Balloon

Biodata

Background / History

In the opening of Balloon, a balloon resembling Hezi waits outside her second-floor window. It calls to her in her own voice, urging her to come out for food, while she hides inside and refuses 9 15.

As the film unfolds, Hezi encounters floating heads that resemble people she knows. Four Head Balloons approach her and her classmates; two girls are lifted away, and Hezi and Chiharu flee into an alley. More balloons later fill the sky, targeting people across the country, including members of Hezi’s family 18 19.

Appearance

Head Balloons resemble oversized human heads floating above their targets, with ropes hanging beneath them 18.

• Individual likeness — Each shown balloon bears the face of the person it pursues 18 19.
• Expressions — They display grotesque smiles; one reacts with shock when struck by a crossbow bolt 9 18.
• Rope — The dangling rope catches victims and lifts them into the air 18 19.

Abilities & Skills

Pursuit and hanging

• Head Balloons approach their corresponding people and use their ropes to hang them 18 19.
• They can wait outside a shelter: Hezi’s balloon lingers by her window, and Yangjie’s swoops down when he leaves the house 15 19.
• Hiding indoors avoids an immediate attack but leaves survivors facing dwindling supplies 19 23.

Voice mimicry

• Hezi’s balloon speaks in her voice to coax her outside 9 15.
• A Head Balloon later imitates Yangjie’s voice, leading Hezi to believe her brother has returned 19 20.

Link to their counterparts

• Puncturing Chiharu’s Head Balloon deflates it, but Chiharu also rapidly deflates and dies 18.
• Because of this link, attacking a balloon is not a safe way to save the person it resembles 18 23.