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"I'm gonna get this done myself. Dad would love that!"
—Bowser Jr., Bowser Jr.'s Journey

Bowser Jr., known in Japan as Koopa Jr. (not to be confused with Koopa Kid or Baby Bowser), is the secondary antagonist of the Mario franchise and both the son and heir of Bowser. Bowser Jr. first appears in Super Mario Sunshine.

Profile[]

Physical description[]

Bowser Jr. shares many physical similarities with his father, but he has a red ponytail as opposed to Bowser's spiked hair, small black beady eyes, a more rounded snout, and a single sharp tooth visible in his overbite—features which, along with his body shape, make him look almost identical to Bowser himself at a younger age. He often wears a bandana. In Super Mario Sunshine, it was originally blue with a messy drawing of Mario's distinctive nose and mustache, but that was later replaced with a white one with a mouth and sharp teeth drawn on it, which he puts over his real mouth to look more intimidating.

Personality traits[]

Bowser Jr. seems to be very bratty, spoiled, and mischievous. He is like this because he is raised by his villainous father, who was more or less raised in the same manner by Kamek. He also shares his father's affection for Princess Peach and hatred for Mario, whom he aids in kidnapping and fighting respectively. Despite that, they seem to have a genuine father-son relationship and really care for each other, which is shown in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle where Bowser calls Junior on the phone to make sure that he did his homework, implying that he does go to a school of some sort, and later on, Bowser Jr. asks for the heroes' help in saving his father when he was taken over by the Megabug.

In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey, Bowser Jr. is initially shown to have very little respect towards the rest of the Koopa Troop and arrogantly believes that they must serve him regardless how he treats them due to his status as a prince. However, over the course of the game he learns that the troop serve his father through love and admiration; things that come from respect. After thinking back to how he treated the Koopalings up until that point, Junior felt sad and remorseful, but Bowser Jr. soon made amends for his past behavior and began showing his minions more care since.

The game also shows that Bowser Jr. does not apparently think about morality when he is helping his father in his goals and instead just does what he, himself, thinks is right. It is also stated that he harbors a lonely side that he does not let other people know about, first alluded to in Mario Party DS. This aspect of his personality was explored in greater depth in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam with his friendship to Paper Bowser Junior, and the depths the two go to try to keep Paper Bowser Jr. from being forced to return to his own world. A similar depiction of loneliness was also showcased in the Nintendo Switch Online service trailer's Nintendo Entertainment System portion, where he attempted to ask his dad to let him play his game with him but then nearly walked away dejected when the Koopa King initially ignored him. He also seems more willing to swallow his pride than his father, such as when he convinced Bowser to accept an invitation to a party after their defeat in Mario Super Sluggers, when he apologized to the Koopalings in Bowser Jr.'s Journey, or when he apologized to and begged Mario to rescue his father from the Megabug's influence in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.

Powers and abilities[]

Bowser Jr. is highly skilled in using his weapons and powers compared to the Koopalings. He has various skills such as healing, timing and transforming.

Paraphernalia[]

Tools[]

  • Baseball Bat: Bowser Jr. uses the baseball bat when attending sport games related to baseball.
  • Dice Block: A standard Dice Block can be used in Mario Party series.
    • Bowser Jr. Dice Block: Bowser Jr.'s unique Dice Block is only used in Super Mario Party.
    • Heart Dice Block: Bowser Jr. may interrupt the Heart Star Colony event, forcing players to roll their dice again. Bowser Jr. uses the same dice. Whomever has the same color, he will give them two Mini Ztars.
  • Tennis Racket: Bowser Jr. uses his own racket when attending sport games related to tennis.

Transportation[]

  • Junior Clown Car: Bowser Jr. regularly uses his Junior Clown Car due to his own laziness.
  • Kart: Like most Mario Kart characters, Bowser Jr. uses it for competitions.
  • 'Bike: Like most Mario Kart characters, Bowser Jr. uses it for competitions.

Weapons[]

Behind the scenes[]

Portrayals[]

Since his first appearance in Super Mario Sunshine, Bowser Jr. is voiced by Atsuki Murata in Japanese version and Dolores Rogers in English version. He is later voiced by Yui Horie in Japanese version and Caety Sagoian in English version.

Timeline[]

Game Role Year Console Notes
Super Mario Sunshine Main antagonist 2002 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Unlockable playable character 2003 Nintendo GameCube Unlocked by completing the 18 Hole Birdie Challenge
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Playable character 2003 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Golf: Advance Tour Mentioned 2004 Game Boy Advance
Mario Power Tennis Playable character 2004 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Superstar Baseball Playable character 2005 Nintendo GameCube
New Super Mario Bros. Boss 2006 Nintendo DS
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 Playable character 2006 Nintendo DS
Mario Strikers Charged Unlockable playable character 2007 Wii Unlocked by beating the Fire Cup
Super Mario Galaxy Boss 2007 Wii
Mario Party DS Antagonist 2007 Nintendo DS
Mario Kart Wii Unlockable playable character 2008 Wii Unlocked by either getting at least one Star Rank in every Retro 100cc Cup or from playing 3,450 races.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Cameo 2008 Wii Featured as a trophy and a sticker.
Mario Super Sluggers Playable character 2008 Wii
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis Playable character 2009 Wii
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Playable character 2009 Wii
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Playable character 2009 Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Boss 2009 Wii
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Boss 2010 Wii
Mario Sports Mix Playable character 2010 Wii
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Playable character 2011 Wii
Fortune Street Playable character 2011 Wii
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Playable character 2012 Nintendo 3DS
Mario Party 9 Boss 2012 Wii
Mario Tennis Open Playable character 2012 Nintendo 3DS
Paper Mario: Sticker Star Boss 2012 Nintendo 3DS
New Super Mario Bros. U Boss 2012 Wii U
New Super Luigi U Boss 2013 Wii U
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Secret boss 2013 Nintendo 3DS
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Unlockable playable character 2013 Arcade
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Playable character 2013 Wii U
Mario Party: Island Tour Unlockable playable character 2013 Nintendo 3DS
Mario Golf: World Tour Playable character 2014 Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Unlockable playable character 2014 Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Playable character 2014 Wii U
Mario Party 10 Rival 2015 Wii U
Mario Kart 8 Cameo 2015 Wii U
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition Boss 2015 Nintendo 3DS
Super Mario Maker Enemy/playable character (Costume Mario) 2015 Wii U
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash Unlockable playable character 2015 Wii U
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Major antagonist/Boss 2015 Nintendo 3DS
Minecraft: Wii U Edition Character skin 2016 Wii U Exclusively appears in the Super Mario Mash-up
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Playable character 2016 Nintendo 3DS
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Arcade Edition Playable character 2016 Arcade
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Playable character 2016 Wii U
Mario Party: Star Rush Boss, playable character 2016 Nintendo 3DS amiibo playable character in Mario Shuffle mode
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS Enemy 2016 Nintendo 3DS
Mario Sports Superstars Playable character 2017 Nintendo 3DS
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Playable character 2017 Nintendo Switch
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition Character skin 2017 Nintendo Switch Exclusively appears in the Super Mario Mash-up
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Main antagonist/boss 2017 Nintendo Switch
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions Ally 2017 Nintendo 3DS Exclusively appears in Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser
Mario Party: The Top 100 Non-playable character 2017 Nintendo 3DS
Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition Character skin 2018 New Nintendo 3DS Exclusively appears in Super Mario Mash-up
Minecraft (Bedrock edition) Characters skin 2018 Nintendo Switch Exclusively appears in Super Mario Mash-up
Mario Tennis Aces Playable character 2018 Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Party Playable character 2018 Nintendo Switch
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Unlockable playable character 2018 Nintendo Switch
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey Playable character 2018 Nintendo 3DS Exclusively appears in Bowser Jr.'s Journey as the main protagonist
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Secondary antagonist/Boss 2019 Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Maker 2 Enemy 2019 Nintendo Switch
Dr. Mario World Unlockable playable character 2019 iOS/Android
Mario Kart Tour Unlockable playable character 2019 iOS/Android
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Playable character 2019 Nintendo Switch, Arcade
Paper Mario: The Origami King Ally 2020 Nintendo Switch
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Antagonist 2020 Nintendo Switch Bowser Jr. retains his role in the respective Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy remasters
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit Non-playable character 2020 Nintendo Switch
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Playable character 2021 Nintendo Switch Exclusively playable in Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Mario Golf: Super Rush Playable character 2021 Nintendo Switch
Mario Party Superstars Non-playable character 2021 Nintendo Switch
Mario Strikers: Battle League Playable character 2022 Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Boss 2023 Nintendo Switch

Trivia[]

  • According to the official Mario Power Tennis website, it says Bowser Jr. lives on 48 Lava Cul-De-Sac, Magma Manor.
  • The pads of Bowser Jr's feet are similar to Birdo's.
  • It is revealed in Super Mario Galaxy that Bowser Jr. has two fangs, one just sticks out more.
  • In a "Mario Myths" video where Shigeru Miyamoto was answering questions about the series, he was asked if he knows who the mother of Bowser Jr. is, to which Miyamoto simply nodded and then pointed at himself.[1]
  • His "corrupted" form from Super Mario Bros. Wonder slightly resembles Bowser's Brother

Gallery[]

Hat mario To view Bowser Jr.'s
image gallery, click here.


References[]

Navigation[]

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