Nintendo Finally Clarified Whether Toad’s Mushroom Is Part Of His Body Once & For All

It's a question that's plagued humankind for years: Toad's mushroom top — what is it? While many Nintendo fans have steadfastly argued it's the Super Mario Bros. character's hat, Yoshiaki Koizumi — who produced Super Mario Odyssey — has put an end to it and confirmed Toad's mushroom top is part of his body, according to The Daily Dot. "So that, as it turns out, is actually Toad’s head. I’m going to have to leave it to all of you to figure out exactly how that works out. Maybe there’s something inside…" he says.

Stop. I have questions.

If the mushroom top is part of his body, why, then — as The Daily Dot points out — has Toad used it as both a hat and a tool in other games? Did the mushroom top become magically fused with his head? Did Toad go under the knife? Does it weigh him down? I need answers, and I need them now.

To be fair, Toad has also been depicted with a hat on top of his mushroom top, implying it is indeed part of his head. Either that, or he has one odd sense of fashion.

The debate has raged on, but it's perhaps seeing the end of its days. I can only imagine Toad's relief that people will finally stop fixating on his body and perhaps appreciate him for his brain.

Which, if that mushroom top is any indication, is absolutely enormous.

The Argument For Hats

You can't blame people for not knowing what's what, considering all of the conflicting evidence. Dorkly points out in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show, a TV program from the late '80s, Toad actually reveals his top is merely a cap, before removing it and wringing it out. That's right — underneath that bulbous mushroom top was a tiny, bald, little head with but three sad hairs.

And! In the first episode, he uses the mushroom top like a parachute.

So, two points for Team Hat.

In Favor Of His Giant Head

Regardless of the aforementioned evidence of headgear, there are undoubtedly numerous pieces of information pointing to Toad's mushroom top being part of his body. Let's go back to Super Mario Odyssey. As Dorkly points out, there are tons of Toad characters in the game, and almost all of them are wearing actual hats on top of their mushroom tops.

And then there's Cappy. Cappy is Mario's ghost friend thing that possess his enemies and uses their abilities in the name of good, explains Dorkly. Here's the thing: Cappy can't possess anyone wearing a hat. And yet he was able to grab hold of Toad's noggin. In other words, Toad's mushroom top can't be a hat.

But wait, there's more. Dorkly makes another great point: Toadette. Toadette sports adorable pigtails — except they seem to be a part of her mushroom top, and not sprouting from the hair underneath.

I'm still not done. Let's talk about this:

Unless it's not uncommon to wear headphones over a ginormous hat, then Toad's mushroom top is DEF his head.

Please don't bring up the fact that he doesn't have ears on his head and therefore couldn't be enjoying any tunes. Let's save that for another debate. Seriously. Just don't.

I argue Nintendo pulled the ol' switcheroo on us, because that mushroom top was absolutely, with certainty, 100 percent a hat at one point. I see what you're trying to do here, Nintendo.

Alas, Koizumi's statement puts to rest the debate once and for all. And unless Nintendo is a lot darker than any of us ever thought, Toad won't be removing his mushroom top anytime soon.

Carry on.