The On-Screen Appearance, also known as an intro or entrance, is a minor feature in both Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It was not present in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It includes a small animation unique for each character entering the battle field during the three second countdown before battle. It has no effect whatsoever on game play other than visually dramatic and comedic purposes. Each entrance usually relates to that characters universe, such as Mario entering in through a warp pipe. The animation will randomly have all characters enter at once, or one at a time with a closeup of each.
Super Smash Bros.
- Captain Falcon: Jumps out of Blue Falcon
- Donkey Kong: Breaks out of a barrel
- Fox McCloud: Jumps out of an Arwing
- Jigglypuff: Releases from Poké Ball
- Kirby: Falls from Warp Star
- Link: Falls down through a light in the Sky
- Luigi: Hops out of a Warp Pipe
- Mario: Hops out of a Warp Pipe
- Ness: Crashes through PK Teleport
- Pikachu: Releases from Poké Ball
- Samus Aran: Arrives from a Metroid save port
- Yoshi: Breaks out of an egg
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Unique character based entrances have been removed in Melee. Instead, all characters appear as trophies that "come to life" at the start of the match. The three-second countdown is also more streamlined and quicker.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Bowser: Appears, whilst on fire, then stomps to extinguish flames.
- Diddy Kong: Same as Donkey Kong's.
- Donkey Kong: Breaks out of a barrel, like in the original.
- Fox McCloud: Jumps out of an Arwing, like in the original.
- Ice Climbers: Fly in riding the condor from Ice Climber.
- Ike: Warps onto the stage using warp magic.
- Link: Instead of riding a light from the sky (like in the original), he appears in a whirlwind like from the original Legend of Zelda.
- Lucas: Rides in on Mr. Saturn's tea table.
- Mario: Hops out of a Warp Pipe, like in the original.
- Meta Knight: Uses cape to teleport.
- Pit: Flies down onto the stage from a beam of light.
- Peach: Appears spinning, then winks and poses with parasol.
- Samus Aran: Arrives from a Metroid save port, like in the original.
- Solid Snake: Optical camouflage breaks up as he lands.
- Sonic the Hedgehog: Jumps up onto the stage in a curled up ball.
- Yoshi: Breaks out of an egg, like in the original.