Koopalings: Difference between revisions

Koopalings are [[Bowser]]'s minions who debuted in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', notable for appearing as bosses in different worlds in ''Mario'' platformers. In some role-playing games (like ''Mario & Luigi'' series), they appear as bosses. They made some appearances in spin-offs as separate playable characters. They appear in other ''Super Mario'' media under different names while they did not have their official names during their production names.

In their first appearance in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', the Koopalings were introduced as siblings and Bowser's own children.<ref>{{media link|SMB3 - Japanese Promotional Pamphlet.jpg|A Japanese promotional pamphlet for ''Super Mario Bros. 3''}} The Koopalings are called「大魔王クッパの子供達」(Daimaō Kuppa no kodomo-tachi), which means "Great Demon King Koopa's children". The picture of this pamphlet is found in every version of [[Super Mario History 1985-2010]] booklet except North American.</ref><ref name="JFCSMB3manual">In the Japanese instruction booklet of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', they are called「{{ruby|自分|じぶん}}の{{ruby|子供|こども}}コクッパ7{{ruby|兄弟|きょうだい}}」in the story section ({{media link|SMB3 Japanese manual pages 4 5.jpg|page 4}}), and King Koopa's line ({{media link|SMB3 Japanese manual pages 2 3.jpg|page 2}}) reads「ワッハハ。これから{{ruby|俺様|おれさま}}の{{ruby|息子達|むすこたち}}がこのゲームの{{ruby|説明|せつめい}}をするぜ。{{ruby|息子達|むすこたち}}の{{ruby|言|い}}うことをよーく{{ruby|聞|き}}いてせいぜいガンバルことだな。ワッハハ。」Note Koopa's use of「{{ruby|俺様|おれさま}}の{{ruby|息子たち|むすこ達}}」(''ore-sama no musuko-tachi''), which equates to "my children" (or, literally, "my sons") while at the same time referring to himself in an arrogant manner. The children are introduced with the phrase「そして、これがコクッパ7{{ruby|兄弟|きょうだい}}だ！！」({{media link|SMB3 Japanese manual pages 2 3.jpg|page 3}}). Larry ({{media link|SMB3 Japanese manual pages 4 5.jpg|page 4}}), Morton ({{media link|SMB3 Japanese manual pages 8 9.jpg|page 8}}) and Lemmy ({{media link|SMB3 Japanese manual pages 34 35.jpg|page 34}}) refer to King Koopa as「オヤジ」(''oyaji''), which is both a Japanese word for "father" as well as a term of endearment.</ref><ref name="SMB3">''Super Mario Bros. 3'' English instruction booklet. In the story section (page 5), they are called "Bowser's 7 kids" and "his 7 children", and Bowser's line (page 3) reads "Ha Ha Ha! These are my 7 children that are going to help me take over the Mushroom World!" The children are introduced with the phrase "These are Bowser's kids!!" (page 4). Larry (page 5), Morton (page 9) and Lemmy (page 34) refer to Bowser as their father or dad.</ref> Most re-releases and remakes of this 1988 game as well as republications of the game's story retain this detail in Japan, including the 2013 [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console]] release.<ref name="SMB33DSJM">[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/data/software/manual/man_tabj.pdf A PDF manual for ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' '''Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console release'''] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230314214503/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/data/software/manual/man_tabj.pdf March 2023 archive]) available on the [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/eshop/vc/tabj/index.html Nintendo of Japan eShop website], released January 1, 2013. (Retrieved February 15, 2013)</ref><ref name="JSMA4M" >Nintendo Co., Ltd. (2003). [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/data/software/manual/manual_paqj_00.pdf Scans of the Japanese manual of ''Super Mario Advance 4'']. Retrieved December 23, 2015.</ref><ref name="JSMB3M">[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-HAACJ.pdf Scans of the original Japanese ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' manual, hosted on Nintendo Co. Ltd. site]. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref> However, the 2007 Japanese Wii Virtual Console version's manual does not mention their relationship to Bowser,<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_smb3/vc_smb3_02.html ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Wii Virtual Console website], released December 11, 2007.</ref> and the 2015 Japanese ''[[Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]'' uses a less strong statement than the one found in the original manual.<ref name="Encyclopedia">On {{media link|ESMB page 33.png|page 33}} of the ''Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.'', there is this statement:「※取扱説明書のものをそのまま掲載しています。」; despite this, the part of the story where the Koopalings are introduced is this one:「さんざんこらしめたはずの大魔王クッパもマリオのいるキノコ王国からは手を引いたものの今度は子供コクッパ7兄弟を仲間に入れ、ワールドのあちこちでイタズラのやり放題。」; the「自分の」between「今度は」and「子供コクッパ7兄弟」, which roughly means "[Bowser's] own" and is present {{media link|SMB3_Japanese_manual_pages_4_5.jpg|on page 4 of the original Japanese ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' manual}}, is absent in this story. The meaning of the sentence is roughly unaltered, as this wording omitting the possessive pronoun has also been used in the ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' and ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'', the latter of which also used the stronger form of the original story of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' showing the similar meaning of the two wordings, but the new one is less strong and explicit.</ref> The 2018 English and French versions of ''Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.'' preserve the original manual's description of the Koopalings being Bowser's children verbatim,<ref name="EncyclopediaNA">''Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.''. Page 47. "''Bowser sent his seven children to make mischief as they please in the normally peaceful Mushroom World.''" (October 16, 2018)</ref><ref>At page 33 of the French translation of ''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia'', in the story of ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' it is told ''Bowser a envoyé ses sept enfants agir comme bon leur semble au sein du Monde des Champignons habituellement plutôt calme.'' (''Bowser sent his seven children to act as they see fit within the usually rather calm Mushroom World''). At page 144 in the general enemy description of ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' it is told ''Les sept frères et soeurs de la famille Bowser sont également présents''[...] (''The seven siblings of the Bowser family are also present'').</ref> while the German and Spanish translations of said book make no mention of the Koopalings being siblings or Bowser's children.<ref>{{media link|ESMB German SMB3 Story.png|An excerpt of page 33 of the German translation of the ''Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.''}}, containing the story of ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. The sentence ''Allerdings macht er sieben Koopalinge zu seinen Untertanen'' roughly means ''Indeed he turned seven Koopalings into his subjects''.</ref><ref>{{media link|ESMB Spanish page 33.png|Page 33 of the Spanish translation of the ''Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.''}}, containing the story of ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. The sentence ''Sin embargo, esta vez cuenta con la ayuda de los siete Koopalings, que hacen maldades por todas partes.'' roughly means ''Nonetheless, this time [he] has the help of the seven Koopalings, who cause troubles everywhere.''</ref> Translations of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', its rereleases, remakes, official guides and websites have kept this detail to varying degrees, with most calling the Koopalings Bowser's offspring.<ref>{{media link|PWPNNC page 169.png|Page 169 of ''Playing with Power: Nintendo NES Classics''}}, containing part of an interview present in the January/February 1990 issue of ''Nintendo Power''</ref><ref>{{media link|PWPNNC page 196.png|Page 196 of ''Playing with Power: Nintendo NES Classics''}}, containing the story of ''Super Mario Bros. 3''</ref><ref name="ENGSMA4M"> Nintendo of Europe. [https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/game_boy_advance_8/Manual_GameBoyAdvance_SuperMarioAdvance4SuperMarioBros3_EN_DE_FR_ES_IT.pdf Scans of the European manual of ''Super Mario Advance 4'']. ''Nintendo of Europe CDN''. Retrieved March 8, 2016.</ref><ref name="KoopalingsUK">[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' '''Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console release''' on the official Nintendo of Europe site.] ([http://archive.today/2014.06.29-171822/http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html June 2014 archive]), released December 26, 2013 (Retrieved October 16, 2014)</ref><ref name="SMB3IT">[https://www.nintendo.it/Giochi/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' on the official Nintendo of Italy site.] (Retrieved October 10, 2015)</ref><ref name="SMB3DE">[https://www.nintendo.de/Spiele/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' on the official Nintendo of Germany site.](Retrieved October 10, 2015)</ref><ref name="SMB3NL">[https://www.nintendo.nl/Spellen/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' on the official Nintendo of Benelux site]. Retrieved December 10, 2016.</ref><ref name="SMA4guide">{{media link|SMA4 Japanese Guide Page 4.png|Page 4 of the Japanese ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''}}. Note how, while in the story they are referred as ''<nowiki>[</nowiki>Bowser's<nowiki>]</nowiki> own children'' (「{{ruby|自分|じぶん}}の{{ruby|子|こ}}どもの「コクッパ7{{ruby|兄弟|きょうだい}}」」), in Bowser's bio the possessive referred to the ''children'' term (「{{ruby|子|こ}}どもたち」) is missing like in the case of the ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''.</ref> The 1990 cartoon based on the game, ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', follows this portrayal where the Koopalings refer to Bowser as "king dad".<ref>''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]: ''[[Sneaky Lying Cheating Giant Ninja Koopas]]</ref>

The manual for the SNES version of ''[[Mario is Missing!]]'' vaguely describes the Koopalings as Bowser's "bad boys"<ref>''Mario is Missing!'' SNES instruction booklet. Page 2.</ref>, although in the DOS version's in-game dialogue, the Koopalings refer to Bowser by name rather than with a familial title. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Bowser's seven children are mentioned in both the Japanese and English versions,<ref name="JSSBMBowser">{{media link|JSSBM Bowser Trophy.jpg|In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', the first trophy of Bowser in Japanese refers to him as having「7人のこども」}}.</ref> and this relationship is also mentioned in the ''[[Super Mario Advance (series)|Super Mario Advance]]'' series from 2001-2003.<ref name="SMA2guide" /><ref name="SMA4guide">{{media link|SMA4 Japanese Guide Page 4.png|Page 4 of the Japanese ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''}}. Note how, while in the story they are referred as ''<nowiki>[</nowiki>Bowser's<nowiki>]</nowiki> own children'' (「{{ruby|自分|じぶん}}の{{ruby|子|こ}}どもの「コクッパ7{{ruby|兄弟|きょうだい}}」」), in Bowser's bio the possessive referred to the ''children'' term (「{{ruby|子|こ}}どもたち」) is missing like in the case of the ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''.</ref>

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]'', the Koopalings have lines of dialogue, which would later continue in games such as ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'', ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]'', and ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020]]''. To reflect their revised portrayal, in the Japanese versions of the games, the Koopalings refer to Bowser as ''Master Bowser'' (「クッパ{{ruby|様|さま}}」) and consider each other comrades (「{{ruby|仲間|なかま}}」) without any family relationship, though multiple translations, including the English versions, portray them as siblings.<ref>As an example, Larry's ''TALK_CUPCHAT_PR_LOSE_LAR_USUAL_0'' line in the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games states「さすがに{{ruby|予選|よせん}}で{{ruby|負|ま}}けるってのは はずかしいな。{{ruby|仲間|なかま}}たちには{{ruby|笑|わら}}われるだろうしクッパさまにはドヤされるだろうし、まいったぜ。」Note the use of both「{{ruby|仲間|なかま}}」and「クッパさま」.</ref><ref>aika (December 11, 2015). [https://youtu.be/YbHkj1xGIVI?t=180 【3DS】マリオ＆ルイージRPG ペーパーマリオMIX　ルドウィッグ＆ラリー戦]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved November 10, 2016. In the dialogue at the beginning of the battle against Larry and Ludwig, Larry does not call Ludwig ''brother'', while in the English versions and in most other Western translations he does.</ref> While the Japanese and English versions of ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'' portray the Koopalings' relationship to Bowser simply as them being his minions, the Italian and German translations mention that Bowser is their father.<ref>Games' Art (December 30, 2015). [https://youtu.be/HsZcDCGJyBM?t=773 38 Mario e Luigi: Paper Jam Bros ITA - Neo Castello di Bowser parte 2]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved January 14, 2016. After Iggy presses the button, Lemmy says: "''Daaaaaad! This is not fair!''".</ref><ref>LETSPLAYmarkus (January 19, 2016). [https://youtu.be/5VZcaA4tZNo?t=565 <nowiki>MARIO & LUIGI: PAPER JAM BROS. # 57 ★ Der letzte und höchste Rang! [HD | 60fps]</nowiki>]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved January 19, 2016. After being defeated, Morton says: "''Forgive us... Father. I mean, of course... Master Bowser!''".</ref> Additionally, the Italian translation of ''Paper Mario: Color Splash'' is devoid of every explicit mention of the Koopalings as Bowser's minions present in the Japanese version.<ref>While [https://www.nintendo.it/Notizie/2016/giugno/Non-perderti-le-ultime-informazioni-su-Paper-Mario-Color-Splash-per-Wii-U--1117398.html in the preview] the Koopalings are referred to using the ''Bowser's minions'' term (''scagnozzi di Bowser'') used in the ''[[New Super Mario Bros. (series)|New Super Mario Bros.]]'' games, and even though in the final game [https://youtu.be/n5jFO0ErW_g?t=681 Morton mentions ''the boss''] (''il capo'') without specifying who he is supposed to be, as soon as Bowser is revealed [https://youtu.be/c1ShokOB5cg?t=2230 Ludwig], [https://youtu.be/0KHkDZfT_Es?t=1435 Wendy], [https://youtu.be/dWxzKA5RYZs?t=1730 Larry] and [https://youtu.be/T4jSKKyFIlI?t=997 Roy] always refer to him by name without adding any other title, Roy even directly asks Bowser to avenge his defeat, this attempt being absent [https://youtu.be/N_ZXYBA3rIs?t=891 in the Japanese version]. Furthermore, the Koopalings are always referred to as ''Little Bowsers'' (''Bowserotti'', the Italian term originally used for the Koopalings, itself a direct translation of the ｢コクッパ｣ term), as can be seen already [https://youtu.be/dWxzKA5RYZs?t=1730 before fighting Larry], even when the Japanese version explicitly use the ''Bowser's minions'' (｢クッパの{{ruby|手下|てした}}｣) term in place of the ''Team of 7 Bowsers'' (｢クッパ7{{ruby|人衆|にんしゅう}}｣) term that should be translated as ''Bowserotti'', as can be seen before fighting Lemmy (where in the [https://youtu.be/owAMX0L20fM?t=645 Japanese version] ｢クッパの{{ruby|手下|てした}}｣ is used and in the [https://youtu.be/-veTyON5u5M?t=798 Italian localization] ''Bowserotti'' is used instead), as well as in the ''GB_RedRescue13'' line of the 13th Rescue Red Toad who states ''Hai già sconfitto Morton, Iggy, Ludwig, Wendy e Larry. Ti restano solo due Bowserotti!'' (while the [https://youtu.be/owAMX0L20fM?t=334 Japanese version] again uses the ｢クッパの{{ruby|手下|てした}}｣ term).</ref> However, the Italian manual of ''[[Monopoly Gamer|Monopoly Gamer Collector's Edition]]'' presents the Koopalings as seven among Bowser's minions,<ref>On {{media link|MGCE Italian Manual page 22.png|Page 22 of the Italian manual of ''Monopoly Gamer Collector's Edition''}}, the Koopalings' bio states ''I Bowserotti sono sette dei più pericolosi, cattivi e perfidi scagnozzi di Bowser.'' which means ''The Koopalings are seven among the most dangerous, bad and malicious minions of Bowser''.</ref> and the Italian and German translations of ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions'' retain a mention from the Japanese version that Bowser Jr. is the only son of Bowser.<ref>In the Japanese version of ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions#Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser|Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser]]'' [https://youtu.be/vbQaLbxKxbQ?t=1046 Bowser Jr. is stated in his bio to be「大魔王クッパの1人息子」] (''Great Demon/Warlock King Bowser's only son''), similarly in the  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u-EDTmeVCY&t=710 Italian localization] his bio states ''È l'unico figlio di Bowser'' (''He's the only son of Bowser'') and in the [https://youtu.be/PiCu6nTH3qs?t=774 German localization] his bio states ''Bowsers einiziger Sprössling'' (''Bowser's only offspring'').</ref>

|Jap5=クッパ7{{ruby|人衆|にんしゅう}} / クッパ七人衆 <small>(''Mario Kart 8'', ''Super Smash Bros.'', ''Super Mario Memorial Book''<ref>[https://newlaunches.com/archives/super-marios-memorial-book-commemorates-his-30th-birthday.php Super Mario’s memorial book commemorates his 30th birthday]. ''Newlaunches''. Retrieved October 11, 2015.</ref>, ''Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.'')</small>

|ChiS2=酷霸王7人组<ref>[https://www.smashbros.com/SC/blog/index.html?category=cat02_fighter_58 Official simplified Chinese website for ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']. Retrieved April 5, 2020.</ref><ref>https://www.nintendoswitch.com.cn/new_super_mario_bros_u_deluxe/pc/story/index.html</ref> <small>(''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' and ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe'')</small>

|ChiS3=酷霸王７人帮<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/topics/article/a_200421_02_sc.html 创作完整的世界地图!? 《 Super Mario Maker 2 》最后的大型数据更新 Ver.3.0.0 版本, 将于4月22日开始发布!] nintendo.com.hk. Retrieved April 22, 2020. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210302015543/https://www.nintendo.com.hk/topics/article/a_200421_02_sc.html Archived] March 2, 2021, 01:55:43 UTC via Wayback Machine.)</ref> <small>(''Super Mario Maker 2'')</small>

|ChiS4=酷霸王帮众<ref>[https://www.lego.com/zh-cn/product/larry-s-and-morton-s-airships-expansion-set-71427 拉里和莫顿的飞行战舰扩展关卡 71427 | 乐高®超级马力欧 | LEGO.com CN]. LEGO.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.</ref> <small>(LEGO ''Super Mario'')</small>

|ChiT=庫巴的小魔頭們<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/nsmb2/story/index.html Story section of the official ''New Super Mario Bros. 2'' site in Chinese]. nintendo.com.hk. Retrieved February 27, 2016.</ref> <small>(''New Super Mario Bros. 2'')</small>

|ChiT2=庫巴7人衆<ref>[https://www.smashbros.com/TC/blog/index.html?category=cat02_fighter_58 Official traditional Chinese website for ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']. Retrieved April 5, 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/switch/new_super_mario_bros_u_deluxe/pc/story/index.html Story section of the official ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe'' site in Chinese.] nintendo.com.hk. Retrieved October 25, 2019.</ref> <small>(''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' and ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe'')</small>

|ChiT3=庫巴7人幫<ref>Nintendo (April 20, 2020). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrImKD0V0PQ 《Super Mario Maker 2 (超級瑪利歐創作家 2) 》更新資料Ver.3.0.0介紹影片]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved April 21, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/interview/aqmxa 開發人員的訪談 : 超級瑪利歐兄弟 驚奇｜任天堂]. nintendo.com.hk. Retrieved October 20, 2023.</ref> <small>(''Super Mario Maker 2'' and Ask the Developer Vol. 11)</small>

|ChiT4=小庫巴7兄弟<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/switch/mario/history/index.html Official Chinese website for the ''Super Mario Bros.'' 35th Anniversary website]. nintendo.com.hk. Retrieved February 7, 2021.</ref> <small>(''Super Mario Bros.'' 35th Anniversary)</small>

|Ita=Bowserotti

|ItaM=Little Bowsers

|Ita2=Scagnozzi di Bowser <small>{{nowrap|(''New Super Mario Bros.'' games, ''Mario Kart 8'', ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'', ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'')}}</small>

|Ita2M=Bowser's minions

|Ita3=Figli di Bowser{{ref needed}} <small>(''Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition'')</small>

|Ita3M=Bowser's children

|Kor3=꼬마쿠파 7형제<ref>''Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition'' instruction manual (Korean version). Pages 17 and 29.</ref> <small>(''Super Mario All-Stars'')</small>

|PorA2M=Koopalings