Small Details You Missed In The Super Mario Bros. Movie Full-Length Trailer
As 2022 comes to a close, it's as good a time as any to get excited about what Hollywood has in store for 2023. While there are numerous films worth looking forward to that will release next year, few have been as buzz-worthy as Illumination's "Super Mario Bros. Movie," courtesy of directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. This animated adventure stars Chris Pratt — a controversial pick for the part — as Mario, who finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime as the evil Bowser (Jack Black) seeks dominion over all others.
Following a star-studded cast announcement in 2021, longtime Mario fans couldn't wait to get a glimpse at the upcoming feature. That first look finally arrived in October 2022 when the first teaser trailer arrived online, much to the delight of fans the world over. Although, while this sneak peek showed off the likes of Mario, Bowser, and Luigi (Charlie Day), it didn't reveal too much about the movie itself. Thankfully, the second trailer for "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" didn't hold back, giving fans a better idea of what to expect when it hits theaters.
The latest full-length "Super Mario Bros. Movie" trailer also comes jam-packed with small details that, if you didn't keep a close eye out for, you likely missed.
A nod to Mario and Donkey Kong's video game origins
To kick off the second "Super Mario Bros. Movie" trailer in grand fashion, we see Mario emerge from a tunnel into a structure akin to a gladiatorial arena. Walking on a steel beam and taking in the ravenous crowd around him, he looks to face his opponent: Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen). The two then put on their game faces and charge toward one another as we get a better look at the massive structure they're standing on. While it may be odd to see Mario and DK as adversaries these days, it's not something made up for the movie. In fact, the two gaming icons started out as opponents.
Way back in 1981, Nintendo released the "Donkey Kong" arcade game. It has players control a little mustachioed man (later identified as Mario) and attempt to rescue his beloved Pauline, who has been captured by Donkey Kong himself. To save her, Mario must scale level after level of steel beams, dodge barrels, and defend himself against all of Donkey Kong's other forms of attack. It's an incredibly simple formula by modern video game standards, but there's no denying its place in history. After all, it gave us Mario and Donkey Kong, and as evidenced by "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," their original feud is far from forgotten.
Iconic locales
All in all, the newest "Super Mario Bros. Movie" trailer is a fast-paced, blink-and-you'll-miss-it affair that serves as a highlight reel for the film itself. That means that it doesn't give viewers much time to take in the animated environments that the movie's heroes and villains inhabit. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that we don't get a look at some noteworthy locations throughout that fans of the "Super Mario" video franchise are quite familiar with. First and foremost are better looks at the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's lair, but they're just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to famous locales.
Thanks to a map that's observed by several Toads, we can see that such areas as Shifting Sand Land and more exist in this version of the "Super Mario" universe. We also see the home of some Cheep Cheeps, who jump effortlessly over bridges just as they do in their video game appearances. Speaking of homes, the trailer also offers a brief look at Yoshi's Island, where several Yoshis are seen running from an unseen entity. Finally, there's everyone's favorite (or least favorite) "Mario Kart" track, Rainbow Road, which our heroes bravely drive on despite the lack of guardrails — the bane of many gamers' existence for years.
Princess Peach's ever-changing wardrobe
One of the many selling points of the new "Super Mario Bros. Movie" teaser is the introduction of Anya Taylor-Joy's take on Princess Peach. She's noticeably absent from the previous trailer, so she gets a lot of time to shine in this one. Not only does it appear as though she won't be kidnapped by Bowser, but she seems to be a strong, capable leader. Peach makes no bones about her desire to take the fight to Bowser if it means keeping her kingdom safe, and in doing so, the trailer reveals that she'll wear a few different outfits that have histories rooted in the "Super Mario" franchise.
It should come as no surprise that, for much of the second "Super Mario Bros. Movie" trailer, Princess Peach is wearing her most recognizable costume: a pink dress, golden crown, and white gloves. However, it does change when she picks up the flame of a Fire Flower, with her attire taking on a white and red motif — a mechanic that countless "Super Mario" games have employed over the years. Departing far from her traditional look, Peach is also shown wearing a white and pink jumpsuit with a pink scarf. This look is practically a direct translation of her "Mario Kart 8" racing costume.
A whole bunch of character cameos
The second "Super Mario Bros. Movie" trailer is worth skimming through for costume changes and famous locations galore, but one would be remiss not to bring up the countless beloved characters that make split-second cameos throughout. In Bowser's lair alone, we see a few Bob-ombs, Shy Guys, Goombas, Hammer Bros, and Piranha Plants among a large crowd of Koopa Troopas. A Bullet Bill later pops up to give Mario a hard time, much like the aforementioned Cheep Cheeps. Of course, those are just random enemies. What does the teaser have to offer in terms of main characters?
For those hoping to see more familiar faces than those already announced, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" more than has you covered. For all of you Kong family fans out there, you'll be delighted to know that several Kongs pop up in this teaser. In addition to Donkey Kong, the likes of Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen), Diddy Kong, Kiddy Kong, and Funky Kong can be spotted at various points. The Rainbow Road shots toward the end of the trailer are full of folks riding along in their outlandish vehicles. For those that aren't so easy to see, expect plenty of online speculation over their identities to ensue in the weeks to come.
The secret behind Warp Pipes
When one thinks of the "Super Mario" franchise, a handful of things likely spring to mind. The characters and landscapes are likely up there, as well as the sounds and music that accompany them. When it comes to visual elements, Warp Pipes are almost certainly among the first things to come up. After all, they've been a part of Mario's video game story from the very beginning, with him using them to advance on his many quests and even access secret rooms. Therefore, it makes sense that they'd appear in the upcoming film, and we might know what kind of purpose they serve.
It's heavily implied in both "Super Mario Bros. Movie" trailers so far that Mario and Luigi aren't from the Mushroom Kingdom or any of the surrounding areas. Especially in Mario's case, he seems lost and pretty overwhelmed by the situation he's in. The new teaser further fleshes out this idea by including a few shots of Mario and Luigi tumbling through mysterious, winding lanes that weave in and out of clouds. In the above image, you can see that these paths lead to green ports that evoke images of Warp Pipes. Could these Warp Pipes be portals to other worlds that Mario and Luigi were unwillingly sucked into? We'll have to wait and see to know for sure.
Chef Toad is ready for battle
Standing side-by-side with Princess Peach in her defense of the Mushroom Kingdom is Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). The short, mushroom-headed adventurer is a video game legend who made his debut in 1985's "Super Mario Bros." In the decades since, he's become a fan favorite the world over, and his appearance has become iconic. For "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," he seems to maintain his usual ensemble of a blue and yellow vest with white pants and a red and white mushroom cap (which is definitively not a hat). However, he also seems to pay homage to another, less well-known Toad character.
As Toad and Peach go out to confront an invading Bowser, we see them each brandish a weapon of some kind. Peach goes for a spear with two ax blades attached to the top, while Toad grabs something a bit less intimidating: a frying pan. This is far from an ideal weapon for battling someone as formidable as Bowser, but it is a fun reference to Super Nintendo World favorite Chef Toad. Introduced in 2021 with the opening of Super Nintendo World, the theme park character is the head chef at Kinopio's Café. In most depictions, he's shown holding a frying pan, hence the connection to the "Super Mario Bros. Movie" version of Toad.
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" opens on April 7, 2023, and will likely bring with it even more small details that will have "Super Mario" fans jumping for joy.