Mario games have been a core part of the Nintendo community for decades now. Mario as the Alone Brothers has outlived his own series, first appearing – of course – as Jumpman in 1981. Donkey Kong.
Despite his name in the title, the Mario franchise isn’t just about Italian plumbers. He was joined by his loyal brother Luigi for the first time Mario Bros. arcade game in 1983, who also had a successful franchise of his own with Luigi’s Mansion series. As well as that double trouble duo, you have Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and a host of villains to confront as you run and jump through the Mushroom Kingdom. This cast of characters can also be quite competitive, even playing Tennis or Golf or scream around the track in a Mario Kart.
With their status as video game royals, the Mushroom Kingdom clan are of course hugely popular choices for cosplay as well (only recently, adorable Zion from our video team clashed with that classic character. Metronkey Zelkong at PAX). Here is a list of the top 10 cosplayers of the Mario series around the world.
10. Waluigi
Masquerade: Jackbotnik
Photographer: Lighting Kindness Cosplay Photography
Waluigi is the slender purple and black/blue longclothed subject in contrast to Luigi. While he is not as well known as Luigi, or even Mario other archenemy, Wario, he’s proven to be a tough adversary and a fan favorite. First appeared in Mario Tennis on the N64, Waluigi is the main playable character in many Mario multiplayer games.
Jackbotnik perfectly captures Waluigi’s character with his high eyebrows and menacing expression. Jackbotnik loves cosplaying villains (he tends to be an nemesis of Sonic’s ‘main’, Dr. Robotnik) and has been a fan of the Mario series for most of his life, so the cosplaying Waluigi is natural. Jackbotnik modified the usual dungarees to fit his character here, but the stylish mustache above is his.
9. Wario
Masquerade: s15costuming
Image: Mijares Productions
Wario is Mario’s arch rival (well, except for the Koopa chap with the fire breather) and appears as a villain in the series. Super Mario Land 2 and in countless Nintendo multiplayer games. He also starred in his own franchises with Wario Land and WarioWare series.
Steven’s take on Wario combines a classic look with a Wariofare approach?) Really suits the character. The cosplay was inspired by a series of YouTube videos Mario Warfare by BeatDownBoogieas Call of Duty. Steven likes Wario’s different designs, but as a fan of the WarioWare game, he decided to go with a similar design. With so many hand-painted or dyed costumes, props are Steven’s favorite part of cosplay, as he can really get into the character with them.
8. Luigi
Masquerade: Changeling Cosplay
Photographer: Charlie Delannoy
Luigi is often considered the cowardly brother of protagonist Mario, but when Luigi’s Mansion hit the GameCube in 2001, it was his turn to be the hero. With his famous dungarees and Poltergust, the vampire-catching vacuum cleaner, Luigi battled King Boo and many other ghosts through a trilogy of games.
Changeling is a fan of Luigi and has cosplayed many versions of the tall Italian plumber. His favorite cosplay is the Luigi’s Mansion version. Changeling loves how we see Luigi take center stage and confront his fears. The Changeling vaults are vintage 90s Clockhouse bought from Depop, and the Poltergust G-00 is a real vacuum cleaner filled with green butter slime and LEDs to make it glow. As part of his Luigi toy sets, he made his own fake nose and mustache.
7. Bowser
Masquerade: Groosetastic
Photographer: Photographybyaimee
Ah, this is main villain in the Mario series, Bowser (sorry, Wario).
Also known as King Koopa, this fire-breathing villain is the leader of turtle-like underlings that are always trying to kidnap Peach and take over the Mushroom Kingdom. Appearing in most of the main Mario games and many spin-offs, Bowser is an important antagonist of the series.
The Groosetastic loved the creepy and goofy side of Bowser, and wanted to be able to incorporate that fun side to show in their cosplay of him. They designed and built their own version of the Bowser, using identifying features added to the design, such as the horns, case, and color scheme. Groosetastic also wants to emphasize King Bowser’s Koopa, with its cape and tabard design reflects this and lends a unique spin to the cosplay.
6. Princess Daisy
Cosplayer: Optical Illusion
Photographer: Photos of Alexis Cameron
Princess Daisy is the lesser known princess of the franchise, having only ruled Sarasaland since her first appearance in the series. Super Mario Land on Game Boy in 1989. Daisy is often rumored to be Luigi’s girlfriend, even though Mario is the ‘hero’ in her games. This character has gained popularity over the years after appearing on many multiplayer lists (she plays a meaningful football game) and has a more tomboyish reputation than Peach.
Daisy’s athletic nature is the reason why Illusion Optics is a fan of the character, and her choice for playing Mario Kart. The cosplay above is one of Illusion Optic’s larger recent projects. It is largely handmade, from sewing the gown and its structural layers like petticoats, to casting gems from turpentine and styling wigs. Illusion Optics used a simpler design than her more detailed features in the games, such as Smash Bros. because she loves the traditional cartoon style of that outfit.
