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While Lego and Nintendo didn’t officially reveal the new Animal Crossing and Super Mario sets, leaks online via Reddit and Wario64 resulted images of the apparent August 2025 sets appearing online. There are nine new Nintendo sets total, and among them are ones with Wario, Captain Toad, and Blather’s museum.

Since only images appeared, we don’t have exact prices for things. However, the photos that appeared online do show the box art and the finished sets. First, here’s the list of Super Mario Lego sets that include a mix of enemies and Mario Kart builds. There are references to Super Mario Wonder and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker too.

• 72038: Wario and King Boo (Note: This is a Mario Kart set.)
• 72039: Bowser’s Castle (Note: This is a Mario Kart set.)
• 72040: Captain Toad’s Camp
• 72041: Party at Toad’s House
• 72042: Prince Florian and Castle Bowser
• 72043: Interactive Lego Mario and Standard Kart 

Here’s the photo that appeared online and showed all of those sets:

As for the three Animal Crossing Lego sets, these all involve buildings like Blather’s museum and help build up a town. The smallest one consists of 149 pieces and the first “small” house, while the set with two houses is biggest at 814 pieces. Here’s the full list:

• 77056: Blathers’ Museum Collection (Note: The villager included alongside Blathers the owl is Lily the frog.)
• 77057: Creative Houses: Seasons of Fun (Note: The villagers in this set include Fuchsia the deer, Fang the wolf, and Stitches the bear.)
• 77058: Lily’s Cozy House

Here's how those three leaks look:

As a note, some of the older Animal Crossing Lego sets are currently on sale at stores like Amazon. Some of the more notable ones include the 77050: Nook’s Cranny and Rosie’s House set for $52.99 instead of $74.99 and the 77052: K.K.’s Concert in the Plaza for $44.19 instead of $79.99.

The new Super Mario and Animal Crossing sets will apparently debut in August 2025. 

The post New Lego Animal Crossing and Super Mario Sets Leak appeared first on Siliconera.

The official Hallmark Dream Book 2025 page debuted online ahead of the product pages going live on April 25, 2025, and the video game section includes an Xbox 360, Halo 3, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Super Mario items like a Super Star Tree Topper. There are also some Halloween items, such as a $19.99 Pikachu in a pumpkin that will debut in July 2025. The Ornament Premiere will be held July 12-20, 2025, with Keepsake Ornament Club getting to shop on July 11, 2025. The Ornament Debut will be held on October 10-19, 2025, with club getting to buy on October 10, 2025.

Some of the first video game ornaments in the 2025 Hallmark Dream Book involve Pokemon and Minecraft ones on pages 36 and 37. These are the smaller size decorations. One is a set that includes a holiday-themed Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle for $27.99. That debuts in October 2025. The Poke Ball set of six designs launches in July 2025 for $16.99 and is of a similar size. (That also appeared in 2024.) A small holiday Rowlet with gift is $9.99 and out in July 2025 too. The $9.99 mini Goomba is a July 2025 release. Finally, the Minecraft Alex, Arctic Fox, and Steve set launches in July 2025 for $19.99.

The bulk of the video game ornaments in the Hallmark Dream Book 2025 catalog come up on pages 66 and 67. One of the biggest ones is a new console in the ongoing collection with lights and sounds from Halo 3. That launches in July 2025 for $22.99. The matching Halo 3 ornament with the box art and Master Chief debuts in October 2025 for $19.99. The Super Star Tree Topper is also one of the larger items, with lights and Super Mario Bros music. It costs $74.99 and debuts in July 2025. 

Here is the list of standard size video game ornaments coming to Hallmark in 2025:

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons Timmy and Tommy for $20.99 - October 2025.
• Halo 3 Box Art with Master Chief for $19.99 - October 2025.
• Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Decayed Master Sword for $25.99 - October 2025.
• Mario Kart Princess Peach for $18.99 - July 2025.
• Minecraft Pink Sheep for $17.99 - October 2025.
• Minecraft Polar Bears in Snowy Tundra for $24.99 - July 2025.
• Pokemon Jigglypuff for $21.99 - October 2025.
• Pokemon Pikachu for $17.99 - July 2025.
• Pokemon Venusaur for $18.99 - July 2025.
• Sonic the Hedgehog Super Sonic for $18.99 - October 2025.
• Super Mario Wonder Elephant Mario for $18.99 - July 2025.
• Xbox 360 with Controller for $22.99 - July 2025.

There are some other ornaments inspired by anime and Japanese pop culture on the way. Here’s a list of them:

• Dragon Ball Z’s Future Trunks for $19.99 - October 2025.
• Godzilla’s Rodan for $21.99 - October 2025.
• My Hero Academia’sAll Might for $19.99 - July 2025.
• Naruto Shippuden’s Naruto Uzumaki for $19.99 - October 2025.

You can see the pages from the latest Hallmark Dream Book below:

The 2024 catalog’s ornaments included references to The Oregon Trail, Pokemon, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Kingdom Hearts, Sonic the Hedgehog, Minecraft, Fortnite, and the original Xbox console.

The new ornaments will begin appearing on July 12, 2025, with club getting access a day earlier.

The post Hallmark Dream Book 2025 Video Game Ornaments Include Mario Star Tree Topper appeared first on Siliconera.

Epoch released a Super Mario toy that has you stacking the various characters’ hats on a tower, which you can adjust for difficulty if needed. The toy costs 1980 JPY ($13.55) after tax in Japan, and you can play it with up to four people.

The Super Mario cap stacker toy comes with twelve cards, eight caps, a stand, and a bottom for the stand. If you want to make it a challenge, you can flip the bottom of the stand to make the tower wobbly, which will make it harder to adjust, move, or place the hats on the tower.

Epoch offers three ways to play the game. The simplest way is to place hats on the tower depending on which card you pull. For example, if you pull a Wario card, you have to place Wario’s hat on the stand, and if you knock over the tower, you lose. The second way to play is to set the tower to wobbly mode and take turns putting hats on the tower. Whoever manages to stack the most before they topple over wins. Finally, the third way is similar to Twister in that all players draw cards, and take turns using their cards to direct another player to place the hat on the tower.

The difficulty of the game seems to come from the shapes of the hats. The guys’ hats have a wide top and a smaller bottom, which means they don’t fit together well. Meanwhile, the girls have crowns. So it looks like there will be some measure of strategy in the game from the order in which you place the hats.

The Super Mario hat stacker toy is available in Japan. You can check out some other toys that are based on Super Mario from this list here.

The post New Super Mario Game Involves Stacking Hats appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo announced a Super Mario hanafuda collaboration with the public bath on the B1 floor of Tokyo Plaza Harajuku Harakado. The campaign will run from February 17 to April 1, 2025. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Kosugiya aims to create public baths that honor their hundred-year long history in Japan. Since the Showa era, people often went to these public baths to wash up and relax after an exhausting day. The company believes that natural is best, and hanafuda is a game that many customers can play and enjoy without putting on any airs. This is why it chose to team up with Nintendo for this campaign, as Nintendo originally started as a board and card game company (with hanafuda as one of its original merchandise).

Even beginners will be able to enjoy hanafuda, as there will be lessons and practice events on the weekends. Hanafuda fans can also buy goods, and during this time, the tickets for the public bath will resemble hanafuda cards. One of the goods is Mario hanafuda cards. Each card has a familiar mascot or character. We can see characters like Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Boo. These cards bear the same designs that Nintendo previously released in its stores.

The Mario hanafuda cards and public bath event will run from February 17 to April 1, 2025. It’ll cost 550 JPY ($3.60) for adults to enter the Kosugiya Harajuku public bath.

The post Nintendo Super Mario Hanafuda Cards Will Appear at Public Bath appeared first on Siliconera.

The Marunouchi Bright Holiday 2024 Let’s Play in Marunouchi With Super Mario event will take place from November 14, 2024 to January 13, 2025. Six original displays of characters from the Mario series will appear in six different locations in the Marunouchi area, with all of them holding presents while standing in front of a golden background.

While you can visit these displays and take pictures with them, you can also participate in the official stamp rally. It costs 200 JPY ($1.30) to participate and you’ll need to collect nine different stamps. After doing so, you’ll receive a set of stickers and an A5 clear folder. These prizes are exclusive to the Marunouchi Bright Holiday 2024 Super Mario stamp rally, and there’s only a limited amount of them. So you should aim to collect all nine stamps as quickly as possible.

If you’re in the Marunouchi area, you can also use the GPS Check-in function in the My Nintendo app to receive two free wallpapers for your phone. There will also be some exclusive merchandise from stores around Marunouchi. Goods include pajamas from Gelato Pique (17,930 JPY), a blanket from Maruzen (4,950 JPY), and a wallet from Epoi (36,300 JPY).

There will also be a demo for Jamboree (available only on December 21 and 22, 2024), which will net you a random sticker after you play it. Finally, if you purchase any recent Mario game from Tsutaya Bookstore Marunouchi or Big Camera Yurakucho between December 1, 2024 and January 13, 2025, you can receive a free Super Mario garland.

The Marunouchi Bright Holiday 2024 Let’s Play in Marunouchi With Super Mario event will run until January 13, 2025.

The post Super Mario Marunouchi Bright Holiday 2024 Display Shared  appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo and Universal confirmed the opening date for the Super Nintendo World location in Florida. It will be one of the zones that make up Universal Epic Universe, which opens at Universal Orland Resort on May 22, 2025.

The Florida location for Super Nintendo World will be similar to the one seen in Universal Studios Japan. The attractions will be mainly the same, with Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Yoshi’s Adventure and Toadstool Cafe all present. The new Donkey Kong Country section is also confirmed, along with the Mine-Cart Madness roller coaster. The park will also feature similar interactive elements to those seen in the Japan park.

The Florida location will notably be larger than the previously opened California location, which had to cut attractions such as Yoshi’s Adventure due to limited space. This will mean that the new park will be the first appearance of these attractions in North America.

Super Nintendo World is one of four lands being built for Universal Epic Universe, the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. The other lands will include the Isle of Berk, based on How to Train Your Dragon, Dark Universe, based on Universal’s classic monster franchises, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These areas will all be connected via a hub known as Celestial Park, themed around astronomy.

The Universal Studios Japan version of Super Nintendo World is also set to receive a Donkey Kong Country section in 2024, although its opening has been delayed.

Super Nintendo World will open as part of Universal Epic Universe in Florida on May 22, 2025.

The post Super Nintendo World Florida Location Opens in May 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Spirits has revealed the full prize list of the Super Mario Ichiban Kuji lottery that will launch in mid-October 2024. This lottery will have the subtitle Home Party With Everyone, and most of the prizes in its lineup will be related to food preparation and serving.

The Question Mark Block will be the most prominent object featured in this lottery's prize lineup, as it is slated to appear in four prize tiers. The object will particularly feature in two of the lottery's most important tiers.

The highest A tier will have a snack dispenser where people can store non-meltable snacks like peanuts and jelly beans inside the Question Mark Block. The last prize for the lottery in any given outlet will feature the same block as a room light that can light up when someone touches or shakes it.

Here is the full prize list of the Super Mario: Home Party With Everyone Ichiban Kuji:

• A Prize: Snack dispenser modeled after the Question Mark Block
• B Prize: Étagère cake stand adorned with characters and objects from the series
• C Prize: Super Mushroom-shaped frying pan
• D Prize: Tongs modeled after the Piranha Plant
• E Prize: Sandwich maker shaped after an object from the series
• F Prize: Party flag towel featuring characters and objects from the series
• G Prize: Character selection plate
• Last Prize: Question Mark Block room light that can light up when touched

This will not be the first time Bandai Spirits holds a Mario-themed Ichiban Kuji. The company had previously held a merchandise lottery based on The Super Mario Bros Movie in 2023. It also held an Ichiban Kuji featuring merchandise from Animal Crossing: New Horizons in March 2024.

The Super Mario: Home Party With Everyone Ichiban Kuji lottery will be available in Japan from Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The post Super Mario Ichiban Kuji Prizes Feature the Question Block appeared first on Siliconera.

Taito has announced the return of the popular Super Mario Boo light-up keychains, officially named the Super Mario Boo Pikatto figure. These keychains are set to reappear in Japanese amusement centers and arcades starting on August 17, 2024.

The return of the Super Mario Boo light-up keychains to Japanese arcades coincides with the recent re-release of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD on the Nintendo Switch. This is due to the role those ghosts play in that spin-off series as well.

You can view the official announcement post below, which also includes a new trailer showing off how both of these Super Mario keychains work.

The returning Super Mario light-up Boo keychains are approximately 6 cm in size (approximately 2.4 inches) and come in two different variants. Each one features a different expression. When hit, the Boo keychains light up, adding a tactile element to the keychain. The keychains will be available at select arcade locations across Japan, and Taito has provided a link to its site where consumers can check which stores' machines will carry the product. The exact release date may vary by store, and Taito has noted that the actual product may differ slightly from the promotional photos.

Regarding other Super Mario merchandise, Nintendo previously released the Super Mario Boo Room Light and Luigi’s Hat Plush Pouch, available at FamilyMart stores in Japan from June 25, 2024. These items, like the keychains, are part of the ongoing continuation of the Super Mario franchise.

The post Super Mario Light-Up Boo Keychains Return to Arcades appeared first on Siliconera.

LEGO kicked off a sale on its official storefront, and multiple game-related sites tied to Atari, Minecraft, and Super Mario are reduced. Discounts tend to hover between 20% and 40% off, though it varies depending on the sets. 

Here are all the Atari, Minecraft, and Super Mario sets currently on sale. Note that in the case of the Mario ones, they are playsets that involve the interactive Mario, Luigi, or Peach figure. As such, someone would also need that part to make the most of them if it isn’t already included. For example, the Adventures with Peach set comes with a figure someone would need.

• Adventures with Luigi Starter Course - $41.99, normally $59.99
• Adventures with Peach Starter Course - $41.99, normally $59.99
• Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set - $21.59, normally $26.99
• LEGO Atari 2600 - $143.99, normally $239.99
• LEGO Minecraft The Pumpkin Farm Set - $31.99, normally $39.99
• Peach’s Castle Expansion Set - $103.99, normally $129.99
• Peach’s Garden Balloon Ride Expansion Set - $39.99, normally $49.99
• Rambi the Rhino Expansion Set - $7.69, normally $10.99

The sale also includes a number of Disney LEGO sets. For example, The Little Mermaid live-action Royal Clamshell set is $111.99. A lot of Marvel sets also appear, like the Avengers Endgame Final Battle one for $69.99. However, standard sets like the $97.99 Main Street one are also available.

The LEGO Store sale is live as of July 16, 2024.

The post LEGO Store Sale Discounts Atari, Mario, and Minecraft Sets appeared first on Siliconera.

Baskin Robbins in Japan will start selling Super Mario ice cream starting on June 28, 2024. Aside from a special campaign flavor, you’ll be able to get little containers and boxes using familiar designs from the games.

You can watch the trailer for the Super Mario Baskin Robbins collaboration here:

The Super Star flavor combines grape and muscat, along with star-shaped pieces of candy in a milk ice cream base. This is the campaign flavor that’s only around during the Super Mario collaboration. The other items you can get include cups with various Mario designs on them, a sundae that looks like you’re eating out of a Warp Pipe, and a ? Box takeout container. You can order eight different ice creams at once with the takeout container.

Aside from ice cream, Baskin Robbins is offering a drink based on the Wonder Flower. It’s a ramune with Pop Rocks that has a bit of shaved ice on it. The shaved ice is flavored with grape and soda syrup. You can also put a ball of ice cream to add more flavor or cold to the drink.

Finally, Baskin Robbins is also offering ice cream cakes. You’ll be able to get one featuring various character from Super Mario, with six slices in total. There is also one based on Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. You can choose six flavors of your liking and decorate the cake yourself.

The Super Mario ice cream campaign at Baskin Robbins in Japan will start on June 28, 2024.

The post Baskin Robbins to Sell Super Mario Ice Cream appeared first on Siliconera.

Hallmark shared its 2024 Dream Book, and there are multiple game and anime ornaments appearing this year. They all seem to be launching in either July 2024 or October 2024.

This is the Miniature ornament page from the 2024 Hallmark Dream book with the two game ones based on Pokemon and Super Mario. The set of six Poke Balls will be $16.99. That launches in July 2024. Boo will also be out that month, and it will be $9.99. 

The rest of the game and anime ornaments in the Hallmark Dream Book 2024 appear in the Fan Favorites section of the catalog. This year’s featured console with lights and sounds is an Xbox. It will be out in July 2024 and cost $22.99. It plays the Halo: Combat Evolved sound effects. There will also be a $18.99 Master Chief ornament in October, a light-up Minecraft Nether Portal for $24.99 in July 2024, and a Fortnite Reboot Van that lights up for $22.99 in October 2024. 

The Nintendo section features an additional seven ornaments in addition to the miniature Boo. There is a Collecting Coins Super Mario ornament that has sounds and leaping action. That is $34.99 and comes out in July 2024. July is also when the Propeller Mario $18.99 ornament appears. A Mario Kart Toad for $18.99 shows up in July too. A set of Blue, Red, and Yellow Pikmin ornaments will be $24.99. Those appear all together in October 2024. Celeste, from Animal Crossing, launches in October too and costs $18.99. As for the two Pokemon, in October 2024 the $18.99 Blastoise and $17.99 Magikarp swim up. 

There are two Sonic the Hedgehog ornaments this year. One is Santa Sonic. He’s $18.99 and arrives in October 2024. The light up Sonic Collecting Rings ornament with sound effects is $44.99 and will appear in July 2024. Last year, a Dreamcast one debuted in October 2023.

Some general gaming ornaments appear too. A The Oregon Trail PC monitor that lights up and plays music is $19.99. That appears in October 2024. King Mickey from Kingdom Hearts will also show up this year. He costs $19.99 and will launch in October 2024. 

Here are all the pages with game ornaments in the Hallmark 2024 Dream Book:

Only three anime ornaments appear in the 2024 Hallmark catalog. Katsuki Bakugo is the only one pictured. He comes out in October 2024 for $19.99. However, two Dragon Ball Z ones will show up that month too. There’s no art for them yet, but Saiyan Saga Goku and Vegeta will be $18.99 each.

Here’s the page with them:

Finally, this is the Green Ranger Power Ranger ornament that will appear in October 2024. It will cost $18.99. It appears alongside the Transformers Optimus Prime, Voltron, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Raphael ornaments. 

Hallmark’s 2024 ornaments will begin appearing in July 2024.

The post Hallmark 2024 Game and Anime Ornaments Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

A Super Mario Oreo cookie crossover is coming. On July 10, 2023, packages of cookies featuring characters from the series will appear in stores. However, while many characters will be on the Double Stuf cookies, Princess Peach won't be among them. Ahead of their launch, people can "pre-order" a package through the official site. They will cost $4.99 per pack.

Here’s the full list of characters and power-ups that will appear on the cookies. Note that Bowser is going to be the rarest design in the batch.

• Blooper
• Boo
• Bowser
• Bowser Jr.
• Coin
• Fire Flower
• Goomba
• Koopa Troopa
• Luigi
• Mario
• Piranha Plant
• Spiny
• Super Mushroom
• Super Star
• Toad
• Yoshi




Here's a full gallery going over all of the different designs people will be able to possibly see in a package. Aside from billing Bowser as the "rarest," odds for other characters weren't mentioned.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="969763,969764,969765,969766" link="file"]
This is the second time Oreo cookies will feature designs inspired by characters from a Nintendo game. In September 2021, Pokemon ones appeared. As with this promotion, 16 designs were available. Of those, Mew was the "rare" one.

The Super Mario Oreo cookies will appear in-stores on July 10, 2023. Pre-orders are open now.

The post Oreo Super Mario Cookie Designs Don’t Include Princess Peach appeared first on Siliconera.

The 2023 Hallmark Ornament Dreambook appeared, and this year the gaming ornaments based on consoles and video game characters include more Super Mario and Pokemon stars, a new Sonic the Hedgehog, and a Dreamcast replica. Orders are not yet open for the new designs. However, the official website updated to show what people can expect from the different decorations.

The Hallmark Dreamcast ornament is a part of the same line that included a Genesis and SNES. It is $22.99 and will appear on October 14, 2023. In addition to lighting up, it also plays Sonic Adventure music. Sonic himself appears on the VMU on its controller.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="959432" link="file"]

There are three new Super Mario gaming ornaments at Hallmark this year. People could get an $18.99 Cat Mario one on July 15, 2023. The miniature Toad ornament, which is $9.99, will debut that same day. The Mario Kart Luigi ornament will appear after both of them on October 14, 2023 and cost $18.99.
[gallery size="full" ids="959436,959435,959437" link="file"]

The new Sonic ornament shows him about to perform a Spin Attack. It launches on October 14, 2023 for $18.99.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="959438,959433" link="file"]

Two Pokemon ornaments the collection this year. One is a mini Eevee. That costs $9.99 and will show up among the other July 15, 2023 releases. The Snorlax is a larger one. It will be $18.99 when it appears on November 10, 2023.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="959441,959440" link="file"]

Finally, here are the other gaming ornaments in the 2023 Hallmark Ornament Dreambook.

• Animal Crossing Isabelle - $18.99 on October 14, 2023
• Fortnite Ffrosty Back Bling - $13.99 on October 14, 2023
• Fortnite Polar Peely - $18.99 on October 14, 2023
• Metroid Samus - $19.99 on July 15, 2023
• Minecraft Bee - $13.99 on October 14, 2023
• Minecraft Light-up Warden - $19.99 on October 14, 2023

[gallery size="full" ids="959445,959446,959447,959448,959449,959450" link="file"]

The post New Hallmark Gaming Ornaments Include a Dreamcast, Pokemon, Mario and Sonic appeared first on Siliconera.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is currently breaking records left and right. It has the biggest opening weekend for an animated movie, beating Frozen 2. It’s beaten Warcraft’s record for a video game movie’s opening weekend. Its success was expected but the scale of that success was not. The question is though, is it worth this level of success? Does the Mario formula translate well to the cinema? After all, we already saw it done poorly with the disaster of the 1993 live-action movie. Chris Pratt as Mario hardly seemed like a decent choice from the dull phoned-in performance seen in all the trailers. There has been every opportunity for this to be a letdown.

I will be honest. If we’re judging The Super Mario Bros Movie on its story alone, then it’s not a great start. It’s a serviceable tale of two Brooklyn plumbers who get pulled into a magical land where a giant, angry turtle is trying to take over. Character development is minimal and predictable. It features plenty of big action-packed moments, all of which are merely tangentially related to one another. It’s a threadbare, low-stakes plot that feels like it exists for the sole purpose of connecting those action moments.

However, it sure does have a lot of fun in the process.

Here’s the thing about Super Mario Bros. It is not a story-driven game series (ignoring the spin-off RPGs, of course). Creator Shigeru Miyamoto went on record countless times about how he envisions the series to be a playground built around its mechanics. Anyone who’s ever played a Mario game knows this. The movie, too, understands it. So even though its plot is flimsy, it doesn’t matter. All it cares about is that you have fun. On that front, it succeeds.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is a joyful love letter to the games it draws inspiration from. The Mushroom Kingdom of the movie feels like a fully realised version of the one from the games. Power-ups like the Fire Flower are just standard things that exist in the world. Maps are drawn like they came from Super Mario World. Bowser dons an outfit from Super Mario Odyssey. Even Mario Kart 8 gets a lot of love. Any fan of the Mario games is going to love how authentic this world feels.

But the love for Nintendo goes further. Kong Island looks like it was ripped straight from Rare’s Donkey Kong Country games, with a few surprising nods to the newer titles from Retro Studios. The arena where Mario and DK battle is full of girders, evoking the original Donkey Kong arcade game that saw the debut of both characters. If that wasn’t enough, plenty of NES-era games can be seen in Mario’s home of Brooklyn. Most notably, we get to meet Mario and Luigi’s former boss, Foreman Spike from Wrecking Crew.

The soundtrack is a superb source of these Easter eggs too. The score blends original music with the catchy, memorable and iconic tunes of the games constantly. It’s a symphony of Nintendo history, going beyond the expected World 1-1 theme from Super Mario Bros. There are even themes taken from Mario Kart and Donkey Kong, although criminally these composers were not mentioned alongside Koji Kondo in the credits.

Sticking with audio, the performances in The Super Mario Bros Movie are universally excellent. Every actor has taken to their character with full enthusiasm, with Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad and Anya Taylor-Joy’s Peach being highlights. Even Chris Pratt is better than expected. It’s not amazing, but there’s also nothing about it that can be called bad. A real surprise, considering how many trailers featured dull, uninspiring performances from him that simply aren’t in the final movie. It’s a strange way to market the movie, especially when fans were already wary of Pratt.

The best performance by far is Jack Black as Bowser. This isn’t a surprise, of course. He’s a cartoon character in real-life and he has experience with games thanks to his friendship with Double Fine’s Tim Schafer. But he’s also just unrecognisable in his deep Bowser and manages to blend menace with goofiness perfectly the whole time. He also gets a brief musical number that’s one of the funniest parts of the movie.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is also a visual treat. The Mushroom Kingdom has been realised as a vibrant, lively land of beloved characters. There are even some fun side-scrolling sequences such as Mario and Luigi dashing across a building site or a sequence later in the movie that could have been lifted from Super Mario 3D World. Character animation is also generally excellent, with bouncy, expressive performances throughout. It completely understands the visual appeal within the Mario games.

The one exception to this is Peach, whose model felt uncomfortably disproportionate. Her massive head and slender body often made her look like a walking bobblehead doll, making a lot of her movements and expressions feel off. She wasn’t consistently awful, but she landed in the uncanny valley often enough that I found it distracting. It’s especially strange when every other character in the movie looks great.

It’s been a good year for adaptations of gaming properties of all kinds. HBO’s The Last of Us deeply understands the complex moral dilemmas of Naughty Dog’s PS3 favorite. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was a typical D&D campaign at its core. And now, The Super Mario Bros Movie manages to capture exactly what a Mario game is – light on plot but heavy on pure joy.

The Super Mario Bros Movie may not be the greatest movie ever made, but it is an adaptation that recognises the appeal of the games and tries to bring that to the big screen. It’s a theme park ride of a movie designed to put a big, stupid smile on your face. Go see it with those expectations and you will have a blast.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is in theaters now across North America and Europe. It will release in Japan on April 28, 2023. Pre-orders for the Blu-Ray and DVD are available now.

The post The Super Mario Bros Movie Is a Love Letter to the Games appeared first on Siliconera.

Ahead of the Super Mario Bros Movie premiere, Build-a-Bear announced the Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and Yoshi plush options are back. The Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach options take traditional stuffed toys and dress them in costumes based on the characters. However, Bowser and Yoshi are unique ones. The Yoshi one, however, is an online-exclusive. The announcement noted this is a “limited web release.” These toys first appeared back in December 2017.

Here’s the list of Super Mario plush options available on the Build-a-Bear website, as well as the prices. Some are online exclusives, like Yoshi.

• Bowser - $40
• Bowser with 5-in-1 Sounds - $48 (Online Exclusive)
• Happy Hugs Teddy Luigi Gift Set - $43
• Happy Hugs Teddy Mario Gift Set - $43
• Pawlette Super Mario Princess Peach Gift Set - $42.75
• Yoshi - $30 (Online Exclusive)
• Yoshi Hoodie Gift Set - $40 (Online Exclusive with
  Blue Yoshi Hoodie)
• Yoshi Power Pack Gift Set - $39 (Online Exclusive that includes
  Super Mario Wrist Accessory Set)

There are also some outfits that can be purchased separately from the characters, in the event someone wants to dress up existing stuffed toys from the store. Here’s the list of what people can pick up:

• Blue Yoshi Hoodie - $10
• Bowser 5-in-1 Sounds chip - $8 (Online Exclusive)
• Luigi Costume - $16
• Mario Costume - $16
• Princess Peach Costume - $18
• Super Mario Accessory Set - $9
• Super Mario Hoodie - $10

There are also two bears just dressed in the Mario and Yoshi hoodies, a pair of jeans, and gym shoes. The Happy Hugs Teddy Super Mario Hoodie Gift Set is $44, while the Lil' Cub Brownie Yoshi Gift Set is $40.

The Build-a-Bear Super Mario Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and Yoshi plush toys are now available. The Super Mario Bros Movie will appear on April 5, 2023 in North America and other regions, with a launch in Japan following on April 28, 2023.

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