History Characters / PaperMario

* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:In a rare display vulnerability, Mario is so shocked and saddened by Bobby's HeroicSacrifice that he can't bring himself to tell Olivia what happened. In fact, he's so shaken with grief that he can't even bring himself to ''look'' at her.]]

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/CharlesMartinet (''[[VideoGame/PaperMario64 64]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor The Thousand-Year Door]]'', ''[[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Super]]'')

[[folder:Kamek]]
!!Kamek
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_1386.png]]
[[caption-width-right:250:''"Keh heh heh…''"]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Atsushi Masaki
->'''Appears in:''' ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar Sticker Star]]'', ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash Color Splash]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing The Origami King]]''
->''"You know, when I think '[[VideoGame/YoshisIsland little Mario]],' I think 'Bowser's perpetual enemy.' Which makes you MY enemy."''

Bowser's loyal second-in-command who raised him from birth, as well as the leader of the Magikoopas.

-->'''Bowser:''' I'm all for being evil, but [[ApocalypseHow this]] is overkill.

* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler:In ''Paper Jam'', he and the main Bowser decide to burn the magical book containing the Paper world, with the heroes still inside it.]]

* OutOfCharacterMoment: His plan to [[spoiler:destroy the Paper world]] in ''Paper Jam'' is unusually destructive by Bowser's standards. ''The Origami King'' reigns him back in and re-establishes his [[EvenEvilHasStandards usual morals]].

'''Spinoff series:''' ''Characters/YoshisIsland'' | ''Characters/LuigisMansion'' | ''Characters/MarioGolf'' | ''Characters/MarioTennis'' | ''Characters/SuperMarioMaker'' | ''Characters/DonkeyKong'' [[Characters/DonkeyKong series]] ([[Characters/DonkeyKongKongs Kongs]] -- [[Characters/DonkeyKongKingKRool King K. Rool]]) | ''Characters/{{Wario}}'' [[Characters/{{Wario}} series]] ([[Characters/WarioAndWaluigi Wario and Waluigi]])\\

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Obviously, Jr. loves his father more than anything else, and everything he does is to make him proud.

* GottaCatchEmAll: In ''Sticker Star'', his main objective seems to be hunting down rare stickers. At least until the last time he's encountered, during which he wants revenge.
* GreenEyedMonster: In the fourth game he attacks Mario twice simply because he wants to take the plumber's stickers for himself.

* PapaWolf: Pretty much everything he does is to protect and appease Bowser, who he basically raised as his own.

->'''Voiced by''': Charles Martinet

-->'''Toad #12:''' GAAH!

* WorthyOpponent: After defeating Rubber Band, Mario takes a moment to applaud her final performance.

* ArtAttacker: ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash Color Splash]]'' sees him use magical paint to power up his attacks. ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing The Origami King]]'' takes it a step further by having him fold his body into massive, origami arms that can thrash, bash, and throw enemies ten times his size.

* BigBrotherInstinct: He often goes out of his way to protect or rescue Luigi whenever the latter finds himself in trouble ([[ButtMonkey which happens often]]).

* BoringButPractical: In ''Super Paper Mario'' apart from flipping, he doesn't have any crazy moves or increased attack like the other heroes have. But at the same time, he lacks their drawbacks and so is the best-suited for general gameplay.
* ChickMagnet: In ''The Thousand-Year Door'', '''all of his female partners''', and even some [=NPCs=] are all attracted to him somehow, even though it's clear to most of them that he already has a girlfriend in the form of Princess Peach that he's trying to rescue.

* {{Flanderization}}: In the first few games, the Toads appeared in various shapes and sizes with unique names. From ''Sticker Star'' onwards, however, they all share an identical base model and almost exclusively named "Toad".

-->'''Toad #5:''' [[NonSequitur My wife left me!]]

* TheTease: She's quite flirtatious, winking and blowing kisses at whomever catches her fancy. She even manages to make Mario blush!

* NiceGuy: He acts like one, but some dialogue of his such as "unpaid Snifit interns" suggest he can be a {{Jerkass}} too.

->'''Voiced by:''' Jen Taylor (''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor The Thousand-Year Door]]''), Leslie Swan (''[[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Super]]''), Samantha Kelly (''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar Sticker Star]]'', ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash Color Splash]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing The Origami King'')

->'''Voiced by:''' Scott Burns (''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor The Thousand-Year Door]]''), Eric Newsome (''[[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Super]]''), Kenny James (''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar Sticker Star]]'', ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash Color Splash]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing The Origami King'')

-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/CharlesMartinet (''64'', ''TTYD'', ''Super'')

->'''Voiced by:''' Jen Taylor (''TTYD''), Leslie Swan (''Super''), Samantha Kelly (''Sticker Star'', ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'', ''Color Splash'', ''The Origami King'')

->'''Voiced by:''' Scott Burns (''TTYD''), Eric Newsome (''Super''), Kenny James (''Sticker Star'', ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'', ''Color Splash'', ''The Origami King'')

->'''Voiced by:''' Jen Taylor (''TTYD''), Leslie Swan (''Super''), Samantha Kelly (''Sticker Star'', ''Color Splash'', ''The Origami King'')

->'''Voiced by:''' Scott Burns (''TTYD''), Eric Newsome (''Super''), Kenny James (''Sticker Star'', ''Color Splash'', ''The Origami King'')

** Relating to the above, the constant overuse of Toads in the newer games led to ''Paper Mario'' fans getting sick of the Toad species as a whole and wishing for them to be removed entirely. ''The Origami King'' introduces a BigBad who seeks to "silence" the Toads forever, even giving the player the opportunity to agree with him. However, this is [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] in a very [[CerebusSyndrome dark]] manner once it's revealed what "silencing" the Toads [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide actually entails]]…

*** A much [[CerebusSyndrome darker variant]] comes in the form of King Olly's master plan: the complete and utter [[FinalSolution genocide]] of the Toad species.

* FinalSolution: In ''The Origami King'', King Olly's ultimate plan is to use 1,000 paper cranes to wish for the annihilation of all Toads, much to the heroes' horror.

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In his introduction in ''Sticker Star'', Kamek is a FauxAffablyEvil villain who goes out of his way to antagonize Mario and Kersti at every opportunity and personally drives most of the plot. Fast forward to ''The Origami King'', and Kamek's traits have shifted to more closely resemble his mainstream counterapart, having him behave more respectfully and placing an emphasis on his role as Bowser and Junior's BeleagueredAssistant.

* DemotedToExtra: After [[TheHeavy being the major antagonistic force]] in ''Sticker Star'', Kamek's role is comparatively smaller in ''Color Splash'', where he mainly appears by cursing Mario during battles and his role in the plot largely replaced by [[CoDragons the Koopalings]]. He is still responsible for playing around with the sizes in Mondo Woods, but is still overall a step down from being TheDragon.
* TheDragon: He is Bowser's most trusted enforcer, and seems to have even more control of the Koopa Tropp than Bowser Jr. himself.

* FailedASpotCheck: Despite their long history with each other, Kamek completely fails to notice that Bowser is NotHimself in ''Sticker Star'' and ''Color Splash'' due to the influences of the Royal Sticker and the black paint, respectively. Instead, he continues to carry out Bowser's (very questionable) orders like nothing is out of the ordinary.

* GuestStarPartyMember: For a brief period in ''The Origami King'', Bowser Jr. can aid in battles during the period between restoring him back to normal and fighting the miniboss. However, the player can go straight to the miniboss after the preceeding sequence and he permanently leaves the party (as far as the game is concerned) afterwards, meaning that its unlikely that they'll see him in battle unless they put off fighting the miniboss.

* TragicVillain: ''Paper Jam'' portrays him as a [[LonelyRichKid lonely kid]] who is neglected by his father and simply [[IJustWantToHaveFriends wants a friend]]. He manages to find one in the main Bowser Jr., but the two are ultimately separated by the end and forced to continue going on as lonely as they were before.

* HeroicBSOD: In a rare display vulnerability, Mario is so shocked and saddened by Bobby's HeroicSacrifice that he can't bring himself to tell Olivia what happened. In fact, he's so shaken with grief that he can't even bring himself to ''look'' at her.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: In ''The Origami King'', Mario, who usually takes dangers in stride ([[NotSoStoic save moments of surprise]]) and doesn't speak much, flips out when he realizes that Bobby [[spoiler:lit his friend's fuse so he can detonate himself to save Olivia from underneath a boulder]]. Afterwards, he is so depressed that when Olivia asks where they are, he can't bring himself to look at her.

** The Shadow Queen offers this to Mario in ''The Thousand-Year Door'', but accepting will result in a NonStandardGameOver.
** The same thing will happen if he accepts Dimentio's offer to join his mad quest for universal destruction in ''Super'', with Dimentio immediately going back on his word and brainwashing Mario to be his slave.

* DemonicPossession: In ''The Thousand-Year Door'', she's used as a vessel by the main antagonist, the Shadow Queen.

* AntiVillain: In ''Color Splash'', Bowser becomes the BigBad by complete accident after he gets possessed by the black paint in a non-malicious attempt to color his shell.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: In the original 64 game, he asks the Koopa Bros, which consists of four members, who was guarding the Star Spirit. All of them realize they left the spirit unguarded, leading to Bowser yell at them to get back to their fortress.

* BigBad: Of the first game, ''Sticker Star'', and ''Color Splash'' (albeit NotHimself in the latter).

* DemonicPossession: In ''Color Splash'', he ends up accidentally creating a malevolent black paint, which proceeds to possess him and use him to try and spread its influence worldwide.

** Additionally, his love for Peach, while definitely twisted, appears to be genuine. He clearly goes out of his way not to harm her during his kidnappings, is strangely polite and accommodating while holding her prisoner, and shows concern for her upon briefly coming to his senses in ''Color Splash''.

---> "I wouldn't even do that. And I've done some mean stuffs, believe me!"

* EvilVsEvil: In ''The Origami King'', Bowser helps Mario against King Olly after being freed simply [[EvenEvilHasStandards out of disgust]] for the latter's plan to flat-out commit genocide against the Toads.

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Implied in ''Color Splash'', where he accidentally kicks off the entire plot by diving into Prisma Island's fountain in an attempt to give his shell a new, unique rainbow design.

* LadderPhysics: In ''Super Paper Mario'' he can't climb ladders.
* LaughablyEvil: Even when he's plotting world domination, Bowser never fails to behave like a buffoon.

** Played straight in ''Color Splash'', where he is possessed and suddenly develops an obsession with black paint.

* OmnicidalManiac: In ''Paper Jam'', he and the main Bowser decide to burn the magical book containing the Paper world, with the heroes still inside it.
-->'''Bowser:''' First, we're gonna beat you! Next, we're going to trap you in this book! And then we're gonna throw the book in the garbage…AND LIGHT THE GARBAGE ON FIRE! BWAHAHA!

* OutOfCharacterMoment: His plan to destroy the Paper world in ''Paper Jam'' is unusually destructive by Bowser's standards. ''The Origami King'' reigns him back in and re-establishes his [[EvenEvilHasStandards usual morals]].

** In ''Paper Jam'', he decides to torch the entire paper world, which runs [[OutOfCharacterMoment contradictory]] to [[EvenEvilHasStandards his usual stance against universal destruction]].

* TokenNonHuman: In ''Super Paper Mario''. Mario, Luigi, and Peach are regular humans whereas he is a koopa.

* VillainyFreeVillain: In ''Color Splash'', the worst thing that he willingly does is jump into the paint fountain and make a mess; even then, he only did so in a misguided attempt to paint his shell, rather than for any malicious reasons. Everything he does after that is under the influence of the black paint.

* DeadpanSnarker: Many of the Toads that Mario rescues have some kind of self-deprecating remark afterwards.

--> Have you ever experienced a time when no matter how hard you tried, you failed, and the time you spent felt wasted? If you ever feel such pangs of regret, try to remember this tale... the story of a young man's quest to save a sweet princess.

* DemotedToExtra: After having a major role in ''Super'', ''Sticker Star'' reduces him to a silent bit character. ''Color Splash'' gives him more lines and an actual role in the plot, while ''The Origami King'' restores him to main character status.

* FailedASpotCheck: Despite their long history with each other, Kamek completely fails to notice that Bowser is NotHimself in ''Sticker Star'' and ''Color Splash'' due to the influences of the Royal Sticker and the black paint, respectively. Instead, he continues to carry out Bowser's (very questionable) order like nothing is out of the ordinary).

* TheQuietOne: His dialogue is never shown and he doesn't speak much to begin with.

* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:The Shadow Queen]] offers this to Mario in ''The Thousand-Year Door'', but accepting will result in a NonStandardGameOver.

* ForcedTransformation: PlayedForLaughs. During the moment when she is trapped in a sleeping curse in ''Super Paper Mario'', feeding her a pink apple ends up turning her into an actual peach for a few seconds, before returning to normal.

* OutOfFocus: In the first three Paper Mario games she has a rather prominent role with her being the {{Deuteragonist}} of the first two games assisting Mario from the shadows while being held hostage and even joins Mario’s party in Super Paper Mario [[ActionGirl kicking butt in all her finery]]. Starting with Sticker Star, however, she takes a backseat and only has any real relevance during the start and end of the game when she is captured and rescued respectively.

** In the second and third games, where he allies with Mario and Peach solely to keep the universe from being destroyed.

* DemonicPossession: In ''Color Splash'', he ends up accidentally creating a malevolent black paint, which proceeds to possess him and use him to try and spread it’s influence worldwide.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Like in the main games, Bowser [[PapaWolf loves his son dearly]] and [[AFatherToHisMen cares about his troops]] almost as much.

* FriendlyEnemy: As the series progresses, Bowser becomes less and less hostile towards Mario, despite still remaining his ArchEnemy. ''Color Splash'' reveals that the two regularly go-kart they're not battling, and by the time of ''The Origami King'', Bowser is just flat-out ''nice'' to Mario, and teams up with him without any reservations.

* PlotIrrelevantVillain: In ''The Thousand-Year Door'', Bowser spends the entire game moping about someone else kidnapping Peach and replacing him as the BigBad. His attempts to stay relevant eventually lead to a couple of bouts with Mario, but neither winds up being significant in a narrative sense.