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List of Mario franchise characters

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File:Mario characters.jpg
The main characters of the Mario franchise: Wario, Donkey Kong, Luigi, Peach, Mario, Toad, Daisy, Bowser, Yoshi, Boo, and Waluigi.

The Mario franchise is a collection of video game series by Nintendo; while Nintendo is usually their developer and publishers, various series are usually developed by other third-party companies, such as Hudson Soft and Intelligent Systems. The games usually revolve around Mario, and usually involve the motif of Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach and Mario rescuing her, but the various characters have different plots and goals that vary from series; for example, the Luigi's Mansion series focuses on Luigi ridding his new mansion of ghosts, while Wario stars in games that center around his greed and desire for money and treasure.

Character roots begin with Donkey Kong where Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pauline originate. They were designed by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto; they were built off the base of characters from Popeye, but unable to obtain licensing rights for the characters, made later changes to their appearances and personalities, such as making them more lighthearted in tone. Due to the critical and commercial success of Donkey Kong when it was released in July 1981, Mario would reappear in Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. in 1983 and 1985, respectively. Mario Bros. introduced Mario's fraternal twin Luigi, and Super Mario Bros. introduced Toad alongside numerous enemies, with Bowser and Princess Peach replacing both Donkey and Pauline.

Throughout each series of games, numerous characters have been introduced and have since become recurring. Some games, such as the Super Mario series, have supporting protagonists that aid the main character, such as Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey and Professor E. Gadd from the Luigi's Mansion series. Other main and supporting antagonists appear as an additional hindrance with minor roles, such as the Koopalings. The games all typically share common enemies that function only as enemies.

Protagonists

Mario

Mario[a] (English: /ˈmɑːri, ˈmær-/, Italian: [ˈmaːrjo]) is the main protagonist of many games across the Mario franchise, mainly the Super Mario series, and is the face of others, such the Mario Kart and Mario Party series. Beyond this, other branches of games Mario stars in expand beyond the platforming genre, such as role-playing games with Paper Mario,[1] puzzle games with Dr. Mario,[2][3] and educational games with Mario Teaches Typing.[4] Depicted as a brave and heroic Italian plumber, he is often tasked with rescuing the kidnapped Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom from King Bowser and his army of henchmen. In the 2D line of Super Mario games, he does this alongside other characters, usually with his brother Luigi and colored variants of Toads, and in the subsequent 3D games, a singular new character that expands on Mario's primary abilities. Mario is usually supported with a selection of Power-ups in the games he appears in, which vary from game to game. These power-ups give Mario additional options for basic attacks or puzzle-solving functions, such as the "Super Mushroom", which gives him an additional hitpoint,[5] or the Fire Flower, which allows him to attack with fireball when used.[6]

History and evolution

Mario was designed by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto in his debut game designer role. With intentions to garner a license to the Popeye comic strips for the 1981 video game Donkey Kong, Mario was intended to be Popeye; the rights never came to be,[7] and he was transformed to "a funny, hang-loose kind of guy."[8] Mario was given red overalls and a hat to differentiate him from the black background of Donkey Kong as well as to avoid drawing hair,[9] and sported a large mustache and nose to avoid humanoid features that were graphically impossible at the time.[10] He went unnamed in this first role, and Miyamoto later considered naming him "Mr. Video", due to Miyamoto's intentions of using him as a "go-to" character for games needing a main character or for use of cameo appearances.[11] In American localization, he was at first named "Jumpman" in the game's instructions.[12] However, then-CEO of Nintendo of America Minoru Arakawa was visited by angered landlord Mario Segale, who demanded back rent for a warehouse Nintendo rented from him. The American developers alongside Arawaka who were present at this confrontation named the character after him, resulting in the name switch.[13][14][15] Nintendo confirmed the story to be true in 2015.[16]

After Donkey Kong proved to be a critical and commercial success, Mario starred in Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. in 1983 and 1985 respectively,[17] supported by Luigi as an optional second player. The Super Mario series of 2D platforming games saw graphical advances in Mario's appearance but retained his overalls and facial features. By the time Super Mario World released after multiple Super Mario installments in 1990, Sega and Nintendo were amidst a console war when Sega began pushing the Sega Genesis in North American markets, which Nintendo dominated at the time. This rivalry resulted in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog,[18] and temporarily became more popular than Mario due to his appeal to slightly older audiences.[19][20][21] The competition died down with the introduction of Sony, and Nintendo and Sega would collaborate with their characters in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympics and Super Smash Bros. series, where both characters are playable and compete against each other.[22][23] Mario would eventually star in a new line of 3D Super Mario games with the introduction of Super Mario 64 in 1996, and were followed by Sunshine, Galaxy, and Galaxy 2 in the following years up until 2010. 3D Super Mario games would be emphasized less and Mario would continue on in the newly revamped 2.5D Super Mario games,[24] until their return with Super Mario Odyssey in 2017.

Mario began to be voiced by Charles Martinet in 1992. Martinet was the last person to audition for the role and the directors were already packing up for the night. They gave him the prompt "an Italian plumber from Brooklyn", and he began to conceptualize a stereotypical Brooklyn accent with Italian mobster-like qualities. He abandoned this idea and quickly switched to a soft and lighthearted voice right before the tape began recording,[25] and rambled about Italian cuisine until the tape ran out.[26] His audition tape was the only one sent back to Nintendo.[25] His first role was a Super Mario Bros.-themed pinball game in 1992, but was neither paid nor credited.[27] His first official role was Mario's Game Gallery in 1995.[28]

Reception

Mario has since become one of the most popular and influential video game characters of all time and serves as Nintendo's mascot,[29][30][31] and was ranked among the best video game characters among critics.[32][33][34][35] As a pop-culture icon, he has been used in various types of merchandise, such as commercials, plush toys, candy, and board games.[36][29] Many people and places have been named or nicknamed after the character, such as Mario Lemieux's nickname "Super Mario".[37] In other media, Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe dressed up as the character in the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony,[38][39][40] and a Saturday Night Live skit centered around a court trial of Wario murdering Mario in a kart race.[41][42] In the Guinness Book of World Records, he was given the record for "Most Prolific Video Game Character".[43] In the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, readers ranked him the best video game character of all time.[44] Two films based on the Super Mario series have been released, the first was Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! in 1985, starring Toru Furuya,[45] and Super Mario Bros. in 1993, portrayed by Bob Hoskins.[46] Mario was also voiced by Lou Albano in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! in 1989.[47] A third movie is set for release in 2022, with Chris Pratt cast for Mario.[48]

Luigi

Luigi[b] (English: /luˈi/, Italian: [luˈiːdʒi]; voiced by Charles Martinet) is an Italian plumber who is Mario's younger brother. He is playable in most of the Mario games. He is the main protagonist of the Luigi series in which he is depicted as clumsy and frightful, confronting fears in order to help.

Luigi was portrayed by John Leguizamo in the Super Mario Bros. movie, and will be portrayed by Charlie Day in the upcoming animated reboot.

Princess Peach

Princess Peach[c] (formerly known as Princess Toadstool outside Japan; voiced by Samantha Kelly), is the princess and the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom,[49] depicted as sweet and optimistic. She is the lead female character from the Mario series since her introduction in 1985, and is the main protagonist of Princess Toadstool's Castle Run (1990) and Super Princess Peach (2006).

She will appear in the upcoming Mario movie, being played by Anya Taylor-Joy.

Princess Daisy

Princess Daisy[d] (voiced by Deanna Mustard) is the tomboyish princess and the ruler of Sarasaland[50] who debuted in Super Mario Land. Playable in most of the Mario spin-off games, she is depicted as either a protagonist, a supporting character, or a lady in distress.

Toad

Toad[e] (voiced by Samantha Kelly) is a small mushroom-like humanoid character who is Princess Peach's attendant or retainer, and a longtime protector of the Mushroom Kingdom. He remains playable in most of the Mario games and is the protagonist of Wario's Woods.

Toad will appear in the upcoming Mario movie, being played by Keegan-Michael Key.

Yoshi

Yoshi[f] (English: /ˈjʃi, ˈjɒʃi/, once romanized as Yossy; voiced by Kazumi Totaka) is a green anthropomorphic dinosaur. He has a long tongue which can be used to eat enemies, and can turn the enemies he eats into eggs that can be thrown. Yoshi is a rideable character for the heroes or a playable character in most of the Mario spin-offs including his own series.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong[g] (DK) (voiced by Takashi Nagasako) is an anthropomorphic gorilla from the franchise with the same name appearing in the Donkey Kong and Mario video game franchises. Donkey Kong first appears in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, but the modern incarnation introduced in Donkey Kong Country is revealed to be the grandson of the original arcade version, who was later renamed to Cranky Kong.[51] He is playable in several Mario spin-off games as a cheerful and powerful character.

He will be portrayed by Seth Rogen in the upcoming Mario movie.

Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong[h] (Diddy) (voiced by Katsumi Suzuki) is an anthropomorphic monkey who is Donkey Kong's nephew, sidekick, and best friend appearing in the Donkey Kong and Mario franchises. He is the main protagonist of Diddy Kong Racing and its DS remake, a cheerful and kind character. Created by Rare, the name Diddy is a British term meaning "little".

Rosalina

Rosalina[i] (voiced by Laura Faye Smith) is a mysterious lady from an unknown location who is the adoptive mother of the Lumas.[52] She resides in the Comet Observatory and also the watcher of the cosmos in the Super Mario Galaxy series. Rosalina is either a supporting character or a protagonist, playable in most of the Mario spin-off games.

Toadette

Toadette[j] (voiced by Samantha Kelly) is a pink Toad girl who first appeared in the 2003 video game Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as a playable driver. Toadette has two long round pigtails and a dress to distinguish herself from Toad. Since Super Mario Odyssey, Toadette is a member of the Toad Brigade and has the role of an archivist.[53] Depending on the game, she is either a supporting character or a protagonist, playable in most of the Mario spin-off games.

Since New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Toadette can transform into Peachette, a form that highly resembles Princess Peach, with her power-up called the Super Crown. As Peachette, she can use Peach's floating jump to hover, and has the ability to perform a double-jump.

Birdo

Birdo, known in Japan as Catherine[k], (voiced by Kazumi Totaka) is a pink, anthropomorphic creature who wears a red bow on her head, and has a round mouth that can fire eggs as projectiles. Birdo first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2. Since then, she has been a recurring character in various franchise spin-offs and becomes Yoshi's partner. Birdo has evolved from antagonist into protagonist, playable in several Mario spin-offs.

Captain Toad

Captain Toad[l] (voiced by Samantha Kelly) is an explorer and the leader of the Toad Brigade who first appears in Super Mario Galaxy. He makes several appearances within the Mario series, like in Super Mario Galaxy 2 or Super Mario Odyssey, and as a treasure tracker.[54] He makes several cameos within Super Smash Bros. and made his Mario Kart debut in Mario Kart Tour as a playable racer. He is the main protagonist in the subset of levels in Super Mario 3D World called Captain Toad's Adventures and in the game Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

Pauline

Pauline[m] (voiced by Kate Higgins) debuted in Donkey Kong (1981),[55] Donkey Kong (1994) for Game Boy,[56] Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!. Pauline was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and other developers for the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong as the earliest example of a female with a speaking role in a video game, and is cited as a famous example of a damsel in distress in fiction.[57][58][59] She is the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey.

Antagonists

Bowser

Bowser[n] or King Koopa (voiced by Kenneth W. James) is the king of the turtle-like Koopa race,[60] a selfish troublemaker who wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom. He is Mario's nemesis and is the final boss of most Mario games. He is playable in all Mario spin-off games.

Dry Bowser[o] is a recurring antagonist in the Mario series. Debuting as a form of Bowser after losing his flesh in New Super Mario Bros., the character has appeared as his own being starting with Mario Kart Wii, often serving as the final antagonist in the main games. Dry Bowser appears in Mario Party: Island Tour, and is a playable character in several of the Mario spin-off games.

Bowser was portrayed by Dennis Hopper as "President Koopa" in the Super Mario Bros. movie, and will be portrayed by Jack Black in the upcoming Mario movie.

Bowser Jr.

Bowser Jr. (known as Koopa Jr.[p] in Japan; voiced by Caety Sagoian), or sometimes simply Jr. or Junior, is the son of Bowser who first appeared in the 2002 game Super Mario Sunshine. He is often depicted as the secondary antagonist throughout the Mario series. Bowser Jr. looks up to his dad and shares his ambition to defeat Mario and take over the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser Jr. is playable in most of the spin-off Mario games and in Super Smash Bros. He is the main protagonist of Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018) included in the remake of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.

Wario

Wario[q] (English: /ˈwɑːri, ˈwær-/; voiced by Charles Martinet) is an obese, muscular, hot-tempered, and greedy man. He is Mario's yellow-and-purple clad arch-rival. He initially debuted as an antagonist but over the years has become an anti-hero, even being playable in a few titles. Wario is the protagonist of the Wario series and is playable in most of the Mario spin-off games where he is Waluigi's partner. His name is portmanteau of "warui", the Japanese word for "bad", and "Mario".

Waluigi

Waluigi[r] (English: /ˌwɑːluˈi/; voiced by Charles Martinet) is a tall, thin, and mischievous man who was introduced in Mario Tennis as Wario's partner. He is Luigi's black-and-purple clad arch-rival. Waluigi is often an antagonist who teams up with Wario to accomplish their schemes. He is playable in most of the Mario spin-off games and makes several cameos within the Super Smash Bros. series. Like with Wario, his name is a portmanteau of "warui" and "Luigi".

Koopalings

The Koopalings[s] are seven siblings who first appeared as boss characters in the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 3. Their individual names are Iggy, Larry, Lemmy, Ludwig, Morton, Roy, and Wendy. They were originally depicted as the children of the series antagonist Bowser and later to be referred as his minions. They have since appeared in subsequent Super Mario games, spin-off Mario games, and the Super Smash Bros. series.

Kamek

Kamek[t] (English: /kəˈmɛk, ˈkæmɪk/; voiced by Atsushi Masaki) is a Magikoopa who is Bowser's childhood caretaker and then one of his high-ranking minions. Kamek is the main antagonist of the Yoshi series. His magic includes self-duplication, teleportation, shooting magical blasts, and changing the size of other creatures. In Japan, his species is also named Kamek, and outside Japan is Magikoopa. This will sometimes lead to a literal translation, as in Super Princess Peach where a boss is described as "A Kamek made huge by magic". Some Japanese sources such as the guide for Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island call him "Fang" to distinguish him from regular Magikoopas.

He will appear in the upcoming Mario movie, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.

King Boo

King Boo[u] (voiced by Toru Asakawa) is the king of the Boos and the main antagonist in the Luigi's Mansion series. He plays minor roles, occasionally playable, in various other Mario games, including the Mario Kart and Mario Party series. King Boo's first major debuted role was as the final boss of Luigi's Mansion, where he disguised himself as Bowser.

He is much larger than the average Boos that appear in games after Luigi's Mansion. He dons a crown with a large ruby and has glowing, sunken eyes in the Luigi's Mansion franchise, and is a playable character in Mario Kart Tour. A similar character named Big Boo is an enemy in Super Mario World and a boss in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Super Mario 64 DS.

Wart

Wart[v] (voiced by Charles Martinet) is an anthropomorphic frog king. He debuted in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987), which was converted into Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) for its North American release, in which he is the final boss who creates his own monsters with the Dream Machine, and appoints himself ruler of the enslaved land of Subcon.[61] He is a boss in BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge (1996), stars in a Satellaview episode "Wart's Trap, Look Out Mario Brothers" (「マムーの罠,危うしマリオブラザーズ」, "Mamu no Wana, Abunaushi Mario Burazazu"), and appears in Nintendo Comics System publications. He made a cameo appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993) with his original Japanese name, Mamū.[62] He has had mixed critical reception.[63][64][65][66]

Supporting protagonists

Baby Luma/Lumas

Baby Luma[w] (voiced by Yuya Takezawa) is Mario's main companion in Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel Super Mario Galaxy 2. He is among a group of star-shaped beings known as Lumas, who appear in both games.

Poochy

Poochy[x] is Yoshi's helper dog. He debuted in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and continued through the Yoshi series such as in Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World. He can do things that Yoshi cannot, such as sniffing hidden items, crossing over dangerous terrain, and jumping over walls to give Yoshi a boost out of his wall jumps.

Professor E. Gadd

Professor Elvin Gadd (Professor Oya Mā[y] in Japan; voiced by Kazumi Totaka), more commonly known as E. Gadd, is a scientist who uses inventions to help Luigi save his brother Mario and the mansion. His name is a pun on the Japanese interjection Oyamā![z], meaning "Good heavens!" His name is also inspired by Nintendo game designer Yoshiyuki Oyama.[67] The English translations accordingly adapted the name to a pun on the expression "egad!" He debuted in Luigi's Mansion for GameCube, in which he investigates a haunted mansion that mysteriously appeared by his laboratory. To help him study the ghosts in the mansion, he uses the "Poltergust 3000", a high-powered vacuum cleaner that can suck in and capture ghosts, and the "Game Boy Horror", an invention for tracking and detecting objects such as Boos. His inventions are key items in other games like Super Mario Sunshine.

Nabbit

Nabbit[aa] (voiced by Natsuko Yokoyama) is a purple rabbit-like thief with round eyes, long ears, and black limbs who debuts in New Super Mario Bros. U, where he steals items from Toad Houses. In New Super Luigi U, he's playable.

Toadsworth

Toadsworth[ab](voiced by Charles Martinet) is an elderly Toad who acts as Princess Peach's steward. He is seen showing concern for the princess' safety and acts as a prime caretaker for the Toads. He debuted in Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube, in which he goes on vacation with Mario, Peach and the other Toads. In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, he is revealed to have cared for the princess since she was a baby.

Supporting antagonists

Cackletta

Cackletta[ac] is the main antagonist in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its 3DS remake Bowser’s Minions. She is an evil sorceress who takes the Beanstar and Peach's voice in the Beanbean Kingdom. After sustaining heavy injuries, she controls Bowser's body (known as Bowletta) and dies after the explosion of Bowser's castle.

Fawful

Fawful[ad] (voiced by Nami Funashima) is a recurring antagonist in the Mario & Luigi series. The character is considered to be "insane," and served as the secondary antagonist of Superstar Saga and the main antagonist of Bowser's Inside Story.

Petey Piranha

Petey Piranha, known as Boss Pakkun[ae] in Japan,[68] (voiced by Toru Minegishi) is a large, powerful Piranha Plant, and the result of a mutation. Whereas normal Piranha Plants usually grow from pipes, Petey's leaves and roots have grown into foot-like and arm-like appendages, which allows him to use objects such as tennis rackets and golf clubs. He can also use his leaves to fly around in the air. He first appeared as the primary boss of Bianco Hills in the game Super Mario Sunshine. He has since appeared as a boss or a playable character in several Mario games and spin-off games.

Kammy Koopa

Kammy Koopa[af] is an elderly Magikoopa who acts as an advisor and babysitter for Bowser in the first two Paper Mario games. She possesses the usual Magikoopa powers, and is primarily distinguished by her ability to summon yellow blocks, which she has used to both impede and combat Mario. She first appeared in Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64, helping Bowser by leaving enemies in Mario's way, transporting Bowser into the Star Spirit Sanctuary, and augmenting his size and power in the final battle. After being defeated by the Star Kid, Twink, she continued to work for him. In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, she acted as Bowser's second-in-command. Generally, her position is very similar with Kamek who appeared earlier than her, which possibly means why she is replaced by him in Paper Mario: Sticker Star.

Recurring enemies

  • Blooper - A sentry-like squid that chases prey, debuting in Super Mario Bros. Blooper Nannies thrust smaller versions of themselves toward Mario.[69]
  • Bob-omb - A bomb enemy introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2 with a wind-up key and a fuse, which explodes after a set amount of time or when thrown. King Bob-omb, previously Big Bob-omb, was introduced in Super Mario 64,[70] as a boss character there and in Mario Party 9, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, and Mario Party: Star Rush.
  • Boo - A spherical ghost enemy introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3, which sneaks up on the player from behind while they are facing away from it. Inspired by a rage that Takashi Tezuka's wife went into after he came home from work late.[71]
  • Bullet Bill - A bullet with angry eyes and clenched fists that is shot out of a cannon called a "Bill Blaster". They have a larger counterpart with a shark-like face known as Banzai Bills.[69]
  • Chain Chomp - A metallic ball-and-chain creature that lunges at Mario when he approaches it. Inspired by a childhood experience of Shigeru Miyamoto's with a violent dog.[72]
  • Chargin' Chuck - A Koopa wearing football gear that mostly charges at Mario, but can also use items such as baseballs and shovels.
  • Cheep Cheep - A red, circular fish that made their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. They are found primarily in the water, but some can jump in an arc or fly within a limited range. There are many different species of Cheep-Cheeps, and they come in different colors, such as green, yellow, and purple. The giant variety of Cheep Cheep who leaps out of the water is known as Boss Bass (or alternatively Big Bass), while the giant variety who swims underwater is known as Big Bertha.
  • Dry Bones - A walking Koopa Troopa skeleton that reassembles itself after being hit. It can only be defeated by a Super Star, a Cape Feather, Super Leaf, or an Ice Flower.[69]
  • Fuzzy - A spiked creature which hangs in the air and sometimes moves on trail. It makes its debut in Super Mario World.
  • Goomba - A sentient mushroom creature which is the first enemy that Mario typically encounters on his adventures. Implemented late in the development of Super Mario Bros. as a basic, easy-to-defeat enemy.[73] Variants of the Goomba may have wings, known as the Paragoomba, and similar creatures include the Galoomba, which flips over and can be thrown when stomped on, and the Goombrat, which turns at edges.
  • Hammer Bro - A type of helmet-wearing Koopa who throws hammers at Mario.[74] It has several variations that throw other projectiles, such as the Boomerang Bro and the Fire Bro, and a bigger variant known as a Sledge Bro which can stun Mario.[69]
  • Koopa Troopa - A foot soldier of Bowser. It retracts in its shell when stomped on, after which it can be used to attack other foes.[69] Variants of the Koopa may have wings, where it is known as the Paratroopa or the Koopa Paratroopa. There are many other varieties of the Koopa Troopa such as yellow, blue, and red.
  • Lakitu - A cloud-riding Koopa with aviator goggles that drops an endless supply of creatures called "Spinies".[69][75] It also appears in the Mario Kart series as a referee.
  • Magikoopa - A wizard Koopa capable of casting magic spells, turning blocks into foes, power-ups, or coins. It first appeared in Super Mario World. Often portrayed as underlings to Kamek.[69]
  • Monty Mole - A mole-like enemy that burrows underground and springs out of the ground when the player gets close. A similar enemy known as the Rocky Wrench pops out of airship manholes and throws wrenches at the player.
  • Piranha Plant - A leafy, stalk-topped Venus flytrap with sharp teeth, that typically lives within pipes and tries to bite the player.[69] This enemy has made a cameo outside the franchise (in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening),[76] and in 2019, it became a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate via downloadable content.[77] It is occasionally referred to as a Packun Flower after the Japanese name. A Fire Piranha Plant, or a "Venus Fire Trap", behaves like a normal Piranha Plant, however it breathes fire. A type of Piranha Plant that appears in Super Mario Bros. 3 is called Ptooie, a walking Piranha Plant that exhales air to lift a spiked ball.
  • Pokey - A spiked cactus with detachable green or yellow body segments which first appeared in the international Super Mario Bros. 2.[69]
  • Shy Guy - A timid masked creature wearing a robe, which comes in many different colors and variations. Introduced in the international Super Mario Bros. 2, but more commonly portrayed as an enemy to Yoshi since Yoshi's Island. Some variants include the Snifit, a Shy Guy with a cannon on its mask which it uses to fire bullets, and the Fly Guy, a Shy Guy with a propeller on its head that can fly.[69] Voiced by Nintendo of America localization manager Nate Bihldorff.[78]
  • Spike - A green Koopa creature that attacks with spiked balls which it throws out of its mouth. First appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3.[69]
  • Spiny - A red beetle-like creature that damages the player if touched from above. They are often thrown by Lakitus in unlimited supplies, but can also be found individually.
  • Thwomp - A large stone block with an angry face that is mainly encountered in castles. It attempts to crush the player, usually from above. There is a smaller variation of the Thwomp called a Thwimp.
  • Whomp - An anthropomorphic stone slab that slams its face on the ground when Mario gets near. It can only be defeated by ground pounding its back. Inspired by the Japanese mythical wall monster, the nurikabe.
  • Wiggler - A caterpillar enemy introduced in Super Mario World, which changes color and charges at the player when stomped on. Some Wigglers, known as Flutters, have butterfly wings.[69]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: マリオ, Hepburn: Mario, [maɾi.o]
  2. ^ Japanese: ルイージ, Hepburn: Ruīji, [ɾɯ.iːʑi]
  3. ^ Japanese: ピーチ姫, Hepburn: Pīchi-hime, [piːtɕi̥ çime]
  4. ^ Japanese: デイジー姫, Hepburn: Deijī-hime, [deːʑiː çime]
  5. ^ Japanese: キノピオ, Hepburn: Kinopio
  6. ^ Japanese: ヨッシー, Hepburn: Yosshī, [joɕɕiː]
  7. ^ Japanese: ドンキーコング, Hepburn: Donkī Kongu
  8. ^ Japanese: ディディーコング, Hepburn: Didī Kongu
  9. ^ Japanese: ロゼッタ, Hepburn: Rosetta
  10. ^ Japanese: キノピコ, Hepburn: Kinopiko
  11. ^ Japanese: キャサリン, Hepburn: Kyasarin
  12. ^ Japanese: キノピオ隊長, Hepburn: Kinopio Taichō
  13. ^ Japanese: ポリーン, Hepburn: Porīn
  14. ^ Japanese: クッパ, Hepburn: Kuppa
  15. ^ Japanese: ほねクッパ, Hepburn: Hone Kuppa
  16. ^ Japanese: クッパJr., Hepburn: Kuppa Junia
  17. ^ Japanese: ワリオ, Hepburn: Wario, [ɰaɾi.o]
  18. ^ Japanese: ワルイージ, Hepburn: Waruīji, [ɰaɾɯ.iːʑi]
  19. ^ Japanese: コクッパ, Hepburn: Kokuppa
  20. ^ Japanese: カメック, Hepburn: Kamekku
  21. ^ Japanese: キングテレサ, Hepburn: Kingu Teresa
  22. ^ Japanese: マムー, Hepburn: Mamū
  23. ^ Japanese: ベビィチコ, Hepburn: Bebi Chiko
  24. ^ Japanese: ポチ, Hepburn: Pochi
  25. ^ Japanese: オヤ・マー博士, Hepburn: Oya Mā Hakase
  26. ^ Japanese: おやまあ!
  27. ^ Japanese: トッテン, Hepburn: Totten
  28. ^ Japanese: キノじい, Hepburn: Kinojī
  29. ^ Japanese: ゲラゲモーナ, Hepburn: Geragemōna
  30. ^ Japanese: ゲラコビッツ, Hepburn: Gerakobittsu
  31. ^ Japanese: ボスパックン, Hepburn: Bosu Pakkun
  32. ^ Japanese: カメックババ, Hepburn: Kamekkubaba

References

  1. ^ "Nintendo and AlphaDream Talk Mario, RPGs, And More". Game Informer. February 7, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2021.[permanent dead link]
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