The story of the monstrous monarch Bowser from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Past[]
While the majority of Bowser's life are unclear, it is hinted by Bowser himself that he had stressfully lived a joyless life. He clearly lived in rough conditions while growing up in the harsh environment of the Dark Lands, as it is ritualistic for a royal Koopa wedding to involve the sacrificing of prisoners. It is unknown whether Bowser had originated from a royal bloodline of the Koopa race or if he ascended to power through sheer power and ruthlessness. As no references are made to any members of his family, it is also likely Kamek raised an orphaned Bowser (like in Yoshi's Island), which would explain why he values Kamek above all his other minions and why he would seek his advice that a father figure would give in courting others. However, this would not make Kamek an exception to the abuse he gives to his army. It is also implied that he had an unknown wife who would later give birth to Bowser Jr.
What is known is that he commanded his fierce army of monsters from a floating volcanic fortress, with Kamek as his royal advisor and second-in-command, and the Koopa General as his field commander. In time, Bowser became infamous throughout his world, possibly by committing various crimes against the other kingdoms. He imprisoned many of those who opposed him, including a Lumalee who had apparently spent so much time in his cage that he eventually became deranged and suicidal. At some point, Bowser encountered Princess Peach, ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and became charmed by her beauty, courage and high spirit. Upon which, the Koopa King made it his life goal to make the princess his lawfully wedded bride, no matter the cost. Peach, on the other hand, utterly despised Bowser for all the atrocities he's done and has likely fought with him a few times in the past. In an effort to both defeat and impress Peach, Bowser sought out the Super Star, an incredibly rare power-up that would make anyone literally invincible, and after years of searching, discovered that the inhabitants of the Snow Kingdom were in possession of one.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[]
Obtaining the Super Star[]
| “ | Bowser: My army! Koopas! Goombas! Whatever those things are! After years of searching for the Super Star, it is finally ours! Army: YEAH! Bowser: I am now the most powerful turtle in the world! Army: YEAH! Bowser: Soon, we will arrive at the Mushroom Kingdom! Army: YEAH! Bowser: Where after years of being sworn enemies, I will ask their princess to marry me in a FAIRY TALE WEDDING! Army: YEAH- [music stops] Koopa 1: Yeah... Koopa 2: Did he say marry the princess? Koopa 3: Doesn't she hate you? Bowser: Of course she hates me. But that makes me love her all the more. Her heart-shaped bangs, the way she floats in the breeze, her immovable tiara. And when she sees this star, oh-ho-ho-ho, wedding bells! Koopa 1: But what if she says no? Bowser: (suddenly burns the Koopa into a Dry Bones) Then I will power up with this star and DESTROY THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM! Army: YEAH! [music resumes] Bowser: Prepare yourselves for the best wedding ever! IT'S GONNA ROCK!!! |
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| ~ Bowser talking to his army about his plans to marry Peach after they invaded the Penguin Kingdom and stole their star. |
"I finally found it, and now no one can stop me!"
In the opening scene, Bowser and his army are shown arriving at the Snow Kingdom where the Koopas are deployed from the airship before Kamek announces the arrival of Bowser. Storming out of the airship towards the Snow Kingdom's gates, Bowser demands that they open the gates or face death. The Penguins respond by actually opening the gates as demanded, and then attempt to fight the Koopas by barraging them with snowballs. However, their size results in the snowballs barely affecting Bowser or his troops. After the Penguin King asks if he will give up, Bowser declines and signals Kamek to use his sorcery to move them aside. Bowser then uses his fire breath to destroy the icy kingdom, and Kamek uses his magic to levitate some debris for him to use as a staircase. Eventually, Bowser activates a Question Mark Block amongst the destroyed castle and reveals the Super Star that he searched for years. Confident that no one will stand a chance against him now, Bowser boasts over his victory.
Following this, Bowser imprisoned the Penguin King and his soldiers in his lava prison alongside the deranged Lumalee. He and his army then celebrated their victory by listening to heavy metal music and partying. After getting the attention of Goombas, Koopas and the Spinnies, Bowser reveals his plan; to use the Super Star to force Princess Peach into marrying him. This leaves his minions perplexed, as Peach heavily dislikes him for his cruelty. When one Koopa asks what will happen if she refuses, Bowser responds to this by burning him alive with his fire breath, rendering him as a Dry Bones, before explaining that if Peach does reject him, he will use said star to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom. His army then cheers to the idea and they all resume partying.
Learning of Mario and Meeting Luigi[]
| “ | Bowser: What is your name? Luigi: Uh... Luigi. Bowser: Not sure if you know who I am, but I'm about to marry a princess and rule the world. (sharpens claws) Luigi: Wow. (chuckles) Yay... Bowser: But there's one problem, Luigi: there's a human traveling with my fiancée. Has a mustache, just like you. Do you know him? Luigi: No. No! Bowser: Ah, tough one, I see. Maybe this will get you to talk. [tugs on a hair on Luigi's mustache] Luigi: Do you think I know every human being with a mustache wearing an identical outfit with a hat with a letter of his first name on it?! Because I don't! Bowser: [plucks a hair from his musctache] Luigi: [screams] Bowser: [grabs Luigi and tugs on mustache] DO YOU KNOW HIM?!! Luigi: Stop! I know him! Yes, I know him! Yeah, he's my brother Mario, and he's the best guy in the world! Bowser: DO PRINCESSES FIND HIM ATTRACTIVE?! Luigi: THEY DO IF THEY HAVE GOOD TASTE! |
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| ~ Bowser torturing Luigi as the former tells him about Mario. |
Bowser meets Luigi.
Later on, Bowser can be seen playing his piano while passionately singing about Peach before Kamek interrupts him, much to his fury. He lets him know that the princess has been training a "mustachioed human" to stop him. Paranoid that this person could be a supposed suitor for Peach, Bowser invites Kamek to play the piano with him. Once he asks Kamek if he believes that Peach could be interested in the human, to which he says that he has nothing to worry about, an irritated Bowser slams the piano case down on his fingers, much to the wizard's pain. Bowser then storms off while refusing to let Kamek free himself, commenting that "pain is the best teacher".
A group of Shy Guys and a single Snifit would later come to Bowser, bringing him a man in a green shirt with overalls who, as the Snifit announces, ended up in the Darklands. As Kamek holds him in place with his magic, they learn that the man's name is Luigi. Noticing his mustache, Bowser realizes the resemblance he has with the other human Kamek told him about. He then proceeds to tell Luigi that he plans to marry Peach and rule the world, and then asks about his connection with the other human. When Luigi initially refuses to tell him anything, Bowser starts pulling at his mustache hair as means of torturing him for information. Eventually, Luigi cracks and tells the Koopa King that the human is in fact his brother, Mario. Bowser then asks Luigi if princesses would "find him attractive", and he exclaims they should if they have "good taste". Having been unintentionally insulted, Bowser furiously tears off a chunk of Luigi's mustache, throws him to the floor, and orders his minions to take him away, exclaiming that he will make Mario suffer by killing his brother before his eyes. Luigi is then taken to a dungeon where he’s locked in a cage along with the other prisoners, including the penguins and the Lumalee.
Ambushing the Enemy and Coercing the Princess[]
| “ | Bowser: No, Princess. I stole this star for us. I guess love really makes a guy come out of his shell. (chuckles) (Peach looks weirded out by his phrase) Bowser: (to Kamek) I told you that line wouldn't work! Kamek: (gives him a thumbs-up offscreen; sarcastically) You're doing great! |
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| ~ Bowser when proposing to Peach before telling Kamek the phrase he practiced didn't work on her. |
Bowser later can be seen practicing his proposal for Peach with Kamek dressed like the latter when the Koopa General informs him that she and Mario have recruited the Kong army and are on their way to ambush him. However, Bowser is only concerned over the fact that Peach was impressed by him. As means of a countermeasure, he ambushes them first while they were driving on Rainbow Road. The attack results in the Koopa General sending Mario and Donkey Kong down into the water below, presumably to their deaths. Meanwhile, the rest of the Kongs such as Cranky Kong are imprisoned and Peach and Toad are forced to retreat back to the Mushroom Kingdom to evacuate the citizens and prepare for Bowser's inevitable arrival.
Bowser and his army soon arrive in the Mushroom Kingdom, where he tries to propose to Peach, asking her if she would like to marry him and take over the world as his bride. Peach harshly rejects him but is forced to change her mind after Kamek starts torturing Toad with his magic at the King's demand. Peach and a weaken Toad are then captured and brought on Bowser's ship.
Fight at the Altar[]
| “ | Peach: You really thought I'd marry you? Bowser: (flabbergasted) Kinda?! Peach: I'd never marry a monster! (Peach powers up with a ice flower.) Bowser: (furious) Then we are breaking up RIGHT NOW! |
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| ~ Bowser attempting to kill Peach after realizing she took part in the wedding to perform a surprise attack. |
At the wedding which is attented by various minions of Bowser such as King Bob-omb and King Boo, Bowser reveals that to Peach that he intends of executing his prisoners in the former's honor, much to her disgust and horror. As Kamek is about announce Peach and Bowser wife and husband, the former punches him away and reveals that she would never marry Bowser. She quickly pulls out an Ice Flower Toad smuggled in her bouquet and transforms into Ice Peach. A furious Bowser calls off the wedding and attempts to incinerate Peach with his fire breath. She quickly jumps out of the way and manages to freeze Bowser, shutting his eyes close before fighting his angry minions. Shortly after Mario and Donkey Kong arrive and help free the prisoners and shoo off the minions, the former is able to reunite with Peach and his brother. Bowser manages to open his eyes and sees Mario and Peach are enjoying each other's company before holding hands. Consumed by rage and jealousy, Bowser burns the ice blocking his head and orders his minions to launch a Bomber Bill to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom. Luckily, Mario was able to rush out and stop it by sending it into the warp zone. However following the detonation of said Bomber Bill, the resulting shockwave causes Bowser's castle and everyone in its vicinity to get transported to Brooklyn.
Final Battle at Brooklyn[]
| “ | Mario: Hey! Leave him alone! Bowser: (drops DK) You just don't know when to quit! Mario: Yeah, I've been told that before. |
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| ~ Bowser to an injured Mario standing up to him, who prevents him from killing Donkey Kong. Thus proving Bowser wrong that he's not scared of him at all, much to the Koopa's anger as Mario laughs back at his response. |
Bowser facing against Mario.
Upon recovering, Bowser spots Mario running for the Super Star. Furious, the Koopa cuts him off before he could touch it and proceeds to punch him into a car before breathing fire at the said car. He proceeds to approach the fleeing Mario while blaming him for ruining his wedding, claiming he was finally gonna be happy and now he is going to make him suffer just like him through the giant pain of his brutal wrath before throwing a boulder at him. He then picks up and throws Mario into another car, pick up that car, and throws it at Mario. As Mario continues his attempt to escape, Bowser whacks him with his tail and he flies into the Punch-Out Pizzeria, giving him various wounds on his face and causing him to limp, forcing him to fearfully take cover. Bowser proceeds to taunt Mario for thinking he could stop him before taunting him for being too scared to fight. Suddenly, Peach runs up and gives Bowser a heel kick in the face, followed by Donkey Kong hitting the the Koopa down with Toad watching, all three attempting to protect Mario. Bowser, now filled with even more rage, quickly gets up and tackles all three of them, leaving Peach and Toad to get captured by Bowser's Minions while Donkey Kong is pummeled.
Bowser then attempts to kill Donkey Kong by gutting him with his claws before a battered Mario intervenes and stands up to him, proving Bowser wrong about his earlier statement by showing no fear, much to the Koopa's anger as he complains over how he supposedly never gives up no matter what happens. Mario simply laughs in response, commenting how he's "been told that before". Peach then proceeds to use a nearby Koopa shell to knock the Super Star away from Bowser and encourages Mario to use it. Frantic, Bowser attempts to stop the plumber by burning him alive with his fire breath, but Luigi saves Mario at the last second using a manhole to block the flames. Together, the duo make a dash for the Super Star and it initially seems like they weren't able to touch it before being scorched, much to Bowser's satisfaction. It's immediately revealed afterward that they absorbed the star's power to become invincible, as Bowser drops his smile and attempts to give them a giant kick to the face. It has no effect, however, and his cockiness immediately turns into shock right before the two finally punch him back at a far distance away.
Refusing to back down despite the circumstances and his knowledge of the Super Star, Bowser foolishly orders his minions to attack the brothers. However, Mario and Luigi easily take down all of his troops before fighting Bowser himself, who continuously attempts to resist them as they heavily overpower the Koopa, pummeling him back and as Bowser foolishly continues to keep fighting them despite the heavy blows. Mario and Luigi then proceed to throw him into the air, punching him down and violently bashing him in the face through the head of his castle, destroying it and finally defeating Bowser.
Humiliation and Imprisonment[]
| “ | Bowser: Peaches! (chuckles nervously) Uh, Listen, this is not the way I pictured it, but give me one more chance. Peach: Ew! No. Bowser: NO, NO, NO-(Peach force-feeds him Mini Mushroom and he shrinks) Hey! HEY! THAT IS NOT COOL! |
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| ~ Bowser's defeat as he's fed a Mini Mushroom. |
Bowser's defeat, as he remains shrunken and locked in a cage in Peach's dungeon, while being belittled by a Toad Guard.
Too injured to continue fighting or even move, Bowser could only beg Peach to give him one more chance, which she justifiably refuses and forcibly makes him eat a Mini Mushroom to shrink him small, allowing Toad to put him in a jar as he screams "That is NOT cool!" and later a bird cage inside of Peach's castle as punishment for his crimes and villainy. Meanwhile, Mario jokingly claims that he got her the pet turtle he promised her while back on Rainbow Road. He is shown grumbling as the citizens cheer on Mario's team for stopping Bowser and for saving the day.
In the post-credits scene, Bowser is singing his song “Peaches” again in his cage after being imprisoned, lamenting how Mario, Luigi and Donkey Kong ruined his plans and how his army was useless against them, but promises to keep going with his goal to make Peach his and marry her. However, Bowser is interrupted by a Toad guard who tells him to be quiet and calls him a "little guy", similar to what Bowser called Mario earlier. He begins ranting, only for the Toad to shut the door on him mid-sentence and leave him in complete darkness, much to Bowser's irritation.
It's currently likely that Bowser will return in the sequel and to his normal size, break out of jail and get his revenge on Peach, the Kongs, the Toads and the Super Mario Bros.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie[]
| “ | How dare you look at my masterpiece and say that?! You think painting is easy?! I'LL BURN THE SKIN OFF YOUR BONES!!! [Realizes his mistake and instantly calms down] Wow. (chuckles nervously) Sorry about that. That's the old Bowser talking. Heh, still working through my demons, I suppose. (laughing heartily) | „ |
| ~ Bowser's second villainous breakdown before he admits his mistake of yelling out at Mario for deriding his painting |
Bowser is set to return in the upcoming film. He is shown to still be a prisoner of Princess Peach, though he is no longer confined to a cage and now lives in a dollhouse-like version of his castle. He has mellowed out significantly and appears to be attempting to redeem himself, picking up hobbies such as painting to vent his emotions. While Bowser appears to be on good terms with Luigi, he and Mario still appear to dislike each other. He also retains his obsession over Peach, as seen from him painting a scene of her swooning over a muscular version of him.