Official Elephant-Mario cuddly toy in the making

An upcoming plush toy modelled on an elephant version of the iconic Super Mario is currently in development, a collaboration with Sanei Bokei. The plush is set to release in Japan in January 2024, as per the report published on 20th October 2023. However, at the time of reporting, no information on whether and how the plush will be made available in the West was made available.

The elephant version of Mario is derived from the game Super Mario Bros. Wonder, where players can transform into this form by grabbing an item and, for instance, use the trunk to smack enemies. Super Mario Bros. Wonder, lauded for its creativity and surprising elements, became available for the Nintendo Switch the same day as the news broke. The game received a high appraisal, with Jacco Peek awarding it 9.5 out of 10 and naming it a "worthy, two-dimensional sequel to Super Mario Odyssey."