Il Piantissimo

"And now, we shall race to that flag!"

- Il Piantissimo

Il Piantissimo is a human disguised as a Pianta that Mario must footrace for three Shine Sprites in Super Mario Sunshine. He takes the role of Koopa the Quick from Super Mario 64.

Il Piantissimo is raced in Gelato Beach's fifth episode, "Il Piantissimo's Sand Sprint", Noki Bay's fifth episode, "Il Piantissimo's Surf Swim", and Pianta Village's second episode, "Il Piantissimo's Crazy Climb". He can use most of Mario's moves, but cannot use any tactics involving FLUDD. If Il Piantissimo reaches the flag first, Mario loses a life. When replaying a completed episode, Il Piantissimo is more difficult to beat, as he finishes the course slightly over the player's previous time.

Il Piantissimo is very confident and considers himself superior to others. Various locals at Pianta Village regard him as a rogue, a creep, and not related to the Piantas.

His name is possibly a portmanteau of "Pianta" and "-issimo" ("-est" or "very"), or specifically "pianissimo" (very soft), a in sheet music. The word "il" is an Italian definite article equivalent to "the".

If the game is beaten without all 120 Shine Sprites collected, the ending screen shows Il Piantissimo finding Bowser Jr.'s Magic Paintbrush on Gelato Beach.

Trivia

 * With his mask removed, Il Piantissimo's face resembles those of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's running man, and by extension, the postman from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. This can also be seen in gameplay by looking through the mask's eyeholes.
 * Mario, Shadow Mario, and Il Piantissimo all use the same animations.