- "This is my magic brush! When I draw with this all my wishes come true! A strange old man in a white coat gave it to me."
- —Bowser Jr. speaking full sentences[1]
- —Bowser Jr. speaking full sentences[1]
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. In an effort to make his father proud, he often aids Bowser in his plans to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom by helping to kidnap Princess Peach and fighting off Mario. He made his first appearance in Super Mario Sunshine, where he posed as Mario using his Shadow Mario form to get him arrested so he could kidnap Peach, whom he seemingly believed was his biological mother due to his father's lies. After that plot was foiled, he continued to serve his father faithfully by commanding his forces when he wasn't around or by fighting Mario himself.
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[]
- "I'm gonna get this done myself. Dad would love that!"
- —Bowser Jr., Bowser Jr.'s Journey
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 the 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[]
- Magic Paintbrush: The paintbrush was created by Professor E. Gadd. Bowser Jr. uses it to transform into Shadow Mario.
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[]
[Edit] 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.[2]
- His "corrupted" form from Super Mario Bros. Wonder slightly resembles Bowser's Brother.
Gallery[]
To view Bowser Jr.'s image gallery, click here.
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