Since we started collecting special shape balloons at MJ Ballooning in 2021, we’ve shared countless memorable moments from amazing flights to surprise reveals and everything in between. Hundreds of people have turned up to watch our evening inflations, and seeing the joy on their faces has made each moment even more special.
Here’s a look back at our top 10 special shape moments, featuring Slick, Sonic, and many more favourites!
10. Back where it all began
At number 10, we begin with our very first inflation at MJ Ballooning and the moment it all started. On 16th June 2021, we inflated our very first special shape; Joycam Lips.
Almost nobody knew it was happening except our close group of friends, so the dog walkers and runners at Ashton Court that evening got quite the surprise! Just 10 days later we inflated my second balloon, and five years on the collection has grown to an incredible 16 special shapes. It all started that day.
9. Revealing Ralph
Ralph the Rozière made his public debut at the 2024 Bristol Balloon Fiesta after months of secret work transforming the once plain white Rozière into a smiling character. The envelope was first unpacked on the fiesta field itself, meaning even we were seeing the finished design for the first time alongside the crowd. As Ralph slowly inflated before the Friday night glow, his huge smile appeared and the reaction from the crowd showed the new character was an instant hit.
8. Lips & Dips
One scorching Sunday afternoon in 2021 during a 30°C July heatwave, I set out to line up all three of my balloons side by side for the very first time and invite people to Ashton Court to come and watch. With the amazing support of pilots Bradley, Steve, and Mike, and everyone else, we pulled it off. I was on the burners myself, standing up Choc Dips, which is still in my top 3 favourite balloons of the collection to this day.
Yes, we only had three balloons back then! At the time, organising that tether felt like a huge achievement for me. Looking back now, those were the easy days!
7. Philips & Sonic Reunited After 30 Years
In 2025, Sonic the Hedgehog was reunited with the Philips light bulb for the first time in 30 years. Philips, a classic shape from 1995 rarely seen in decades, arrived from Ireland just 12 hours before the 2025 Bristol Balloon Fiesta, and two days later we had both balloons inflated together. Seeing them side by side again was a truly special moment for me and all at the fiesta that morning.
6. A Sunday of Shapes
On 11 May 2025, we brought three of our special shape balloons together for a relaxed evening display at Snake Meadows in Saltford. The line-up featured Sonic the Hedgehog, the giant Nivea roll-on deodorant and the J&B whisky bottle, creating a rare sight with three shapes standing side-by-side for the public to enjoy. With hundreds of spectators watching, it was a simple but magical evening that showed just how far the collection had come since those early days in 2021.
5. Shapes at the Crescent
We’ve had a couple of really memorable flights from the Royal Crescent lawn in Bath. In May 2022, Joycam Lips took to the skies, followed the next year by Slick the Dragon, flying alongside around 20 other balloons that evening. It’s such a beautiful spot to launch from, and the photos never fail to impress. Hopefully we’ll be back in the future with some of our other special shapes, or maybe even this weekend...
4. The Miracle Man Comes to Life
When the Miracle Man (the iconic Jesus on a cloud balloon) arrived from Albuquerque, we didn’t waste any time getting him out and ready for his first ever UK inflation. After sorting the unusual flying wires, we met at Ashton Court at dawn on 12 April 2025 and got him inflated for the first time on British soil. It was also the balloon’s first inflation in around 18 years and was a really special morning for the team and anyone there lucy enough to catch a glimpse of the Miracle Man - you can’t miss him! A real team effort and totally worth it.
3. The Return of Action Man
At number 3 is an evening inflation in September 2023 with one of the all-time great special shapes: Action Man. After buying the balloon on a quiet day at the Northampton Balloon Fiesta, we brought the Cameron Parachutist‑110 to Ashton Court a week later, and he looked fantastic. Following a BBC Radio Bristol interview and some excitement about Action Man’s return to the ballooning world, we held a second evening inflation and invited the public to watch. Hundreds of people turned up and it was one of my favourite days. Pilot Craig said, “I first helped on this balloon when I was 17. Seeing hundreds of people come to watch and inflating such an iconic shape was an incredible feeling.”
2. Four Shapes, One Field
At the 2022 Bristol Balloon Fiesta, our team brought four special shapes; Joycam Lips, the Orange, Choc Dips, and Slick the Dragon. Each had been out on their own before, but getting all four standing up at the same time felt almost impossible. After letting the committee know we could use some help, pilots Rob and Derek immediately offered to join, and with Bradley and Ben already lined up, we finally had four baskets and teams ready.
After a busy hour organising tether vehicles, ropes, and preparing the balloons, we were ready for fans on. Lips and Choc Dips, our first two special shapes from 2021, went up first, followed by Slick and the Orange. Seeing all four inflated together for the first time was an incredible moment and one I will never forget. We couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of the pilots and crew.
1. Supersonic Sunday
Taking the number 1 spot is Sonic the Hedgehog, with an unforgettable evening inflation in October 2023. The turnout was enormous, almost double what we’d seen for Action Man, and we could barely see the grass around the balloon with so many kids and families eager to see Sonic up close! For many, it was their first time ever seeing him if they’d missed him in the 90s or at August’s Balloon Fiesta. The thrill as the envelope rose and Sonic came to life made it one of the most magical moments we’ve ever had. It’s hard to imagine anything topping it, but maybe we’ll have to give it a go this summer! Someone say Miracle Man?
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. It’s been great looking back at some of our best moments since those early days of 2021.
Here’s to making a few more special memories to look back on in 2026!
Until next time!
Matt
Matt
