Pianta syndicate
| Pianta syndicate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Don Pianta, original leader of the Pianta syndicate | |||
| First appearance | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004) | ||
| Leader | Don Pianta (formerly) Francesca Frankie | ||
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The Pianta syndicate is a criminal organization of Piantas located in west Rogueport. During the events of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, it is first led by Don Pianta, and later on by Frankie and Francesca. The Pianta syndicate is the rival organization to the Robbo Thieves, who are located on the east side of Rogueport. Violence often erupts between the two gangs, with at least one instance of violence occurring as Toadsworth meets with Mario shortly after Princess Peach's disappearance from Rogueport. While Toadsworth talks, two members of the Pianta syndicate can be seen in the background beating up two members of the Robbo Thieves.
The Pianta syndicate also owns the Pianta Parlor, a place where people can gamble on games with pianta tokens after acquiring membership cards. The syndicate's base is a nearby building in a rundown alley, and the only way to gain access is to purchase a Dried Shroom followed by a Dizzy Dial from Westside Goods. The store's owner will then inquire about the customer's favorite color; if the answer is yellow, the customer is granted access to the Pianta syndicate's headquarters.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | モンテオーネ・ファミリー[?] Monteōne Famirī |
Monteone Family, from Don Pianta's Japanese name, Monteone, and how units of a mafia's organized crime are called 'families'. | |
| French | Mafia Pianta[?] | Pianta Mafia | |
| Italian | Malapalma[?] | From malavita (a slang term for "organized crime") and palmense (Pianta) |
Trivia
- Many aspects of the Pianta syndicate are similar to the Sicilian Mafia and its various offshoots. The use of the title "Don", the colloquial Brooklyn accents and speech used by its members, the residency in an economically polarized town (Rogueport) situated near a busy port resembling those of the northeastern United States (where mafia members were most prevalent), member Piantas originating from Isle Delfino (which itself has Italian inspiration), the various members of the syndicate being given Italian names, and the use of the Pianta Parlor as a front are all examples of this. Additionally, Mario, who is also Italian, is at one point asked if he has considered joining the syndicate. This similarity is further supported in the Japanese version, which gave them the name "Monteone Family", which, as noted above is stylized after how units in the Sicilian mafia are called 'families'. Lastly, they are also shown wearing sunglasses and suits that are indicative of 1940s-era mafia units.
