So far, the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter lineup has been virtually impossible to predict. Instead of going with Nintendo-owned characters, the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team has mostly incorporated characters from other companies, like Joker from Persona 5, the Hero from Dragon Quest, and as announced at E3 2019, the Microsoft-owned Banjo-Kazooie. All bets are off as to who the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter will be, but some fans think they may have gotten a teaser in the newly-released opening animation for Shantae 5.

The new opening animation for Shantae 5 was shown at the Anime Expo, and later shared by WayForward on Twitter. There is a scene in the animation that shows the titular Shantae looking out of her window. The Internet quickly noticed that Shantae's window looks suspiciously like the Super Smash Bros. logo, which has fueled speculation that Shantae could be the next DLC fighter in the game.

While Shantae may seem like an unlikely choice for the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter, the character has been closely tied to the Nintendo brand since her inception. The original Shantae was a Game Boy Color exclusive, whereas the sequels Risky's Revenge and Shantae and the Pirate's Curse debuted first on Nintendo platforms. Considering Shantae's long association with Nintendo, it makes sense for her to be included in a game like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable fighter.

As it stands, Shantae is technically already in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Both Shantae and Risky Boots are featured in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as Spirits players can collect, though that may not be enough to satisfy diehard Shantae fans.

Before fans get too excited about the possibility of Shantae coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, we must caution that the only evidence of this is the window from the Shantae 5 opening animation. Rumors have so far pointed to other characters being included instead of Shantae, such as a character from Undertale, the Doom Guy, or even Waluigi.

We won't know who the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter will be until Nintendo itself decides to reveal more information. However, fans will no doubt keep their eyes peeled for clues in the meantime.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.