Paper Mario: The Origami King

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Paper Mario: The Origami King.

Information Timeline#

The Origami King had a remarkably short timespan of just two months between reveal and release. Much of the game's advertising and pre-release info came from clips posted on Nintendo of America's Twitter.

On May 11, 2020, Nintendo of Japan posts an unlisted video showing a basic battle. It is not discovered until the official announcement.
On May 14, 2020, the game was announced on Twitter and the reveal trailer was uploaded. The official English and Japanese websites go up, featuring extra screenshots not shown in the trailer.
On May 15, 2020, fans take notice that the game's Chinese trailer uploaded the previous day features footage of the then-unnamed Professor Toad on the ring with Mario, cheering him on when he jumps on enemies. Speculation runs wild.
On May 21, 2020, a clip of Origami Peach in the game's opening is posted.
On May 26, 2020, a video showing King Olly's Shy Guy form and his reveal is posted.
On May 29, 2020, a clip of Mario using the Space Warrior Mask in Shogun Studios is posted.
On June 1, 2020, 15 seconds of boss battle footage is posted.
On June 10, 2020, new screenshots of the Giant Paper Macho Pokey, Mario battling enemies on an island, and Mario turning a valve in the Graffiti Underground are found on a Japanese advertisement.
On June 11, 2020:
- A clip of Mario's 1,000-Fold Arms powers is posted.
- An unlisted video on Nintendo of Japan's channel shows Olivia's Earth Vellumental powers, on the field and in battle.
On June 12, 2020, a 6 minute overview trailer is posted to Nintendo's YouTube.
On June 16, 2020, an introduction to Olivia is posted.
On June 17, 2020, a clip of the tram ride with Bob-omb is posted.
On June 23, 2020, Nintendo posts a clip showcasing some battle items.
On June 24, 2020, Nintendo tweets a brief showcase of the game's ring-based battle system.
On June 29, 2020, Nintendo begins posting abridged versions of tracks from the game. The first one is "Red Streamer Battle."
On June 30, 2020, an interview with Game Informer about The Origami King is published.
On July 2, 2020, a promotional flip book in Japan reveals most of the game's origami enemies, including Boss Sumo Bro.
On July 6, 2020, the second preview track is posted. This one is not in the in-game sound test, but it is heard during most cafe cutscenes. It is titled "Coffee Break" on Nintendo Music.
On July 8, 2020, Nintendo Everything posts ten minutes of game footage from the Whispering Woods.
On July 9, 2020, GameXplain posts the opening cutscene of the game.
On July 10, 2020:
- The game's final preview track is posted: the title theme.
- Nintendo Treehouse plays the game for a half-hour, showing off Picnic Road, the first part of Overlook Mountain up to the auction, and the Colored Pencils boss fight.
- GameXplain does a Q&A answering 50 questions about the game.
- The game is leaked online a week before release.
On July 15, 2020, the review embargo breaks, with IGN posting their review of the game.
On July 16, 2020, a day before the game's release, Nintendo posts a video showcasing areas in every streamer section.

Concept Art#

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Notes: Add the rest of the concept art

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Like Paper Mario: Color Splash before it, The Origami King features a concept art gallery which gradually updates the further the player gets through the game. This artwork gives insight into a number of early ideas and showcases how the game evolved over time. There are a total of 150 pieces of unlockable concept art.

Concept Art	Notes
!width=24%\|	A "goal aesthetic" showing a smaller version of Whispering Woods, with a daytime and nighttime version. The area is not seen at night in the final game.
!width=24%\|	Various early concepts for Magic Circles, including the 1,000-Fold Arms and Earth Vellumental varieties.
!width=24%\|	A very early draft of Picnic Road. Paper Goombas are seen instead of origami ones, and Mario is in his fire form outside of battle, which does not happen in the final game.
!width=24%\|	Early concepts for Ol' Grandsappy and his transformation into Sweet Sap Loggins.
!width=24%\|	Designs for objects in the Graffiti Underground. The trash bag does not exist in the final game.
!width=24%\|	The photo studio in Shogun Studios. The pictures on the wall are different than in the final game.
!width=24%\|	Concepts for the Thwomp in the Ninja Attraction.
!width=24%\|	A piece labeled "Breezy Tunnel Ideas" has an area that does not appear at all in the final game: what appears to be a facility for Paper Macho enemies.
!width=24%\|	The Fire Vellumental Cave. Mario is seen in his raccoon form outside of battle, which cannot be done in the final version.
!width=24%\|	The coffin room in the Temple of Shrooms. The faceless Toads are red instead of yellow, and there is a Donkey Kong-style mural on the wall that is not in the final game.
!width=24%\|	Mario discovering Captain T. Ode frozen in ice. The freezer and stakes found in the final game are absent, and T. Ode wears an eyepatch here.
!width=24%\|	General ideas for Mario and Bob-omb's visit to The Princess Peach. Notably, Bob-omb's appearance changes drastically between these mock-ups, from being a Thousand-Year Door style sprite to his final game sprite to even filtered stock art of a Bob-omb from the main series.
!width=24%\|	The Princess Peach covered in ink from Gooper Blooper. An early mock-up of the boss battle is shown, having an early UI display and Gooper Blooper not being made of paper-mache.
!width=24%\|	Many concepts for Sea Captain Toad's boat.
!width=24%\|	An early overview of Shangri-Spa. The two Boomerang Bro statues were removed, and Bowser's Castle appears upright, as opposed to always being crashed into the ground in the final game. One of the spas is held up by Toad statues instead of columns, the welcoming sign and the speaker pole near the entrance are absent, and the shop stall is in a different location. The clouds are also hanging paper cutouts like Color Splash instead of resembling ripped paper.
!width=24%\|	A different layout of a hot spring. Mario is in his Frog Suit, which is not a usable item in the final game.
!width=24%\|	Early layouts of Origami Castle.
!width=24%\|	Early concepts for origami characters. Parabones do not appear in the final game, and Swoops are colored differently.
!width=24%\|	Sketches for origami characters. Bony Beetles, Bob-ombs, Dino Rhinos, Sombrero Guys, Amazing Flyin' Hammer Brothers, and Monty Moles are not seen in origami form in the final game. Boos, Chargin' Chucks, Pokeys, Bloopers, Shoe Goombas, and Origami Peach also have different designs.
!width=24%\|	Expressions and poses for Olly and Olivia. Olly does not make most of these poses in the final game.
!width=24%\|	Designs for Origami Peach.