SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” now playing in theaters.
Just like its predecessor, “The Super Mario Galaxy” movie is packed with characters, enemies and power-ups from the entire history of “Mario” video games — but this time there are nods to several other Nintendo titles.
The first major crossover came with the reveal that Glen Powell would be voicing “Star Fox” pilot Fox McCloud in the sequel. Fox, who’s also one of the original characters from the “Super Smash Bros.” fighting series alongside Mario, plays a surprisingly substantial role for a non-“Mario” character. He meets Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi while they’re stranded in space and surrounded by tons of unfamiliar characters. He offers to fly them in his Arwing spaceship and joins the battle against Bowser and Bowser Jr. — he even gets his own backstory flashback.
In the first post-credits scene, Fox and one of the Toads fly to a deserted prison where Bowser (now in his Dry Bowser form after being burnt by lava) and Bowser Jr. sit defeated. The “Star Fox” music plays over the quick scene, and many fans are hoping this leads to a “Star Fox” movie or even a “Super Smash Bros.” crossover.
Characters from all over the Nintendo universe and beyond (like Sonic and Pac-Man) come together to battle in the “Super Smash Bros.” games, and now many characters have been introduced in the “Mario” movies. Mario, Fox, Luigi, Yoshi and Donkey Kong have been on every “Super Smash Bros.” roster, and characters like Peach, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Rosalina and Diddy Kong joined later on. There were also cameos from R.O.B., Mr. Game & Watch and Captain Olimar’s Pikmin in “Super Mario Galaxy,” totaling 13 references to “Smash Bros.” characters — plus one more in the final post-credits scene.
Peach’s royal counterpart Princess Daisy pops up in the final scene of the movie, introducing one of the “Mario” series’ most popular characters. Earlier in “Super Mario Galaxy,” Luigi referenced wanting a princess of his own after Mario and Peach grow close, and it appears he’ll get his wish if a third movie is made. Daisy is often portrayed as Luigi’s love interest, and she appears in many of the “Mario” video games and as an alternate version of Peach in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”
Check out all of the video game cameos from “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” below.
Daisy
Princess Daisy first appeared as another damsel in distress in 1989’s “Super Mario Land” and was the ruler of a new area called Sarasaland. Her brown hair and yellow dress contrasted her with Peach, and she was frequently portrayed as Luigi’s love interest. She’s playable in many “Mario” games, including as an alternate Peach in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” and makes a post-credits cameo in “Super Mario Galaxy.”
Fox McCloud
Image Credit: Nintendo
Fox McCloud, the hero and space pilot from the “Star Fox” games, was announced as part of the “Super Mario Galaxy” cast a few days before release, and he’s voiced by “Top Gun: Maverick” star Glen Powell. Mario and Co. meet Fox when they’re stranded at a spaceport in a faraway galaxy, and his cool backstory is styled as an anime with appearances by Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad and Peppy Hare. He flies the Mushroom Kingdom crew in his trusty Arwing ship and appears in the credits scene with a Toad as his sidekick as they deliver Bowser and Bowser Jr. to prison.
Mr. Game & Watch
Mr. Game & Watch was added in “Super Smash Bros. Melee” as a unique, two-dimensional fighter who uses a variety of odd, throwback attacks from Nintendo’s ’80s “Game & Watch” series. His trademark attack is a hammer that deals a random amount of damage, but he can also juggle balls, flip food from a pan and descend slowly with a parachute in “Smash.” Luigi summons Mr. Game & Watch as a fun cameo using Bowser Jr.’s magical paint brush in their final battle.
R.O.B.
R.O.B., known as the Robotic Operating Buddy, originated as a gaming device that was compatible with the Nintendo Entertainment System. While his life as a retro video game peripheral didn’t last long, R.O.B. returned in a big way as a fighter in “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.” He makes a funny cameo in “Super Mario Galaxy” and is voiced by Ed Skudder.
Pikmin
The multicolored Pikmin were teased ahead of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” and they’re used by “Smash Bros.” fighter Captain Olimar in his battles. The Pikmin, from the Nintendo games of the same name, are plant-like creatures that can use fire, electricity, poison and other abilities. Olimar and the Pikmin were introduced in “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.” Olimar’s ship, the S.S. Dolphin, is seen at the spaceport in “Super Mario Galaxy” full of mini Pikmin.
Donkey Kong
After playing a supporting role and being voiced by Seth Rogen in the first “Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Donkey Kong makes a quick cameo while Yoshi travels through Brooklyn early in the movie.
Dry Bowser
When Bowser plunges into lava at the end of the movie, he emerges as Dry Bowser, a skeletal version of the Koopa King. The alternate Bowser resembles the Dry Bones’ look, and he’s appeared in several games like “New Super Mario Bros.,” “Mario Kart” and more.
Birdo
Introduced in 1988’s “Super Mario Bros. 2,” Birdo is a pink, bow-wearing dinosaur who can shoot eggs from her snout. She’s often portrayed as Yoshi’s counterpart and has appeared in numerous games, like a racer in “Mario Kart,” a stage hazard in “Super Smash Bros.” and more. She’s one of Wart’s enforcers at his casino and battles Peach in “Super Mario Galaxy.”
Baby Mario
The baby version of Mario has appeared in many of the “Yoshi’s Island” games, “Mario Kart” and beyond. When Mario gets zapped by Bowser Jr. in “Super Mario Galaxy,” he turns into his infant form and gets saved by Yoshi.
Baby Luigi
Luigi also gets his own baby form in “Super Mario Galaxy” and is often saved by his brother in the “Yoshi’s Island” games. Their young age hasn’t stopped them from racing in “Mario Kart” or becoming athletes in the “Mario” sports games.
Baby Peach
After Baby Mario and Luigi popped up, Princess Peach got her own infant version in 2005’s “Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time.” She appears in a flashback to Peach’s origins in “Super Mario Galaxy,” and it’s later revealed that she and Rosalina are sisters separated when they were young.
Ninji
Ninji is a black, ninja-inspired enemy in many of the early “Mario” games who recently became a playable character in “Mario Golf: Super Rush” and “Super Mario Party Jamboree.” A horde of Ninjis attack Peach in the casino sequence in “Super Mario Galaxy.”