Totakeke's theme
|
It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this article be uploaded. Specifics: Arrangement in Mario Kart World. Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this article. See the help page for help getting started. |
| "Totakeke's theme" | |
|---|---|
"Title Theme 2" in Mario Paint | |
| Composed by: Kazumi Totaka | |
| Key | C major |
| First appearance | X (1992, overall) Mario Paint (1992, Super Mario franchise) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Totakeke's theme" is a short, nineteen-note theme composed by Kazumi Totaka that he has inserted in most games where he has been a composer or sound director. This theme is usually hidden and serves as an Easter egg, able to be heard only after certain conditions are met. It first appeared in X for the Game Boy in 1992, before making its first appearance in the Super Mario franchise in Mario Paint, later that year. It has since been featured in several other games within and outside the Super Mario franchise, including the Animal Crossing series as "K.K. Song".
Arrangements[edit]
Mario Paint[edit]
In Mario Paint, if the player touches the O in the word MARIO when on the title screen, it explodes like a bomb, and "Title Theme 2"[1] plays.
 Title Theme 2 - The arrangement heard in Mario Paint | File info 0:12 |
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins[edit]
In Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, "Totakeke's theme" plays on the Game Over screen after 2 minutes and 34 seconds.
| Totakeke's theme - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | File info 0:09 |
Virtual Boy Wario Land[edit]
In Virtual Boy Wario Land, "Totakeke's theme" plays on the end screen that appears following the credits after 1 minute and 15 seconds.
| Totakeke's theme - The arrangement heard in Virtual Boy Wario Land | File info 0:11 |
Yoshi's Story[edit]
In Yoshi's Story, "Totakeke's theme" takes over as the music on the Trial Mode and Select Yoshi screens after 2 minutes and 10 seconds.
| Totakeke's theme - The arrangement heard in Yoshi's Story | File info 0:11 |
Mario Artist: Talent Studio[edit]
In Mario Artist: Talent Studio, an arrangement titled「トタケケぶし」(Totakeke Bushi, "Totakeke Song") is one of the music tracks that can be used in animations. This particular arrangement would later serve as the basis for "K.K. Song" in the Animal Crossing series.
| トタケケぶし - The arrangement heard in Mario Artist: Talent Studio | File info 0:30 |
Luigi's Mansion[edit]
In Luigi's Mansion, "Totakeke's theme" in D major plays on the screen showing the controls of the Poltergust 3000 (which appears before training mode), after 3.5 minutes of inactivity. Additionally, Melody Pianissima was originally intended to play the song on her piano, but this was removed from the final game. The song would have been referred to as "Totakeke's theme".
The arrangement of "Totakeke's theme" from the controls screen returns in the Nintendo 3DS remake. In this version, "Totakeke's theme" plays on the movement style selection screen before visiting the Training Room for the first time, and cannot be played again afterwards.[2]
| Totakeke's theme - The arrangement heard in Luigi's Mansion | File info 0:09 |
| Totakeke's theme - The unused arrangement intended for Luigi's Mansion | File info 0:09 |
Yoshi's Island series[edit]
Yoshi Touch & Go[edit]
In Yoshi Touch & Go's Marathon Mode, once the player reaches a mountainous area where clouds are being blown away and then pauses for 3 minutes and 45 seconds, "Totakeke's theme" in B-flat major plays.
| Totakeke's theme - The arrangement heard in Yoshi Touch & Go | File info 0:15 |
Yoshi's New Island[edit]
In Yoshi's New Island, an A flat major accordion arrangement of "Totakeke's theme" plays on the World 6 map after approximately 5 minutes. If the player is in any other world, there is instead only a brief pause in the music.
| Totakeke's theme - The arrangement heard in Yoshi's New Island | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart 8[edit]
In Mario Kart 8 and its Nintendo Switch port Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there is a chance that one of the Yoshis that appear in the audience of certain courses will be humming "Totakeke's theme". However, it is extremely difficult to hear during a race and cannot be heard in Highlight Reels. As the voice of Yoshi, Kazumi Totaka provides this vocalization of his own composition.
| Totakeke's theme - The vocalization heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:28 |
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, when the player idles on the character selection screen with Yoshi as the selected character, there is a chance that he may hum "Totakeke's theme", albeit out of tune.
Other arrangements[edit]
LINE[edit]
The Mario Kart Stickers LINE sticker set features a brief excerpt of Yoshi humming "Totakeke's theme" along with some additional whistling that plays over a sticker of Yoshi singing. The humming part comes from Mario Kart 8's arrangement of the tune.
| Totakeke's theme - The vocalization heard in LINE | File info |
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Title Theme 2" from Mario Paint on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Paint | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1992 | Arrangement |
| Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | Game Boy | 1992 | Arrangement |
| Virtual Boy Wario Land | Virtual Boy | 1995 | Arrangement |
| Yoshi's Story | Nintendo 64 | 1997 | Arrangement |
| Mario Artist: Talent Studio | Nintendo 64DD | 2000 | Arrangement |
| Luigi's Mansion | Nintendo GameCube | 2001 | Arrangement |
| Yoshi Touch & Go | Nintendo DS | 2005 | Arrangement |
| Yoshi's New Island | Nintendo 3DS | 2014 | Arrangement |
| Mario Kart 8 | Wii U | 2014 | Vocalization |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2017 | Past vocalization (Mario Kart 8) |
| Luigi's Mansion | Nintendo 3DS | 2018 | Past arrangement (Luigi's Mansion [Nintendo GameCube]) |
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Vocalization |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINE | Past vocalization (Mario Kart 8) | Kazumi Totaka |
Naming[edit]
The name "Totakeke's theme" derives from unused text data in Luigi's Mansion. The theme was originally planned to be one of the melodies played by Melody Pianissima, who would have quizzed Luigi on the correct name afterwards.[3] "Totakeke" is the nickname of composer Kazumi Totaka,[4] and is notably shared in Japanese with Animal Crossing character K.K. Slider, who is a caricature of Totaka.
The overarching motif of "Totakeke's theme" has not otherwise been given an official public-facing English name by either Kazumi Totaka or Nintendo; however, the theme is widely known to the public by the unofficial moniker "Totaka's Song".[2][5][6][7]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | トタケケぶし[8] Totakeke Bushi |
Roughly "Totakeke Song"; bushi is a genre of Japanese folk music |
References[edit]
- ^ Nintendo Music
- ^ a b GameXplain (October 11, 2018). Totaka's Song in Luigi's Mansion 3DS (Secret). YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ The Cutting Room Floor
- ^ July 1993. Nintendo Official Guide Book – The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Shogakukan Inc (Japanese). ISBN 4-09-102448-3. Page 120.
- ^ Totaka's Song. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ Luke Plunkett (August 11, 2011). The Secret of the Secret Nintendo Song. Kotaku. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ GTV Japan (March 20, 2024). The Legend of Totaka's Song: The History of a Musical Easter Egg Found in Mario Paint & Other Games. YouTube. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ 「ムービーをつける」("Movie Studio") › 「さつえい・えんしゅつ」("Movie Production") › 「えんしゅつをつける」("Directing") › 「サウンド」("Sound") › 「BGM」. Mario Artist: Talent Studio (2000).
| Mario Paint | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Mario • Undodog • Mr. Crayon • Baker • Baby Face | |
| Gnat Attack | Big Fly • Fly • Fly Bomb • Fly Child • Fly Parent • King Watinga | |
| Music | "Drawing Board 1" • "Title Theme 2" • "Save & Load" | |
| Other | Gallery • Mario Artist series • Mario Paint BS Ban • Mario Paint Yūshō Naizō Ban • Multimedia • Nintendo Music (soundtrack) • Staff | |
