Though I thoroughly enjoyed The Super Mario Bros. Movie, its depiction of certain characters left me with a major concern about The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2’s plan for Yoshi. Based on the post-credits scene in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I think it’s safe to say that despite being left out of Mario’s fight against Bowser, Yoshi will be on hand for the sequel. And with Yoshi being the film’s most prominent tease for The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, there’s a good chance he’ll have a sizable role.

As a major character in Mario’s games and the protagonist of his own spinoff franchise, Yoshi is more than deserving of a big part in the next movie. As for how he’ll be involved, I suspect he’ll be hatched from his egg by Mario, which will pave the way for a game-accurate team-up where Mario rides the friendly green dinosaur past classic Super Mario monsters and obstacles. Given that Yoshi is one of my favorite Nintendo characters, I’m excited to see what’s ahead for him, but after seeing The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I realize I may not like how he’s handled.

Yoshi’s Voice Poses A Huge Challenge For The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was extremely effective in adapting all sorts of elements from the games to the big screen, but there was one area where it took some liberties – character voices. Admittedly, this was guaranteed to be a departure from the games; this is a full-length animated movie dealing with video game characters who don’t generally speak. Because of that, some wound up with personalities that differed a bit from how I imagined them. Case in point is Donkey Kong, who came across as pompous, a trait not normally associated with the hero.

I understand that for the same reason, Yoshi could wind up getting a similar treatment. Based on how he’s consistently portrayed in the games, I see him as a good-natured, friendly dinosaur devoid of any flaws. But if The Super Mario Bros. Movie chooses to make him a significant character, it may choose to develop him beyond that, not unlike how it handled Mario, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, and the others. I hope this doesn’t result in Yoshi losing the aspects of his character that make him so loveable.

Yoshi Should Only Say His Only Name In The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The post-credits scene in the movie teased the ideal way for Yoshi to be portrayed. Just as the egg cracked, he could be heard saying his name. In the games, this is the only word Yoshi speaks. As evidenced by how the Marvel Cinematic Universe was able to convey various emotions for Groot with his now-famous “I am Groot” line, The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 can make Yoshi a standout character without following the same path its predecessor took with Mario, and Donkey Kong, and the others.