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Super Mario Kart Title Screen

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Super Mario Kart Title Screen
"Super Mario Kart Title Screen" in Super Mario Kart
The image for "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" from Super Mario Kart on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Soyo Oka
Key C major
First appearance Super Mario Kart (1992)
Latest appearance Mario Kart World (2025)

"Super Mario Kart Title Screen"[1] is a musical theme composed by Soyo Oka for the title screen in Super Mario Kart. This theme is a recurring motif in the Mario Kart series, appearing as part of the title screen music in every mainline Mario Kart game.

HistoryEdit

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Mario Kart seriesEdit

 
A comparison of arrangements across the Mario Kart series. All arrangements appear as if they were in the key of C major.

Super Mario KartEdit

Main article: Staff Credits (Super Mario Kart theme)

In Super Mario Kart, the theme that plays during the staff credits, likewise titled "Staff Credits" in the Nintendo Music app, incorporates a brief arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

Mario Kart 64Edit

In Mario Kart 64, the theme that plays in the title screen, titled "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" in the Nintendo Music app, is a heavily enlongated and syncopated Jazz fusion arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme arranged by Kenta Nagata. It uses only the first half of the theme, with the last part using more conclusive notes.

This theme is reused in certain pieces of internal console testing software.[2]

  Mario Kart 64 Title Screen - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 64
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Mario Kart: Super CircuitEdit

Mario Kart: Super Circuit features two arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The theme that plays in the title screen incorporates an elongated arrangement of the second half of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The theme that plays in Single-Pak multiplayer races is a faithful arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!Edit

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! features two arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The theme that plays in the title screen incorporates a fast-paced arrangement of "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" based on "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen," albeit transposed up by two notes.

The theme that plays when unlocking a new kart or character incorporates the first half of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme, also transposed up by two notes.

Mario Kart DSEdit

In Mario Kart DS, the theme that plays in the title screen incorporates an elongated arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme based on the arrangement in the title screen theme from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. This theme was originally going to use more organic instruments to match the style of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, but ended up with more electronic ones in the final release.

Mario Kart WiiEdit

Mario Kart Wii features two arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The theme that plays in the title screen, titled 「タイトル」(Taitoru, "Title") in the game's official soundtrack, incorporates an arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme based on the arrangement in the title screen theme from Mario Kart DS.

The theme that plays in Block Plaza, titled 「ブロック広場」(Burokku Hiroba, "Block Square") in the game's official soundtrack, incorporates a piano arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme based on the arrangement in the title screen theme from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. This arrangement only uses the first half of the theme.

Mario Kart 7Edit

Mario Kart 7 features three arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The theme that plays in the title screen, titled "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen" in the Nintendo Music app, incorporates an elongated arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme based on the arrangement in the title screen theme from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, this time transposed back down to C.

The theme that plays during the staff credits, likewise titled "Staff Credits" in the Nintendo Music app, incorporates two arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme. Both arrangements are similar to "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen," but the second arrangement is transposed up by two notes.

The theme that played when spectating players online, titled "Spectating" in the Nintendo Music app, incorporates an electric guitar arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme based on the arrangement in "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen," albeit transposed down by 3 notes. This theme was also used as the music in the game's debut trailer at E3 2011.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DXEdit

In Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, a faithful arrangement of the first half of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme plays when the player reaches the character selection screen. This arrangement also incorporates "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. and "Ground BGM" from Super Mario World.

Mario Kart 8Edit

Mario Kart 8 and its Nintendo Switch port, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, feature two arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The theme that plays in the title screen, titled "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen" in the Nintendo Music app, incorporates a full, faithful arrangement of "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" then a brief arrangement of the enlongated version from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, both of which are transposed up by 3 notes. This arrangement was arranged by Atsuko Asahi. It also returns in Paper Mario: Color Splash, where it plays when Luigi appears in his kart before he drives Mario and Huey on Rainbow Road to Black Bowser's Castle.

The theme that plays during the staff credits, likewise titled "Staff Credits" in the game's official soundtrack and the Nintendo Music app, incorporates a brief but faithful arrangement of the last two bars of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme near the end. This arrangement was arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu.

Mario Kart TourEdit

The trailer for Mario Kart Tour features brief arrangements of "Opening Movie" from Mario Kart Wii and the enlongated version of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

Mario Kart Live: Home CircuitEdit

The music in the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Nintendo Direct trailer for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit includes an arrangement of "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" at the end. It incorporates the original motif, then transitions to the slower version.

In-game, notes from the theme play as Mario looks around and taps on the screen after first connecting the kart.

Mario Kart WorldEdit

Mario Kart World features eight arrangements of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme.

The main title theme incorporates an arrangement based on "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen" in 12
8, then a quip of the original theme in 4
4 as performed on electric guitar.

The awards ceremony after completing the Special Cup uses unique music that also includes a version of the slower motif on an electric guitar.

A big band rendition of the original theme, albeit at a key of D♯, plays on the route from Crown City to Peach Stadium in the Shell Cup, Any VS Race route, and Free Roam, and was heard at the beginning of the Mario Kart World Direct.

A slower-paced arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme can play exclusively in Free Roam, in which the main melody is played on a flute.

The following themes also return during any VS Race route and in Free Roam, with their respective arrangements of "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" mostly intact:

  • "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen"
  • Mario Kart 7's "Staff Credits"
  • Daytime and nighttime versions of "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen"
    • This arrangement also plays on the route from Crown City to Peach Stadium.

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario MixEdit

Main article: Midnight Drive

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features a disco arrangement of the "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" theme as a playable song. It is titled "Midnight Drive."

  Midnight Drive - The arrangement heard in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
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WarioWare D.I.Y. ShowcaseEdit

In WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, a brief but faithful arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme plays in the Mario Kart microgame.

The Super Mario Bros. MovieEdit

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a few notes of the enlongated version of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme are incorporated in the track "Buckle Up."

Other appearancesEdit

Super Mario Compact DiscoEdit

The Super Mario Compact Disco album features a rap remix of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme, titled "Supermariokart" and performed by the Ambassadors of Funk.

Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki RaceEdit

In Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki Race, a faithful arrangement of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme plays while players are placing their bets.

Mario Kart 64 on Club CircuitEdit

The Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit album features a funk arrangement of the "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" theme, simply named "title" and arranged by AKOUST. This arrangement features sound effects and character voice clips from the original game.

GalleryEdit

  • Image for the Japanese version of "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" from Super Mario Kart on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Staff Credits" from Super Mario Kart on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" from Mario Kart 64 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for the Japanese version of "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Spectating" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Staff Credits" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Staff Credits" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music

List of Super Mario appearancesEdit

GamesEdit

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario Kart Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1992 Original "Super Mario Kart Title Screen"[1] Soyo Oka
Arrangement "Staff Credits"[1]
Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki Race Arcade 1994 Arrangement
Mario Kart 64 Nintendo 64 1996 Arrangement "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen"[1] Kenta Nagata
Mario Kart: Super Circuit Game Boy Advance 2001 Arrangement  
 
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Nintendo GameCube 2003 Arrangement  
 
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix Nintendo GameCube 2005 Arrangement "Midnight Drive"
Mario Kart DS Nintendo DS 2005 Arrangement Shinobu Nagata
Mario Kart Wii Wii 2008 Arrangement 「タイトル」 (Taitoru)[3]
「ブロック広場」 (Burokku Hiroba)[3]
WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase Wii 2009 Arrangement
Mario Kart 7 Nintendo 3DS 2011 Arrangement "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen"[1]
"Spectating"[1]
"Staff Credits"[1]
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Arcade 2013 Arrangement
Mario Kart 8 Wii U 2014 Arrangement "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen"[1] Atsuko Asahi
"Staff Credits"[1] Ryo Nagamatsu
Paper Mario: Color Splash Wii U 2016 Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) Atsuko Asahi
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch 2017 Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen"[1] Atsuko Asahi
"Staff Credits"[1] Ryo Nagamatsu
Mario Kart Tour iOS, Android 2019 Arrangement (trailer)
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit Nintendo Switch 2020  
Arrangement
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Film and televisionEdit

Work Year Type Title Credits
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 Arrangement "Buckle Up" Brian Tyler

AlbumsEdit

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario Compact Disco 1993 Remix "Supermariokart" Simon Harris, Colin Case
Super Mario Compact Disco (Cassette) Past remix (Super Mario Compact Disco) 「スーパーマリオ・カート」 (Sūpā Mario Kāto)
Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks 1997 Past arrangement (Mario Kart 64) "Mario Kart 64 Theme" Kenta Nagata
Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack 「オープニング・タイトル」 (Ōpuningu Taitoru)
Mario Kart 64: Greatest Hits Soundtrack "Mario Kart 64 Theme"
Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit Arrangement "title" AKOUST
Mario Kart Wii Platinum Soundtrack 2011 Past arrangement (Mario Kart Wii) 「タイトル」 (Taitoru)
「ブロック広場」 (Burokku Hiroba)
Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack 2015 Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) "Mario Kart 8" Atsuko Asahi
"Staff Credits" Ryo Nagamatsu
Super Mario Compact Disco: The iOS Release 2016 Past remix (Super Mario Compact Disco) "Supermariokart" Simon Harris, Colin Case
Super Mario Compact Disco – 35th Anniversary Edition 2020 Remix "Supermariokart (feat. MC Mario) [Remastered]"
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2023 Past arrangement (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) "Buckle Up" Brian Tyler

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スーパーマリオカート タイトル[1]
Sūpā Mario Kāto Taitoru 		Super Mario Kart Title

NotesEdit

  • On the Nintendo Music app, "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" is labeled as "Selects," classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library," originating from Super Mario Kart. "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" shares this title with "Mario Circuit" and "Rainbow Road."
  • Discounting Single-Pak multiplayer races in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Block Plaza in Mario Kart Wii is the only instance in the entire Mario Kart series where a version of the "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme plays in a course.

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Nintendo Music
  2. ^ James-Money. (August 16, 2025) Nintendo's Most Important Audio Sequence - AGING. YouTube. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b Mario Kart Wii Platinum Soundtrack
[Edit]
Recurring themes and sound effects
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong "Game Start" • "Hammer BGM" • "Round 1 BGM" • "Round Start BGM" • "Title BGM"
Donkey Kong Jr. "Game Start" • "Round 1 BGM" • "Title BGM"
Donkey Kong Country "Aquatic Ambiance" • "Bonus Room Blitz" • "Cave Dweller Concert" • "Cranky's Theme" • "The Credits Concerto" • "DK Island Swing" • "Fear Factory" • "Forest Frenzy" • "Funky's Fugue" • "Gang-Plank Galleon" • "Life in the Mines" • "Lost a Balloon" • "Mine Cart Madness" • "Northern Hemispheres" • "Simian Segue" • "Treetop Rock" • "Voices of the Temple" • "Well Done"
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest "Crocodile Cacophony (K. Rool's Theme)" • "Lockjaw's Saga (Lockjaw's Locker)" • "Run, Rambi! Run! (Parrot Chute Panic)" • "Stickerbush Symphony (Bramble Blast)"
Donkey Kong 64 "DK Isle" • "DK Rap"
Donkey Kong Country Returns "Mine Menace"
Mario Bros. series Mario Bros. "Game Start" • "Title BGM"
Wrecking Crew series Wrecking Crew "Bonus Phase" • "Phase BGM"
Super Mario series Super Mario Bros. "1-Up" • "Castle BGM" • "Coin" • "Course Clear" ("Power Up") • "Ending" • "Ground BGM" ("Game Over" · "Player Down") • "Invincibility BGM" • "Pause" • "Pipe Travel / Power-Down" • "Timer Warning" • "Underground BGM" • "Underwater BGM" • "World Clear"
VS. Super Mario Bros. "Gyōmu-yō Mario Namae-ire"
Super Mario Bros. 2 "Boss BGM" • "Ground BGM" • "Please Select Player" • "Underground BGM"
Super Mario Bros. 3 "Airship BGM" • "Athletic BGM" • "Bros. Battle" • "Ending" • "Fortress BGM" • "Fortress Boss" • "Game Over" • "Ground BGM" • "King of the Koopas" • "Music Box" • "P Switch BGM / Toad's House" • "Player Down" • "Slot Game BGM / Memory Game BGM" • "Underwater BGM" • "Warp Zone" • "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" • "World 2 Map (Desert Land)" • "World 3 Map (Water Land)" • "World 4 Map (Giant Land)" • "World 5 Map (Sky Land) - On the Ground" • "World 5 Map (Sky Land) - In the Sky" • "World 6 Map (Ice Land)" • "World 7 Map (Pipe Land)" • "World 8 Map (Dark Land)"
Super Mario Land "Chai Kingdom BGM" • "Main Theme" • "Underground Theme"
Super Mario World "Bowser BGM" • "Donut Plains (Map Screen)" • "Ending" • "Ground BGM" ("Athletic BGM" · "Bonus Game BGM" · "Castle BGM" · "Course Clear" · "Ghost House BGM" · "Underground BGM" · "Underwater BGM") • "Koopalings BGM" • "P Switch BGM" • "Star World (Map Screen)" • "Title BGM" • "Vanilla Dome (Map Screen)" • "Yoshi ni noru toki" • "Yoshi's Island (Map Screen)"
Super Mario 64 "Bowser's Road" • "Bowser's Theme" • "Dire, Dire Docks" • "File Select" • "Main Theme" ("Cool, Cool Mountain" · "Slider") • "The Merry-Go-Round" • "Metal Mario" • "Peach's Castle" • "Piranha Plant's Lullaby" • "Staff Roll"
Super Mario Sunshine "Isle Delfino" ("Ricco Harbor") • "Secret Course"
New Super Mario Bros. "Course Clear" • "Fortress Theme" • "Main Theme" ("Athletic Theme") • "Mega Mario" • "Paah" • "Switch On!"
Super Mario Galaxy "Egg Planet" • "Enter Bowser Jr.!" • "Gusty Garden Galaxy" • "Luma" • "Overture" • "Purple Comet" • "Rosalina in the Observatory" • "The Toad Brigade" • "Waltz of the Boos"
New Super Mario Bros. Wii "Bonus Area" • "Castle Theme" • "Coast Theme" • "Desert Theme" • "Forest Theme" • "Ghost House Theme" • "Lava Cave / Underground Ruins Theme" • "Lava Theme" • "Title Theme" ("Game Over") • "Toad House Minigame" • "Underwater Theme"
Super Mario Galaxy 2 "Bowser's Galaxy Generator" • "Puzzle Plank Galaxy" • "Super Mario Galaxy 2 Trailer Theme"
Super Mario 3D Land "Castle Theme" • "Main Theme" • "Snow Course" • "Underwater Theme"
New Super Mario Bros. U "Ground Theme"
Super Mario 3D World "A Boss Approaches" • "Chainlink Charge" • "Piranha Creeper Creek" • "Super Bell Hill"
Super Mario Maker "Title Theme"
Super Mario Odyssey "Fossil Falls" • "Jump Up, Super Star!"
Dr. Mario series Dr. Mario "Chill" • "Fever" • "Game Over" • "Selection Screen" • "Title Screen"
Mario Kart series Super Mario Kart "Awards Ceremony (1st – 3rd Place)" • "Donut Plains" • "Mario Circuit" • "Rainbow Road" • "Super Mario Kart Title Screen"
Mario Kart 64 "Battle Arenas" • "Choco Mountain" • "Frappe Snowland" • "Kalimari Desert" • "Koopa Troopa Beach" • "Luigi Raceway" • "Moo Moo Farm" • "Rainbow Road" • "Results (1st − 4th Place)" • "Staff Credits" • "Starting Grid (Time Trials / Battle)" • "Toad's Turnpike"
Mario Kart: Super Circuit "Koopa Castle Course" • "GBA Mario Circuit"
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! "GCN Baby Park" • "Peach Beach" • "GCN Yoshi Circuit"
Mario Kart DS "DS Peach Gardens" • "Waluigi Pinball"
Mario Kart Wii "Coconut Mall" • "Luigi Circuit/Mario Circuit" • "Wii Maple Treeway" • "Moo Moo Meadows" • "Mushroom Gorge" • "Wario's Gold Mine"
Mario Kart 7 "Neo Bowser City" • "Piranha Plant Slide" • "Rainbow Road" • "Toad Circuit"
Mario Kart 8 "Cloudtop Cruise"
Yoshi franchise Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island "Athletic BGM" • "Bowser" • "Flower Field BGM" • "Opening Melody" • "Powerful Mario" • "Stage Start" • "Yoshi's Island"
Yoshi's Story "Yoshi's Song" • "Yoshi's Story!" • "Yoshi's Tale"
Luigi's Mansion series Luigi's Mansion "Title Theme (Humming)"
Wario franchise WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! "Drifting Away" • "Pyoro" • "WarioWare, Inc." ("Dr. Crygor")
WarioWare: Twisted! "Mona Pizza"
WarioWare: Touched! "Ashley's Theme"
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series Mario vs. Donkey Kong "Mini Mario Stage"
Other The Legend of Zelda "Important Item Acquired" • "Magic Whistle Melody" • "Overworld Theme"
Mario Paint "Gnat Attack: Level 1" • "Save & Load"
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars "Beware of Forest Mushrooms" • "Hello, Happy Kingdom"
Miscellaneous "Le Galop infernal d'Orphée aux Enfers" • "Totakeke's theme"
[Edit]
Super Mario Kart
Playable characters Bowser • Donkey Kong Jr. • Koopa Troopa • Luigi • Mario • Princess • Toad • Yoshi
Courses Mushroom Cup Mario Circuit 1 • Donut Plains 1 • Ghost Valley 1 • Bowser Castle 1 • Mario Circuit 2
Flower Cup Choco Island 1 • Ghost Valley 2 • Donut Plains 2 • Bowser Castle 2 • Mario Circuit 3
Star Cup Koopa Beach 1 • Choco Island 2 • Vanilla Lake 1 • Bowser Castle 3 • Mario Circuit 4
Special Cup Donut Plains 3 • Koopa Beach 2 • Ghost Valley 3 • Vanilla Lake 2 • Rainbow Road
Battle courses Battle Course 1 • Battle Course 2 • Battle Course 3 • Battle Course 4
Items and objects Question Block items Banana Peel • Feather • Ghost • Green Shell • Lightning • Mushroom • Red Shell • Star
CPU-only items Egg • Fireball • Poison Mushroom
Miscellaneous items and objects Coin • Jump • Kart • Trophy • Zipper
Techniques Drift • Mini-Turbo • Hop • Rocket Start
Species, enemies, and obstacles Big Cheep Cheep • Bullet Bill • Gopher • Flopping Cheep Cheep • Ice • Lakitu • Oil slick • Snow block • Super Thwomp • Thwomp • Warp Pipe
Music "Awards Ceremony (1st – 3rd Place)" • "Donut Plains" • "Finish! (5th – 8th Place)" • "Koopa Beach" • "Mario Circuit" • "Race Results (Donkey Kong Jr.)" • "Rainbow Road" • "Staff Credits" • "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" • "Vanilla Lake"
Miscellaneous Battle Mode • Finish line • Gallery • Nintendo Music (soundtrack) • Pre-release and unused content • Staff • Super Mario Embroidery World • Super Mario Kart (Barcode Battler II) • Super Mario Kart (sliding puzzle) • Mario Kart Dice • Super Mario Kart: Mario Kart Grand Prix • Wario Cheat of the Day
Retrieved from "https://www.mariowiki.com/index.php?title=Super_Mario_Kart_Title_Screen&oldid=5081009"