Cape Feather
| Cape Feather | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Mario Kart World | |
| First appearance | Super Mario World (1990) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
| Effect | Turns Mario into Cape Mario (Super Mario World, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Maker series) Lets a kart spin-jump (Mario Kart series) |
The Cape Feather,[1] or simply the Feather,[2][3][4] is a power-up that transforms Mario and Luigi into their Cape forms. It first appeared in Super Mario World.
HistoryEdit
Super Mario seriesEdit
Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2Edit
In Super Mario World, Cape Feathers first appear in Donut Plains 1. Super Koopas with flashing capes can also drop Cape Feathers if stomped. After appearing, or when released from storage, Cape Feathers drift slowly off the bottom of the screen in the same way as the Super Leaf in Super Mario Bros. 3. The Cape Feather allows the player character to glide through the air, similarly to what the Super Leaf allows for. If the player runs at full speed before jumping to take off, they can control their flight with 
. Pressing backward slows Mario's speed and makes him ascend, and tapping it repeatedly allows Mario to continue flying, possibly to the end of the level; pressing forwards speeds up Mario and has him descend rapidly, ending in a POW-like attack that defeats all on-screen grounded enemies if allowed to touch down. The player can also attack by spinning the cape by pressing 
.
In the game's story described in the manual, Yoshi gives Mario the cape, telling him that it has magical powers.[5]
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Edit
The Cape Feather is available as an additional item in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. However, it can be accessed only by scanning the appropriate card on the e-Reader, which adds a Cape Feather into the inventory. The Cape Feather grants the same effects to Caped Mario as in Super Mario World, with the addition of being able to defeat enemies such as Dry Bones. Cape Feathers are also found on the ground in the World-e levels Sea to Sky and Caped Escape and are required to finish the level in both cases.
Super Mario 64 DSEdit
The Cape Feather, along with other power-ups from Super Mario World, can be seen in the minigames Mario Slot and Super Mario Slot in Super Mario 64 DS. If the player lines up three Cape Feathers in a row, they will receive five times the number of coins they bet.
In the main game, the Wings, a Feather item that transforms Mario into the similarly controlled Wing Mario, resemble the Cape Feather.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DSEdit
The Cape Feather and Cape Mario return in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. They are used exclusively in the Super Mario World style and function identically as in the original game.
Super Mario Maker 2Edit
Cape Feathers return in Super Mario Maker 2. They retain their behavior as in its predecessor. In addition to Luigi having access to it, becoming Cape Luigi, as in Super Mario World, Toad and Toadette gain access to the Cape Feather, becoming Cape Toad and Cape Toadette, respectively. Likewise, Cape Feathers in the nighttime ground theme swing further while falling.
Super Mario World television seriesEdit
The Cape Feather also appears in the Super Mario World television series, where it is used in many episodes. Mario is the only character to be seen using the item in the series.
In the opening sequence, Mario jumps from Yoshi to receive a Cape Feather from a nearby ? Block.
The Cape Feather makes its first episode appearance in "The Wheel Thing." In the episode, Mario uses a Jumping Board to bash a couple of ? Blocks, the fourth block he hits releasing a Cape Feather.
In "Send in the Clown," while being chased by Koopa Football Players and Mechkoopas, Mario runs into a ? Block, which happens to contain a Cape Feather.
In "The Night Before Cave Christmas," while running through Neon Castle, Mario hits a couple of ? Blocks, the last block releasing a Cape Feather.
In "King Scoopa Koopa," a Cape Feather is one of the three items cycling through a Roulette Block. Mario times the block to hit the feather.
In "Party Line," The Evil dinosaur throws a crumbled Coin at Mario, which hits a block that releases a Cape Feather. Unfortunately, Mario is too dizzy from the blow to grab the feather and it ends up drifting away.
In "Rock TV," Princess Toadstool rides Yoshi to jump from him and hit a ? Block, which releases a Cape Feather. King Koopa tries to catch it, but Mario grabs it before he can.
Mario Kart seriesEdit
Super Mario KartEdit
Feathers are items in Super Mario Kart. A driver can sometimes obtain one from ? Panels in any race course except Mario Circuit and Donut Plains. The Feather grants the user the ability to perform a Spin Jump roughly twice as high as a regular driver can. Feathers allow the user to jump over barriers and obstacles, and can be used for shortcuts.
Mario Kart 8 DeluxeEdit
The Feather returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where it is only usable in Battle Mode. Working like a normal trick, a Feather can be used to jump over obstacles, exit gliding, and/or get more height from tricks, though the player character does not gain more height if the item is used while airborne.[6] If the user of the Feather collides with an opponent while using it or upon landing, then they can steal a balloon, three coins, or the Shine Sprite (depending on the mode) from that opponent. It is also the emblem of the Feather Cup in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass as part of Wave 5.
Mario Kart TourEdit
In Mario Kart Tour, the Feather item was added in the Battle Tour beginning on October 5, 2022, accompanying the addition of Battle Mode to this game. Like in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it is exclusive to Battle Mode, and functions mostly the same as in that game, except jumping over an opponent will only cause their balloon to pop, without the player stealing it.
Mario Kart WorldEdit
The Feather appears in Mario Kart World. As in Super Mario Kart, it can be used in normal races. Unlike in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it does not provide a speed boost upon landing; the player now has to do mid-air tricks to gain a boost. Additional features are being able to jump over Red Shells and using them to Wall Ride and Rail Ride. Feathers can now be dropped (for example, after being shocked out of a player struck by the Lightning item); if so, they float down in a side-to-side motion in a similar manner to how loose feathers acted in Super Mario World.[7]
Mario's FUNdamentalsEdit
In the Dominoes game in Mario's FUNdamentals, Cape Feathers appear on the highest numeration of dominoes, 6.
Nintendo Puzzle CollectionEdit
Cape Feathers appear briefly in the Yoshi no Cookie port in Nintendo Puzzle Collection, appearing on flags held by Blooper audience members at the beginning of a Versus Mode match.
The Super Mario Bros. MovieEdit
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a voxelated Cape Feather can be seen being sold at the antiques store.
Unused appearancesEdit
Mario Kart 64Edit
In a pre-release version of Mario Kart 64, the Feather appears to be one of the items.
ProfilesEdit
Super Mario WorldEdit
- Wii U Virtual Console manual description:
- English:
Collect to turn into Caped Mario.
- English:
Super Mario KartEdit
- Wii Virtual Console manual description:
- English:
Jump very high over enemies and obstacles.
- English:
Mario Kart WorldEdit
- In-game manual:
- English:
An item that sends the driver high up into the air, allowing them to avoid dangerous items like Bananas and shells. In Battle mode, flying over a rival lets the user steal balloons or coins. - Other languages:
- French:
Cet objet permet d'effectuer un grand saut et d'éviter des objets dangereux, comme les bananes et les carapaces. Lors d'une bataille, sautez par-dessus vos adversaires permet de leur voler ballons ou pièces.[8] (This object allows you to make a big jump and avoid dangerous objects, such as bananas and shells. In battle, jump over your opponents to steal their balloons or coins.)
- French:
- English:
GalleryEdit
ArtworkEdit
Artwork from a Nintendo Power feature about Super Mario Kart
Promotional artwork for the Super Mario Kart THE KING OF GAMES T-shirt by EDITMODE
Artwork from a trading card promoting Super Mario Kart
Caped Mario, holding a Cape Feather, with Yoshi from Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Image macro describing a situation in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in which using a Feather to avoid one obstacle may land a player into another
The "Super Mario Power Up" series of keychains from Nintendo TOKYO
NO LIMIT! Parade 2023
NO LIMIT! Parade 2023
Sprites and modelsEdit
Super Mario World sprite
Super Mario World sprite
Super Mario Kart sprite
Super Mario Maker stamp
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe model
Mario Kart Tour sprite
Feather Cup emblem in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
ScreenshotsEdit
Nintendo Puzzle Collection (Yoshi no Cookie)
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe cup selection screen with the Feather Cup highlighted and Cape Feather designs on the course slots
AnimationEdit
Names in other languagesEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | マント Manto Hane |
Mantle Feather | |
Hane |
Feather | Mario Kart series | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 斗篷羽毛[12] Dǒupeng Yǔmáo |
Mantle Feather | Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 and Super Mario Maker 2 |
| 羽毛[13] Yǔmáo |
Feather | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | |
| Dutch | Veer[?] | Feather | |
| French | Plume[?] | Feather | |
| Plume de cape[?] | Cape feather | Super Mario World and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | |
| Plume acrobate[8] | Acrobat Feather | Mario Kart series | |
| German | Cape-Feder[14] | Cape Feather | |
| Italian | Piuma della cappa[15] | Cape feather | |
| Piuma[?] | Feather | Mario Kart series | |
| Korean | 깃털[16] Gitteol |
Feather | |
| Portuguese (NOA) | Pluma[?] | Feather | Mario Kart Tour |
| Pluma capa[17] | Cape Feather | The Super Mario Bros. Movie guidebook | |
| Pena da Capa[18][19] | Super Mario World | ||
| Portuguese (NOE) | Pluma Capa[20] | Cape Feather | |
| Pluma[?] | Feather | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | |
| Russian | Перо[?] Pero |
Feather | |
| Плащ-перо[?] Plashch-pero |
Cape Feather | ||
| Spanish | Pluma[?] | Feather | |
| Pluma de capa[21] | Cape feather |
NotesEdit
- In Mario Kart 8, the course Sunshine Airport contains feather pens on desks that have exactly the same design as the Cape Feather. These same feather pens also appear at the ticket booth desks in Super Bell Subway.
- In Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Wingo has a feather on his turban that is based on the Cape Feather, though the details are red rather than orange.
- The Feather has had the longest absence of all items in the Mario Kart series, spanning almost 25 years.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ 2002. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (English). Page 19.
- ^ August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (English). Page 46.
- ^ 1992. Super Mario Kart instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (English). Page 13.
- ^ Tilden, Gail, et al. (1992). Nintendo Super NES Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (English). Page 8.
- ^ 1991. Super Mario World American instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of America (English). Page 2. Retrieved from nintendo.com.
- ^ Mankalor (May 11, 2017). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tips - Feather Item Analysis. YouTube. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
- ^ https://youtu.be/ygEuq4j8IBQ?t=2319
- ^ a b Mario Kart World in-game manual from French European localization. (Archived 12 Jun. 2025 via Imgur.)
- ^ 1990. 『Super Mario World 取扱説明書』 (PDF). Kyoto: Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Japanese).(Super Koopa description)
- ^ 1992. スーパーマリオカート (Sūpā Mario Kāto) instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo (Japanese). Page 12. Retrieved June 10, 2022 from nintendo.co.jp.
- ^ Mario Kart World in-game manual
- ^ iQue. Super Mario World entry. iQue Ltd. (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved May 12, 2024. (Archived March 15, 2018, 01:45:29 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ 马力欧卡丁车8 豪华版 | Nintendo Switch | 任天堂 | 腾讯. Tencent (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved April 18, 2020. (Archived June 19, 2021, 14:28:46 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors (1993). Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 17.
- ^ «Raccogli una piuma della cappa per trasformarti in Mario con la cappa.» – Mario con la cappa. Guida illustrata ai potenziamenti di Super Mario. Nintendo Today! (Italian). Retrieved 31 Aug. 2025.
- ^ 한국닌텐도 공식 채널 (April 17, 2025). 마리오 카트 월드 Direct. YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ "No jogo Super Mario World para o console Super Nintendo Entertainment System™ (SNES), há um item chamado pluma capa." – Guia do filme do Mario. Nintendo and Universal Studios (Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved from Internet Archive.
- ^ Super Mario World Brazilian instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of America. Page 7. Archived July 19, 2021, 09:17:30 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved from digitaloceanspaces.com.
- ^ "O jogo Super Mario World é cheio de potenciadores malucos e maravilhosos, como o Balão de Força e a Pena da Capa!" – Nintendo Brasil (March 6, 2024). Post. X (Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 14, 2024. (Archived February 23, 2025, 23:25:37 UTC via archive.today.)
- ^ «Apanha uma Pluma Capa para te transformares em Mario Capa.» – Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS Portuguese digital manual (PDF). Nintendo of Europe GmbH. Page 9. Retrieved from nintendo.com.
- ^ Nintendo Today!
