Filtered By: Scitech
SciTech

Google: Angry Birds, Black Swan top Halloween costume searches


This year's top Halloween costumes in the United States may well be for the birds, as shown by searches on Google. Characters from the hit video game Angry Birds and Black Swan from the ballet drama are emerging as the most popular costume ideas, Google said. "This year seems to be about the battle of the birds. Searches for [angry birds costume], based on the game phenomenon that has so many of us addicted, have been steadily rising in 2011, and we’re seeing 10 times more search volume this year than last," it said. But Google also noted that as of mid-October, the Angry Birds were overtaken by the Black Swan costume in terms of searches. It added the Darren Aronofsky ballet drama appears poised to be the most popular costume idea by All Hallows Eve, "with related searches for everything from black tutu to black corset. "Some are even looking to be the alter ego [White Swan]," it said. On the other hand, Google said many also want to don the costumes of the Pigs, the Angry Birds' foes, although three in the top 10 focused on a much sweeter piglet, the cartoon favorite Olivia. Pop goddesses Aside from the battle of the birds, Google said there is also a battle of the pop goddesses. It noted that in 2009 and 2010, homegrown Lady Gagas were trick-or-treating throughout the country, but have dropped in popularity this year. "And although overall in 2011 (Lady Gaga costume) leads (Nicki Minaj costume) in search volume, right now they’re neck and neck," it said. People are also dressing up as Rebecca Black, it added. Google also said this year’s fastest rising costumes in the U.S. overall are inspired by a variety of sources from pop culture over the past year. These include characters from TV shows and movies like Smurfette, Tron and Captain America, and pop music. Google also noted the huge amount of searches for dog costumes. "In terms of get-ups actually intended for canines, Ewoks and dinosaurs are the fastest-rising related searches. But two of the top five rising searches in 2011 related to [dog costume] are a little quirkier: at least a few people out there may dress up as the eponymous character from FX’s 'Wilfred' show, about a dog, and a man who sees the dog as a man dressed in a dog suit. Kinda meta," it said. Also, Google said searches for haunted house and pumpkin patch are both spiking right now, but there seems to be greater interest in spooky thrills than in finding that perfect pumpkin to carve. In searches for candies, candy corn remains the undisputed king of people’s cravings. "In the last 30 days, search volume is nearly twice as high for [candy corn] than for other candy choices," it said. Per capita, Alabama is searching the most for candy corn this year. Searches for Halloween sugar staples in the US for this year show:

    - Candy apples - Rhode Island - Gummy worms - Wisconsin - Kosher candy - New York - Sugar-free candy - Kentucky - Gluten-free candy - Oregon - Candy bars - Utah - Organic candy - Colorado
"Over the last 30 days, there is almost two and a half times more search volume for [candy] than for [apples]. The classic game of bobbing for apples, however, it still going strong, spiking dependably every October," Google said. — LBG, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT