Boards (characters)
| Boards | |
|---|---|
 A Board in the Rolling Gizmo Galaxy | |
| First appearance | Super Mario Galaxy (2007) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) |
- “Your world is such a cool place! If only I weren't a...sign.”
- —Bill Board, Super Mario Galaxy
The Boards in the Super Mario Galaxy games are four sentient signposts capable of speech. In Super Mario Galaxy, they exclaim, "Hey!" at Mario before telling him how to perform a particular move each time he meets them. Some Boards appear in multiple locations, but their ability to transport themselves is not explored. The names of all four are puns on "billboard." One of the Boards also appears in Super Mario Galaxy 2 with the same role as in the first game.
Similar-looking signposts also appear in both games, though they are not sentient and simply provide information about the section they are in. In the Supermassive Galaxy, rather large Boards appear on the first planet.
Boards
Gil Board
Gil Board is the first of the Boards to be encountered. He is a signpost that tells Mario how to wall-jump. He claims to be the "famous Gil Board" and claims Mario knows him, although Super Mario Galaxy is the first appearance in which he has been specifically named. His only appearance is in the Honeyhive Galaxy.
Bill Board
Bill Board is the second Board encountered and the Board with the most appearances. He teaches Mario how to roll the Star Ball in the Rolling Green Galaxy, Melty Molten Galaxy, and Rolling Gizmo Galaxy. He also makes an appearance at the celebration in the Grand Finale Galaxy. Here, he tells Mario that he lives in a nice world, and that he would be able to enjoy it more if he were not a sign.
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Bill Board appears in the Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy, once again teaching Mario how to roll on the Star Ball. He is the only one of the four Boards to reappear.
Phil Board
Phil Board is the third Board encountered. He teaches Mario how to move when he is in a bubble. He appears in the Bubble Breeze Galaxy and Bubble Blast Galaxy.
Jill Board
Jill Board is the fourth and final Board to be encountered. Her only appearance is in Boo's Boneyard Galaxy, in which she reminds the player of the Boo Mario controls. If Mario speaks to Jill Board while he is in his normal form, Jill Board states she talks only to Boos, and tells Mario to get lost.
Gallery
Model in Super Mario Galaxy
Bill Board in Super Mario Galaxy 2
Bill Board instructing Mario in the Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy of Super Mario Galaxy 2
The giant Boards in the Supermassive Galaxy
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ケイジ・バーン Keiji Bān カン・バーン Kan Bān デンゴン・バーン Dengon Bān カワラ・バーン Kawara Bān |
Elongation of「掲示板」(keijiban, bulletin board) Elongation of「看板」(kanban, billboard) Elongation of「伝言板」(dengonban, message board) Elongation of「瓦版」(kawaraban, newspaper) |
| Chinese (simplified) | 板布告 Bǎn Bùgào 板告示 Bǎn Gàoshì 板留言 Bǎn Liúyán 板宣传 Bǎn Xuānchuán |
Anagram of「布告板」(bùgào bǎn, bulletin board) Anagram of「告示板」(gàoshì bǎn, billboard) Anagram of「留言板」(liúyán bǎn, message board) Anagram of「宣传板」(xuānchuán bǎn, publicity board) |
| Chinese (traditional) | 互動告示板大哥 (Bill Board) Hùdòng Gàoshì Bǎn Dàgē |
Interactive Billboard Brother |
| Italian | Informello Notiziello Avvisello Messaggello |
Diminutive of "informare" (to inform) Diminutive of "notizia" (news) Diminutive of "avviso" (warning) Diminutive of "messaggio" (message) |
| Korean | 게시・판 Gesi Pan 간・판 Gan Pan 알림・판 Allim Pan 동・판 Dong Pan |
From "게시판" (gesipan, bulletin board) From "간판" (ganpan, signboard) From "알림판" (allimpan, notification board) From "동판" (dongpan, copper plate) |
| Spanish | Let Trero Panc Arta Rot Tulo Kart Elón |
Pun on "letrero" (signboard) Pun on "pancarta" (banner) Pun on "rótulo" (label) Pun on "cartelón" (billboard) |
