Yoshi is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. First appearing in Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, Yoshi has been Mario’s trusty sidekick and a fan favorite for over 30 years. But one thing that many gamers may not know is what specific shade of green Yoshi’s skin and shell are supposed to be. In this article, we will explore the origins of Yoshi’s color, how it has changed and differed over the years across various games and media, and try to pin down exactly what kind of green Yoshi is supposed to be.
The Origins of Yoshi’s Color in Super Mario World
When Yoshi first debuted in Super Mario World, the Super Nintendo had a limited color palette compared to today’s high-definition graphics. As a result, Yoshi’s green color was somewhat generic and limited by the technology of the time. The official art for Super Mario World depicts Yoshi as a lighter, somewhat yellowish green. This was likely meant to make Yoshi stand out from the greens and browns of the forest environments in the game.
How Yoshi’s Color Has Changed Over the Years
As gaming platforms became more advanced over the years, Yoshi’s green color began to be depicted in different ways across various games. For example:
On the Nintendo 64
Games like Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 portrayed Yoshi with a very bright, lime green color. This was likely meant to take advantage of the brighter palette and higher color resolution available on Nintendo 64 hardware.
| Game | Yoshi’s Color |
| Super Mario 64 | Bright lime green |
| Mario Kart 64 | Bright lime green |
On the GameCube and Wii
During the GameCube and Wii era, Yoshi’s shade of green got darker and more forest green in games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Super Mario Sunshine, and others.
| Game | Yoshi’s Color |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | Dark forest green |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash | Dark forest green |
| Super Mario Sunshine | Dark forest green |
On Modern HD Platforms
In the modern HD gaming era, Yoshi’s green color has largely standardized around a vibrant light green, as seen in games like Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Super Mario Odyssey. Technical limitations are no longer an issue, so Yoshi’s color can be selected deliberately for aesthetic reasons.
| Game | Yoshi’s Color |
| Mario Kart 8 | Vibrant light green |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Vibrant light green |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Vibrant light green |
Yoshi’s Official Colors According to Nintendo
According to the official Super Mario style guide used internally at Nintendo, Yoshi’s specific shade of green has been formally defined since at least the Super Nintendo era. The style guide gives Yoshi’s color as R=176, G=224, B=127 in the RGB color model. Converting this to more common color formats gives:
– Hex triplet: #B0E07F
– CMYK: 27% 0% 44% 12%
– HSL: 112°, 45%, 75%
This color could be described as a light, yellowish spring green. It represents Yoshi’s canonical color that serves as a guide for any games, merchandise, or media featuring the character.
Yoshi’s Green Color in the Super Mario Bros. Movie
In the upcoming 2023 Super Mario Bros. animated film, Yoshi will be brought to life in CGI. The film’s official trailer shows Yoshi with a vibrant green color, very similar to his depiction in modern Mario games. It seems the film will adhere closely to Nintendo’s official style guide color.
Conclusion
While Yoshi’s green color has gone through some shifts and variations over the years due to changing graphics technology and creative choices, his official canonical color at Nintendo has remained largely consistent since his creation. Modern HD games and media like the Super Mario Bros. movie aim to depict Yoshi as accurately as possible based on Nintendo’s internal style guidelines. So while his green shade may vary across some games, the true “Yoshi green” is definitively in the light spring green family. When you picture Yoshi in your mind, you can think of his color as RGB 176, 224, 127 or Hex #B0E07F. That’s the green Nintendo intended all along for Mario’s energetic dinosaur pal.
