Il Piantissimo

Il Piantissimo
Species	Human
First appearance	Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
Latest appearance	Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)
Latest portrayal	Scott Burns (2002)

“And now, we shall race to that flag!”

—Il Piantissimo, Super Mario Sunshine

Il Piantissimo is an arrogant human dressed as a Pianta who appears in Super Mario Sunshine. He must be footraced by Mario for a Shine Sprite on three different occasions: the fifth episode of Gelato Beach, the fifth episode of Noki Bay, and the second episode of Pianta Village. His role is comparable to Koopa the Quick from Super Mario 64. Il Piantissimo can use most of Mario's moves but cannot use any tactics involving FLUDD. If Il Piantissimo reaches the flag first, Mario loses a life. When the player replays a completed episode, Il Piantissimo is more difficult to beat, as he finishes the course slightly over the player's previous time. The first ending screen, if not all 120 Shine Sprites are collected, shows Il Piantissimo looking at Bowser Jr.'s magic brush on Gelato Beach.

Il Piantissimo's name is possibly a portmanteau of "Pianta" and "-issimo" ("-est" or "very"), or specifically "pianissimo" (very soft), a dynamic marking in sheet music. The word "il" is an Italian definite article equivalent to "the."

List of appearances

#	Title	Role	Release date	Format
1	Super Mario Sunshine	Non-playable character	2002	Nintendo GameCube
2	Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour	Name appears on scoreboard	2003	Nintendo GameCube
3	Mario Golf: Advance Tour	Name appears on scoreboard	2004	Game Boy Advance
4	Super Mario 3D All-Stars	Non-playable character	2020	Nintendo Switch

Gallery

• 

  Gelato Beach

• 

  Noki Bay

• 

  Pianta Village

• 

  Il Piantissimo finding the magic brush on Gelato Beach in the regular ending

Dialog

Gelato Beach begin

I am Il Piantissimo! And now, we small race to that Flag.

It is a race to the Flag! And only one can triumph!

By the way, the current record is [time].

Are you at the ready? Then get set... And GOOOOOOOOO!

Gelato Beach Win:

Phew whew haaah... You are pretty good! You have some speed!

You have grown ever so slightly in my esteem! Slightly!

We will meet again! And... goodbye!

Gelato Beach loose:

You Pokey little flab-biscuit! I must laugh at you! Ha!

Next time, show me what you've really got, if you please!

I know we shall race again! Ciao!

Gelato Beach after win:

That is all I wanted to say! Now, away with you! Begone!

Noki Bay:

Ho HO, foolish man! I am Il Piantissimo! Yes, that is me!

And now, I challenge you to a race to that flag!

• camera pan to flag*

It is a race to the finish! The best time is [time].

Are you at the ready? Then get set... and GOOOOOOOO!

Noki bay win:

Whoo... haah... wheeze! You are quite speedy! You are like a fish!

You may not be the slow clam-chomper I took you for!

May we race again! Watch for me!

Noki bay loose:

Ha! You pathetic clam-chewer! I must scoff at you! Scoff!

Next time, bring your good swim fins, for you are far too slow!

Goodbye to you!

• kills you*

Noki Bay after win:

That is all I have to say to you! Now, be off with yourself!

Pianta Village:

It's me, Il Piantissimo! And now, listen! See that flag over there?

• camera pan*

Now, you and I shall race to get there the fastest! Yes!

My personal record is [time] Impressive, eh?

Are you at the ready? Then get set! AND GOOOOOOOOO!

Pianta Village win:

Grrrr! Yes, GRRRR! That was not so bad! You are quick! Yes!

I suppose, maybe I underestimated you a small bit. Perhaps.

You try again after you have practiced more. Until then...

Pianta Village loose:

You are nothing but a rank amateur! You are like a fat Snail!

Come now! Dig down and show me what you have, mustachio!

I will be waiting when you are ready to try again! Until then...

Pianta Village after win:

That is all I have to say to you! Now, be off!

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	モンテマン[?] Monteman	Pianta-man
French	Il Piantissimo[?]	-
German	Palmathon[?]	Portmanteau of Palma ("Pianta") and "Marathon"
Italian	Palmassimo[?]	Portmanteau of Palmense ("Pianta") and massimo ("greatest")
Spanish (NOE)	Forestón[?]	Augmentative of Foresto (the NOE Spanish name of Piantas)

Trivia

Il Piantissimo without his mask

• With his mask removed, Il Piantissimo's face resembles those of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's running man and, by extension, the postman from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. This can also be seen in gameplay by looking through the mask's eyeholes.
• Mario, Shadow Mario, and Il Piantissimo all use the same animations.