you.
Grogu: [Grogu places his small hands in a prayer, raises them to his mouth, and closes his eyes gently.]
Do you prefer Grogu, or The Child?
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm The Child, I'm a mother, you know? [Light laughter.]
We'll just stick with Grogu, how about that?
[Grogu places his small hands in a prayer, raises them to his mouth, and closes his eyes gently.]
This balloon is quite the sight. The number of balloons that get introduced into the parade are so few. How are you feeling about it?
It's humbling. When Funko confirmed it was going to be me, I was of two minds, really. Is this the exposure that's best for me? At what point is the world going to say, "Ok, I've seen enough Grogu?" But I don't think that's now. I'm reminded of something that Kris [Jenner] once said to me at a charity event: as long as people are willing to have you in their homes, you should remind yourself that it's an honor to be there.
You also have the rare distinction of having an auxiliary balloon in the form of an orb? Did you have any say in that?
I did.
Tell me about that.
On such a public stage, I knew this was an opportunity to highlight something important to me, and I love that orb. I really do! It's a piece of home. So I said, "If we're going to do this, let's do it right." The guys behind the creative process were incredible, capturing my essence while also allowing this balloon the space it needs to be its own thing.
Do you feel like having this balloon in the parade says something about your place in pop culture? Is this the tell tale sign of success?
Listen. There is something about the second season being received as well as it was—the fact that we managed to buck that "sophomore slump," if you will. And then for me to be having this breakout moment, if you want to call it that... I certainly don't consider myself "famous." I mean what does that word even mean, really? The parade does feel so important, and I couldn't be more grateful to Funko and Macy's, but hey. There has to be a point where I say to myself, "Grogu, why did you get into all of this?" And it can't just be about the balloon. It was never about the balloon for me. That's not why I'm in this game. We should celebrate it, and I want to allow myself the time to be proud of this moment, but it can't be about the accolades.
Even with all the love you've gotten, it's hard to stay out of the line of fire. I know last season on The Mandalorian, you had a run in with some frog eggs and...
[indistinct whispering] I'm sorry, I know that I said this isn't about the balloon, but I was told this was going to be about the balloon.
It is. But the balloon is something of an avatar for your fame is it not? And the—
I'm really not comfortable speaking on that. My publicist promised me this wouldn't come up. But ok, look, I'll humor you because I'm a nice guy: the performer is not the character, and I wish people could find it in their bailiwick to separate the art from the artist.
Totally understand. Tell me about the parade. Any behind-the-scenes fun?
What a lot of people don't understand is that the characters don't get a lot of time with each other. Pikachu and I were talking about this recently. This is work for us, so we don't get a lot of time to commingle with one another. If anything, it's discouraged. And don't even think of trying to get a moment with Santa, whose place in the back of the parade is non-negotiable. I haven't been there for the day-of events, of course, because it's my first year, but I'm told it's all very regimented. We have to find time to connect outside of the show itself. That's so important, but today is not the day. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm sorry, it's just that this is not the VF Oscar Party. This is work.
Have the other balloon figures been welcoming?
Welcoming enough, sure. Chase from Paw Patrol has been—well, he's a big personality, if I may speak frankly. He gets where dust can't.
Does it bother you at all that you have a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but people can't remember that your name is Grogu, not Baby Yoda?
Well, I'm impossible to forget, but I'm hard to remember.
Did you just quote—
2005's Elizabethtown? Yeah.
What a peculiar choice!
I'm a big fan of Kiki [Dunst]'s early work, though her arthouse films are where she shines brightest. Wishing her the best this awards season.
I see you've nearly finished your latte, and I'd hate to keep you too long. But where do you go from here?
I'd love to say up, but in balloon talk, that is decidedly not where you want to be! I want to find a way to stay grounded. I've played with the idea of turning my life into a musical for the stage. But I really do want to appreciate this moment, first and foremost. I love my work on The Mandalorian. I want to sit with this, enjoy the pieces of Thanksgiving I get to enjoy, and maybe have a few deviled eggs.
Thanks so much for your time Grogu.
[Grogu places his small hands in a prayer, raises them to his mouth, and closes his eyes gently.]
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