The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is here and is already poised to break tons of box office records. Mario and Luigi’s return to the big screen is one of the most anticipated cinematic events of the year, especially for gamers, but it wouldn’t be a sequel if the production didn’t deliver an experience that’s bigger in every conceivable way. More specifically, the film has more Mario characters, including Yoshi, who I am sure will be a fan favorite.
Yoshi is an easy selling point for the Mario Movie and he’s been a key part of the marketing thus far. On top of that, Yoshi is a central component to the merchandise push for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which includes arguably the coolest movie tie-in toy of the year. Hatchin’ Yoshi is easily one of the must-have toys not just from the movie, but also for the entire year. I would be very surprised if this isn’t on a ton of lists this holiday season and if the demand is any indication, it’s going to be hard to find.
The idea behind the Hatchin’ Yoshi is pretty straightforward; it’s in the name. You coax Yoshi out of his iconic shell by patting the underside of the egg, listening to him make a few noises along the way. Then, when Yoshi is ready, he breaks pieces off the shell and reveals himself to the world.
After Yoshi hatches, now you have an interactive pal to keep nearby while playing Mario Wonder on Switch 2, or just to have around for a little company. I must admit, the design of Yoshi is pretty adorable and nails the look of the classic Mario character.
The most important thing to note about the Hatchin’ Yoshi is that the biggest selling point, the actual hatching of the Yoshi, is a one-time deal. Once Yoshi breaks free from its green polka-dotted egg prison – that’s it. You can put him back in the egg shell like a sort of home, but the pieces break off the egg naturally, and thus, like Humpty Dumpty, they cannot be put back together again.
So if you’re hoping to make a grand show out of the Hatchin’ Yoshi, I recommend breaking out the camera to immortalize the moment, or at least gather round everyone that you want to see Yoshi appear. This bell cannot be un-rung, unless you buy another one.
Of course, that’s part of the novelty of the Hatchin’ Yoshi and I personally wouldn’t have it any other way. When you can see the seams of a breakable toy, there is a bit of the magic lost. Knowing that every Yoshi will hatch in a slightly different way is what makes the toy unique and that hatching moment a lot more novel.
Once the Hatchin’ Yoshi does its thing, it becomes an interactive toy with flashing eyes and some sound effects when you rub or pat its head. When Yoshi is “born” you want him to become your friend, and that’s where the longevity of the toy comes in. He’s cute and makes plenty of fun noises.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
I’m not entirely sure if it’s Donald Glover provides the voice of Yoshi for the Hatchin’ Yoshi, but it does sound a lot like his performance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Or maybe that’s a testament to how good of a job Glover does in the role – that you don’t hear Donald Glover making classic Yoshi noises, but just the Yoshi you know and love from the games.
As I mentioned, the Hatchin’ Yoshi is already selling out left and right, so if you can find it for its $50 price point, I would snatch it up ASAP. Yoshi is definitely a scene-stealer in the film and I would not be surprised if a lot of moviegoers (young or old, no judgement here) come away wishing they had a Yoshi of their own. Much like the Minecraft toy line from last year, I fully expect the Hatchin’ Yoshi and a lot of the Super Mario Galaxy Movie toys to be the hit of summer and beyond.