Dolphin

This article is about the enemies which debuted in Super Mario World. For information about the console code named "Dolphin" during its development, see Nintendo GameCube. For the character from Mario Party Advance, see Dolphin (Mario Party Advance).

Dolphin
Artwork of some Dolphins in Super Mario World
Appearances
First appearance	Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance	Dr. Mario World (2020)
Similar entities
Variants Micro-Dolphin
Relatives Buffy the Dolphin Fluffy the Dolphin Puffy the Dolphin
Notable members Dolphin Stuffy the Dolphin

Dolphins are goggle-wearing cetaceans based on their real-world counterparts. They are a friendly aquatic species, and they debuted in Super Mario World.

History

Super Mario World

In Super Mario World, Dolphins only appear in Vanilla Secret 3 and in a hidden area near the end of Chocolate Island 1. They are used as platforms to cross the water infested with Porcupuffers. They jump in and out of water either vertically or in parabolic arcs. They appear on the "enemy list", but are described as "not really an enemy", though it is said "they can take Mario the wrong way". In the Japanese version of Super Mario World, the player while riding on Yoshi can eat the Dolphins which was changed in the Western versions, but was retained in Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.

Mario Party series

Mario Party 4

A Dolphin appears in Koopa's Seaside Soiree in Mario Party 4, where he will let the character played as get on his back while he swims through the water. The character can Jump to get Coins this Dolphin swims by on the trip.

Mario Party Advance

Main article: Dolphin (Mario Party Advance)

A comedian Dolphin is met in Mario Party Advance; occasionally, several Dolphins will appear and form an audience to listen to this comedian Dolphin's jokes.

Mario Party 5

In Mario Party 5, a Dolphin has been seen in the Undersea Dream. It only shows up if the player lands on the Green Space on the sunken ship.

Mario Party 7

In Mario Party 7, some Dolphins can be seen jumping out of the water in the file select screen.

Mario Party 8

In Mario Party 8, the Dolphins play an important role in the board Goomba's Booty Boardwalk‎; players can pay them a certain number of coins depending on what place they are in, allowing them to take a ride on the Dolphin's back and advance a number of spaces.

Mario Party 9

In Mario Party 9, Dolphins appear on Blooper Beach. On the first half of the board, a Dolphin is the first active fish when a party is started, being six spaces away at first. They advance two spaces every turn, and if the player lands on or catches up to the dolphin while captain, the Dolphin gives them 5 Mini Stars. Dolphins also appear when the player lands on a Lucky Space near the end of the board. Landing on one of them results in a trio of Dolphins leading the player to an island with several Mini Stars. Additionally, during the minigame Ring Leader, the players ride Dolphins to jump through hoops.

Mario Kart series

Mario Kart Wii

While no real dolphins themselves appear in Mario Kart Wii, a medium-sized bike called the Dolphin Dasher is based on a dolphin.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Dolphins make their first cameo appearance in the Mario Kart series in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, where they can be seen jumping out of the water in the Splash Circuit and Tropical Coast stages.

Mario Kart 8

A Dolphin in the background of Dolphin Shoals in Mario Kart 8

In Mario Kart 8, there is a banner with Dolphin artwork from Super Mario World on it found in Toad Harbor. Also, Dolphin Shoals features Dolphins that act similarly to those in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, as well as Dolphin-shaped hill structures. In Sunshine Airport, this course can be seen listed on the signboards in the terminal next to other courses.

Mario Golf: World Tour

Dolphins appear in Mario Golf: World Tour swimming around in the background of Cheep Cheep Lagoon.

Super Mario World television series

Two Dolphins from the Super Mario World television series

In the Super Mario World television series, Dolphins appear only in the episode "Mama Luigi". In this episode, two Dolphins, seeing that Luigi and Yoshi are being attacked by a Torpedo Ted, decide to help the two by letting them ride on their backs. Evading the Torpedo Ted, the Dolphins drop Luigi and Yoshi off at a nearby beach. After being thanked by Luigi, the two friendly Dolphins leap back into the water, cheering happily.

Nintendo Adventure Books

A Dolphin is featured on the cover of Dinosaur Dilemma, and artwork of one is used in the book, but none appear in the actual story. An equally friendly variant of them, the Micro-Dolphins, are discovered to be living inside of Yoshi in Unjust Desserts.

Gallery

• 

  Super Mario World animated sprite

• 

  Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 animated sprite of a Dolphin jumping

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	リフトン Rifuton イルカ Iruka	Lifton; from "lift" Dolphin
Chinese (Simplified)	蓝海豚 Lán Hǎitún	Blue Dolphin
Chinese (Traditional)	便車海豚 Biànchē Hǎitún	Taxi Dolphin
French	Dauphin	Dolphin
German	Delfin	Dolphin
Italian	Delfì	Dolfy, from "Delfino" (dolphin)
Portuguese	Golfinho	Dolphin
Romanian	Delfin (Super Mario World television series)	Dolphin
Spanish	Delfín	Dolphin

Trivia

• A working name for the Nintendo GameCube was "Project Dolphin"; the strange and unused name resulted in many Dolphin references in various games. Mario game examples include Isle Delfino (the setting of Super Mario Sunshine) being shaped like a Dolphin and Dolphin-themed, and the possible name "Team Dolphin" given in Mario Party 7. However, these references apply to dolphins in the real world.