Princess Daisy (film character)

Princess Daisy appears in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film as the princess of Dinohattan, the sole remaining city in a parallel world inhabited by evolved dinosaurs.

Daisy is an intelligent and analytical young woman who, perhaps in large part due to her saurian-heritage, is incredibly passionate about dinosaurs and paleontology. Even before discovering her origin as a dinosaur she felt a strong connection to dinosaurs and could relate to the idea of "trying to be human."

This passion later projects itself into a strong connection for the parallel world she discovers is home as well as the growing desires of a "reptile brain." It is only her relationship with Luigi that grounds her humanity and prevents her from completely losing herself to those urges.

History

The film begins with Daisy’s mother smuggling a metallic pod into our world while being pursued by General Koopa. Koopa had previously slaughtered the Portal-Keeper ruling elite in a military coup, sparing only she due to his love for her. Knowing that he would force her to merge the dimensions she escaped her captivity and fled into our world where she began to make her way through the streets of New York City. Eventually she arrives at a cathedral where she deposits the pod on its steps, inserting a gleaming shard into it before covering it with a shawl and frantically knocking on the door before fleeing again. Just as she leaves an elderly nun opens the door and sees the pod, kneeling down to take it inside.

The newly-hatched Daisy at St. Theresa's Cathedral

Daisy's mother then crosses the street, nearly being hit by a car before climbing down into an open manhole that leads towards an abandoned subway shaft. She peers around, anxious and fearful just as Koopa steps from the shadows and grabs her, demanding the meteorite shard. Trying to escape, she causes a cave-in that both kills her and seals the tunnel, preventing Koopa from entering our world to retrieve Daisy and the shard.

Back at the cathedral, several nuns surround the pod. The elderly nun removes the meteorite shard from it, causing it to open and reveal an egg inside. This egg begins to hatch and break apart until we see the infant Daisy, crying with life just as her mother dies. The elderly nun holds the meteorite shard up, which gleams foreshadowingly.

Daisy is next seen twenty years later as a paleontology student with a passion for dinosaurs she can't quite understand. It has brought her to work as the crew-leader for a local university at a digsite alongside the East River. The dig is being hounded by Anthony Scapelli, a construction and plumbing mogul, because the discovery of dinosaur bones during construction has forced him to step aside for the university to dig. Scapelli arrives at the dig with his goons, demanding to speak with whoever is in charge. Daisy then hops down from a ramp and asserts herself as "the boss." Unfazed by the young girl, Scapelli sleazily eyes her and threatens both her and the site if she doesn't end the digging soon. Worried, she enters the city to find a payphone to call the university to ask for increased security.

As Daisy crosses a street to get to a payphone Spike and Iggy, Koopa's bumbling henchmen, spot her from their car and decide she's the girl they're looking for. They begin to tail her and attempt to snatch her on the street but are thwarted due to their own stupidity. Daisy continues, unaware of the attempt on her life, and arrives at a payphone currently being used by Luigi. Stunned by her beauty he offers it to her.

Unfortunately, the university can't offer any higher security. Dismayed, she notices Spike and Iggy watching her from their car. Believing them to be Scapelli's goons she accepts a ride from Mario and Luigi back to the digsite, getting to know the brothers along the way. Once they arrive she accepts a dinner invitation from Luigi for later that night.

During dinner Daisy reveals to Mario, Luigi, and Daniella that she was abandoned and that she never removes the meteorite shard she wears around her neck as it is all she has of her past. Luigi admits that he never knew his mother or father either and was raised by his brother Mario, which prompts a shared gaze between the two and a moment of understanding. At Mario and Daniella's urging, Luigi walks Daisy home following dinner. Along the way the two begin talking more and express their shared awkwardness, Daisy worried that her passion for dinosaurs would come off weird. Luigi, however, doesn't mind and Daisy spontaneously decides to bring Luigi to the digsite.

Trivia

• Although the character is named for Princess Daisy, her appearance and chief inspiration came from Princess Toadstool.

Quotes

• "I'm the boss here."
• "Thank God you're here! I mean, you're a plumber, right?"
• "Luigi, help me!"
• "Uh, I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat anything with a face."
• "I hope he's alright."
• "Only I can stop it."
• "Luigi, Mario! You gotta come with me, I need your help."
• "You're never gonna believe this."