- This article is about the Mario-specific Penguin species. For real-world penguins, see Penguin (real world). For other uses of "Penguin", see Penguin (disambiguation).
- Not to be confused with Bumpty, sometimes named "penguins".
Penguins are a fictional variation of the real-world species of the same name and a recurring species in the Mario franchise. They first appear in Super Mario 64.
Profile[]
Physical description[]
Penguins have a blue body with a white belly, a yellow beak, and yellow feet. In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Penguins are light blue instead. In Super Mario Odyssey, the Penguins have their eyes on each side of their head rather than at the front like in most other appearances.
Powers and abilities[]
Penguins are very good at swimming, as shown in Super Mario Galaxy and various other appearances. They are also skilled at belly-sliding on the ice, which serve as a hindrance to racers in the Mario Kart series.
In Super Mario series[]
Super Mario 64[]
A few different Penguins are encountered on Cool, Cool Mountain. One of them is the Mother Penguin, who had lost her baby Tuxie. The course's second mission, Lil' Penguin Lost, involves Mario (or Yoshi, Luigi, or Wario in the remake) having to return Tuxie to her mother, who rewards him with a Power Star. The third mission, Big Penguin Race, involves Mario having to race a Penguin named the Penguin Champ to the bottom of the course. Another Baby Penguin can also be seen near the Mother Penguin atop the cottage's exit however giving this Baby Penguin to the Mother Penguin will not reward the heroes with a Power Star, instead.
In Snowman's Land, there is a single Penguin whom Mario can walk behind to avoid being blown off by the wind blown by the giant snowman.
Super Mario 64 DS[]
In the main game, Penguins essentially act the same as in the original version. In the minigame Giant Snowball Slalom, Penguins are among the obstacles that the Headless Snowman has to avoid, as bumping into a Penguin slows the Headless Snowman and causes it to shrink in size.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
Penguins appear as obstacles in Snowball Slalom, acting the same as in Super Mario 64 DS's Giant Snowball Slalom. Penguins do not appear in the original Super Mario 64 DS iteration of Snowball Slalom, nor does Giant Snowball Slalom return in New Super Mario Bros..
Super Mario Galaxy[]
Penguins can be found in several galaxies, including the Loopdeeloop Galaxy, Sea Slide Galaxy, Drip Drop Galaxy, Buoy Base Galaxy, Loopdeeswoop Galaxy and Beach Bowl Galaxy, many of which are tropical areas rather than arctic areas like in the previous game. A single Penguin appears in Freezeflame Galaxy, and there is elderly penguin named Penguru in the Drip Drop Galaxy, Bigmouth Galaxy (which does not feature any other Penguins), and Sea Slide Galaxy. The Penguins usually challenge Mario to complete a challenge around a body of water, such as surfing, collecting shells, or racing them. Some Penguins give Mario tips on how to swim.
In the Loopdeeloop Galaxy and Loopdeeswoop Galaxy, the Penguins like to surf on Manta Rays. They also have a Coach, a large, black penguin who teaches Mario or Luigi how to swim using Koopa Shells.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[]
Penguins only appear in one galaxy, Cosmic Cove Galaxy, along with Penguru (who also appears in Hightail Falls Galaxy) and Coach during every mission.
In the second mission, Exploring the Cosmic Cavern, a Luma has been trapped in a cage, prompting the Penguins to search around the galaxy for the key. Along the way, the Penguins lead Mario in the correct direction and provide him with several hints on how to swim. Once Mario has completed this second mission, one Penguin joins Starship Mario, and whenever it is spoken to, this Penguin reminds Mario how to swim.
Super Mario Odyssey[]
Penguins appear as the Snow Kingdom as the regional bird. They are pretty much reskinned seagulls, to the point where they can fly. One can also be spotted in the Mushroom Kingdom.
In Mario Kart series[]
Mario Kart 64[]
Penguins are featured as obstacles in Sherbet Land, including larger Penguins called Big Penguin Waddlers which only march back and forth and smaller ones called Little Penguin Sliders which slide back and forth hence their name. In either instance, if a racer touches a Penguin, their kart spins out. A giant Penguin can be seen on a large ice platform in the background, but it cannot be reached while on course.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit[]
A few Penguins are encountered in the course Snow Land. Like in Mario Kart 64, driving into a Penguin causes a kart to spin out, although a difference is that character also loses some Coins, which do not appear in Mario Kart 64.
Mario Kart Wii[]
Penguins return in the course N64 Sherbet Land, acting the same as in the course's Mario Kart 64 iteration.
Mario Kart 7[]
Penguins are encountered during the underwater portion of Rosalina's Ice World, where they swim around in circles, as well as the Battle Stage Sherbet Rink, where they can be found waddling around. Unlike earlier Mario Kart games, bumping into a Penguin does not cause a racer to spin out but rather causes their kart to stop unless they drive out of the Penguin's path.
Mario Kart Tour[]
Penguins are first found in the Steer Clear of Obstacles challenge of SNES Vanilla Lake 1. They would later on go to appear in 3DS Rosalina's Ice World, RMV Vanilla Lake 1, and GBA Snow Land. They retain their behavior from Mario Kart 64.
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass)[]
Penguins return in GBA Snow Land, where they act the same as in Mario Kart 64
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In Mario Party series[]
Mario Party 2[]
The minigame Filet Relay involves characters disguised as Penguins having to bring a fish to an igloo for eight hungry Penguins. Whoever reaches the end first wins. During the winner's victory animation, the Penguins can be seen jumping joyously. The minigame Bobsled Run involves each team riding a sled resembling a Penguin.
Mario Party 3[]
Several Penguins on the Chilly Waters board, none of which can be interacted with. Near the Koopa Bank, a large Penguin is waving between two small Penguins. Near the Item Shop, a Penguin is holding up a portable sun-like solarium, which a Penguin wearing sunglasses uses to sunbathe in a lounge chair. In the middle of the board, four Penguins are eating a fish and a snowman is catching another fish. Some skiing Penguins can be found at the top-left of board.
Mario Party 4[]
One of the possible puzzles in the minigame Photo Finish is an ice-rink with Penguins. The character who completes the puzzle first, and therefore wins the minigame, can be seen ice-skating in circles while being cheered on by the Penguins.
Mario Party 5[]
Several penguins appear in the minigame Pushy Penguins. Here, they run across from the right side of the screen and dive into the water to the left. The players must avoid being pushed off into the water by the Penguins, otherwise they are eliminated. As the Penguins move forward, the characters can find gaps between them to avoid being pushed off. At the end of the minigame, the Penguins stop, turn around to face the screen, and happily cheer with whoever survived.
Eight small penguins make a cameo appearance in the minigame Later Skater, in the center of an ice track, along with three snow statues of Penguins, but none of them play a role in the minigame.
Mario Party 6[]
A Penguin is one of the characters found wandering around in the minigame Lab Brats.
Mario Party Advance[]
There is a Penguin character in the Ice Game Room who asks for the characters' help to earn him money in the minigame Drop 'Em so that he can afford a ring to propose to his girlfriend Pengwen.
As a species, Penguins are featured in the multiplayer game Penguin Race, in which two to four players have to control a Penguin. Player one uses a blue penguin, player two uses a green penguin, player three uses red penguin, and player four uses a yellow penguin. The penguin's performance in the race is only based on the player's single-player minigame records, and whoever has the best records is the winner.
Mario Party 8[]
In the minigame Spector Inspector, a penguin is one of the possible characters to search for. In Cardiators, there are two types of cards featuring Baby Penguins, one of which has only one Baby Penguin while the other has seven. If a character draws either card, the number of Baby Penguins on the card appear to attack the opponent. A penguin is among the racers in Moped Mayhem.
Mario Party 9[]
Penguins are featured as obstacles in the minigame Polar Extreme. Here, they are wandering around on chunks of ice in the water, and if a character runs into a penguin, they are briefly stunned. A penguin can be jumped onto, like the other characters, although this only flattens the penguin for a second and has little effect on them. Aside from this, one of the constellations is of a Penguin.
Mario Party: Island Tour[]
Penguins are featured in three minigames: Slip 'n' Slip, Starring Artist and Go with the Floe. In Slip 'n' Slip, the object is to avoid falling into the water by staying on an icy platform repeatedly tilted by penguins. In Starring Artist, a Penguin makes a cameo as one of the constellations. In Go with the Floe, each competes to return the Baby Penguins to their mother.
Mario Party: The Top 100[]
Penguins reprise their role in the Mario Party 5 minigames Pushy Penguins and Later Skater respectively.
Super Mario Party[]
Two pairs of Penguins appear in the minigame Tall Order, in which each pair moves a bowl back and forth the characters must shave ice into. The Penguin Pushers minigame involves the characters having to cooperatively lure Baby Penguins into jumping off the ice and return to its mother. The minigame also shows some ice sculptures of Penguins.
Mario Party Superstars[]
Penguins return in the Mario Party 5 minigame Pushy Penguins, acting the same as before.
In Mario Pinball Land[]
Penguins appear in the Frosty Frontier Stage, where Mario hits a penguin, it slips down to the icy floor, waddling while sliding. If Mario hits a penguin again while it is lying on the icy floor, he earns 2,000 points. While sliding, if a penguin hits another waddling penguin, the other one slips and slides down to the icy floor.
In Mario Strikers Charged[]
Penguins make a cameo appearances among the audience members witnessing a soccer match.
In Mario Sports Mix[]
Penguins can be seen standing on icebergs, waving, in the background of the Sherbet Sea arena in the party game, Smash Skate.
In Mario Tennis series[]
Mario Tennis Open[]
Penguins are featured in their own court, Penguin Iceberg. Here, Penguins can be found on the sidelines, spectating the match, while other Penguins can be found as line judges.
Mario Tennis Aces[]
Some courts feature Penguins amongst the audience members.
In the adventure mode, there is a penguin at Snowfall Mountain, during the level Snowball Fight, where it tells Mario and Toad that they cannot board the train to Snowfall Mountain, as Shy Guys had taken control over it. After Mario and Toad defeat the Shy Guys, the penguin allows them to use the train.
In Dr. Mario World[]
Penguins are featured as one of the Assistants.
Crossover appearances[]
In Mario & Sonic series[]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)[]
Penguins appear as spectators during the Dream Curling event. One Penguin is also a VIP guest at Christmas Village
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)[]
Penguins make an appearance in Adventure Tours.
In Polastraits, there is a Penguin who requests Mario and Sonic to save a Shy Guy and a Chao from falling into the water. In doing so, the Penguin rewards the party with a Blitz Skeleton.
In Blizland, there is a Penguin on a platform only reachable by Sonic using a spring. When talked to, the Penguin says that he has been waiting for the characters forever, and then immediately asks them if they want to play Intense Short Track. He explains that Bowser and Dr. Eggman dragged him into doing their public relations, as the Penguin bought into their bribe of being given all the fish he could want. The Penguin then begs the characters to play Intense Short Track or else he will not be given any food. When the player's character of choice wins the challenge, the Penguin rewards them with a crystal. He says that Bowser and Dr. Eggman are probably very frustrated to the point of wanting to pop, in which case he would therefore be able to safely return home.
In other media[]
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[]
Penguins live in Snow Kingdom ruled over by the Penguin King. They Penguins have guarded a Star inside their Castle for years, but Bowser and his Koopa Troop defeated the army and took the Star and imprisoned the ruler and the penguins.
He was planning to burn the penguins in lava publicly during his "wedding" with Princess Peach. However, Mario and Donkey Kong saved them along with many other prisoners.
Gallery[]
To view Penguin's image gallery, click here.
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