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Vivian

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“I'm with Mario all the way! Today, Sis...I'm going to punish YOU, you hear me?”
Vivian, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Vivian is a major character in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Vivian originally worked as a member of the villainous Shadow Sirens alongside her sisters, Beldam and Marilyn. Later, Vivian defects from the Shadow Sirens and joins Mario as his fifth party member. She is consistently put down by her oldest sister, Beldam, and has had a poor relationship with both her sisters for quite some time when Mario meets her. Although she suffers from an inferiority complex throughout the events of the game, she learns to respect herself as she travels with Mario. In the original Japanese version of the game and some translations, Vivian is depicted as transgender, identifying as female despite other characters asserting that she is male, but, due to the age rating the localizers where aiming at when translating Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[1], this is lost in the English version and she is only described with feminine pronouns[2].

History

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

File:Viviandefeated.PNG
Vivian after being defeated.

Vivian's first appearance in the game is during the interlude following Chapter 1, during which she and her two sisters are sent by Sir Grodus to ambush Mario in the Boggly Woods. When Mario arrives there, however, he learns that the picture they were to use to identify him was misplaced by Beldam, who is quick to blame Vivian for the loss. Mario is forced to battle the sisters when he comes to claim Flurrie's Necklace, which Vivian had found in the woods. Upon her defeat, she departs with Marilyn and Beldam, leaving the necklace behind.

Doopliss (disguised as Mario) and Mario (in shadow) confronting, Vivian aside in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Vivian with the real Mario (as a shadow) facing against Doopliss

After Mario's name and appearance are stolen by Doopliss, Vivian appears in Twilight Town alongside her sisters, who plan to defeat Mario using a Superbombomb. When the weapon turns up missing, however, Vivian is once again blamed and sent to find it. When Mario finds the bomb and returns it to her, it turns out to be broken, but she gives him a kiss to thank him for his help and, after learning of the theft of his identity, resolves to return the favor by helping him, unaware that he is truly Mario. Using her powers, Mario eventually learns Doopliss's real name, and the duo corners him at the top of Creepy Steeple.

Upon learning Mario's identity, Vivian is reluctant to assist in the ensuing battle, though she returns to his side after two turns, having decided that he treats her better than her sisters and is more deserving of her help. Following Doopliss's defeat, Mario stands up for Vivian when she is questioned by his other partners; she ultimately thanks him by handing him the Ruby Star and thus joins Mario's team.

At the very end of Mario's adventure, Beldam and Marilyn end their villainous activities and promise not to mistreat Vivian again. When Mario is preparing to leave Rogueport, Vivian is about to tell Mario that she has a crush on him, but decides otherwise, saying that she thinks he and Princess Peach will make a good couple.

Super Paper Mario

An unused sprite of Vivian in Super Paper Mario.
Vivian's unused sprite in Super Paper Mario.

In Super Paper Mario, Vivian appears as a Catch Card won by winning the Duel of 100 in the Sammer's Kingdom. Francis also has a Vivian plush doll and there is a painting of her along with Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshi, Bobbery, and Ms. Mowz in Mario's house. Like Mario's other past partners, there is unused sprite data for Vivian, suggesting that they were originally going to appear in Super Paper Mario, but were removed during development.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Vivian appears as a Sticker. Her sticker is small and increases the attack power of energy related attacks by 5. Her sticker can be used by any character.

General information

Gender

In the Japanese version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Vivian is a transgender girl. Other characters, as well as narrative text, describe Vivian using masculine terms such as otoko "man", and otōto "little brother".[3][4][5][6] However, Vivian initially describes the shadow sirens as san shimai "three sisters",[3] and routinely uses the feminine first person pronoun atai. This continues in Super Paper Mario; Vivian's catch card describes her using the term otoko no ko "boy".[7]

In the English and German localisations of the game, all masculine descriptions of Vivian are removed, and she is portrayed as a cisgender girl. Consequently, the nature of some of Beldam's insults towards Vivian was altered, as they originally focused on her masculinity. However, all other localised versions of the game retain the transgender portrayal[1].[8][9][10]

Powers and abilities

Outside of battle, Vivian possesses the same ability Lady Bow has in Paper Mario, but Vivian's works differently, as instead of literally turning invisible, Vivian can pull Mario into her shadow, where they can hide. This allows them to get past objects that move over them and avoid sight from enemies and their attacks. Vivian possesses the strongest magic of any partner in the game.

Official profiles and statistics

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Enemy stats

Template:Pm2enemybox

On-field tattle

Mario is only able to use Tattle on her in Chapter 2.

  • This is the youngest sister of the three. The oldest one REALLY picks on her, huh? I don't know whose picture they're talking about, but you think she really lost it? – Goombella

Attacks and stats

HP
  • Initial: 15 HP
  • Super Rank: 20 HP
  • Ultra Rank: 30 HP
Attacks
Name FP Needed Effect Action Command Attack Power Move Rank
Shade Fist 0 Sets enemies on fire with a burning punch. After three lights flash, player presses the mystery button shown (A Button,B Button,X Button or Y Button). Initial: 3
Super: 4
Ultra: 5
Initial
Veil 1 Hides Mario in the shadows to avoid enemy attacks. Player presses the 5-button A Button/B Button combo that appears on the screen. N/A Initial
Fiery Jinx 6 Deals fire damage to all enemies, piercing defense. It also burns them. Player presses the 5-button combo of A Button,B Button,X Button, and Y Button that appear on the screen. Super: 5
Ultra: 5
Super Rank
Infatuate 4 Blows a kiss to all enemies to confuse them if effective When a heart appears above an enemy, player presses A Button. N/A Ultra Rank

Super Paper Mario Catch Card

File:VivianCard.png
Vivian's Catch Card.
  • Card Type: Rare
  • Card Description: It's Vivian from the last Paper Mario adventure. She was a great friend once she split from her sisters.
  • How to Obtain the Card: The Duel of 100 in Sammer's Kingdom needs to be completed in order to obtain all Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door partner cards from King Sammer.

Sticker information

Name Image Artwork from Effect in The Subspace Emissary
Vivian File:Vivian (alt) - Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door.png Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door [Energy] - Attack +5

Names in other languages

Template:Foreignname

Trivia

  • During the battle with Vivian, she can use Fiery Jinx when her HP is low, but when Vivian joins Mario's party, she has to be Super Ranked to learn that ability.
  • Vivian is the second of four characters in the Paper Mario series (with Lakilester being the first, Bowser being the third, and Luigi/Mr. L being the fourth) to battle Mario and join his party.
    • For this reason, Vivian is the only party member in Mario's Tattle Log.
  • If the player looks through Professor Frankly's trash can after fighting the Shadow Sirens, Vivian's Tattle is found while Marilyn's and Beldam's are absent. This foreshadows that Vivian's joining the party while Marilyn and Beldam are fought later, since only Tattles of one-time enemies are found in the trash.
  • If the player performs Veil's stylish command after all enemies are defeated, no Star Power is awarded.

References

  1. ^ a b Francesca Di Marco. Cultural Localization: Orientation and Disorientation in Japanese Video Games. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  2. ^ Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door From Japanese to English. The Mushroom Kingdom. Retrieved June 13, 2008.
  3. ^ a b
    nepsaty123. (February 28, 2011). ペーパーマリオRPGを実況プレイ! part13. YouTube. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
    Beldam: 「ヒッヒッヒッヒィ・・・
    のるほどのものじゃあ ないけど
    いちおう のって おこうかねぇ

    われらは・・・」

    "Hee hee hee heeee...
    It's not even worth giving you our names,
    but I guess we can.

    We are..."

    Marilyn: 「カゲ・・・」

    "The Shadow..."

    Vivian: 三姉妹っ!!」

    "Sisters Three!!"

    Goombella: 「カゲ三姉妹っ!?」

    "The Shadow Sisters Three!?"

    Beldam: 「コラッ! ビビアン!!
    なに いってんだよ あんた!
    カゲ三人組だろ! 三人組!!

    どこが 三姉妹だよ!
    あんた オトコじゃないかい!!!!!!」

    "Hey! Vivian!!
    What do you think you're saying!?
    We're the Shadow Trio! Trio!!

    Where are there three sisters!?
    Aren't you a man!!!!!!?"

    Vivian: 「ゴメンナサイ~ おさま
    つい・・・」

    "I'm sorry, Beldam.
    I just..."

    Beldam: 「つい・・・ じゃないよ!
    あとで きっちり
    オシオキしてやるからね!!」

    "You just... nothing!
    Because after this,
    I'm absolutely punishing you!!"

    Vivian: 「うぅっ・・・」 "Sniff..."
  4. ^
    nepsaty123. (February 28, 2011). ペーパーマリオRPGを実況プレイ! part13. YouTube. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
    Goombella: 「『ビビアン』よ
    カゲ三人組一人で いちばん
    ・・・じゃなくて 

    さいだいHPは『10』で
    こうげきは『1』 ぼうぎょは『0』よ
    これといった とくちょうは ないみたい

    う~ん・・・
    それにしても カレって なかなか
    かわいいわね・・・

    ひょっとしたら あたしよりも
    かわいいかも・・・

    ・・・て

    やだっ・・・
    あたしったら なにを
    かんがえているのかしら」
    "That's Vivian.
    A member of the Shadow Trio, and the youngest sister
    ...no, brother.

    Max HP: 10
    Attack power: 1, Defence power: 0
    Seems there's nothing special here

    Umm...
    nevertheless, 'he' is really
    cute, huh...

    Possibly, maybe even
    cuter than me...

    ...that is

    No way...
    Jeez, I wonder what
    I was thinking"
  5. ^
    Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door From Japanese to English. The Mushroom Kingdom. Retrieved June 13, 2008.
    Menu text: 「カゲ三人組の一人だった
    オンナのコのようで ホントは オトコのコ」
    "A boy who appears to be a girl and
    was previously part of the Shadow Trio."
  6. ^
    Goom Goom's quest
    Goom Goom: 「おお! これは かわいい・・・
    ってキミ・・・ どっちなの?・・・
    オトコ・・・ だよね・・・

    ようするに オスじゃん!」
    "Oh! This one's cute...
    but you... which are you...?
    A man... is what you are...

    In short, this person is male!"
  7. ^
    inu651225. (October 23, 2010). スーパーペーパーマリオ 全カード集{ネタばれ注意}. YouTube. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
    Catch card: 「ペーパーマリオRPG」に
    とうじょうした マリオのなかま
    火の魔法を 使う キュートな オトコのコ
    カゲ三人組という てきの1人だった」
    "A friend of Mario's who appeared
    in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
    A cute boy who uses fire magic,
    Vivian was one of the enemy group called the Shadow Trio."
  8. ^ In the French version, Vivian uses the name "L'Obscur Trio de Sœurs" ("The Dark Trio of Sisters"), to which Beldam retorts "Quoi! Viviane! Qu'est-ce que tu racontes? L'Obscur Trio! Tout court! Où tu vois tres sœurs, toi? Tu es un garçon!!!!!!" ("What! Vivian! What are you talking about? The Dark Trio! Period! Where do you see three sisters? You're a boy!", with "garçon", "boy", being written in red font for extra emphasis). Vivian apologizes and starts to try to argue her case, but Beldam cuts her off and threatens punishment for her words (Vivian says "Désolée, Marjolène. Enfin...", "Sorry, Beldam, [but] let's just say...", and Beldam cuts in with "Il y n'a pas de « enfin »!", the equivalent to "there is no 'but's"). ~ Frigiel. (August 13, 2012). Paper Mario : La Porte Millénaire Let's Play - Episode 4. Youtube. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  9. ^ In the Spanish version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, during her Tattle for Vivian ("Bibiana" in the localization), Goombella originally uses feminine terms for Vivian ("la más pequeña") but then corrects herself and uses the masculine version ("el más pequeño") instead: "¡Es Bibiana! La más pequeña del Trío... Bueno... EL más pequeño [...]". ~ TheMegajorn. (September 15, 2012). Paper mario la puerta milenaria parte 8 español. YouTube. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  10. ^ In the Italian version, Vivian attempts to introduce the group as the "tre sorelle ombra", "Three Shadow Sisters", but Beldam reproaches her, insisting that they are the gender-neutral "Trisdombra", calling her a liar and asking her how they could be described as "three sisters" ("Ma quante scempiaggini dici, fanfarona di un'Ombretta? Siamo il Trisdombra! Imbecille! Ti sbugiardo davanti a tutti! Spiegami: come facciamo ad essere tre sorelle? Avanti!"). Vivian admits that Beldam and Marilyn are the real sisters, but says she feels like a woman too and is proud of it ("Siete due sorelle, è vero... Ma anch'io mi sento una donna e sono fiera di esserlo diventata!"), which Beldam waves off with the disparaging comment that Vivian probably thinks she's the prettiest too, and deserves to be punished ("E magari credi anche di essere la più bella, eh? Meriti una punizione!"), causing Vivian to slump to the ground with a sigh. ~ TheGamerDani. (May 23, 2012). Let's Play Paper Mario:il Portale Millenario parte 14 - Trisdombra e Spirù. Youtube. Retrieved December 28, 2013

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