#I love this version of bowser a LOT he is the perfect balance of goofy and horrifying

[pianokantzart]

I found out that Bowser was going to be meaner in the Mario movie and that they made him more likable in the final move.

Like Bowser in the final movie tries to destroy the mushroom kingdom and preform a ritualistic sacrifice, hold Luigi to later kill to make Mario suffer, his love for Peach is faker than plastic, he treats his minions like trash.

Like outside of being funny Bowser has no good qualities, and I can only think about how he would have been.

Yeah, I remember reading somewhere that figuring out his personality was one of the most difficult parts of writing the script, and they kept making him too much like a "Marvel Villain" (or something along those lines.)

They definitely went the right direction by leaning into the "hopeless romantic" angle and playing up his insecurities. The way he fawns awkwardly over his crush? writes shallow romantic ballads while imagining her swooning? nervously rehearses one-liners? If that was all it was, it'd be adorable!

You see the seeds of what could have been good qualities. His sensitivity could've garnered compassion and his determination could've made him a good ruler rather than a good conquerer. It's the fact that he's both unable to accept "no" in any capacity and makes his personal insecurities the responsibility of everyone around him that make him so scary.

He obsesses over what he can't have and enjoys nothing more than the utter destruction of anything that dares to stand in his way, hence the weird adoring/vengeful behavior he exhibits toward Princess Peach. Peach is both something he wants and the thing telling him "no," and as a result he wants to take ownership of her and tear her down simultaneously... marrying her amidst a mass slaughter of her old allies and destroying her kingdom the moment she resists.

He is both terrifying and pathetic, so wrapped up in himself he can't see that he's a black hole of desires, constantly destroying his own chances at happiness in pursuit of an idealized version of validation. He's somewhat likable because you can relate to his vulnerability, and the way he awkwardly fumbles with his own romantic feelings is incredibly entertaining, but boy oh boy he is not anything close to a good person.