| Super Mario Kart Title Screen | |
|---|---|
| "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" in Super Mario Kart | |
 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.
ArrangementsEdit
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Mario Kart seriesEdit
Super Mario KartEdit
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 the "Mario Kart 64 Theme" in the game's official soundtrack and "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 | File info 0:30 |
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: Super Circuit Title Screen - The arrangement heard in the title screen of Mario Kart: Super Circuit | File info 0:30 |
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 arrangement was also used for the music in the game's debut trailer at E3 2011.[3]
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" in the game's official soundtrack and "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 the slower motif in 12
8, then a quip of the faster one 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 in an electric guitar.
A big band rendition of the original theme, albeit at a key of D♯, plays during routes and Free Roam, and was heard at the beginning of the Mario Kart World Direct.[4] Another slower-paced arrangement of the original theme can play exclusively in Free Roam, in which the main melody is played on a flute.
The following arrangements of "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" also return during routes and in Free Roam, with their respective references to the theme mostly intact:
- "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen"
- Mario Kart 7's "Staff Credits"
- Daytime and nighttime versions of "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen"
Both the big band arrangement of the original theme and the daytime arrangement of "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen" can play on the route from Crown City to Peach Stadium in the Shell Cup.
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.
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario MixEdit
- Main article: Midnight Drive
In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, a disco arrangement of the "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" theme, titled "Midnight Drive," is a playable song.
| Midnight Drive - The arrangement heard in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | File info 0:30 |
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 "Super Mario Kart Title Screen" theme are incorporated in the track "Buckle Up."
Other arrangementsEdit
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.
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 mixes funk instrumentation with 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
Icon for "Midnight Drive" in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
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)[5] | |
| 「ブロック広場」 (Burokku Hiroba)[5] | |||||
| 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 | Arrangement | "Supermariokart" | Simon Harris, Colin Case |
| Super Mario Compact Disco (Cassette) | 1993 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Compact Disco) | 「スーパーマリオ・カート」 (Sūpā Mario Kāto) | Simon Harris, Colin Case |
| Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks | 1997 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 64) | "Mario Kart 64 Theme" | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack | 1997 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 64) | 「オープニング・タイトル」 (Ōpuningu Taitoru) | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 64: Greatest Hits Soundtrack | 1997 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 64) | "Mario Kart 64 Theme" | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit | 1997 | 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 arrangement (Super Mario Compact Disco) | "Supermariokart" | Simon Harris, Colin Case |
| Super Mario Compact Disco – 35th Anniversary Edition | 2020 | Arrangement | "Supermariokart (feat. MC Mario) [Remastered]" | Simon Harris, Colin Case |
| 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Nintendo Music
- ^ James-Money. (August 16, 2025) Nintendo's Most Important Audio Sequence - AGING. YouTube. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ IGN (June 7, 2011). Mario Kart 3DS: Official Trailer (E3 2011). YouTube. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo of America (April 2, 2025). Mario Kart World – Nintendo Direct. YouTube. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Mario Kart Wii Platinum Soundtrack