Baby Mario
| Baby Mario | |
|---|---|
| |
| Species | Human |
| First appearance | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart Tour (2019) |
| Portrayed by | Charles Martinet (1999-present) |
- “Not-a-bad, for a baby!”
- —Baby Mario, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Baby Mario is a major character in the Yoshi series, and he is Mario as an infant. Baby Mario, with Yoshi helping him, is often rescuing Baby Luigi, who is carried off by Kamek in several games. Since then, he has appeared in two other games in the Yoshi series and alongside his older self in several sports spin-off games. Despite being a baby, he is capable of playing various sports, driving karts, and even battling enemies (as shown in games such as Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time).
History
Yoshi series
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Baby Mario makes his debut in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (and plays the same role in the remake Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3). Here, the Stork is on his way to deliver Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents in the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek, however, has predicted that the Mario Brothers will cause problems for the Koopas in the future, and he attempts to kidnap the babies. He successfully kidnaps Baby Luigi and the Stork. Baby Mario falls into Yoshi's Island and lands on the back of Yoshi. Yoshi brings Baby Mario to the other Yoshis, and they decide to help Baby Mario rescue Baby Luigi from Kamek and Baby Bowser. After they journey throughout the worlds, they reach Baby Bowser's Castle, where they battle Baby Bowser. After defeating him, Yoshi and Baby Mario rescue Baby Luigi. Then, the brothers are brought back to their parents.
Yoshi Touch & Go
Baby Mario appears in the Nintendo DS game Yoshi Touch & Go. The game starts off with Kamek knocking Baby Mario off the Stork and taking Baby Luigi captive. The player has to guide Baby Mario to the ground using clouds and trapping enemies in bubbles. When he reaches the ground, a Yoshi is at the bottom, saving him when all his balloons pop. Baby Mario and Yoshi then chase after the Toadies, who are carrying Baby Luigi away. Yoshi and Baby Mario eventually save Baby Luigi.
Yoshi's Island DS
In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Mario is one of the babies kidnapped by Kamek in his search for the Star Children. The Stork arrives just in time, however, and manages to rescue Baby Mario, who drops onto Yoshi's back as in the original Yoshi's Island game. He is one of the babies who accompany the Yoshis on their quest to rescue the other children that Kamek has kidnapped. As the other babies in this game, Baby Mario possesses special abilities that he can use to assist the Yoshis. His powers enable the Yoshi that is carrying him to dash quickly, as well as causing M Blocks to be visible. Baby Mario, the Yoshis, and the other babies eventually succeed in rescuing all the children from Kamek and Bowser, after which he is revealed to be one of the seven Star Children.
Yoshi's New Island
Baby Mario appears in Yoshi's New Island for the Nintendo 3DS. He is once again sitting on Yoshi's back. In this game, he helps the Yoshis rescue Baby Luigi in Egg Island. His role in this game is overall identical to the original Yoshi's Island except the fact that it's revealed he can sense where Baby Luigi is.
Mario Golf
Baby Mario makes his first spin-off appearance in Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64. He is a basic character, being a default character out of four. Baby Mario has a draw shot with a drive of 215 yards. In result, he is the strongest of all the default characters.
Mario Tennis series
Mario Tennis
Baby Mario is a playable speed character in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64. He offers more power than the other speed characters but lacks reach. He also shares a stage with Yoshi, simply titled the Baby Mario and Yoshi Court. His tennis racket's insignia in this game is a lowercase letter M.
Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)
Baby Mario is playable in the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis. In this game, he is a speed character, and he is also given his own minigame, titled Baby Mario Target Shot. He has the same signature as the previous game (a lowercase letter M).
Mario Power Tennis
Though not playable in Mario Power Tennis, Baby Mario, alongside Baby Luigi, makes a cameo appearance in the opening of the game. They can be seen only in the first match, where Mario and Luigi defeat Wario and Waluigi.
Mario Tennis Open
Baby Mario appears as an unlockable playable character in Mario Tennis Open, which happens to be the first time he appears as an unlockable character. He is unlocked by completing Level 3 of the Special Game, Super Mario Tennis. His insignia on his tennis racket is now updated and has an uppercase letter M like his adult self, but with bonnet frills around the letter M. As in all Mario Tennis games, he is a speed character. Baby Mario's racket costs 1200 coins in the Clubhouse for Miis to be able to use.
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Baby Mario debuts in the Mario Kart series in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! alongside his younger brother Baby Luigi. Both are light-weight characters and both are default. Baby Mario's default kart is the Goo Goo Buggy. The babies' special item is a Chain Chomp, which can lead Baby Mario and Baby Luigi through the course, knocking other karts out of the way. They share their own course, Baby Park.
Mario Kart DS
Although Baby Mario does not appear as a playable character in Mario Kart DS, Baby Park from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! reappears as a Retro Course in the game.
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Baby Mario and Baby Luigi also make a cameo appearance in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, with several notable characters. Here, they can be seen throughout Yoshi Park 1 and have a sponsor, Baby Land, seen throughout other courses.
Mario Kart Wii
Baby Mario appears as a starting playable character in Mario Kart Wii. Baby Mario is still a small character, having a weight of +3 and a handling of +2. His weight bonus, with Baby Luigi, is the largest in the game out of all bonuses, and it grants him a significant edge when it comes to that stat. Unlike Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Baby Mario does not have his own vehicles, as the other characters, but the vehicles available to him get a different paint job than other characters. His vehicles are mainly blue and red.
Mario Kart 8
Baby Mario returns as a playable racer in Mario Kart 8[1] after being absent from Mario Kart 7. His insignia has been changed from being identical to Mario's from Mario Kart Wii to his insignia from Mario Tennis Open, with the colors reversed from Mario's emblem.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Baby Mario returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the exact same statistics as Mario Kart 8.
Mario Kart Tour
Baby Mario returns in Mario Kart Tour for iOS and Android. In this game he is the more ideal lightweight racer as he has more advantages over the others.
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Baby Mario appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The trophy of him depicts him in his Mario Golf look.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Baby Mario once again appears as a trophy and two Stickers in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His trophy look is updated to his modern appearance. As a sticker, both stickers feature him in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island artwork.
Mario Baseball series
Mario Superstar Baseball
In Mario Superstar Baseball, Baby Mario is a default character in all the modes. He is on Yoshi's team in the Challenge Mode. Baby Mario is a right handed pitcher and batter by default. He is a speed character and he has the Wall Jump ability. In order for Baby Mario to become a superstar, he must complete his six missions, one which is unique to him.
Mario Super Sluggers
Baby Mario returns in the second Mario Baseball game, Mario Super Sluggers. He is a default character as in the previous game. In Challenge Mode, the player learns that Baby Mario is trapped in the Mario Stadium by Bowser Jr. after Baby Luigi is rescued. After Bowser Jr. is defeated, he is set free. Baby Mario then joins the player's team.
Baby Mario has the same stats as Toadette, with the same ability: Enlarge. The two are also the same in that they bat and field with their right hands. The only gameplay difference they have is their tackle.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Baby Mario and his brother Baby Luigi, star alongside Mario and Luigi in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Baby Mario and Baby Luigi first meet their adult selves in Hollijolli Village after the adult Mario brothers have been defeated by Shroobs. They then team up in order to defend Mushroom Kingdom from the Shroobs. Baby Mario spends much of the adventure riding Mario piggyback. He and Baby Luigi eventually acquire hammers in the Vim Factory. After traveling throughout the past, defeating enemies, and eventually rescuing Princess Peach, Baby Mario and company stop the Shroob invasion. Baby Mario, alongside any other character who has originated from the past, return back to their original time period. Prior to returning to the past, Baby Mario gives Mario his hammer as a good-bye gift.
In battle, Baby Mario battles identically to his brother, Baby Luigi. His default attack is jumping on foes, and, when Baby Mario acquires the hammer, can use a hammer to attack spiked foes. The player can time Baby Mario's attacks in order for him to do more damage. When Baby Mario is riding on Mario's back, he can engage in battle when the player presses the appropriate command button at the appropriate time. In piggyback mode, Mario takes all the damage for Baby Mario; when Mario faints, Baby Mario takes his place. If Baby Mario faints in battle, either Luigi or Baby Luigi holds him to avoid enemy attacks. If Baby Luigi faints, Baby Mario carries him; this hinders Baby Mario's dodging capabilities. Baby Mario has more attack and speed than Baby Luigi, but less HP and defense. Compared to his older self, Baby Mario has more speed, but lacks in all other traits.
Baby Mario acquires several overworld traits as he ventures through the game. When Baby Mario and Baby Luigi acquire hammers, they also learn to use the Baby Drill, which lets them dig underground underneath obstacles; it can also be used to get Beans. Mario and Luigi can Spin Jump into Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, causing the Baby Spin, which allows Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to access areas that previous cannot be accessed with the Spin Jump. Mario and Luigi can also roll a Bros. Ball into Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, turning them into Baby Cakes. This enables them to slip through wafer-thin areas that cannot be accessed using the Baby Drill.
Other appearances
Despite not appearing as often as other Mario characters, Baby Mario has received considerable merchandising, especially as mini figures and plush toys. Baby Mario has also been featured in several Mario Kart Wii pull-back karts and keychains along with Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, and Baby Daisy. Baby Mario is also featured with Baby Luigi and Baby Peach as official San-ei plushies. Baby Mario is also in a set of mini 2 inch PVC figures. Most of his merchandise are Japan exclusives, but they are available in online retailers and in retailers with Japanese imports.
General information
Personality
Baby Mario is described as being mostly brave and courageous, such as when he constantly rescues Baby Luigi. His Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy information, however describes him as a crybaby. Unlike his older self, Baby Mario is not a silent protagonist and is actually very talkative. He is also very energetic, as seen as when he wins a race in Mario Kart Wii. Baby Mario is also very playful when he joins his adult counterparts and his baby companions in kart and bike races, tennis games, and baseball games. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time also shows that he is rather impulsive, and Baby Mario's brash use of his hammer has gotten him and the others in trouble multiple times throughout the game.
Physical Description
- Main article: Baby Mario/Characteristics
Baby Mario being the baby counterpart of Mario. He is about half the size of Mario, and has light blue shoes instead of brown. He still wears blue overalls and a red shirt. He doesn't have a mustache like regular Mario, because he is a baby. He has the same reddish brown hair as Mario, and even this early on, Baby Mario already has his famous red hat with his initial (M) on it.
Abilities
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island, Baby Mario can turn into Superstar Mario when Yoshi comes into contact with a Super Star. In this form, Baby Mario can climb up walls and use his cape to float. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Mario grants Yoshi speed and the ability for M blocks to appear.
Baby Mario is also shown to be very speedy because he is a speed or lightweight character in every single Mario series spin-off to date. Baby Mario has a very high Speed stat in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, by default, the highest speed stat out of the other characters. In Mario Superstar Baseball, however, Baby Luigi is faster than Baby Mario, and in Mario Kart Wii, Baby Luigi has a small top speed special attribute. In Mario Super Sluggers, however, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi's speed are equal. In the Mario Tennis series, Baby Mario is usually the most powerful Speed character, and, as his adult self, he is often shown to be stronger than his brother, as evident in the Mario Baseball series and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.
Relationships
Baby Mario and Baby Luigi share a special bond as twin brothers, allowing Baby Mario to seek out his kidnapped brother with the help of the Yoshis during their debut appearance in Yoshi's Island. They are default partners in Mario Kart Double Dash!!, and are often seen together, as evident in Mario Power Tennis and Mario Kart Arcade GP 2. In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the brothers fight side-by-side, and if one falls in battle, the other one will carry him and defend him from the enemies. They also partner up and share good chemistry in various sports and spin-off games. Baby Mario is also good friend with Baby Peach, and protects her from their enemy, Baby Bowser.
Because of time travel, Baby Mario also had a chance to interact with his adult counterpart in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Throughout their adventure, Mario acts as a parental figure for both babies; he also expresses frustration with Luigi when he directs his anger at the children, attempts to calm the babies whenever they cry, and playfully tosses Baby Mario, clearly enjoying his company. The feeling is mutual, and Baby Mario even gives Mario his hammer as a gift before they part ways at the end of the game. Despite their good relationship in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Baby Mario and Mario have a neutral chemistry in both Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers.
Official Profiles and Statistics
- Main article: List of Baby Mario profiles and statistics
Yoshi's Island DS
Instruction Book Baby Abilities Information
Press 
while walking to dash, which lets Yoshi move faster than he normally does. Jump while dashing to jump farther.
- Special Ability: Dashing
Mario Tennis Open
- Type: Speed
- Bio: Baby Mario is small, but he can get to the ball easily with quick moves. He can also hit powerful shots, just like an adult.
- Bio2: Despite being small, Baby Mario has great speed and a fine leap. His surprisingly powerful shots have proven the downfall of many much bigger opponents.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Info
- Partner: Baby Luigi
- Personal Kart: Goo-Goo Buggy
- Special Item: Chain Chomp
- Instruction Booklet Bio: Baby Mario and Mario...together in the same game?!? He's got quite an amazing pet this time around.
- Bio: Baby Mario doesn't drive fast - he flies low. If he gets hold of a Chain Chomp, you'd better get out of his way or you'll quickly become road kill.
Gallery
- For this subject's image gallery, see Baby Mario/gallery.
Quotes
- "Baby Mario!" - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!/Mario Superstar Baseball/Mario Kart Wii
- "Woo-hoo!" - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
- "Not-a-bad, for a baby!" - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
- "No-no-no-no-no-no. Mama-Mia." - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
- "Mama-Mia!" - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- "Luigi!" - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- "Peekaboo!" - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- "Goo-goo!" - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!/Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- "Thank you very much!" - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time/Yoshi Touch & Go
- "Okey-dokey!" - Mario Kart Wii
- "Baby Time!" - Mario Kart Wii
- "Let's-a go!" - Mario Kart Wii
- "So long!" - Mario Kart Wii
- "It's-a good! Go baby! Oh yeah." -Mario Kart Wii
- "Yeah, baby mmmmm. Not too bad!" -Mario Kart Wii"
- "Uh-oh, I lose. Mama mia!" -Mario Kart Wii"
- "Waaaaaaaaa!!!" - Mario Golf
List of Appearances by Date
| Title | Description | Original Release Date | System/Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | Playable Character | Japan: August 15, 1995 |
Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Mario Golf | Playable Character | 1999 | Nintendo 64 |
| Mario Golf | Non-Playable Character | 1999 | Game Boy Color |
| Mario Tennis | Playable Character | 2000 | Nintendo 64 |
| Mario Tennis | Playable Character | 2001 | Game Boy Color |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | Cameo as a Trophy | 2001 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Super Mario Advance 3 (remake) | Playable Character | 2002 | Game Boy Advance |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash! | Playable Character | 2003 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Yoshi Touch & Go | Playable Character | 2005 | Nintendo DS |
| Mario Superstar Baseball | Playable Character | 2005 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Mario Kart DS | Cameo in Baby Park | 2005 | Nintendo DS |
| Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time | Playable Character | 2005 | Nintendo DS |
| Yoshi's Island DS | Playable Character | 2006 | Nintendo DS |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 | Cameo | 2007 | Triforce Arcade |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Cameo as a Trophy | 2008 | Nintendo Wii |
| Mario Kart Wii | Playable Character | 2008 | Nintendo Wii |
| Mario Super Sluggers | Playable Character | 2008 | Nintendo Wii |
| Mario Tennis Open | Unlockable Playable Character | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS |
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ベビィマリオ Bebī Mario |
Baby Mario |
| Chinese | 瑪利歐寶寶 Mǎlìōu Bǎo Bǎo 马力奥宝宝 (Simplified) Mǎlǐào Bǎo Bǎo |
Baby Mario |
| French | Bébé Mario | Literal translation |
| German | Baby Mario | - |
| Korean | 베이비 마리오 Baibie Mario |
Literal translation |
| Portuguese | Mario Bebê | Literal translation |
| Spanish | Bebé Mario | Literal translation |
Trivia
- Originally, the "baby" in Baby Mario's name was not capitalized; in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island he was referred to as baby Mario.
- In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Baby Mario's trophy states that he does not wear overalls, which is false, as Baby Mario does wear them (not counting his appearance in the Yoshi's Island games). The word "overalls" is changed to "mustache" in the European version.
References
- Children
- Siblings
- Heroes
- Unlockables
- Playable Characters
- Mario Golf 64
- Mario Golf Characters
- Mario Golf GBC
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Characters
- Mario Kart Series Playable Characters
- Mario Kart Wii Characters
- Mario Kart Wii Trading Cards
- Mario Power Tennis Characters
- Mario Super Sluggers Playable Characters
- Mario Superstar Baseball Characters
- Mario Tennis 64
- Mario Tennis GBC
- Mario Tennis Open
- Protectors of the Mushroom Kingdom
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
- Super Smash Bros. Stickers
- Super Smash Bros. Trophies
- Yoshi Allies
- Yoshi Characters
- Yoshi Touch & Go
- Yoshi's Island DS
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
