View source for Cannon (Mario Kart series)

{{italic title|Cannon (''Mario Kart'')}}
{{part conjecture}}
{{about|the hazard in the Mario Kart series|other uses of the term "cannon"|[[Cannon (disambiguation)]]}}
[[File:Mkwmapletreeway.jpg|thumb|A '''Cannon''' in [[Maple Treeway]].]]
A '''Cannon''' or '''Launch Cannon''' is a track feature seen in various tracks in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]]. It is a somewhat uncommon feature that appears in a few courses throughout the series. It launches racers at very high speeds to another section of the course. Cannons take on different forms, such as pipe cannons and the more common barrel cannons. In ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', all cannons start with a boost panel and make racers immune to the effects of [[Lightning Bolt]]s, [[POW Block]]s and [[Spiny Shell (Mario Kart)|Spiny Shells]], while in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'', all cannons use gliding panels instead. In the latter games, players are no longer immune to the effects of items.

==History==
===''[[Mario Kart 64]]''===
In ''Mario Kart 64'', [[Boost Pad]]s serve as a predecessor of the Cannon, which actually have the same purpose. They appear in two courses, [[Royal Raceway]] and [[DK's Jungle Parkway]].
===''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''===
Cannons make their first appearance in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' where they are featured on three courses: [[DK Mountain]], [[Daisy Cruiser]], and [[Rainbow Road (GCN)|Rainbow Road]]. In DK Mountain, the cannon takes the form of a barrel cannon, most likely to suit the Donkey Kong theme of the track. In Daisy Cruiser, the cannon takes the form of an orange exhaust pipe. In Rainbow Road, the cannon takes the form of a long, vertical tube going straight upward.

===''[[Mario Kart DS]]''===
Cannons return in ''Mario Kart DS'', Once again having two appearances; one in [[Waluigi Pinball (course)|Waluigi Pinball]] and another in [[Airship Fortress]]. In Waluigi Pinball, the cannon takes the form similar to that of a pinball launcher. In Airship Fortress the cannon takes the form of an actual cannon rather than a barrel cannon seen in many other courses.

===''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''===
In ''Mario Kart Wii'', Cannons are a bit more commonplace, as they appear in three Nitro courses ([[DK Summit]], [[Maple Treeway]], and [[Rainbow Road (Wii)|Rainbow Road]]) and one Retro course (<small>GCN</small> DK Mountain). Also, in the retro track <small>N64</small> DK's Jungle Parkway, the boost pad acts like a cannon. Both DK Summit and Maple Treeway use a barrel cannon, both of which are located near the beginning of the tracks, while Rainbow Road uses a [[Launch Star]] design, to fit the ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' theme of the track. In DK Summit and <small>GCN</small> DK Mountain, the cannons have the initials "DK" on the sides, while in Maple Treeway, the cannon has no designs on the sides.

===''[[Mario Kart 7]]''===
In ''Mario Kart 7'', cannons appear less frequently due to the introduction of gliding. However, the returning <small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball, <small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway, and <small>DS</small> Airship Fortress all retain their cannons, though now use gliding panels instead of boost panels. When a player goes through one of the cannons, they are unable to steer while gliding.

=== ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' ===
''Mario Kart 8'' uses Cannons occasionally and is the first ''Mario Kart'' game to add a Cannon to a retro track ([[Yoshi Valley|<small>N64</small> Yoshi Valley]]). Aside from the aforementioned Retro track, [[Sweet Sweet Canyon]] uses a doughnut themed cannon near the beginning of the track, while [[Cloudtop Cruise]] uses an actual cannon at the end of the airship section, similar to that of Airship Fortress.

The second gliding section in [[Rainbow Road (Wii U)|Rainbow Road]] works similarly like a Cannon as it launches racers at a straight line and the gliders can barely be controlled. Additionally, the first gliding section in [[Sunshine Airport]] works similarly like a Cannon as it launches racers up to the hovering anti-gravity platform from the runway.

===Other appearances===
Cannons also appear in some [[Dream Event]]s in the [[Mario & Sonic (series)|''Mario & Sonic'' series]], commonly in the events taking place in ''Mario Kart'' locations. One appears in [[Dream Ski Cross]], which takes place in [[Mario Circuit (Wii)|Mario Circuit]] and another in [[Groove Pipe Snowboard]] which takes place in [[Mushroom Bridge]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
RainbowRoad6-TimeTrial-MKDD.png|The cannon in Rainbow Road from ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
MKWii-DKSummit1.png|The Barrel Cannon in DK Summit
MKWii-RainbowRoad4.png|The Launch Star tunnel in Rainbow Road from ''Mario Kart Wii''.
GCNDKMountain1-MKWii.png|The Barrel Cannon in DK Mountain.
MapleTreewayMK7CannonFire.jpg|Peach being fired out of the cannon at Maple Treeway.
AirshipFortressMK7Cannon.jpg|The cannon in Airship Fortress from ''Mario Kart 7''.
MK8 - N64 Yoshi Valley.PNG|Mario blasting out of the barrel cannon in Yoshi Valley.
</gallery>