Shadow Mario

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Shadow Mario painting graffiti in the air.

Shadow Mario is an evil doppelgänger of Mario and the main villain of Super Mario Sunshine. He has the same appearance of Mario, except that his body is blue (with water effects) and his eyes are red. He also has an unusually long, red tongue. Shadow Mario wields the Magic Paintbrush, an invention created by Professor E. Gadd. Using the brush, Shadow Mario can create toxic Goop and even some enemies. Ultimately, it is revealed that Shadow Mario was Bowser's eighth child, Bowser Jr., in disguise. Using the Magic Paintbrush, Bowser Jr. could make him self look like Mario. It is unknown how Bowser Jr. acquired the paintbrush. However, it is suggested that Professor E. Gadd gave the brush to him.

At the beginning of Super Mario Sunshine, Mario, Princess Peach and Toadsworth travel to the island resort of Isle Delfino to get some much needed R&R. However, when they arrive, they discover the island has been covered in toxic graffiti. Worse yet, Mario is arrested by the Pianta police. During his trial, Mario was found guilty of vandalizing the island, causing the Shine Sprites to lose their power. However, the real criminal was Shadow Mario. Since they looked so alike (at least, to the Piantas), Mario was arrested instead of the doppelgänger.

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Shadow Mario kidnapping Peach.

After being found guilty, Mario is ordered to clean up the graffiti. Until he does so, he is forbidden to leave the island. Shortly after being released, Shadow Mario appears and kidnaps Princess Peach. Mario chases him, shooting water from FLUDD, and rescues the Princess. However, Shadow Mario escapes before he can be caught. Eventually, when Mario is on another part of the island, Shadow Mario returns and kidnaps the princess a second time.

Shadow Mario takes Peach to Pinna Park. When Mario hears that the princess has been kidnapped, he immediately heads to the amusement park. Once there, Shadow Mario enters the cockpit of the gigantic Mecha Bowser, and begins to attack the plumber hero. After a long battle, Mario defeats the robotic creation. Then Shadow Mario opens the cockpit and reveals his true form, Bowser Jr. The young Koopa then reveals that his father, Bowser, told him that his mother was Peach and that she had been kidnapped by the "evil" Mario. Thus, Bowser Jr. decided to frame Mario to punish him and ultimately save his "mother". That being said, Bowser Jr. activates his hot air balloon, and takes Princess Peach to Corona Mountain, where his father awaits his arrival.

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Shadow Mario painting graffiti on the ground.

Shadow Mario periodically returns to the island to cause trouble for the real Mario. In fact, Mario must battle Shadow Mario in every world of Isle Delfino, and fights him several times at Delfino Plaza. To defeat him, Mario must shoot water from FLUDD at an escaping Shadow Mario. Once defeated, Shadow Mario will give up a Shine Sprite, a Yoshi Egg, or a FLUDD nozzle.

In the end, Bowser Jr. loses the Magic Paintbrush, preventing him from assuming his identity as Shadow Mario. However, the runner Il Piantissimo discovers the brush on the sands of Gelato Beach. It is unknown what Il Piantissimo does with the paintbrush, or if he even picks it up.

Shadow Mario is an unlockable character in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. Interestingly enough, Bowser Jr. is also a playable character. It is unknown if this Shadow Mario is an alternate version of Bowser Jr. or if it is someone else in disguise. This Shadow Mario may even be Il Piantissimo.

Oddly enough Shadow Mario makes a minor appearance in Paper Mario: the Thousand Year Door. He appears in chapter 4 when Mario and his friends battle a strange enemy called Doopliss in the Creepy Steeple who was reponsible for turning all the citizens of Twilight Town into pigs everytime the bell on the Creepy Steeple tolls. In the middle of the battle Doopliss transforms into Shadow Mario. Unlike his Super Mario Sunshine counterpart Shadow Mario is dark purple and has no eyes, or mouth. After defeating Doopliss(as Shadow Mario) Mario got the Crystal Star but strangely however you start controlling Shadow Mario and realize that Doopliss stole Mario's name and body. Doopliss would not give Mario his body back unless he guesses his name.

Mario then seaked help from Vivian of the Shadow Sirens. Together they both head back to the Creepy Steeple this time under a well leading to a secret enterance. Mario and Vivian hide when this parrot says Doopliss' name. After this Mario gets the P that is the missing letter. Once they encounter Doopliss again he gives him one more chance to guess his name. Once you type in his name Doopliss goes into shock and runs to the Creepy Steeple. After going there also Mario fights Doopliss and his party members without Vivian at the beginning but in the middle decides to join him and together they both defeated Doopliss. Which cause Mario to go back to his ordinary self again.