Editing Princess Peach (section)

== Concept and creation ==
=== Characterization ===
Princess Peach was preceded as [[Mario]]'s romantic interest by a character named [[Pauline (Nintendo)|Pauline]] (originally named Lady) that appeared as the [[damsel in distress]] in Mario's first video game, ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong]]'', in 1981. Mario's creator, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], wanted to use the characters [[Popeye]], [[Bluto]], and [[Olive Oyl]] from the ''Popeye'' cartoon as the main characters but failed to obtain the license, so he transformed them into Jumpman (Mario), [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]], and Pauline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tappin |first=Steve |date=2016-07-08 |title=It's on like Donkey Kong! The angry ape with an eye for the ladies is 35... |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/a8b73b92-bcde-40c9-b32e-23a0324e94cd |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=BBC Three |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107002116/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/a8b73b92-bcde-40c9-b32e-23a0324e94cd |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Donkey Kong'' established Pauline's role as the female character who is rescued by Mario and appears as the damsel in distress in subsequent games. With the arrival of the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', Pauline was replaced by Princess Peach.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-06-18 |title=In Super Mario Odyssey Gaming's Original Damsel In Distress Might Finally Get Her Due |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/06/in-super-mario-odyssey-gamings-original-damsel-in-distress-might-finally-get-her-due/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107002424/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/06/in-super-mario-odyssey-gamings-original-damsel-in-distress-might-finally-get-her-due/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Miyamoto later said that ''Donkey Kong'' had been designed for arcades, which were frequented by male gamers, so Nintendo did not consider making a character that would be playable by girls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=2013-06-21 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto And The Damsel In Distress |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/06/shigeru-miyamoto-and-the-damsel-in-distress/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107092507/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/06/shigeru-miyamoto-and-the-damsel-in-distress/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Several characteristics of Princess Peach were introduced in the 1996 role-playing game ''[[Super Mario RPG]]'', including her use of a parasol as a weapon and a sleep spell ability that inspired her Final Smash in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cryer |first=Hirun |date=2023-07-03 |title=Super Mario RPG fans want you to remember that it shaped the modern Princess Peach |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-rpg-fans-want-you-to-remember-that-it-shaped-the-modern-princess-peach/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210182626/https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-rpg-fans-want-you-to-remember-that-it-shaped-the-modern-princess-peach/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the debut of [[Waluigi]] in ''[[Mario Tennis]]'', an evil version of Peach named "Walupeach" was pitched by Shugo Takahashi, co-founder of [[Camelot Software Planning]], but the concept was rejected by Miyamoto before seeing the design, saying that it would be "just like Doronjo" from the ''[[Yatterman]]'' anime series.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=January 18, 2023 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto said no to a Wario-style Princess Peach |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/shigeru-miyamoto-said-no-to-a-wario-style-princess-peach |access-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209221248/https://www.eurogamer.net/shigeru-miyamoto-said-no-to-a-wario-style-princess-peach |url-status=live }}</ref> The design was pitched again by Waluigi's creator, Fumihide Aoki, for the 2004 video game ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'', but was rejected by Nintendo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stedman |first=Alex |date=2023-12-01 |title=Waluigi Creator Reveals Scrapped Design for 'Walpeach' in Mario Power Tennis |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/waluigi-creator-reveals-scrapped-design-for-walpeach-in-mario-power-tennis |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207170108/https://www.ign.com/articles/waluigi-creator-reveals-scrapped-design-for-walpeach-in-mario-power-tennis |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reflecting on Peach's role within the franchise, Miyamoto said that although Nintendo had intentionally kept her as a damsel in distress who is saved by Mario in the games, they had wanted to develop her into a more powerful princess in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfield |first=Ethan |date=2023-04-04 |title=Mario Powers Up: How Nintendo Visionary Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination's Chris Meledandri Plan to Super Smash Hollywood |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/features/super-mario-bros-movie-shigeru-miyamoto-interview-1235572488/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405004314/https://variety.com/2023/film/features/super-mario-bros-movie-shigeru-miyamoto-interview-1235572488/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He said that Peach was one of the characters in the film that evolved the most, as her role was changed from a princess that needs to be protected to one who fights for her kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=マリオ映画公開記念！宮本茂さんインタビュー 制作の始まりから驚きの設定まで – ページ 2 |trans-title=Commemorating the release of the Mario movie! Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, from the start of production to the surprising setting, page 2 |url=https://www.ndw.jp/mario-interview-230425/2/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Nintendo DREAM WEB |language=ja |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425155151/https://www.ndw.jp/mario-interview-230425/2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After the release of the film in 2023, Peach's appearance was updated on the box art for ''[[Princess Peach: Showtime!]]'' to make her appear more angry and determined like her movie counterpart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2023-10-12 |title=Princess Peach Box Art Updated to Look a Little More Like She Does in the Super Mario Bros. Movie |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/princess-peach-box-art-updated-to-look-a-little-more-like-she-does-in-the-super-mario-bros-movie |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217102635/https://www.ign.com/articles/princess-peach-box-art-updated-to-look-a-little-more-like-she-does-in-the-super-mario-bros-movie |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Design ===
[[File:Princess Peach Kotabe illustration.jpg|thumb|right|Illustrations of Princess Peach drawn by [[Yōichi Kotabe]]|alt=Two illustrations of Princess Peach]]
Peach's initial appearance was drawn by Miyamoto, who later asked [[Yōichi Kotabe]] to redraw Peach with his instructions. He had asked Kotabe to draw her eyes to be "a little cat-like" and wanted her to look "stubborn, but a little cute".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Iwata Asks: The Birth of Bowser |url=https://www.gamezone.com/originals/iwata-asks-the-birth-of-bowser/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=GameZone |language=en-US |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112055334/https://www.gamezone.com/originals/iwata-asks-the-birth-of-bowser/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A strategy guide titled ''How to Win at Super Mario Bros.'', which was published around the time of the first ''Super Mario Bros.'' game in 1985, depicted the princess as a human on its cover, but also with an alternative design featuring a mushroom head.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Radulovic |first=Petrana |date=2018-09-14 |title=Peachette: An Investigation |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/14/17860768/peachette-new-super-mario-bros-u-investigation |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924111850/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/14/17860768/peachette-new-super-mario-bros-u-investigation |url-status=live }}</ref> Other merchandise designs created around the time of the first game depicted Peach with straight, long blonde hair wearing a red skirt, illustrating that her design was not finalized until later games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagues |first=Alana |date=2022-04-18 |title=Random: Princess Peach Could've Looked Very Different According To Early Merch |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/random-princess-peach-couldve-looked-very-different-according-to-early-merch |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105050619/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/random-princess-peach-couldve-looked-very-different-according-to-early-merch |url-status=live }}</ref>

When discussing Peach's design for ''[[Super Princess Peach]]'', released in 2005, Miyamoto said that it was important for Peach to be "Peach-like", meaning that she evokes the "free optimism of a Princess." He explained that she was designed to convey an image of strength, rather than being protected by Mario, due to many Nintendo developers being used to a matriarchal figure at home.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=January 8, 2022 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto – Mario 20th Anniversary Interview |url=https://shmuplations.com/mario20th/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=shmuplations |language=en-US |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209214231/https://shmuplations.com/mario20th/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Names ===
Miyamoto said that Peach's name came from associating princesses with girls, and when thinking about girls, he would think of pink.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=宮本茂さんに聞く"マリオたちの名前の由来" |trans-title=Ask Shigeru Miyamoto about the origin of the names of Mario and his friends |url=https://www.ndw.jp/mario-220913-2/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Nintendo DREAM WEB |language=ja |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031101446/https://www.ndw.jp/mario-220913-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Japan, Peach's name has always been {{Nihongo4|Princess Peach|ピーチ姫|Pīchi-Hime|Princess Peach}} since her debut in the original ''Super Mario Bros.'' in 1985. However, she was localized as "Princess Toadstool" in the English-language manual.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franich |first=Darren |date=September 18, 2015 |title=Why Nintendo should make a 'Princess Peach' game |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/09/18/nintendo-super-mario-princess-game/ |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211195327/https://ew.com/article/2015/09/18/nintendo-super-mario-princess-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The English version of ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]'', released in 1993, contained the first usage of the name "Peach" in the Western world,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Andrew |date=February 11, 2012 |title=Peripheral Visions - Feature |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/29204/virtual-console-most-wanted-peripheral-visions |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=August 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812073649/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/29204/virtual-console-most-wanted-peripheral-visions |url-status=live }}</ref> though she was called Princess Toadstool in ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', released in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=June 19, 2016 |title=All hail Wario |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/all-hail-wario |access-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209194003/https://www.eurogamer.net/all-hail-wario |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', released in 1996, she uses both names in a letter addressed to Mario, signing it "Peach". From the 1996 game ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' onward, the name Peach is used in Western versions.<ref name="peachvisual">{{Cite web |last=Claiborn |first=Samuel |date=December 17, 2010 |title=Princess Peach: A Visual History |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/12/17/princess-peach-a-visual-history |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205151615/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/12/17/princess-peach-a-visual-history |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Voice acting ===
Several voice actors have provided the English voice for Princess Peach. Since the 2007 [[Wii]] game ''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]'', Peach has been voiced by Samantha Kelly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scullion |first=Chris |date=2024-01-24 |title=Princess Peach's voice actor of 17 years confirms she hasn't been replaced for Showtime |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/princess-peachs-voice-actor-of-17-years-confirms-she-hasnt-been-recast-for-showtime/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=VGC |language=en-GB |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218224615/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/princess-peachs-voice-actor-of-17-years-confirms-she-hasnt-been-recast-for-showtime/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She has also previously been voiced by [[Jen Taylor]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corriea |first=Alexa Ray |date=2014-01-16 |title=Report: Cortana actress to voice Microsoft's Siri-like voice feature |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/16/5315036/report-cortana-actress-to-voice-microsofts-siri-like-voice-feature |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218225225/https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/16/5315036/report-cortana-actress-to-voice-microsofts-siri-like-voice-feature |url-status=live }}</ref> Her other voice actors include Jeannie Elias in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'', [[Tracey Moore (actress)|Tracey Moore]] in ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' and ''[[Super Mario World (TV series)|Super Mario World]]'', and Leslie Swan, a localization manager for Nintendo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milici |first=Lauren |date=2022-12-20 |title=The Super Mario Bros. Movie voice cast: who plays who? |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-bros-movie-voice-cast-chris-pratt-seth-rogen/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214203455/https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-bros-movie-voice-cast-chris-pratt-seth-rogen/ |url-status=live }}</ref>