The shocking truth about the Star Fox puppets

In the early 1990s, Nintendo used puppets of Fox McCloud, Slippy, Falco, and Peppy to promote the upcoming release of the SNES classic Star Fox (or Starwing). The campaign left a lasting impression on fans, but after it ended, the puppets vanished from public view. What happened to these iconic creations?

Discovering their fate

A recent investigation by Time Extension, including conversations with Star Fox programmer Dylan Cuthbert and artist Takaya Imamura, has brought the truth about the puppets' fate to light. To their disappointment, they found that the puppets were in fact destroyed.

How the puppets were made

The puppets, created by Japanese FX company Shirogumi, were carefully crafted by gluing fur and feathers onto natural rubber. But that unusual construction came with a downside: the puppets were prone to degrading when exposed to air. As a result, they had to be destroyed after production.

Shirogumi's response

Shirogumi confirmed to Time Extension that the Fox puppets were disposed of after their promotional use. Their statement read: "The Fox puppets made at our company were created by gluing fur and feathers onto natural rubber, so they simply age when exposed to air. Therefore, we had to destroy them after production was completed."

A missed opportunity

While the destruction of the puppets is understandable from a preservation standpoint, it is a major disappointment for many fans. Looking back at this iconic marketing push brings back memories of Nintendo's magic and determination at the time.

Timeline

April 2026: Time Extension reveals that the Star Fox puppets were destroyed by Shirogumi after their promotional use.
1990s: Nintendo uses puppets of Fox McCloud, Slippy, Falco, and Peppy to support the launch of Star Fox.
Today: Rumors swirl about a new Star Fox game set to debut on Switch 2 and possibly include online multiplayer.

The future of Star Fox

Alongside the sadness over the lost puppets, there is also a glimmer of hope for franchise fans. Fox McCloud has recently been back in the spotlight, with a cameo in the Super Mario Galaxy movie and rumors of a new game arriving soon. This new adventure would reportedly debut on the expected Switch 2 and feature online multiplayer, something fans would certainly welcome.

It is clear that Star Fox's legacy still lives on, even with a touch of sadness over the puppets that have gone down in history. The franchise's future still looks promising, with new adventures and possibilities ahead.