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====Family====
{{rewrite|section=yes|separate information on Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings themselves}}
{{multiple image
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|image1=NSMBwii koopalings.png
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|caption1=The seven Koopalings.
|image2=NSMB BowserJr.png
|width2=180
|caption2=Bowser's youngest (and currently, only) son, [[Bowser Jr.]].
}}
The first family member of Bowser to appear in the ''Mario'' franchise is [[Bowser's Brother]] from ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. Later appearances considered him to be something akin to a [[fake Bowser]] and eventually a character of unknown identity.
Both the original Japanese and English versions of the game ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' introduced Bowser's seven children, the [[Koopalings]].<ref>[http://www.geocities.jp/frnyanko/setsumei/famicom/supermario3/supermario3.html ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Japanese instruction booklet transcription on GeoCities.] In the story section (pg. 4), they are called「{{hover|自分|じぶん}}の{{hover|子供|こども}}コクッパ7{{hover|兄弟|きょうだい}}」, and King Koopa's line (pg. 2) reads 「ワッハハ。これから{{hover|俺様|おれさま}}の{{hover|息子達|むすこたち}}がこのゲームの{{hover|説明|せつめい}}をするぜ。{{hover|息子達|むすこたち}}の{{hover|言|い}}うことをよーく{{hover|聞|き}}いてせいぜいガンバルことだな。ワッハハ。」 Note Koopa's use of 「{{hover|俺様|おれさま}}の{{hover|息子たち|むすこ達}}」 (''ore-sama no musuko-tachi''), which equates to "my children" (or, literally, "my sons") while at the same time referring to himself in an extremely arrogant manner. The children are introduced with the phrase 「そして、これがコクッパ7{{hover|兄弟|きょうだい}}だ！！」 (pg. 3). Larry (pg. 4), Morton (pg. 8) and Lemmy (pg. 34) refer to King Koopa as 「オヤジ」 (''oyaji''), which is both a Japanese word for "father" as well as a term of endearment.</ref><ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' English instruction booklet. In the story section (pg. 5), they are called "Bowser's 7 kids" and "his 7 children", and Bowser's line (pg. 3) reads "Ha Ha Ha! These are my 7 children that are going to help me take over the Mushroom World!" The children are introduced with the phrase "These are Bowser's kids!!" (pg. 4). Larry (pg. 5), Morton (pg. 9) and Lemmy (pg. 34) refer to Bowser as their father or dad.</ref> They were also depicted as his children in ''[[Super Mario World]]'',<ref>''Super Mario World'' English instruction booklet, page 20 (Mysterious Sunken Ship description).</ref><ref>{{media link|Kokuppa SMB4 Card.jpg|Japanese card about the Koopalings in ''Super Mario World'', in which they are referred to as 「クッパ{{hover|大魔王|だいまおう}}の7{{hover|人|にん}}の{{hover|息子|むすこ}}たち。」, meaning "The seven children of the (demon/sorcerer) king Bowser."}}. Note that their name is written with 「7兄弟」 instead of 「7人衆」.</ref> ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]'',<ref>{{media link|SnesyoshissafariBack.jpg|Back of the North American box of ''Yoshi's Safari''}}.</ref> the first trophy of Bowser in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''<ref>In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', the first trophy of Bowser in Japanese refers to him as having 「7人のこども」.</ref>, the DIC cartoons, and various comics released shortly after ''Super Mario Bros. 3''. However, after ''[[Hotel Mario]]'', the Koopalings went on a nine-year hiatus.
''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' marked the debut appearance of Bowser's seven children, the [[Koopalings]], who were specifically listed as such throughout both the Japanese and English game manuals. Out of all the Koopalings' appearances, this was the most established in ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' and the [[Super Mario World (television)|''Super Mario World'' television series]], along with some comics. It was also stated in various media throughout the years, including ''[[Super Mario World]]''{{'}}s instruction booklet (in the [[Mysterious Sunken Ship]]'s description), a Japanese ''Super Mario World'' card, the back cover for English versions of ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]'', his [[Classic Mode]] [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. For about a decade, following their appearance in ''[[Hotel Mario]]'', the Koopalings were put into hiatus.
In 2002, ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' introduced [[Bowser Jr.]], Bowser's youngest child who, unlike the Koopalings, resembles Bowser greatly. [[Koopalings#Family relationship|Bowser Jr. is considered the heir to the throne since the Koopalings have made a return to the series with their 1988 origin eliminated for the most part.]] While the Japanese Nintendo Direct announcement for ''Mario Kart 8'' referred to them as Bowser's ''kobun'' (which can mean either underlings or adopted children), subsequent games used less ambiguous wording referring to them as minions, with ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' / ''Wii U'' and ''Ultimate'' having the Palutena's Guidance in which the Koopalings' similarity to Bowser Jr. is noted and in which it is stated that the Koopalings have a mysterious relationship to Bowser, although the Japanese version adds that it has been heard that they are minions. Something similar happened to [[Bowser's Brother]] from ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'', who was later considered to be something akin to a [[fake Bowser]] and eventually a character of unknown identity. ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''{{'}}s [[Prima Games]] guide referred to Bowser Jr. as a "''bothersome Koopaling''."<ref>"After you reach Bowser Jr.'s chamber, the bothersome Koopaling hops into his [[Koopa Clown Car|flying carriage]]" - ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii Premiere Edition'', pg. 129</ref>, other sources treated him independently from his Koopaling "siblings" and in a September 2012 interview, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] stated that Nintendo's "current story" is that Bowser Jr. is Bowser's only child <ref name="Miyamoto">[http://www.screwattack.com/news/koopalings-are-not-related-bowser Screw Attack reports that "The koopalings are NOT related to Bowser!!!"] and provide a [http://www.screwattack.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/588/img021.jpg scan of a Game Informer interview with Shigeru Miyamoto], in which he states that the Koopalings are not "currently" considered to be Bowser's children, unlike Bowser Jr., whose mother is "unknown". Posted September 12, 2012. (Retrieved September 15, 2012)</ref>.
In 2002, ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' introduced [[Bowser Jr.]], Bowser's youngest child who, unlike the Koopalings, bears closer resemblance to Bowser and is considered to be his heir. Around this time, with the Koopalings' appearing in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' in [[2003]] and their reintroduction into the ''Mario'' franchise with the release of ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' in [[2009]], the Koopalings were considered to be more of Bowser's underlings than his children, likely due to Bowser Jr.'s introduction. The ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''{{'}}s [[Prima Games]] guide referred to Bowser Jr. as a "''bothersome Koopaling''."<ref>"After you reach Bowser Jr.'s chamber, the bothersome Koopaling hops into his [[Koopa Clown Car|flying carriage]]" - ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii Premiere Edition'', pg. 129</ref>
In a September 2012 interview with Game Informer, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] stated that Nintendo's "current story" is that Bowser Jr. is Bowser's only child.<ref name="Miyamoto">ScrewAttack Staff. "[http://web.archive.org/web/20120913215744/http://www.screwattack.com/news/koopalings-are-not-related-bowser The koopalings are NOT related to Bowser!!!]". ScrewAttack (Wayback Machine, [https://archive.is/GyoDT archive.is backup]). Retrieved October 18, 2022.</ref> and states that Bowser Jr.'s mother, and therefore Bowser's wife, is "unknown." Subsequently, the Japanese [[Nintendo Direct]] announcement for ''Mario Kart 8'' referred to the Koopalings as Bowser's ''kobun'' (which ambiguously means either underlings or adopted children). In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', there is a shared [[Palutena's Guidance]] for the Kooplings in which [[Pit (character)|Pit]] notes their resemblance to Bowser Jr., and [[Viridi]] notes that the Koopalings' relation to Bowser is a "real mystery"; the Japanese versions of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' titles add that it has been heard that they are minions.
[[File:PN Koopa Emblems.png|thumb|upright=1.1|left|The emblems of Bowser, Bowser Jr., and the Koopalings]]
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