Post by Dr. Mechano on Feb 20, 2011 13:20:25 GMT -5
Mario is a strange franchise, one that likes to name specific characters after their own species and, vice versa, one that likes to address an entire species as if it's an individual in official reference material. Here I'd like to take a look into these such characters, and sort out the canon from the fanon.
Toad
When I was a kid, this was unambiguous. There were "Mushroom People", and there was the specific character known as Toad.
It's not quite so clear anymore, as the mushroom-headed inhabitants of the kingdom have been consistently referred to as "Toads" ever since Paper Mario. As this happened, Toad the character began to make himself scarce, and this led to some interesting questions about whether Toad was ever meant to be a specific character or not. However, I believe there's sufficient evidence that there is indeed still a special Toad, apart from the generic species Toad.
Some supposed "Toad" appearances that I believe are NOT Toad:
Yoshi
This one was such from the very beginning. There was Yoshi, and at the same time there were Yoshis. However, he's always been very well-differentiated from this generic counterparts. Yoshi is specifically named, and thus set apart from, generic members of his species in such games as Super Mario World, Super Mario RPG, and many others. However, it is important to note that there are indeed other green Yoshis, so it would be a mistake to automatically assume "green Yoshi" equals "Yoshi the Yoshi."
Also, it is my opinion that that the green Yoshis in Yoshi's Island or Yoshi's Story are NOT supposed to be the Yoshi. I state that for the following reasons:
Thus, whoever the green Yoshis are in these games, they're not the specific named Yoshi, evidence would suggest. It doesn't stop people from generally referring to them as such anyway though.
Birdo
From their first appearance in SMB2, there have always been multiple Birdos. Yet the manual refers to Birdo as an individual, starting the bizarre saga of Birdo's ambiguous gender. This leads to an odd question then: Which Birdo, if any, is the manual referring to? Or alternatively, do all Birdos share the traits described in the manual?
Birdo is far more ambiguous than Toad or Yoshi, because she hasn't really been portrayed as a clear standalone character in any way that can definitely be proven to be distinct and continuous.
However, after SMRPG, there seemed to be a conscious attempt to separate the Birdo from other Birdos, with the addition of a diamond ring worn by the specific character.
It's unclear if the Birdo in Superstar Saga is supposed to be the same Birdo as the one consistently appearing in the spinoff games, as well.
However, it's a good topic to open the floor of discussion on, I think.
Kamek
In the Japanese versions of the games, Magikoopas are referred to as Kameks. For whatever reason, Kamek's name in Yoshi's Island was left as-is rather than translated to Magikoopa, popularizing the idea of "Kamek the Magikoopa."
This translation issue isn't exactly wrong, though, as it seems even in Japan this Kamek is meant to be separate and distinct from generic Kameks. A specific Kamek is consistently shown in Bowser's childhood as his caretaker (Both Yoshi's Island games, and later Partners in Time), so I consider it canon even in Japan that one Kamek is obviously meant to be a special character who bears the name of his species.
What's questionable is his other possible appearances.
Magikoopa from Super Mario RPG is an interesting case. Bowser refers to "Magikoopa" as if Magikoopa is his proper name, not merely his species. His psychopath thought ("That's... my child?") also seems noteworthy. I would hazard a guess that this character might have been intended to be the same Kamek as in Yoshi's Island.
Based on his very similar role in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, I would also presume the unnamed Magikoopa is also Kamek here.
Where Kamek did NOT appear, despite many fans' insistence, is Super Princess Peach. "Giant Kamek" is merely a giant Magikoopa, and even his character description simply calls him "a Kamek." This indicates clearly to me that he's not related to the specific character Kamek in any way.
----------
And these are four of the series' more ambiguous characters, in regards to their actual appearances. I thought it'd be neat to open the floor for discussion on the matter, and see what people think of it.
Toad
When I was a kid, this was unambiguous. There were "Mushroom People", and there was the specific character known as Toad.
It's not quite so clear anymore, as the mushroom-headed inhabitants of the kingdom have been consistently referred to as "Toads" ever since Paper Mario. As this happened, Toad the character began to make himself scarce, and this led to some interesting questions about whether Toad was ever meant to be a specific character or not. However, I believe there's sufficient evidence that there is indeed still a special Toad, apart from the generic species Toad.
- In Super Mario RPG, although Toad looks identical to several other red-spotted Toads, he's still given a specific name in text boxes and is distinguished from the others in story.
- In Super Paper Mario, Luigi refers to the red-spotted Toad who arrives as "Toad", as if it is his name. If it were merely a generic Toad, and not Toad the character, he might call him "a Toad," but this was not the case.
Some supposed "Toad" appearances that I believe are NOT Toad:
- Anywhere in Super Mario 64. No indication is given that any one of the Toads is meant to be the specific Toad.
- Red Toad of the Toad Brigade. He wears a red vest, as opposed to Toad's blue. I believe that despite his red spots and similar appearance, he's intended to be a different character altogether. Naturally, Mario Wiki and most fans haphazardly lump the two together though.
Yoshi
This one was such from the very beginning. There was Yoshi, and at the same time there were Yoshis. However, he's always been very well-differentiated from this generic counterparts. Yoshi is specifically named, and thus set apart from, generic members of his species in such games as Super Mario World, Super Mario RPG, and many others. However, it is important to note that there are indeed other green Yoshis, so it would be a mistake to automatically assume "green Yoshi" equals "Yoshi the Yoshi."
Also, it is my opinion that that the green Yoshis in Yoshi's Island or Yoshi's Story are NOT supposed to be the Yoshi. I state that for the following reasons:
- Mario meets Yoshi for the first time in Super Mario World.
- The green Yoshi in Yoshi's Island seems to already be an adult, much like Yoshi in SMW. Factor in the time it'd take for the Mario Bros. to grow up, and this "Yoshi" should be very old by now.
- The green Yoshi in Yoshi's Story is a baby Yoshi who is totally separate from both Yoshi and the unnamed green Yoshi in Yoshi's Island.
Thus, whoever the green Yoshis are in these games, they're not the specific named Yoshi, evidence would suggest. It doesn't stop people from generally referring to them as such anyway though.
Birdo
From their first appearance in SMB2, there have always been multiple Birdos. Yet the manual refers to Birdo as an individual, starting the bizarre saga of Birdo's ambiguous gender. This leads to an odd question then: Which Birdo, if any, is the manual referring to? Or alternatively, do all Birdos share the traits described in the manual?
Birdo is far more ambiguous than Toad or Yoshi, because she hasn't really been portrayed as a clear standalone character in any way that can definitely be proven to be distinct and continuous.
- The Birdos in SMB2 are all apparently different characters, not the same one fought multiple times.
- A single heroic Birdo assists Toad in Wario's Woods, the first time she's truly portrayed in-game as an apparent standalone character.
- The Birdo in SMRPG was just hatched from an egg, so she cannot be the same Birdo as any of the ones in SMB2 or the one from Wario's Woods.
However, after SMRPG, there seemed to be a conscious attempt to separate the Birdo from other Birdos, with the addition of a diamond ring worn by the specific character.
It's unclear if the Birdo in Superstar Saga is supposed to be the same Birdo as the one consistently appearing in the spinoff games, as well.
However, it's a good topic to open the floor of discussion on, I think.
Kamek
In the Japanese versions of the games, Magikoopas are referred to as Kameks. For whatever reason, Kamek's name in Yoshi's Island was left as-is rather than translated to Magikoopa, popularizing the idea of "Kamek the Magikoopa."
This translation issue isn't exactly wrong, though, as it seems even in Japan this Kamek is meant to be separate and distinct from generic Kameks. A specific Kamek is consistently shown in Bowser's childhood as his caretaker (Both Yoshi's Island games, and later Partners in Time), so I consider it canon even in Japan that one Kamek is obviously meant to be a special character who bears the name of his species.
What's questionable is his other possible appearances.
Magikoopa from Super Mario RPG is an interesting case. Bowser refers to "Magikoopa" as if Magikoopa is his proper name, not merely his species. His psychopath thought ("That's... my child?") also seems noteworthy. I would hazard a guess that this character might have been intended to be the same Kamek as in Yoshi's Island.
Based on his very similar role in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, I would also presume the unnamed Magikoopa is also Kamek here.
Where Kamek did NOT appear, despite many fans' insistence, is Super Princess Peach. "Giant Kamek" is merely a giant Magikoopa, and even his character description simply calls him "a Kamek." This indicates clearly to me that he's not related to the specific character Kamek in any way.
----------
And these are four of the series' more ambiguous characters, in regards to their actual appearances. I thought it'd be neat to open the floor for discussion on the matter, and see what people think of it.
