Smash invitation
The Smash invitation is an envelope stamped in wax with the Super Smash Bros. logo featured in promotional materials and character reveal trailers for Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It first appeared in Villager's reveal trailer for Super Smash Bros. 4 and has since appeared in multiple other Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character trailers.
History
Smash 4
The invitation first made an appearance in Villager's trailer. In it, he is seen taking the envelope out of his mail box before running off. Interestingly, this is the only appearance of the Smash invitation in any Smash 4 character trailer.
Ultimate
The Smash invitation is much more prevalent in promotion for Ultimate characters, especially within the trailers for DLC characters. It first appeared in Isabelle's trailer, in which Pete (a pelican mailman from the Animal Crossing universe) delivers one to her. Later, in Joker's first trailer, he is seen running through The Game Awards 2018 while his teammates comment on what he may be there for. As it's shortly revealed, he in fact arrived to steal a Smash invitation. It reappears at the beginning of Joker's second trailer. Most recently, it had made an appearance in Terry Bogard's reveal trailer. In it, multiple characters from The King of Fighters series attempt to grab it as it flies through the air: Kyo Kusanagi, Ryo Sakazaki, Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi, Geese Howard, Nakoruru via her hawk Mamahaha, and Iori Yagami. It finally lands on the ground, allowing Terry to take it.
Aside from character reveal trailers, the Smash invitation has also been used as a general motif for the game's downloadable content. This can be seen in the Japanese download card for the Fighters Pass, which features an image of a Smash invitation on its front. It is often used in relation to unrevealed downloadable characters, as can be seen in several Super Smash Bros. Ultimate presentations and information on the game's website pertaining to downloadable content. It was also used in the September 4, 2019 Nintendo Direct to represent the confirmation of additional downloadable fighters outside of the Fighters Pass.
Gallery
Villager receiving the Smash invitation in the reveal trailer for Super Smash Bros. 4.
Isabelle with the Smash invitation in her reveal trailer.
The Smash invitation's appearance in Terry's reveal trailer.
A placeholder image used for the unannounced DLC fighters in Ultimate's official website's DLC page.
The smash invitation as seen during the announcement of more DLC fighters.
Trivia
- As shown in Joker and Terry's trailers, it is not directed towards any specific individual and is still valid if one steals it.
- It was even later confirmed by Nintendo that Joker had stolen his Smash invitation, potentially from someone else.
- According to Terry's trailer, it is signed with the letter S, presumably standing for Masahiro Sakurai. The contents of the letter, however, are exclusively seen in Terry's trailer, and are in reference to the opening of King of Fighters '94, so it is unknown if the contents potentially change per invitation.
- Prior to its debut in Villager's trailer, an invitation was alluded to in Snake's reveal trailer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
