Elephant Mario will get its own plushie next year, the announcement coming ahead of Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s release this weekend.
Japanese toy manufacturer San-ei Boeki announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the Elephant Mario plushie will be available for purchase in mid-January 2024. The tweet details that the plushie will stand at around 26cm in height, or 10.24 inches. The post also states that the price will be 3,300 yen, equivalent to about US$22. The stuffed animal has every recognizable Mario trait, from the bushy mustache to the classic blue and red overalls, topped off with the iconic “M” logo hat.
Fans have noticed that the post has an “(S)” marker next to it, signifying that more sizes could potentially be available in addition to the 26cm one specified. However, whether Western markets will even get the release in the first place is still unknown. Nintendo has a reputation for keeping the most coveted merchandise within its domestic market, so fans will have to find a way to get their hands on Elephant Mario if he’s a Nintendo Japan exclusive.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has gained major traction since it was announced earlier this June, as this is the first 2D Mario platformer since New Super Mario Bros. U. The upcoming game brings in a plethora of new power-ups and features, with Elephant Mario being just one of many. Other upcoming elements include talking flowers to help guide players, inchworm pipes and new characters made playable (Princess Peach, Daisy, Yoshi). The Elephant Flower power-up in particular has had fans talking, and the developers have discussed their inspiration behind it, as they wanted “Mario’s body [to] grow in size, allow him to hit blocks from the side and potentially reach new areas, and spray water to stun enemies and water plants,” according to Game Informer.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is naturally marked by a sense of wonder; familiar faces and settings are given new life with glimmering and dynamic settings that move along with the player, accompanied by new sounds and music that developers say transform the game’s playing experience. Given that the team was given no specific deadline, it seems safe to say that it gave the upcoming game everything it had.
While the likelihood of the Elephant Mario plushie coming direct to America remains up in the air, players will still be able to enjoy the Elephant Flower power-up with Mario, Luigi, Peach and Daisy now that the game has officially released as of Oct. 20.
Source: X (formerly Twitter)
