With just two weeks until its theatrical debut on April 1, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is ramping up its marketing blitz — and eagle-eyed fans have caught a delightful surprise hiding in the latest promo. A rapid-fire montage posted to the film’s official X account on March 17 flashes through dozens of familiar Mario characters and enemies, but pause at just the right moment and you’ll spot three unexpected guests: a red, blue, and yellow Pikmin standing casually among the Mushroom Kingdom’s residents.
The blink-and-you-miss-it cameo has set Nintendo communities buzzing, but as IGN points out, Pikmin showing up alongside Mario characters is actually a tradition stretching back more than two decades. The tiny plant creatures first appeared in a Mario title in 2003’s Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour on GameCube, where they could be seen popping out of flowerbeds. Since then, they’ve made appearances in Super Mario Galaxy, earned a statue cameo in the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie, and can even be found scattered throughout the real-life Super Nintendo World theme parks.
The reason Pikmin enjoy this special crossover privilege comes straight from the top. Nintendo icon Shigeru Miyamoto — creator of both Mario and Pikmin — has explained that while there is an unwritten rule at Nintendo keeping franchises in their own lanes, Pikmin are a notable exception. “Pikmin has this kind of unwritten rule where they’re okay to appear with other characters,” Miyamoto has said, a philosophy that extends from theme parks to games and now, apparently, to the big screen. Miyamoto has also publicly expressed interest in a dedicated Pikmin film or series, and Nintendo Pictures released a Pikmin short film titled “Close to You” just months ago.
The Pikmin aren’t the only surprise lurking in the teaser’s character montage. As GameSpot reports, fans have also identified ROB the Robot — Nintendo’s quirky NES peripheral turned playable character — among the lineup, along with deep-cut appearances from Super Mario Bros. 2 villains Wart, Birdo, and Mouser. Some fans have even speculated that Star Fox’s Fox McCloud could make an appearance, though that remains unconfirmed. The promo also showcases Piantas from Super Mario Sunshine, Whittles from Super Mario Galaxy 2, and enemies pulled from across the 3D Mario catalogue.
According to Eurogamer, the sequel’s marketing strategy has leaned heavily into rewarding longtime fans with layered references while keeping things fun and accessible for general audiences — a formula that appears to be working. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently projected to earn a massive $160 million over its five-day opening weekend in the United States alone, positioning it for a strong global run.
The film features a star-studded voice cast, with Chris Pratt returning as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and Charlie Day as Luigi. Newcomers include Brie Larson as Rosalina, Donald Glover voicing a second iteration of Luigi, and Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. As for the Pikmin, no voice actors have been announced — though given their signature squeaks, they likely won’t need one.