Background character

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Super Smash Bros. series

Background characters are cameo characters that appear in a stage that correspond to their home universe (e.g. King Dedede appears in the Super Smash Bros. stage Dream Land). Note that background characters should not be confused with stage hazards (though they sometimes play that role).

From Super Smash Bros.[edit]

Peach's Castle[edit]

Main article: Peach's Castle

Lakitu can sometimes be seen flying in the background.

Congo Jungle[edit]

Main article: Kongo Jungle (SSB)

Necky appears flying in the background.

Dream Land[edit]

Main article: Dream Land (SSB)
King Dedede as a background character in Dream Land.

King Dedede and Bronto Burt appear flying in the background. In SSB4 and Ultimate, however, when King Dedede is participating, he will not appear in the background.

Mushroom Kingdom[edit]

Many classic enemies from Super Mario Bros. are seen in the background, including Koopa Troopas and Buzzy Beetles.

Planet Zebes[edit]

Main article: Planet Zebes

Ridley and Waver sprites ripped directly from Super Metroid can be seen flying around.

Saffron City[edit]

Main article: Saffron City

Several flying-type Pokémon, including but not limited to Pidgey, Fearow, Moltres (rarely), and Butterfree, fly across the skyline.

Yoshi's Island[edit]

Main article: Super Happy Tree

Propeller Shy Guys appear in the background. A Goonie, in its Yoshi's Story design, occasionally flies in the background.

From Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]


Main article: Brinstar

A Chozo Statue on the main platform comes to life and briefly walks before settling down into its original position. It does not move in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. There is a large brain-like organism in the far background that shakes constantly, though it is not based upon any specific creature from the Metroid series.


Main article: Fourside

Porky Minch indirectly appears in his helicopter.

Great Bay[edit]

Main article: Great Bay

After three minutes have passed, the Four Giants appear on the hillside to push the falling Moon back into the sky (This is in reference to the fact that Link had three days to wake said giants and prevent the Moon from falling).

Jungle Japes[edit]

Main article: Jungle Japes

Cranky Kong is seen walking back and forth in his cottage, sometimes also rocking in his chair at some points. Flocks of Neckies can also seen in the far background.

Yoshi's Island[edit]

Main article: Yoshi's Island (SSBM)

A Fishin' Lakitu and a Banzai Bill fly around in the background.

Yoshi's Story[edit]

Main article: Yoshi's Story

Pak E. Derm can be seen walking behind the scenery.

From Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Regardless of stage and game mode, using Pokémon Trainer will have the Trainer himself stand on a platform in the background. As with the previous games, there are stage-specific background characters as well.


Main article: 75m

The original Donkey Kong appears on the top of the stage, as in the original game.

Distant Planet[edit]

Main article: Distant Planet

A Red Bulborb occasionally appears, sleeping in the background. A Cloaking Burrow-nit can also be seen in Brawl, and four more can be seen with it in Ultimate.

Frigate Orpheon[edit]

Main article: Frigate Orpheon

The Parasite Queen, the first boss of Metroid Prime, appears in the background in Frigate Orpheon.

Green Hill Zone[edit]

Main article: Green Hill Zone
Tails, Silver, and Knuckles in Green Hill Zone.

Tails, Knuckles, and Silver can be seen running up and down the shuttle loop.

Luigi's Mansion[edit]

Main article: Luigi's Mansion

Boos briefly appear from the rubble of the mansion when it collapses.

Pokémon Stadium 2[edit]

Main article: Pokémon Stadium 2

Electivire, Magnezone, Snorunt, Snover, Drifloon, Hoppip, Skarmory, Cubone, and Dugtrio all appear in the background of the various elemental transformations of the stage.

Shadow Moses Island[edit]

Main article: Shadow Moses Island

Occasionally, Metal Gear REX, Metal Gear RAY, or two GEKKO appear in the background of the stage.


Main article: Smashville

Villagers from Animal Crossing appear in the background, depending on actual time of day and date, including K.K. Slider, Tom Nook, Blanca, Blathers, Booker, Brewster, (behind a counter, serving coffee) Celeste, Copper, Cornimer, Crazy Redd, Dr. Shrunk, Gracie (with her car), Gulliver (flying in his UFO), Harriet, Human boy (one of which bears a resemblance to Villager), Human girl Kapp'n (in the crowd and driving his taxi to the town hall) Kaitlin, Katie, Katrina, Lyle, K.K. Slider (on Saturdays at 8 PM, the same as Animal Crossing), Mabel, Pascal, Pete (flying in the background), Phyllis, Rover, Sable, Saharah, Joan, Timmy and Tommy, Tom Nook, Tortimer and Wendell.

Spear Pillar[edit]

Main article: Spear Pillar

Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit may occasionally appear on the stage at random.

WarioWare, Inc.[edit]

Main article: WarioWare, Inc.

Jimmy T. and various Fronks appear in the background during several microgames.

Yoshi's Island[edit]

Main article: Yoshi's Island (SSBB)

For a third time, Shy Guys appear in the background, with Support Ghosts, Chain Chomps and Goonies also occasionally appearing.

From Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

Super Mario Maker[edit]

Main article: Super Mario Maker

Various Mario objects and enemies sometimes fly by in the background, including Bullet Bills; a Hammer Bro, a Koopa Troopa, a Lakitu flying by in clouds, and a Goomba riding a Koopa Clown Car.


Main article: Midgar

Odin, Ifrit, Bahamut ZERO, Leviathan, and Ramuh appear in the background; however, they only appear when summoned and they use moves that affect the stage, such as electrifying the platforms.

Umbra Clock Tower[edit]

Main article: Umbra Clock Tower

The angels Affinity and Inspired only appear and fly around in the background of Purgatorio, and occasionally the enormous Fortitudo comes close to the playing field and lets out a powerful roar, shaking the screen.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS exclusive[edit]

Spirit Train[edit]

Main article: Spirit Train
Toon Link in the Spirit Train stage. Note that this is a pre-release image, as Link cannot appear alongside Spirit Tracks Toon Link in the final game.

Toon Link, in his Spirit Tracks incarnation, appears as a background character in the Spirit Train stage, where he drives the train. When playing the stage as Toon Link or Link, then Alfonzo will drive the train.

Find Mii[edit]

Main article: Find Mii

A Mii appears in the cage in the background, like the player's Mii in the original game Find Mii. In 3DS, this Mii is the Mii assigned to the player's console. In Ultimate, one of the Miis from the player's system is randomly selected instead.

Tomodachi Life[edit]

Main article: Tomodachi Life

Miis appear in the background hanging out in the apartments.

Living Room[edit]

Main article: Living Room

A few Nintendogs or a cat can appear as background characters in this stage.

Tortimer Island[edit]

Main article: Tortimer Island

Kapp'n appears ocasionally in his boat. Also, Leila, Leilani, or Tortimer can appear beside the shop depending on the variant.

Reset Bomb Forest[edit]

Main article: Reset Bomb Forest

Prior to the Reset Bomb's landfall, Viridi appears for a moment.

Prism Tower[edit]

Main article: Prism Tower

Multiple Magnemite appear behind the tower. Zapdos, Emolga and Yveltal occasionally appear flying around the tower. Helioptile sometimes appears in the bushes on the ground.

Unova Pokémon League[edit]

Main article: Unova Pokémon League

Occasionally, a Milotic, a Shaymin, or a Whimsicott will appear in place of Reshiram or Zekrom.

Mute City (Ω form)[edit]

Main article: Mute City SNES

Captain Falcon can be seen riding the Blue Falcon in the background.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U exclusive[edit]


Main article: Pilotwings

Miis appear on this stage, flying through the sky riding jetpacks. Unlike most Mii appearances, these Miis are pre-modeled and do not use the faces of Miis from the player's system.

Wii Fit Studio[edit]

Main article: Wii Fit Studio

The living Wii Balance Board that is seen upon starting up Wii Fit is seen in the gym. In Ultimate, silhouettes of various people exercising appear as well.

Mario Galaxy[edit]

Main article: Mario Galaxy

Lubba, along with several other Lumas, appears on Starship Mario in the background.

Mushroom Kingdom U[edit]

Main article: Mushroom Kingdom U

Nabbit will appear and stuff the fighters in his bag. Kamek will also appear and transform the layout into different courses.

Town and City[edit]

Main article: Town and City

Gracie, Dr. Shrunk, Lloid, and Redd can be seen in the City variation, while Wendell, Pelly, and Sahara can be seen in the village variation.

Kalos Pokémon League[edit]

Main article: Kalos Pokémon League

-Alternatively, Rayquaza can appear, but as a stage hazard rather than a background character.

-Alternatively, Manaphy may appear instead.

- Alternatively, Ho-oh may appear instead.


Main article: Skyloft

Loftwings can be seen flying around.

Windy Hill Zone[edit]

Main article: Windy Hill Zone

Seven Animal friends (Flicky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Cucky, Ricky, and Rocky) from Sonic the Hedgehog can be seen in the background.


Main article: Pac-Land

Mother Fairy appears during the Fairy Land section, where she rewards the fighters with Flying Boots. When a round is completed, Ms. Pac-Man can be seen waving to the fighters as they return to Pac-Man's house.

From Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

New Donk City Hall[edit]

Main article: New Donk City Hall
The Super Mario Players and Pauline in New Donk City.

The members of The Super Mario Players, including Pauline, appear on floating platforms, and on the ground in front of City Hall. Interacting with the band members causes them to begin performing "Jump Up, Super Star!". Captain Toad and the Odyssey can be seen in the background as well.

Great Plateau Tower[edit]

Main article: Great Plateau Tower

The Old Man from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild periodically floats onto the stage on his Paraglider.

Moray Towers[edit]

Main article: Moray Towers

Judd and Li'l Judd appear on the stage, indicating who is in the lead by holding up a flag that corresponds to the player's color.

Dracula's Castle[edit]

Main article: Dracula's Castle

Shadows of Dracula and Kid Dracula appear occasionally, illuminated by flashes of lightning. Other enemies make an appearance, each with an entrance based on how they appeared during their original boss battle in the Castlevania series: the Creature with Flea Man, Mummy, Medusa, Werewolf, Carmilla, and Death.


Main article: Mementos

Occasionally, Morgana, as the Morganamobile, will drive in the background of the stage, dropping off members of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. These include Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, and Haru Okumura. They'll react to the battle whenever a fighter is KOed. At times, a platform will lower down onto stage as well, which has a cracked screen on it. This screen has a chance of showing either Morgana running or Teddie, referencing the loading screens of Persona 5 and Persona 4 respectively.

Yggdrasil's Altar[edit]

Main article: Yggdrasil's Altar

The stage features many cameos from the Dragon Quest series, including Slimes, Tockles, Spirits of Lost Time, and Cetacea. Very rarely, a Liquid Metal Slime will appear in the background of the stage. Mimics can be disguised as chests on stage, attack players who try to open them.


See also[edit]