What is Every Character in Smash Bros. Ultimate Based On? - (Part 1/3)

Italian Stereotypes

Mario

As we all know, Mario is mostly based on various Italian stereotypes.

King kong

Donkey Kong

While Popeye and Bluto served as the inspiration for Mario's and DK's rivalry, king Kong was the main inspiration for DK's design.

Peter Pan

Link 

Miyamoto confirmed that link's original design was inspired by Disney's peter pan.

Ellen Ripley

Samus Aran

The Metroid series is heavily based on the alien franchise, with samus being mostly inspired by Ellen Ripley.

Allosaurus

Yoshi

Yoshi is based on dinosaurs and closely resembles the Allosaurus in particular.

Fox

Fox McCloud

As his name suggests, Fox McCloud is based on a real life fox.

Mouse

Pikachu & Pichu

As stated in the Pokémon, Pikachu and Pichu are based on a real life mouse.

Mario

Luigi

Since Luigi was created as a palette swap for Mario, his design is directly based on him.

Ninten

Ness & Lucas

Ness (and to a lesser extend Lucas) is based on ninten, the protagonist of the original mother.

Balloon

Jigglypuff

As both the Pokedex and jigglypuff's animations show, this Pokémon is based on a balloon.

Pauline

Peach & Daisy

Peach's & Daisy's design and their roles as damsels in distress are inspired by the Mario character Pauline.

Ox King

Bowser & Bowser Jr.

Miyamoto confirmed that bowser (and by extension bowser Jr. is based on the Ox King from Journey to the west, specially its anime adaptation).

Ninja/ Shinobi

Sheik 

Sheik in clearly based on various ninja / Shinobi tropes.

Pheasant

Falco Lombardi

Despite his name, Falco seems to be based on a pheasant rather than a falcon.

Ox King & Middle East

Ganondorf

Ganondorf beat form also seems to be based on the OX King, his human race is inspired by middle eastern people.

Kirby

Meta Knight 

In his introduction in Kirby's adventure, meta knight's sprite is based on Kirby sprite.

Icarus

Pit

As the name of his franchise suggests, pit is based on the mythology of Icarus.

Samus & Pit

Dark Samus & Dark Pit

As their dark counterparts, dark samus and dark pit are based on samus and pit. Dark samus also draws inspiration from samus's phazon suit.

Mario

Wario

As a caricature of Mario. Wario's design is clearly based on him.