Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)
- Not to be confused with Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros.).
| "Ground Theme" | |
|---|---|
| "Ground Theme" in New Super Mario Bros. U | |
Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Shiho Fujii[1] | |
| Key | C major |
| BPM | 110 |
| First appearance | New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Ground Theme"[2] is a musical theme composed by Shiho Fujii for New Super Mario Bros. U, where it plays in the ground levels.
A remix of this theme was used in the game's E3 2012 reveal trailer, where it ends with a coda.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]
It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics:
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- Main article: Athletic Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)
New Super Mario Bros. U marks the first appearance of "Ground Theme". It is also included in the official album The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music.
The game also features seven additional arrangements of the theme:
- A brief, synthesized arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays during the game's loading screen from the Wii U menu.
- An arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays in the game's title screen. It is titled "Title" in the Nintendo Music app.
- The first seven notes of the main motif of "Ground Theme" are incorporated into the theme that plays in the main menus. It is titled "File Select" in the Nintendo Music app. This theme uses a different piano pattern when in the menus for Challenge Mode, Boost Rush, or Coin Battle.
- A faster-paced arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays in the sky and mountain levels. It is titled "Athletic Theme" in the Nintendo Music app. This arrangement is in the key of D major and uses swung sixteenths.
- A winter/Christmas arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays in the snow levels. It is titled "Snowfield Theme" in the Nintendo Music app.
- A 3
4 arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays during the cutscene where Bowser tries flying away from Peach's Castle with Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings. It is titled "Epilogue" in the Nintendo Music app. - Arrangements of "File Select" and "Title" are incorporated into the theme that plays during the staff credits. It is titled "New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits" in the Nintendo Music app.
For "Ground Theme", "Athletic Theme", and "Snowfield Theme", additional bongo percussion and vocalizations are added to the instrumentation whenever the player rides a Yoshi and holds onto a Baby Yoshi respectively.
"Ground Theme" and all of the aforementioned themes return in New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe for the same purposes, except for the challenge selection theme in the former and the loading screen theme in the latter.
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Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, the original version of "Ground Theme" plays in New Super Mario Bros. U-style ground-themed levels. Exclusively in Super Mario Maker 2, the original version of "Snowfield Theme" plays in New Super Mario Bros. U-style snow-themed levels. For both themes, as with New Super Mario Bros. U, additional bongo percussion is added to the instrumentation whenever the player rides a Yoshi.
An ambient arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays while editing New Super Mario Bros. U-style ground-themed levels in the Course Maker. Exclusively in Super Mario Maker 2, an ambient arrangement of "Snowfield Theme" plays while editing New Super Mario Bros. U-style snow-themed levels in the Course Maker. Both arrangements uses eight tracks that fade in and out randomly to create a dynamic mix.
Exclusively in Super Mario Maker 2, music box arrangements of "Ground Theme" and "Snowfield Theme" play in the nighttime versions of New Super Mario Bros. U-style ground-themed and snow-themed levels respectively.
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Super Mario Run[edit]
Super Mario Run features three arrangements of "Ground Theme".
A faithful arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays in the ground levels. The Paahs are replaced with brass hits. Wind chimes and synthesized scratches are added to the instrumentation whenever a Coin Rush occurs.
An arrangement of "File Select" from New Super Mario Bros. U plays in the level-selection screen.
An arrangement of the piano melody of "Title" from New Super Mario Bros. U plays in the Kingdom Builder.
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Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the original version of "Ground Theme" can play in the Super Mario Maker stage. Exclusively in the Wii U version, it can also play in the Mushroom Kingdom U stage. It is fully titled "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)" in the games' sound tests. The Wii U version also features a track titled "Style Switch: Ground Theme", which is exclusive to the Super Mario Maker stage and switches between the original versions of the ground themes of the games available in Super Mario Maker, including "Ground Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. U.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the original version of "Ground Theme" can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. It is fully titled "Ground Theme - New Super Mario Bros. U" in the game's sound test.
"Style Switch: Ground Theme" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U also returns and can play exclusively in the Super Mario Maker stage and any Super Smash Bros.-series stage. It is titled "Ground Theme - Super Mario series" in the game's sound test.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit]
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In the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, an arrangement of "Ground Theme" can be chosen as the background music for events. It also plays during the 100m event against Nabbit. It is titled "Nabbit's Theme" in the game's sound test. This arrangement also quotes the "Catch Nabbit!" jingle from New Super Mario Bros. U at the beginning, which in itself is arrangement of "Secret Island Record Room".
WarioWare: Get It Together![edit]
In WarioWare: Get It Together!, a brief arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays in level 1 of the New Super Mario Bros. U microgame.
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, a calypso arrangement of "Ground Theme" can play in Free Roam during the day. It is fully titled "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)" in the Nintendo Music app.
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Other appearances[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live[edit]
The "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series featured a live big band medley arrangement by the Super Mario Big Band of "Ground Theme" and "Athletic Theme" from New Super Mario Bros., "Title Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and "Ground Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. U.
Super Nintendo World[edit]
At the Super Nintendo World theme park, an arrangement of "Ground Theme" plays inside Toadstool Cafe.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Title" from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Music
Image for "Athletic Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Music
Image for "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Super Mario Bros. U | Wii U | 2012 | Original | "Ground Theme"[2] | Shiho Fujii |
| Remix | |||||
| "Ground Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| Arrangement | |||||
| "Title"[2] | |||||
| "File Select"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| "Athletic Theme"[2] | |||||
| "Epilogue"[2] | |||||
| "New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits"[2] | |||||
| New Super Luigi U | Wii U | 2013 | Original | "Ground Theme"[2] | Shiho Fujii |
| Past remix (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| "Ground Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| "Title"[2] | |||||
| "File Select"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| "Epilogue"[2] | |||||
| "New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits"[2] | |||||
| New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U | Wii U | 2013 | Original | "Ground Theme"[2] | Shiho Fujii |
| Past remix (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| "Ground Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| "Title"[2] | |||||
| "File Select"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| "Epilogue"[2] | |||||
| "New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits"[2] | |||||
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Original | "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)"[3] | Shiho Fujii |
| Super Mario Maker | Wii U | 2015 | Original | Shiho Fujii | |
| Arrangement | |||||
| Past remix (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2015[a] | Original | "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)"[4] | Shiho Fujii |
| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | Wii U | 2016 | Arrangement | "Nabbit's Theme"[5] | |
| Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Original | Shiho Fujii | |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker) | |||||
| Past remix (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| Super Mario Run | iOS, Android | 2016 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Original | "Ground Theme - New Super Mario Bros. U"[6] | Shiho Fujii |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Original | "Ground Theme"[2] | Shiho Fujii |
| Past remix (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| "Ground Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. U) | "Title"[2] | ||||
| "File Select"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme"[2] | |||||
| "Snowfield Theme (Baby Yoshi)"[2] | |||||
| "Epilogue"[2] | |||||
| "New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits"[2] | |||||
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Original | Shiho Fujii | |
| Past remix (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| Arrangement | |||||
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker) | |||||
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. U) | |||||
| Arrangement | |||||
| WarioWare: Get It Together! | Nintendo Switch | 2021 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)"[2] |
- ^ Added as downloadable content on September 30, 2015
Live performances[edit]
| Event | Year | Location | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live | 2015 | Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan and Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan | Arrangement | Super Mario Special Band |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Nintendo World | 2021 | Arrangement | Dani Donadi[7] |
Names in other languages[edit]
"Ground Theme"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 地上のテーマ Chijō no Tēma |
Ground Theme | [2] |
"Title"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | タイトル Taitoru |
Title | [2] |
"File Select"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ファイルセレクト Fairu serekuto |
File Select | [2] |
"Snowfield Theme"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 雪原のテーマ Setsugen no Tēma |
Snowfield Theme | [2] |
"Epilogue"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | エピローグ Epirōgu |
Epilogue | [2] |
"New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | New Super Mario Bros. U スタッフクレジット New Super Mario Bros. U Sutaffu Kurejitto |
New Super Mario Bros. U Staff Credits | [2] |
Notes[edit]
- On the Nintendo Music app, "Ground Theme" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. "Ground Theme" shares this title with "Title" and "World: Acorn Plains".
References[edit]
- ^ SUPER MARIO Series for Ukulele - SUPER BEST. VGMdb. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Nintendo Music
- ^ Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sound test
- ^ Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS sound test
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U) sound test
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
- ^ Dani Donadi. Profile. Linkedin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.