The Evil Mani Mani statue is a major antagonist in the video game EarthBound, serving as the main antagonist throughout the first half of the game. It is a powerful statue that can bring out evil influences in other beings.
Biography[]
The Evil Mani Mani statue is a golden statue that brings out the evil in all human beings. It was used to spread Giygas' influence across the world.
It makes its first appearance in Onett. Lier X. Agerate tells Ness to visit him for a surprise; this surprise is revealed to be the Mani Mani Statue, which Lier X. Agerate was strangely compelled to dig up from under his house. While it plays little a role at this point, Lier X. Agerate's greed and high regards to it show that it is already striking its influence in innocent people.
When Ness leaves to Twoson, it's soon bought out by Mr. Carpainter at a high price. The statue quickly corrupts Carpainter, leading him to found the Happy Happy Village cult while also giving him lightning powers. Porky Minch begins to follow the statue, being made by Carpainter into an important figure in Happy Happyism. The statue influences them to kidnap Paula and hide her from Ness, but he eventually makes his way to the village through Peaceful Rest Valley. After obtaining the Franklin Badge from Paula in her cell, Ness is able to withstand Carpainter's lightning and defeats him, freeing him from the statue's influence. Carpainter disbands the cult and allows Ness to free Paula, but Porky continues to be Ness's enemy.
Eventually, Everdred, in spite of his suspicions. steals the statue from Carpainter to sell it in Fourside. However, Geldegarde Monotoli, an elevator operator from Fourside, falls under the statue's influence and steals it from Everdred. The statue grants Monotoli evil powers which he uses to become the powerful yet corrupt mayor of Fourside, brainwashing the citizens and the police to borderline worship and protect him only. The statue also leads him to appoint Aloysius and Porky Minch as his advisors. After arriving at Fourside, Ness encounters Everdred injured behind Jackie's cafe, as a crowd surrounds him. Everdred reveals the truth of the statue to Ness and tells him that Monotoli hid it in the back of the cafe. He then walks off, scaring the crowd.
Ness and Jeff find the secret at the back of the cafe, but instead of finding the statue they are transported to Moonside, in which they must travel the confusing alternative version of Fourside in order to defeat the statue once and for all. The statue proves to be a powerful opponent, capable of various PSI attacks. Ness and Jeff are able to destroy it, however, and Moonside disappears as it is revealed that it was just an illusion created by the statue. With the statue destroyed, Monotoli loses his evil powers and he is left as a feeble old man. He reveals that the statue directed him to prevent Ness from going to Summers or reaching the pyramid, giving the heroes their next destination.
Trivia[]
- The statue is based on the Oscar/Academy Award, but with a pair of horns. This is to show how power and fame can corrupt people.
- The background used in the battle against the Evil Mani Mani is later used as the background for Ness's Nightmare and the Masked Man, the final boss of Mother 3.
- The penultimate boss of EarthBound, Ness's Nightmare, is very similar to the Evil Mani Mani fight, only harder. The player fights the boss alone and it has all of their attacks. The boss is near identical in appearance to the Mani Mani statue.
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 Villains
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Giygas's Army Pigmask Army Minch Family Others | ||