De-evolution

“You may think of evolution as an upward process. Things evolve from primeval slime, up to single-cell organisms, up to intelligent life. De-evolution, of course, works the opposite way. Back to simpler forms.”

—President Koopa, Super Mario Bros.

President Koopa wielding a portable Devolution Gun.

De-evolution is a term used to describe the process of reverting a being to a lower stage in their evolution in the Super Mario Bros. film. De-evolution may affect level of intelligence as well, though not all de-evolution results in a loss of intelligence. The first known victim of this process was the King of Dinohattan.

De-evolution is usually a form of corporal punishment used by President Koopa in the creation of Goombas for use as a dumb, but strong and loyal police force. These Goombas are created by resetting them to a stage in their racial evolution that is somewhere between that of their saurian-ancestors and their current, humanoid form. This results in a tall and bulky creature with a small, underdeveloped reptilian head depending on particular ancestry. Use of de-evolution on humans results in small, ape-like creatures that resemble chimpanzees. De-evolution can be taken even further on both species, reducing them to primordial ooze (as was Koopa's ultimate fate in the film as well as the fate subjected to a technician due to sneezing in front of Koopa's presence) or fungus (as was how Koopa managed to overthrow the King).

This process was originally achieved through use of a special room-sized machine, but Koopa later developed the technology into portable-form to use as weapon in his upcoming attack on Earth.

The process can also work in the opposite "direction", which results in improved cognitive-thinking and comprehension. However, mental capabilities can only be extended to a certain point. Actual intelligence cannot move higher than a person is neurologically-capable.

Gallery

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  A victim of the Devo Chamber who has been de-evolved into primeval slime

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  President Koopa converses with the de-evolved King

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  Anthony Scapelli de-evolved into an ape

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  Koopa de-evolved into a Tyrannosaurus rex

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  Koopa then de-evolved into primeval slime