Princess Peach Action Figure
You might know her as Princess Toadstool, but she likes to be called Peach today.
And that’s the subject of today’s article: The mysterious life of Princess Peach. Sure, she’s in nearly every modern Mario title and she’s always getting kidnapped by King Koopa, but do we REALLY know her?
It would seem not because Peach has got it – in terms of a bunch of secrets. Here are five things you may not have known about Princess Toadstool…er…we mean Peach:
1. Princess Peach is based on Olive Oyl from Popeye
You may or may not be familiar with the classic cartoon series Popeye but it has much the same format as the Mario games.
Popeye is our hero, our Mario if you will, and Bluto is the Bowser of the series. Bluto has a fascination with kidnapping the hapless (and helpless) Olive Oyl. This often forms the basis for many episodes of the Popeye cartoon.
Need we say more?
Thankfully Peach isn’t half as pathetic or annoying as Olive Oil is typically portrayed as being.
2. Peach Has Magical Powers
Apparently Peach has some powerful magic at her command. In the original Super Mario Bros game, Peach is kidnapped by Bowser not only because he wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, but also because Peach is the only person in the world with the magic capable of defeating him.
If you will recall, Bowser transformed all of the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom into the bricks and blocks Mario bashes his head on so, if Peach could reverse that, her magic is really powerful indeed. Super Mario Toys
3. Princess Peach it on the Forbes’ List of the Richest Video Game Characters
Those gold coins that litter the landscape in Super Mario Bros. games might be breadcrumbs left by Peach for Mario to find her if Forbes’ estimates of her person wealth are to be trusted. The magazine ranked her as one of the wealthiest fictional characters alongside Scrooge McDuck and Bruce Wayne. Legend of Zelda Plush Toy
4. Peach has starred in More Mario Games Than Any Other Female Character
Peach has starred in more Mario titles than any other female Mario character. This probably doesn’t shock many people – until you look at just how many Mario games there are out there. We’re not talking about just the mainline series, but the whole universe. Time and time again, Peach is typically part of the cast of characters on tap, making her a stalwart of the franchise. Super Mario Odyssey Cappy Hat
5. Peach Had A Royal Fiancé
Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! made its debut in 1986 and it was the first movie based on a video game. Mario is watching television when he sees Princess Peach. She is in trouble and trying to escape her enemies. Kibidango, a small dog, leads the brothers into the Mushroom Kingdom. The movie is similar to the games where Mario and Luigi must help rescue the Princess from Bowser. Not only must they rescue her, but they restore Kibidango to his true form, Prince Haru of the Flower Kingdom. After the reunion, the Prince tells the brothers he is betrothed to Princess Peach and it is their fate to marry. Having fallen in love with Peach, Mario is heartbroken by the news. He and Luigi return to their world.