A new plushie from the Super Mario Bros. Wonder series is walking the fine line between adorable and unsettling. Official Mario merchandise maker San-ei Boeki, known for producing various plushies and toys for the franchise, has crafted this item. However, it is only the second release in the Mario Wonder collection.
The Talking Flower plushie from Mario Wonder is set to debut soon, according to a post on X by the company, which was noted by Nintendo Life. Staying true to its video game origins, the Talking Flower toy will indeed have the ability to speak.
By pressing its sides, the plushie will utter a random phrase from a selection of 18 prerecorded lines. Impressively, it is bilingual, allowing users to switch between English and Japanese.
The Talking Flower: A Peculiar Selection for a Super Mario Bros. Wonder Plushie
It Strays into the Uncanny Valley
Another plushie in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder series by San-ei is Mario in his elephant form, a distinctive image from the game. While the Talking Flower is another notable element from the game, it may not seem the most intuitive choice for a plush. Other elephant versions of the beloved Mario series characters would likely make great plushies, as would the charming Wonder Seed. Instead, fans can anticipate the slightly eerie plush representation of the Talking Flower from the game. This character wasn’t particularly popular and wasn’t something fans were eager to own as a tangible speaking item.
Fans can listen to the Japanese voice in a video shared by the toy company. To its credit, the toy sounds remarkably similar to its in-game counterpart. Unfortunately, this means it sounds like a middle-aged man. Among its phrases are “What are you doing?” and “Calm down,” which do little to enhance its cuddliness. The toy stands at a compact 14 cm (approximately 5.5 inches) in height, making it ideal for squeezing. It will be released alongside the Wonder Flower, which is silent, slightly larger at 18 cm (around 7 inches), and much more appealing.
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The verdict is still undecided on whether this Super Mario Bros. Wonder plushie is an essential purchase or something to skip. Its quirky charm might win over some fans. The plushie is set to release in Japan this November and is expected to eventually reach Western markets. Fans can anticipate more delightful plushies and merchandise from the upcoming game in the series, Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
Source: sanei_NLG/X, Nintendo Life
