Editing Bowser (section)

==Characteristics==
Bowser is the King of the [[Koopa Troopa|Koopas]], [[anthropomorphic]] [[turtle]]s that inhabit the world of the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. Bowser differs greatly from the rest of the Koopa clan, which consists mainly of bipedal tortoises. He has a large, spiked [[turtle shell]], horns, a draconic muzzle with fangs, taloned fingers, three clawed toes on each foot, red eyes, and a shock of red hair. He has immense physical strength, is nearly indestructible, can [[Fire-breathing monster|breathe fire]], and can jump very high for his large size. He is accomplished in black magic for teleportation, summoning objects, flying, generating electricity, telekinesis, or metamorphosis.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/super-mario-weird-things-bowser-anatomy/|title=Super Mario: 25 Weird Things About Bowser's Anatomy Fans Forget|date=November 10, 2018|website=[[TheGamer]]|access-date=October 11, 2021|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603085514/https://www.thegamer.com/super-mario-weird-things-bowser-anatomy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bowser's physical size varies and in most games, he towers over most characters. In ''[[Super Mario RPG]]'', he stands only slightly taller than Mario. He changes his size at will or through others' sorcery in games including ''[[Yoshi's Island]]'', ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]''.<ref name="auto1"/>

Bowser aspires to take over the Mushroom Kingdom and merge it with his own realm. He is infatuated with [[Princess Peach]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Strategy Guide}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Paper Mario|developer=Intelligent Systems}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Super Paper Mario|developer=Intelligent Systems}}</ref> and routinely kidnaps her as part of his plans for domination. Sometimes, he kidnaps Peach simply to lure [[Mario]] into a trap, but occasionally he hopes to marry her, such as in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]''.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/126830/a-new-mushroom-kingdom-25-years-of-super-mario-64|title=A New Mushroom Kingdom: 25 years of Super Mario 64|website=[[Shacknews]]|date=September 29, 2021|access-date=October 11, 2021|archive-date=December 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210231831/https://www.shacknews.com/article/126830/a-new-mushroom-kingdom-25-years-of-super-mario-64|url-status=live}}</ref> He is typically the central antagonist in the main series, but in the [[List of Mario role-playing games|RPG series]], he sometimes works with the heroes to defeat a greater evil. His personality is generally menacing and sinister, but he sometimes displays a more comical side as a blustering, buffoonish [[bully]] with some emotional vulnerability. He also cares for his minions.<ref name="auto1"/>

Originally in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', Bowser was stated to be the father of the [[Koopalings]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-HAACJ.pdf |title=Original Japanese manual of ''Super Mario Bros. 3''. |publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd. |access-date=December 23, 2016 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514034344/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv//manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-HAACJ.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> with subsequent official sources adding that he is their biological father,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html |title=''Super Mario Bros. 3'' page on Nintendo UK's site. |publisher=Nintendo UK |access-date=December 23, 2016 |archive-date=June 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140629171822/http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/Super-Mario-Bros-3-279558.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>"Bowser, King of the Koopas, and his evil offspring have invaded yet another kingdom. The Koopalings have seized the Kingdom's precious crystals. It's up to you, armed with your trusty Nintendo Scope, to ride Yoshi to the rescue!", back of the box of the North American and PAL versions of ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]''.</ref> but since their return in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' they have been referred to as Bowser's minions. Bowser Jr. was introduced as Bowser's son in the 2002 game ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''. In a 2012 interview, Shigeru Miyamoto stated, "Our current story is that the seven Koopalings are not Bowser's children. Bowser's only child is Bowser Jr., and we do not know who the mother is."<ref>{{cite web |author=[[Dan Ryckert|Ryckert, Dan]] |date=September 10, 2015 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/10/miyamoto-tezuka-interview.aspx |title=Mario's Creators Answer Burning Questions About The Series |publisher=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=December 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123161706/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/09/24/miyamoto-tezuka-interview.aspx |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>