Nintendo has revealed a new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie during this weekend’s surprise Nintendo Direct, revealing Yoshi in full.
Hosted by the legendary creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, the short presentation began quickly with an extended look at Mario and Luigi motorbiking over the desert, as seen in the movie’s previous trailer. The duo head to a location familiar to anyone who’s played Super Mario Odyssey, an inverted pyramid in the Sand Kingdom.
Tasked with unblocking a rogue Warp Pipe, Mario and Luigi power up with Fire Flowers and head into the darkness. As Mario’s infamous underground music plays, the brothers reach the blocked pipe which has something inside… It’s Yoshi! Who talks!
Rather than a tough-looking enemy, Yoshi is shown to be initially fearful of Mario and Luigi, though from later shots in the trailer it’s clear that the diminuitive dino quickly becomes part of the gang. The trailer continues with a montage of shots featuring Mario and Peach infiltrating a lava-filled area that looks like a Bowser’s Castle level. We also see a Toad gobbled up by an enormous Cheep Cheep, who is saved by Luigi wearing the classic Frog Suit Power-Up.
Another quick montage of shots gives us our first look at Birdo, who is shown angrily firing eggs at Peach. The princess shields herself using her parasol, and for a split second we see Mouser, a real deep cut that players of Super Mario Bros. 2 will recognize as a rodent boss from the game. The next clip also shows our first look at Lakitu, who fires projectiles at Mario, Luigi and Yoshi.
The trailer concludes with Yoshi clutching a gun that looks similar to the SNES Super Scope, while Toad holds Baby Luigi and Baby Mario. What is going on here? The group is shown to be facing off against a T-Rex, who looks straight out of Super Mario Odyssey.
Today’s Nintendo Direct wrapped up with a quick recap of Yoshi’s history throughout Nintendo games of the past, and a check-in with Chris Meledandri, boss of animation studio Illumination. Animation is now fully completed and the film is now in post-production, Meledandri said, with work on sound and music now ongoing. Themes from the Super Mario Galaxy games will of course be included, re-recorded afresh with a 70-piece orchestra.
Intriguingly, Nintendo did not name the actor providing Yoshi’s vocals — or any new additions to the film’s voice cast.
Back in November, the movie was the focus of another dedicated Nintendo Direct that confirmed the film will introduce Rosalina to the big screen, voiced by Marvel star Brie Larson. Another new addition to the animated ensemble will be Bowser Jr., here voiced by Benny Safdie.
Safdie and Larson will be joined by the returning cast from the first movie: Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek.
Previously, we’ve heard word that the movie will feature some Nintendo characters that “are really deep cuts”, and fans have speculated that its plot may finally confirm a long-held theory around Peach and Rosalina’s origins. Lastly, back in November, Minions animation studio Illumination said it was just “weeks away” from completing its work on the film.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will land in theaters on April 1.
More to follow…
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
