Following today’s reveal of Fox McCloud’s inclusion in the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the artist who designed the character has shared his ecstatic response.
Takaya Imamura said he was “overwhelmed with emotion” in a post on Twitter and expressed his gratitude to Shigeru Miyamoto, the film’s co-producer and Mario’s creator.
感無量😭😭😭
宮本さんありがとう😭😭 https://t.co/ufoqeKBmQt— 今村孝矢 / Takaya Imamura (@ima_1966) March 26, 2026
Imamura designed the entire cast of 1993’s Star Fox, including Fox McCloud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad and Falco Lombardi. He revealed in a 2017 interview that he based the characters on various staff members working at Nintendo at the time.
The artist is also responsible for designs of F-Zero’s Captain Falcon and The Legend of Zelda’s Tingle. He’s worked on many Star Fox and F-Zero games throughout his career.
Imamura left Nintendo in 2021 and is now a professor at the International Professional University of Technology in Osaka. He’s also the creator of the manga series Omega 6.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be released in theaters on April 3rd, 2026 in the United States, and on April 24th in Japan.
Check out more Mario content
Krispy Kreme reveals Super Mario Galaxy Movie-themed donuts, Japan-only for a limited time
A BBFC rating may have spoiled a big twist in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Leave a Comment
Written by Reece Heather
A veteran Zelda Universe editor and First-class journalism graduate, Reece emerged with a Nintendo 64 and a lifelong obsession after a narrow escape from Santa’s Naughty List in 1998. Outside of games, he’s reading Punisher comics, being bossed around by his cocker spaniel, and cornering innocent bystanders to rant about the importance of game preservation.
