In the recent Trails and Tales update of Minecraft, a keen fan noticed an intriguing detail – the cherry sapling's resemblance to the emblem of the iconic video game villain, Bowser. This unique discovery adds to the numerous assets and features that were introduced in the Minecraft update just a month ago.
Since its launch in 2011, Minecraft has been an unstoppable force, continually receiving significant updates even after more than a decade. It has given rise to a thriving franchise, encompassing various standalone spin-off games, three tabletop games, numerous official novels, an annual Minecraft convention since its release year, and even an upcoming theatrical film. The latest update goes even further, expanding the in-game crafting system to allow players to unearth ancient ruins and introducing new biomes and creatures for players to engage with.
Reddit user Zandrox_ brought attention to an interesting visual anomaly in this update. The cherry sapling bears a striking resemblance to Bowser's head, the infamous King of the Koopas and the primary antagonist in the Mario franchise. This iconic image is often seen as the official emblem of his army, displayed on castle flags and his equipment in various spin-offs. Additionally, it serves as an iris-out effect whenever Mario loses a life in most of his platform games. The attached image showcases the new Minecraft asset from a direct perspective, highlighting the likeness.
Surprisingly, many commenters expressed astonishment at this revelation, admitting that they had never noticed the resemblance until it was pointed out. Some users took the opportunity to playfully reference the character by quoting the lyrics to the popular "Peaches" song from The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Others mentioned seeing similarities to other characters or emblems, such as the Sans Blaster from Undertale, Freddy Fazbear from the Five Nights at Freddy's series, or even the emblem for Dry Bowser, a chilling, skinless iteration of the Koopa King introduced in the 2006 game New Super Mario Bros.
It is highly probable that this visual resemblance is merely a happenstance. Nonetheless, it is always enjoyable to come across peculiar similarities between seemingly unconnected forms of media. In today's world, it is not uncommon for developers to conceal surprise elements, known as easter eggs, in their products for consumers to uncover. Minecraft, having engaged in numerous promotional collaborations throughout the years, is no stranger to this practice. It is anticipated that as fans delve further into the Trials and Tales campaign, they will uncover even more peculiarities to amuse themselves with.
Minecraft can be accessed on various platforms, including PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, as well as legacy platforms.