Banana Peel (Mario franchise)

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A Banana Peel is the protective outer layer of a banana and a recurring hazard within the Mario franchise, most notably the Mario Kart series. Touching a Banana Peel often causes a character to become stunned for a few seconds. Banana Peels first appear in Super Mario Kart. Like Banana Bunches, Banana Peels are oftentimes called a Banana.

Banana Peel
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Appearances
First appearance	Super Mario Kart (1992)
Latest appearance	Mario Strikers: Battle League (2022)

History

Mario Kart series

In nearly every Mario Kart title, they are known as Bananas. If a racer drives their kart into a Banana, they spin out for about two seconds. Bananas can either be placed behind a kart, or be thrown a far distance forward. A racer can carry a Banana behind their kart as a defensive countermeasure against homing Red Shells and, to a lesser extent, Green Shells. Bananas can also come in threes, known as Triple Bananas. When used, three Bananas automatically attach themselves to the back of the kart. Like many other Mario items, a Banana has eyes and a mouth. It is also the emblem of the Banana Cup.

Super Mario Kart

In Super Mario Kart, Banana Peels are used by Donkey Kong Jr. if he is CPU-controlled.

Mario Kart 64

In Mario Kart 64, Banana Peels return from Super Mario Kart, albeit as a component of the Banana and the Banana Bunch items. Using a Banana allows the racer to either carry or drop a Banana Peel behind them. Using a Banana Bunch causes the racer to carry five Banana Peels behind them.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, like in Mario Kart 64, Banana Peels are a component of the Banana item.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Bananas make another appearance in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Starting with this game, the Mario Kart series has depicted a Banana Peel in various graphics and artwork associated with the Banana item. Despite the consistency, the series has since primarily used the name "Banana" to refer to the peels, like in Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, instead of Banana Peel like in Super Mario Kart.

Both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have their own special item, the Giant Banana, which is a massive Banana Peel that can be thrown on the track. Petey Piranha and King Boo can also use it because they can use any special item.

Mario Kart DS

Bananas return as an item in Mario Kart DS. As an individual item, they have the same role as in previous Mario Kart installments. Since their debut in this game, Triple Bananas been the Mario Kart series' replacement for Banana Bunches from Mario Kart 64. It is also the first game to feature the Banana Cup.

Mario Kart Wii

A standard Banana from Mario Kart Wii

In Mario Kart Wii, both Bananas and Triple Bananas return as an item, having the same role as in Mario Kart DS.

Mario Kart 7

In Mario Kart 7, Bananas and Triple Bananas have the same usual function, although any racer who drives into a Banana spins out for slightly longer than in previous installments.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Bananas and Triple Bananas return in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; however, rather than following behind the Kart, Bike or ATV, the Triple Bananas orbit it, similarly to Triple Green or Red Shells. The duration of spinning out from touching a Banana is further increased to a comparable duration to that of the Giant Banana in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and the POW Block in Mario Kart Wii. A single banana appears the adverts for BaNaNa Boy.

Mario Kart Tour

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Bananas reappear in Mario Kart Tour. The Giant Banana also returns, with the same function as in previous games. However, unlike in previous games, the Giant Banana is exclusive to Donkey Kong, Yellow Toad (Pit Crew), Morton, and Mario (Sunshine). Diddy Kong and Funky Kong's new exclusive item, the Banana Barrels, shoot out Bananas in front of them for a certain amount of time. Triple Bananas also return as an exclusive item for Daisy (Swimwear), Dixie Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. (SNES), and Waluigi (Bus Driver).

Mario Party series

Mario Party 4

In Mario Party 4, Banana Peels are featured as hazards in the Tree Stomp minigame, and the golden type increases the speed of any character who collects it. In Koopa's Seaside Soiree, characters tripping over banana peels also determine which path is taken.

Mario Party 5

In Mario Party 5, Banana Peels are featured in the DK minigame Mass A-peel, along with regular bananas. The objective is for the characters to avoid tripping on a Banana Peel as they go around collecting Bananas.

Mario Party: Star Rush

Banana Peels appear in Mario Party: Star Rush as obstacles in Bowser's Shocking Slipup, where they appear as one of only two items on the roulettes. Touching one stuns the character for a few seconds.

Super Mario Party

In Super Mario Party, Bananas appear in the minigame Trip Navigator as the main obstacles. If a character touches them, they are stunned for one second.

Luigi's Mansion series

Luigi's Mansion

In Luigi's Mansion, Garbage Can Ghosts will throw banana peels on the floor. Luigi can slip on these peels, damaging the plumber with 5 HP taken away (10 HP in the Hidden Mansion). They can also be found lying on the ground in the Dining Room, where Mr. Luggs resides.

Luigi's Mansion 3

In Luigi's Mansion 3, Banana Peels can come out of trash bins. If either Luigi or Gooigi walks on a banana peel, they slip and lose 1 HP.

Mario Tennis series

Mario Power Tennis

In Mario Power Tennis, in the mode where players can hit the balls through Item Boxes, the banana tends to appear, known as "Slippery Danger" within the game. The player has to hit the ball with the racquet in order to use the item. When used, the banana will be attached with the ball until it stays still on the ground in the case the ball bounces. Also, the Garbage Can Ghost in the Luigi's Mansion stage throws bananas that have the same function as the regular bananas as a stage gimmick.

Mario Tennis Open

In Mario Tennis Open, plenty of bananas are seen on the DK Jungle court. The banana is the emblem for the Banana Cup and appears on its trophy. Tennis gear for Miis are designed based on this item.

Super Smash Bros. series

In the Super Smash Bros. series titles, starting with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Banana Peels are featured as a type of item and in Diddy Kong's down special, also titled Banana Peel. If a fighter walks onto a Banana Peel, they trip and fall over onto their back.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there is both a trophy and a sticker of a Banana Peel. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, there is a Banana Peel trophy shared between the two games. Although appearing to be a different Banana Peel than those in the Mario franchise, the Banana Peel trophy from both Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U each list two Mario Kart titles as being their game appearance while the trophies each depict the Banana Peel's appearance within the respective Super Smash Bros. title. The game appearances are not listed in the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS variation of the trophy, as is the case with the other trophies in the game. Furthermore, the trophy is titled Banana Peel, like in Super Mario Kart, instead of Banana like in the other Mario Kart installments.

Mario Golf series

Mario Golf: World Tour / Mario Sports Superstars

In Mario Golf: World Tour, bananas are seen in food bowls on some tables of the Castle Club's Royal Room, as well as inside barrels, which are the tee markers of the DK Jungle course. Golf gear is designed based on this item and available for use by Miis. In Diddy Kong's Bogey animation, he eats a banana while lying down and throws it on the ground. He does the same when he gets a Double Bogey or worse, but then he tries to get up and walk, only to slip on the banana. This animation is reused in Mario Sports Superstars.

Mario Golf: Super Rush

In Mario Golf: Super Rush, bananas appear as obstacles. They only appear in the Battle Golf mode inside clear spheres. If a player steps on one, they lose coins. There are also multiple bananas inside the spheres which surround the player with bananas.

Mario Strikers series

Banana icon in Super Mario Strikers

In the Mario Strikers games, the banana acts as an item that players can collect. Once used, the player will drop three or five banana peels behind them, which will proceed to knock over any player who runs into them. This includes both the opponent, and the user. If used near an edge, only a few bananas will stay on the field, as the other bananas will fall off the stadium. A similar item is the Giant Banana.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its remake, bananas are used by Crawfuls as part of one of their attacks. The Crawful throws the banana in front of it and slips towards the character currently being used, who must punch it away or hammer it respectively.

Mario Sports Mix

Shy Guys throwing Banana Peels from their train

Banana Peels reappear in Mario Sports Mix. They can either stop opponents for a short time, or power up the ball or puck. When used as an item shot, the ball will make a curved path, a reference to the face that bananas themselves are curved, and can cause opposing players to slip if they touch it. In Western Junction, a train with cars full of Banana Peels may drive through the court, and Shy Guys on board the train will throw Banana Peels on the court so any player may slip over them.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games

In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Bananas appear in Snow Day Street Hockey on the Market Street Rink. When the puck hits a banana seller's stand, banana peels will temporarily scatter over the rink and cause those who hit them to slip and be stunned. The banana peels use their design from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

WarioWare series

WarioWare Gold

In WarioWare Gold, Bananas appear as obstacles in the Super Mario Kart microgame, where the player must stay on Rainbow Road.

WarioWare: Get It Together!

The banana in the microgame

In WarioWare: Get It Together!, the Banana from the Mario Kart series makes a cameo in Shadow Sports.

Appearances in other media

Club Nintendo comics

Their use as weapons in the Mario Kart series was referenced in the comic "Die Jagd nach dem Nintendo 64: Krawall im All," when Mario and Luigi dropped some Banana Peels in front of Wario and Bowser, as they were competing to find a Nintendo 64-like spaceship.

Profiles and statistics

Mario Kart series

Super Mario Kart

• Wii Virtual Console manual bio: Drop a banana peel on the course. The first kart to touch it will spin out. Hold up on and press to throw the banana peel ahead of you.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console manual bio: If you drive over it, you will skid out.

Mario Kart Wii

• Trading card bio: A delicious fruit and a great source of potassium, the single Banana is, simply, good for you. But this is Mario Kart Wii we're talking about and there are no edible bananas here...only the slippery Banana peel that you and your racing rivals can toss out on the track. If your Kart or Bike touches a Banana you won't peel out, you'll spin out. That, of course, leads to longer lap times.
  
  • Game Tip!: When tossing a Banana out in front of your vehicle, be aware of where it lands. You don't want to be the recipient of your own nefarious tactics.

Mario Kart 7

• Instruction manual bio: Karts that run over bananas will spin out. Hold or to equip a Banana, and then release or to drop it.
• North American website bio: Slippery banana peels can give opponents a headache, but they may come back to haunt you on the next lap.

Mario Kart 8

• Instruction manual bio: Will send anyone who hits it into a spin.

Mario Kart Tour

• Tips & Tricks: Don't let this one give you the slip! Your kart will spin out if you hit one. You can carry one behind your kart to protect yourself from a single attack.
• Mario Kart Tour Twitter: Item introduction: Banana
  Throw it out in front of you, or drop it off behind you. Karts that hit it will spin out! Watch out during the second lap of the race...chances are there will be more Bananas waiting for you the second time around!

Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Trophy

Name	Image	Game	Description
Banana Peel		SNES Super Mario Kart N64 Mario Kart 64	The peel from a Japanese fiber banana of the Musaceae plant family. It contains a high volume of vegetable oil, which oozes out when the peel is stepped on, making things slippery. In Smash Bros., the peel fulfills its destiny as a comedic prop by making passersby slip. Characters who land on their backsides will be defenseless until they recover their footing.

Sticker

Name	Image	Game	Effect
Banana		Mario Kart DS	[Flame] - Attack +4

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy

Name	3DS trophy	Wii U trophy	Category	Appears in	Trophy Box	Description
Banana Peel			Item	SNES Super Mario Kart (09/1992) Wii Mario Kart Wii (04/2008)	1: Brawler	Looks like someone had a nice snack and didn't bother to clean up afterward... As you may suspect, stepping on a banana peel sends you falling to the ground and exposes you to attacks. You can throw these at your opponents too, but please clean up when you're done, all right? HEY! Put that banana peel in the bin! ...Oh, you're going to trip up your opponent with it? Carry on, then. Of course, picking up and throwing banana peels at people is disgusting, but they'll have a hard time keeping their defences up if they're putting on a one-man slapstick act, so...go ahead.

Super Mario Run

Item description

• Banana Statue: This banana peel can cause a lot of mayhem in Mario Kart. Careful not to step on it!

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Banana Peel (Mario franchise)/gallery.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	バナナの皮 Banana no Kawa	Banana Peel
Chinese	香蕉皮	Banana peel