50 Fun Facts About Bowser

Bowser is the king of which turtle-like species?

He differs from his mostly bipedal-tortoise subjects with horns, a spiked shell, red hair and fire breath.

Who created Bowser?

Miyamoto drew the first Super Mario Bros. box art himself because there was no time to hire an illustrator.

What animal did Miyamoto originally envision Bowser as?

He was based on the Ox-King from the Toei film Alakazam the Great until Tezuka said he looked more like a turtle.

Which Nintendo designer pointed out that the early Bowser looked more like a turtle than an ox?

Miyamoto and Tezuka then redesigned him as the leader of the turtle-like Koopa Troopas.

Alakazam the Great, which inspired Bowser's look, was an anime version of which Chinese novel?

The film was renamed for its American release; Miyamoto borrowed its ox king.

Yoichi Kotabe based Bowser's final design on which aggressive animal?

Kotabe saw the species as highly aggressive, reflecting Bowser's short temper.

What was Bowser's original working name?

It came from the Shellcreepers, the turtle enemies in the earlier arcade game Mario Bros.

Bowser's Japanese name, Kuppa, comes from the Japanese word for which Korean dish?

Miyamoto also considered Yukke and Bibinba, the Japanese names for yukhoe and bibimbap.

What is Bowser's title in Japan, Daimao, usually translated as?

His English names include King Koopa, Lord Bowser and King of the Koopas.

Bowser's fire-breathing, shell-spinning flight has been compared to which turtle kaiju?

His spinning-shell move is literally called the Gamera Attack.

How did Bowser differ in Miyamoto's original box art compared to later designs?

Miyamoto had considered hiring a manga artist but painted it himself for lack of time.

Who took over as Bowser's voice actor in the games in 2005?

Scott Burns handled the role from 2002 to 2009 and again in 2012 to 2013.

Who voiced Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)?

He returned for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and wrote and performed Peaches in character.

Which actor played King Koopa in the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film?

His Koopa ruled Dinohattan, wore a business suit and devolved into a T. rex in the climax.

In the 1993 film, what does King Koopa devolve into during the climax?

The Mario Bros. then devolve him further into primordial ooze.

Who voiced Bowser in the three DIC Entertainment cartoon series?

The cartoons used their own names for the Koopalings, such as Bully Koopa and Big Mouth Koopa.

What is the name of the Koopa King's son, introduced in Super Mario Sunshine (2002)?

He kidnaps Peach believing she is his mother, using a magic paintbrush invented by Professor E. Gadd.

According to Miyamoto in 2012, who are the seven Koopalings to Bowser?

He said Bowser's only child is Bowser Jr., and we do not know who the mother is.

When asked in 2015 who Bowser Jr.'s mother is, whom did Miyamoto jokingly name?

The official line remains that Junior's mother is unknown.

Who voices Bowser Jr. in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?

He plays a spoiled, angry child obsessed with his father, on a mission to rescue him.

Which Nintendo employee named the Koopalings after celebrities during localisation?

He later said Larry was not named after anyone in particular and just looked like a Larry.

Which Koopaling is named after a composer?

His long blue hair is styled like Beethoven's; he sometimes claims to be the group's leader.

Roy Koopa's sunglasses and name were inspired by which musician?

Orbison was known for his dark glasses; Roy is the second-largest Koopaling after Morton.

The only female Koopaling takes her name from which punk singer?

She is characterised by her jewellery and pink accessories.

Lemmy Koopa, the smallest Koopaling, is named after the frontman of which band?

Brooks said the Lemmy Kilmister name simply fit the character's appearance.

The largest Koopaling's name pays homage to which loud-mouthed TV host?

Morton is the largest Koopaling, with a star-shaped marking around one eye.

What were the Koopalings collectively called in Japan before they got individual names?

It means Little Bowsers; their modern Japanese group name is the Team of 7 Bowsers.

In which 2009 DS game are Mario and Luigi inhaled into the Koopa King's body?

Fawful tricks Bowser into eating a Vacuum Shroom; it is the best-selling Mario RPG ever.

Who tricks Bowser into eating the Vacuum Shroom in the 2009 DS RPG?

Fawful has taken over the Mushroom Kingdom while the Toads suffer from the Blorbs.

How many copies had the 2009 DS RPG starring Bowser sold by 2020, a Mario RPG record?

A 3DS remake added a side story, Bowser Jr.'s Journey, in 2018 and 2019.

What does Bowser plan to do with Peach in Super Mario Odyssey?

He hires the Broodals, rabbit wedding planners, to steal a dress, a cake and a bouquet.

Who are the Broodals, hired by Bowser in Super Mario Odyssey?

They steal items from different kingdoms to set up the wedding.

In Super Mario Galaxy, what does Bowser use to lift Peach's castle into space?

He attacks during the centennial Star Festival with a fleet of airships.

Where does Bowser hold Peach at the end of Super Mario Galaxy?

He plans to rule the entire universe with Peach at his side.

In the first Super Mario Bros., what are the first seven castle Bowsers?

Only the eighth-world Bowser is real; each is beaten by reaching the axe behind him.

In Super Mario Bros., what does Bowser's magic turn the Mushroom People into?

Only Princess Toadstool can reverse the spell, which is why he kidnaps her.

What does Bowser steal from Prince Florian's ceremony in the 2023 Switch platformer?

He merges with the castle and plans to enslave the universe via a ritualistic rock concert.

In Bowser's Fury, what transforms Bowser into Fury Bowser?

Mario teams up with Bowser Jr. around Lake Lapcat and fights him in kaiju-sized battles.

What body of water sits at the centre of Bowser's Fury?

The cat-themed islands are travelled on foot or on Mario's dinosaur companion Plessie.

Bowser has been playable in every Smash Bros. game since which one?

He was meant to be in the first game but was cut for time.

Under what name did the Koopa King join Skylanders: SuperChargers?

He appeared alongside Donkey Kong with a unique Skylanders figurine.

Bowser was the final boss of which puzzle game based on Panel de Pon?

He took the role of Corderia, with Yoshi's Island characters replacing the original cast.

In which animated film does Bowser attend a Bad-Anon support group for villains?

Director Rich Moore said Nintendo insisted that if such a group existed, Bowser must be in it.

What happens to Bowser at the end of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)?

A Mini Mushroom does the shrinking; in the mid-credits scene he sings Peaches and gets scolded by a guard.

Which form does the Koopa King take after being thrown into lava in the 2026 film?

He fights on alongside Bowser Jr. before both end up imprisoned by Fox McCloud.

Which publication crowned Bowser the greatest video game villain of all time?

IGN put him second out of 100 and Empire ranked him the 23rd-greatest character.

According to Charles Martinet, what does Mario shout when throwing his nemesis in the 1996 N64 game?

Fans had long joked about the line; later versions replaced it with a simple buh-bye.

Which 2015 animal discovery became an internet sensation for resembling Bowser?

It was found in the Amur River; Bowser Day later became a Twitter fad in 2021.

Bowser Jr. kidnaps Peach in Super Mario Sunshine using a paintbrush invented by whom?

He disguises himself as Shadow Mario and believes Peach is his mother.

Which Koopaling had rainbow-coloured hair before his New Super Mario Bros. Wii redesign?

Named for Iggy Pop, he has sported tall palm-tree green hair and glasses since the 2009 redesign.