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While Bowser was the main villain in the first film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie introduced an even more maniacal villain: Bowser Jr. The young Koopa prince leads an expanded Bowser’s Army on a quest to kidnap Rosalina and save Bowser, who was shrunken and imprisoned by Mario at the end of the first film. Bowser Jr.’s Army is absolutely terrifying to the Mushroom Kingdom, but another group of characters could have made it even more terrifying.
The Koopalings Weren’t In Either Of Illumination’s Mario Movies
Despite them being some of the most prevalent Super Mario characters, the Koopalings weren’t featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie or The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at all. Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig are some of Bowser’s most trusted enforcers, with Mario typically facing them at the end of each world in the video games. They use weapons, magic, and brute force to carry out Bowser’s agenda, making them major threats to Mario.
The Koopalings first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 as bosses, but then they disappeared for a while. However, the team made their grand return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, beginning a major resurgence for the Koopalings. The team then appeared in most of the New Super Mario Bros. games and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, as well as tons of spin-offs like Mario Kart 8.
Due to how much they’ve been used, it is shocking that the Koopalings didn’t appear in either of Illumination’s Mario movies. The films have given cameos to seemingly every Mario villain, even finding the time to feature deep-cuts like Wart and characters from other franchises like ROB and Fox McCloud. So, the decision to exclude the characters that have reigned over modern Mario is a bizarre one.
