Nah, not everything Nintendo does is a hint for Smash Bros.
This, for example, is clearly a hint that they're working on a Metroid/Brain Age crossover called Mother Brain Age, and that Mother Brain will be a DLC character for Mario Kart 8. The Kirby thing is clearly just a red herring.
Welcome to th:|While I wasn't serious about those Club Nintendo games, there will be a new selection coming June 9, right before E3. Could be a useful hint as to what's coming up. Or maybe not. Punch-Out was up for sale in February, and we got Mac of course. That was also Punch-Out's anniversary, but yeah. I believe Mario Lost Levels was in December, when we got Rosalina. Of course April didn't have anything Pokemon related, so it's probably a coincidence.
Regarding Shrek, if Wikipedia is to be trusted
, in Japan, anime is used a blanket term for animation in general, not specifically Japanese animation. So Sakurai would apparently exclude Goku and Shrek on equal terms.
EDIT: Sorry, meant to say that's how "anime" is used in Japan. I would think Sakurai would be using it the same way the rest of his home country does. Fair point on Sakurai only referring to Brawl.
edited 12th May '14 5:06:02 PM by FawfulCrump
Speaking of Shrek, I'm not even sure why people suggest him as a joke.
Visit my Tumblr! I may say things. The Bureau ProjectIt started as a reference to both, the "SHREK Takes Ogre!" pic spoofing the newcomer taglines and "Shrek is love, Shrek is life."
Oh, and of course there's Bigley: a little hummingbird stick-figure thingy that originally spoofed Ridley. It became popular because it's a Ridiculously Cute Critter.
🏳️⚧️she/her | Vio Rhyse AlberiaHis Final Smash is him posting a picture of Palutena as an Assist Trophy and everyone jumps off the level in anguish.
Visit my Tumblr! I may say things. The Bureau Project

Speaking of Club Nintendo, the current games up for sale are Super Metroid, Kirby's Adventure, Brain Age Express: Arts and Letters, and Mario Kart 64. So Ridley, Bandanna Dee, Dr. Kawashima, and Toad for Smash?