# Powerhouse Toon Pairings These X-Men Mario Mash-Up Illustrations Are Next Level Awesome By Jason Soy | Published 2011-06-01 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/x-men-mario-mash-up References: [blog.thaeger](http://blog.thaeger.com/2011/05/31/x-men-super-mario-brothers-mashup/) & [basicnoir.deviantart](http://basicnoir.deviantart.com/) Casey Edwards, whose deviantART username is basicnoir, just took two epic franchises and mashed them together into the awesome-drenched illustrations that are this [X-Men Mario mash-up](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xmansion). Sure, anyone can take [two popular series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skullpanda-x-sanrio) and dress the characters in each other's clothes, but Edwards actually has the artistic chops to make this series of pictures memorable rather than just a blundering art disaster. His use of vibrant colors perfectly emulates the pages of comic book panels, and did I fail to mention he casted [Mario as Wolverine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deadpool-and-wolverine-1)? How badass is that? My favorite illustration though has got to be Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong who are re-imagined as Colossus and Nightcrawler. What a solid pairing. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 73% | Activity: 64% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Franchise Mash-ups:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create unique and compelling mash-ups of popular franchises to engage fans and attract new audiences. - **Artistic Crossovers:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the combination of different art styles and mediums to create visually stunning and memorable pieces. - **Iconic Character Recasting:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Recast well-known characters from one franchise into the roles of iconic characters from another franchise to create buzz and excitement. ### Where This Applies - **Entertainment:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create crossover films, TV shows, or video games that merge popular franchises and generate new narratives. - **Visual Arts:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with artists and creators from different disciplines to produce unique and boundary-pushing artwork. - **Merchandise:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop and market merchandise featuring mash-up designs and recast characters to cater to the growing demand for unique and collectible products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Reimagined Beloved Character Comics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marvel-and-disney.md) - [Gaming-Inspired Streetwear Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kith-x-marvel-x-capcom-collection.md) - [Collectible Cosplay Condiments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heinz-ketchup-and-mustard.md) - [Cinematic Superhero Frozen Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digiorno-and-marvel-studios.md) - [Comic-Inspired Soda Cans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-heroes.md) - [Cartoon Mashup Qsr Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-tmnt.md) - [Comic-Themed Tech Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-heroes-vs-villains.md) - [Superhero Headquarter Puzzle Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xmansion.md) - [Game-Themed Noodle Launches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-mario-powerup-shapes.md)