View source for Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)

{{italic title|Lakitu (''Mario Kart'' referee)}}
{{about|the referee from the Mario Kart series|other uses|[[Lakitu (disambiguation)]]}}
{{character infobox
|title=Lakitu
|image=[[File:MKT Lakitu Tips.png|200px]]<br>Artwork of Lakitu from ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
|species=[[Fishin' Lakitu]]<ref name=SMK>{{cite|language=ja|quote=「ちなみに{{ruby|本名|ほんみょう}}は〝フィッシングジュゲム〞どうぞよろしくお{{ruby|願|ねが}}いします。」|translation=By the way, my real name is ‘Fishing Jugem,’ it’s a pleasure to meet you.|publisher=Nintendo|date=1992|title=スーパーマリオカート (''Sūpā Mario Kāto'') instruction booklet|page=1}}</ref>
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' ([[List of games by date#1992|1992]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'' ([[List of games by date#2020|2020]])
|latest_portrayal=[[Tadd Morgan]] ([[List of games by date#2011|2011]]&ndash;present)
}}
{{quote|Hi everybody! Thanks for dropping by the Super Mario Kart race track. My name is Lakitu, I run this track. If you need my help, I'll be around.|Lakitu|''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' instruction manual<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Kart'' instruction manual|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en|page=2|date=1992}}</ref>}}
'''Lakitu''' is a character appearing in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, guiding the race most of the time. He most prominently appears as the referee, holding a starting light with a fishing pole that tells the drivers when the race begins (except in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''), and signals the drivers what lap or section they are currently on or in (appearing on the left/right side of the player, depending on the race’s final turn to the [[Finish line (object)|finish line]] since ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''). Another role he has is signaling the players if they are driving the wrong way. If the driver crosses the finish line at the end of the race, then Lakitu comes in, waving the checkered flag.

Another role Lakitu has is helping out the drivers when they are in a bad situation by transporting them back onto the track. This applies when the racers are falling into a void, a body of water that they cannot drive through, or [[lava]], or when they are going out of bounds of the track. However, as a penalty for falling, they have to wait a few seconds before they can drive again, usually losing some position, and in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', Lakitu also takes up to three of the player's [[coin]]s if they have any.

==History==
===''Mario Kart'' series===
====''Super Mario Kart''====
Lakitu first appears as the race guide beginning with ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''. In this game, Lakitu displays a yellow flag with an "X" on it if players are driving the wrong way and a signal light to count down the start of the race from top to bottom. Lakitu's sprites in ''Super Mario Kart'' are very similar to [[Fishin' Lakitu]]'s sprites in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. While Fishin' Lakitus in ''Super Mario World'' have red eyes, Lakitu in ''Super Mario Kart'' has green eyes, making him appear similar to a [[Lakitu#Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|Lakitu in a Pipe]].

====''Mario Kart 64''====
[[File:LakituMK64.png|thumb|left|Lakitu's reverse sign.]]
In ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', Lakitu reprises his roles. His sign for when a player is driving the opposite way in this game is a red, flashing sign saying "''REVERSE''".

====''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''====
Lakitu reprises his roles in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', also bearing the same "''REVERSE''" sign from ''Mario Kart 64''. 

====''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''====
[[File:MKDD Lakitu.png|thumb|Lakitu counting down the start of the race in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''.]]
Lakitu reprises his roles in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''. Occasionally, in this game, a [[Cheep Cheep]] will be caught on his device that counts down the start of the race. This is merely a gag, and does not affect the gameplay. This game introduces a U-turn arrow sign to alert players when they are driving the wrong way; this sign becomes the permanent one used in later titles. Also, this game is the first ''Mario Kart'' game to have him shown on the left or right side of the player when they cross the finish line to begin the next lap, depending on the course’s last turn. In addition, this game introduces a new signal light that counts down from three going from left to right (right to left in 150cc Mirror).

====''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series====
Lakitu appears in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'', ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]'', ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP VR]]'' with his original role. 

====''Mario Kart DS''====
Lakitu reprises most of his roles in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', with the exception of not performing the countdown to signify the start of the race. It is instead indicated by numbers appearing on screen. 

====''Mario Kart Wii''====
Lakitu reprises his roles in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. In this title, Lakitu can be crushed by a [[Thwomp]] when signaling the player about going the wrong way. This visual gag does not return for the following installments.

====''Mario Kart 7''====
Lakitu reprises his original role in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. In races that contain underwater driving, Lakitu sports a snorkeling mask along with his cloud that has a similar pair of goggles. The race tracks that use this are [[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]], [[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]], [[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]], [[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]], {{classic link|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Beach}}, {{classic link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}} and {{classic link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}.

====''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====
{{multiple image
|align=right
|direction=horizontal
|footer=Lakitu as he appears in ''Mario Kart 8'' and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' as the referee and filming for Mario Kart TV.
|image1=Ninja Hideaway Race Start MK8 Deluxe.jpg
|width1=225
|image2=Lakitu - Mario Kart 8.png
|width2=100
}}
Lakitu reprises his role in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and its [[Nintendo Switch]] port ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', also introducing his role of filming for [[Mario Kart TV]]. This lets the player replay the whole race or the best [[Highlight Reel|highlights]]. Other characters, such as [[Toad (species)|Toads]], film for the service as well. If the player fails to finish in the top three, Lakitu appears clapping in place of a trophy on the results screen, and "Nice try!" is shown instead of "Congratulations!". Additionally, if the CPU on an end-of-race results screen happens to get stuck on a wall, then they are pulled by an invisible Lakitu. In these games, Lakitu appears immediately to rescue the drivers without them having to fully plummet off-screen when falling off as they would in prior games. In addition, Lakitu appears in the group photo for the end credits of the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass]]''.

====''Mario Kart Tour''====
Lakitu reprises most of his roles in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', except for counting down the start of the race. He gives out tips to the player on the loading screen of bonus challenges and announces the results in ranked cups. Occasionally, he wears costumes themed after the tour, such as a Halloween costume during the [[Halloween Tour (2020)|2020 Halloween Tour]], a New Year's costume during the [[Winter Tour (2020)|2020 Winter Tour]] and [[Rosalina Tour]], a Spring costume during the [[Yoshi Tour (2021)|2021 Yoshi Tour]], and a Summer costume during the [[Summer Tour]]. 

Lakitu in his New Year's costume debuts in the [[New Year's 2021 Tour]] as a playable character, known as "'''Lakitu (Party Time)'''" in-game, and features the [[Lucky Seven]] as his special item, which marks this Lakitu's first playable appearance.<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/mariokarttourEN/status/1344168842902315010|author=mariokarttourEN|publisher=X|language=en-us|title=Post|accessdate=May 29, 2024|archive=web.archive.org/web/20201230162934/https://twitter.com/mariokarttourEN/status/1344168842902315010|quote=It's the last tour of 2020 in #MarioKartTour! Our trusted guide Lakitu is joining the party as a driver!}}</ref>

====''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit''====
In ''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'', Lakitu serves as the guide for the tutorials and the referee for the races.

====''Mario Kart World''====
{{new subject|section=y}}
In ''[[Mario Kart World]]'', Lakitu serves as the referee for the Grand Prix races. A variant with a red shell and sunglasses serves as the referee for Knockout Tour races instead.

===''Mario Artist: Paint Studio''===
{{file link|Mario Kart 64 Kalamari Desert.jpg|Group artwork}} from ''Mario Kart 64'' that includes Lakitu is reused as a premade image in ''[[Mario Artist: Paint Studio]]''.

===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
Lakitu, using his artwork from ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', appears as a [[Sticker (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)|sticker]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.

===''Nintendo Badge Arcade''===
Lakitu appears as a badge in ''[[Nintendo Badge Arcade]]'' in a set based on ''Mario Kart 8''.

===''Paper Mario: Color Splash''===
[[File:PMCS aforemention.png|250px|thumb|Luigi mentioning Lakitu.]]
While Lakitu does not appear in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', [[Luigi]] briefly mentions that "Lakitu's not here to save us" while they drive across the [[Rainbow Road]] leading to [[Black Bowser's Castle]].

===''Super Mario Odyssey''===
Although Lakitu does not physically appear in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', the [[Mario Kart TV]] logo from ''Mario Kart 8'' featuring Lakitu appears on the Racing Outfit.
{{br}}

==Profiles and statistics==
===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
{{SSBB sticker
|name=Lakitu
|image=[[File:Sticker Lakitu MKSC.png]]
|game=''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''
|effect=[Leg] - Attack +13
|usable_by=Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser
}}

===''Mario Kart Tour''===
{{MKT profile
|collapse=y
|item=Lucky Seven
|I1.1=RMX Rainbow Road 2|R1.1=[[RMX Rainbow Road 2]]
|I1.2=DS Waluigi Pinball|R1.2=[[DS Waluigi Pinball]]
|I1.3=DS Waluigi Pinball R|R1.3=[[DS Waluigi Pinball|DS Waluigi Pinball R]]
|I1.4=RMX Rainbow Road 1R|R1.4=[[RMX Rainbow Road 1|RMX Rainbow Road 1R]]
|I1.5=3DS Rosalina's Ice World|R1.5=[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World]]
|I1.6=Kalimari Desert T|R1.6=[[N64 Kalimari Desert|N64 Kalimari Desert T]]
|I1.7=SNES Mario Circuit 3T|R1.7=[[SNES Mario Circuit 3|SNES Mario Circuit 3T]]
|I1.8=SNES Mario Circuit 3R|R1.8=[[SNES Mario Circuit 3|SNES Mario Circuit 3R]]
|I1.9=Berlin Byways 2R|R1.9=[[Tour Berlin Byways|Berlin Byways 2R]]
|I1.10=Merry Mountain T|R1.10=[[Merry Mountain|Merry Mountain T]]
|I1.11=Paris Promenade 2T|R1.11=[[Tour Paris Promenade|Paris Promenade 2T]]
|I1.12=Paris Promenade 2R|R1.12=[[Tour Paris Promenade|Paris Promenade 2R]]
|I1.13=SNES Donut Plains 2T|R1.13=[[SNES Donut Plains 2|SNES Donut Plains 2T]]
|I1.14=GCN Yoshi Circuit T|R1.14=[[GCN Yoshi Circuit|GCN Yoshi Circuit T]]
|I1.15=GBA Bowser's Castle 2T|R1.15=[[GBA Bowser's Castle 2|GBA Bowser's Castle 2T]]
|I1.16=RMX Choco Island 2T|R1.16=[[RMX Choco Island 2|RMX Choco Island 2T]]
|I1.17=3DS Rainbow Road R|R1.17=[[3DS Rainbow Road|3DS Rainbow Road R]]
|I1.18=Tokyo Blur 4R|R1.18=[[Tour Tokyo Blur|Tokyo Blur 4R]]
|I1.19=DS Airship Fortress RT|R1.19=[[DS Airship Fortress|DS Airship Fortress R/T]]
|I1.20=Tokyo Blur 3R|R1.20=[[Tour Tokyo Blur|Tokyo Blur 3R]]
|I1.21=RMX Ghost Valley 1R|R1.21=[[RMX Ghost Valley 1|RMX Ghost Valley 1R]]
|I1.22=Singapore Speedway|R1.22=[[Tour Singapore Speedway|Singapore Speedway]]
|I1.23=GBA Sky Garden T|R1.23=[[GBA Sky Garden|GBA Sky Garden T]]
|I1.24=GCN Daisy Cruiser T|R1.24=[[GCN Daisy Cruiser|GCN Daisy Cruiser T]]
|I1.25=SNES Ghost Valley 2T|R1.25=[[SNES Ghost Valley 2|SNES Ghost Valley 2T]]
|I1.26=New York Minute B|R1.26=[[Tour New York Minute|New York Minute B]]

|I2.1=RMX Rainbow Road 2R|R2.1=[[RMX Rainbow Road 2|RMX Rainbow Road 2R]]*
|I2.2=N64 Kalimari Desert|R2.2=[[N64 Kalimari Desert]]**
|I2.3=DS Waluigi Pinball T|R2.3=[[DS Waluigi Pinball|DS Waluigi Pinball T]]
|I2.4=RMX Rainbow Road 1T|R2.4=[[RMX Rainbow Road 1|RMX Rainbow Road 1T]]*
|I2.5=3DS Rosalina's Ice World T|R2.5=[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|3DS Rosalina's Ice World T]]***
|I2.6=3DS Rosalina's Ice World R|R2.6=[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|3DS Rosalina's Ice World R]]**
|I2.7=SNES Mario Circuit 3|R2.7=[[SNES Mario Circuit 3]]
|I2.8=Berlin Byways 2|R2.8=[[Tour Berlin Byways|Berlin Byways 2]]
|I2.9=3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|R2.9=[[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar]]
|I2.10=Merry Mountain R|R2.10=[[Merry Mountain|Merry Mountain R]]
|I2.11=SNES Donut Plains 2|R2.11=[[SNES Donut Plains 2]]
|I2.12=GBA Bowser's Castle 2R|R2.12=[[GBA Bowser's Castle 2|GBA Bowser's Castle 2R]]
|I2.13=RMX Choco Island 2R|R2.13=[[RMX Choco Island 2|RMX Choco Island 2R]]
|I2.14=Wii DK Summit R|R2.14=[[Wii DK Summit|Wii DK Summit R]]
|I2.15=SNES Ghost Valley 1|R2.15=[[SNES Ghost Valley 1]]
|I2.16=3DS Rainbow Road|R2.16=[[3DS Rainbow Road]]
|I2.17=Tokyo Blur 4RT|R2.17=[[Tour Tokyo Blur|Tokyo Blur 4R/T]]
|I2.18=Tokyo Blur 4|R2.18=[[Tour Tokyo Blur|Tokyo Blur 4]]
|I2.19=3DS Shy Guy Bazaar RT|R2.19=[[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|3DS Shy Guy Bazaar R/T]]
|I2.20=RMX Choco Island 1RT|R2.20=[[RMX Choco Island 1|RMX Choco Island 1R/T]]
|I2.21=Tokyo Blur 3RT|R2.21=[[Tour Tokyo Blur|Tokyo Blur 3R/T]]
|I2.22=RMX Ghost Valley 1|R2.22=[[RMX Ghost Valley 1]]
|I2.23=3DS Bowser's Castle R|R2.23=[[3DS Bowser's Castle|3DS Bowser's Castle R]]
|I2.24=Singapore Speedway RT|R2.24=[[Tour Singapore Speedway|Singapore Speedway R/T]]
|I2.25=GBA Sky Garden R|R2.25=[[GBA Sky Garden|GBA Sky Garden R]]
|I2.26=Sky-High Sundae|R2.26=[[Sky-High Sundae]]
|I2.27=Sky-High Sundae RT|R2.27=[[Sky-High Sundae|Sky-High Sundae R/T]]
|I2.28=N64 Luigi Raceway R|R2.28=[[N64 Luigi Raceway|N64 Luigi Raceway R]]
}}

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Lakitu SMK artwork.jpg|''[[Super Mario Kart]]''
Lakitu MK64.png|''[[Mario Kart 64]]''
LakituMKDD.jpg|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
MK7 Fishinlakitu.png|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
MK8DX Lakitu.png|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
MKT Lakitu artwork.png|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
===Lakitu===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=ジュゲム
|JpnR=Jugemu
|JpnM=[[Lakitu#Names in other languages|Lakitu]]
|Jpn2=フィッシングジュゲム<ref name=SMK/>
|Jpn2R=Fisshingu Jugemu
|Jpn2M=[[Fishin' Lakitu#Names in other languages|Fishin' Lakitu]]
|Fre=Lakitu
|FreC=<ref>{{cite|url=youtu.be/v8V-f3-QJHU?t=79|timestamp=01:19|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Toutes les 700 vignettes|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 18, 2024|author=Diddy64wii|language=fr}}</ref>
}}

===Lakitu (Party Time)===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=ジュゲム (パーティ)
|JpnR=Jugemu (Pāti)
|JpnM=Lakitu (Party)
|ChiS=球盖姆 (派对)
|ChiSR=Qiúgàimǔ (Pàiduì)
|ChiSM=Lakitu (Party)
|ChiT=球蓋姆 (派對)
|ChiTR=Qiúgàimǔ (Pàiduì)
|ChiTM=Lakitu (Party)
|Fre=Lakitu (soirée)
|FreM=Lakitu (evening party)
|Ger=Lakitu (Gala)
|Ita=Lakitu (festa)
|ItaM=Lakitu (feast)
|Kor=김수한무(파티)
|KorR=Gimsuhanmu (Pati)
|KorM=Lakitu (Party)
|Por=Lakitu (festa)
|PorM=Lakitu (party)
|SpaA=Lakitu (fiesta)
|SpaAM=Lakitu (party)
|SpaE=Lakitu (Fiesta)
|SpaEM=Lakitu (Party)
}}

==References==
<references/>

{{navboxes|
{{Lakitus}}
{{SMK}}
{{MK64}}
{{MKSC}}
{{MKDD}}
{{MKAGP}}
{{MKDS}}
{{MKAGP2}}
{{Mario Kart Wii}}
{{MK7}}
{{MKAGPDX}}
{{MK8}}
{{MKAGPVR}}
{{MKT}}
{{MKLHC}}
{{Mario Kart World}}
}}
[[Category:Lakitus]]
[[Category:Referees]]
[[Category:Playable characters]]
[[Category:Super Mario allies]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 7]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 64]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP VR]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
[[Category:Mario Kart DS]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Tour characters]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Wii]]
[[Category:Mario Kart World]]
[[Category:Super Mario Kart]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl stickers]]