We love Toads here at Nintendo Life. And how could you not? He's a great friend, an adequate butler, and an acceptable Mario Kart choice. In Japan, he's also the mascot of Nintendo's LINE account — a social media platform that's super popular over there. You may recognise this green guy from that really weird Toad-shaped Labo kit, or that other weird Toad-shaped Labo kit.
But the LINE mascot isn't just any old Toad. He's Kinopio-kun. "Kinopio" is what Toad is known as in Japan, and "-kun" is an honorific referring to junior people, so, roughly translated, he's called "Lil Toad". LOVE IT.
Kinopio-kun has been featured in quite a few promotional images for various games, a lot of which aren't even first-party Nintendo games. Take a look at this gallery, and appreciate the wonder that is Kinopio-Kun.
Now you have your answer: Kinopio-kun is the best Toad.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 32
long live green toad
Another toad that's really a mushroom. Bizarre.
Green Kinopio is everywhere.
@KateGray Is this just some really clever photo editing, or does all this really exist?
Will kate still find the prosecutor attractive in a toad ace attorney game?
KINOPIO-KUN CONFIRMED FOR SMASH!!!
@MrPavoPeacock idk but that breath of the wild one would make a great game lol
That Super Mario Bros one makes me lol
Does the name have a Japanese meaning or is it some kind of play on "Pinocchio"?
Lol who told the westerners about kinopio-kun??
@nhSnork yeah I think it’s a portmanteau of Pinocchio and Kinoko?
@nhSnork Probably both. Definitely the former. The Japanese word for ‘mushroom’ is ‘kinoko’/キノコ, which is confirmed to be the origin everyone’s favourite mushroom boy, Kinopio/キノピオ.
What is not confirmed, although widely believed, is that it’s also a play on words of ‘Pinocchio’. After all, if you just switch the P and the K around, you go from ‘Kinopio’ to ‘Pinokio’ (or from キノピオ to ピノキオ).
Maybe Disney having the rights to Pinocchio (I think?) is why Nintendo are coy about confirming the link, but it’s hard to deny the similarities.
EDIT: Disney doesn’t own the rights to the character. Thanks @Silly_G
@nhSnork : My guess is that it's a combination of Kinoko (Mushroom) and Pinokio (Pinocchio) which is consistent with the idea that Toad (as we know him) is an anthropomorphic mushroom boy.
Haha, apparently mushroom comments are like buses. You wait for one, and then BAM! Mushrooms everywhere! Growing out of every nook and cranny.
@Maxz : Disney would only have the rights to the 1940 film and any related indicia, not to Pinocchio itself. I'd guess that the original story would be in the public domain by now (as the story was originally published in the late 1800s).
@MrPavoPeacock All this exists... in some mirror universe.
@Silly_G That makes sense. I felt a bit unconfident writing that. Nevertheless, there does seem to be a strong association between the character and Disney - especially in Japan.
In this Q&A of ‘What’s the difference between Kinopio and Pinocchio?, one of the commentators explains that Kinopio is a Nintendo character, while Pinocchio was made by Disney.
Not strictly true, but the association is clearly there.
Seems like a pretty fungi!
@Pirate1 ...get out
@BowtieShyGuy Cremini-tly, called out again! sorry for pushing your Button 😉 🍄
Besides, being half mushroom and half man, he is a truly liminal being.
@MrPavoPeacock It's all from Nintendo's LINE account. He's like their mascot over there.
@Aurumonado I just looked at Nintendo’s official account and you’re right! This guy is on everything (and he’s cute)! Thanks for telling me about this.
You guys it's like April 21st give it a rest already.
The effort that went on that P5 Scramble cover is bonkers, for a joke
Just makes me think of Brian from Japanese Nintendo.
Here is a video of Kinopio-kun playing Undertale:
https://twitter.com/ziyadThegoat/status/1384350490251599877
@MrPavoPeacock It's art that Nintendo uses to advertise games on Line.
Some of these should have been reversible cover art.
@MrPavoPeacock, It's all official stuff from Nintendo, I use Line to communicate with my friends in Japan. I get updates from Nintendo regularly and Kinopio-kun is always featured. Sometimes his inclusions are humourous, but other times I ask why is he always there? haha
I wish we had Kinopio-kun at home
It's "-kun" not "-Kun"
xD
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