Cannon
- “We're peace-loving Bob-ombs, so we don't use cannons. But if you'd like to blast off, we don't mind. Help yourself.”
- —Bob-omb Buddy, Super Mario 64
Cannons are used to fire all kinds of projectiles in the Mario series, including characters. They have a more generic appearance and use than the Bill Blasters which specifically shoot out only Bullet Bills. Cannons are usually part of the environment and cannot be destroyed.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3
Cannons make their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 3 in the airship levels. Unlike Bill Blasters, which shoot Bullet Bills straight ahead, fixed cannons shoot their cannonballs diagonally. They are found on floors and ceilings and will continue firing when touched. There are also rotating versions of the cannons, which fire in two directions at a time, then rotate at a 45° angle. Some cannons eject Bob-ombs at short distances.
Super Mario 64/Super Mario 64 DS
Cannons, this time colored blue, are a vital element in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. There is at least one cannon found in each level in these games. Each of the cannons that can be found throughout the games are under the control of Bob-omb Buddies. The player must successfully locate and talk to the Bob-omb Buddies in each level in order to access the cannon or cannons for that particular level. Until they do, the cannons will remain covered by a metal hatch with a picture of a Bob-omb Buddy on it, and will be inaccessable. The location of each Bob-omb Buddy becomes increasingly difficult to find as Mario progresses through the games. A common misconception is that only the cannon or cannons in the immediate vicinity of the Bob-omb Buddy will be unlocked when Mario talks to them. Fortunately, this is not the case, as every cannon in the level will be unlocked.
When a cannon has been unlocked, the metal hatch will slide away, revealing a square hole in the ground. In order to use the cannon, Mario needs only to drop down into this hole. The cannon will then rise out of the hole, and the player can use it to fire Mario to previously unreachable areas. When Mario has entered a cannon, a targeting reticle will appear on the screen, allowing the player to aim the cannon where they want Mario to go and when the target is locked, press the 
button to fire the cannon (
in the remake). The player should aim slightly higher than the area they wish to shoot Mario to, as the height of Mario's trajectory tends to gradually decrease after he is fired from the cannon. If the player collects a Wing Cap before entering a cannon, the player can fly around as Wing Mario immediately after being fired from the cannon, without needing to perform a Triple Jump to take off first.
Contrary to popular belief, there is indeed a cannon outside Princess Peach's Castle, though it is covered by a small metal grate as opposed to a metal hatch. The cannon can only be unlocked and used after Mario has collected all 120 Power Stars in the game. When used, the player will be able to access the roof of Princess Peach's Castle, where Yoshi and a hidden Wing Cap await. For the DS version, if 150 Power Stars are collected, then Luigi can capture the green mini-game rabbit from the roof.
In the Whomp's Fortress level "Blast Away the Wall", Mario must shoot himself out of a cannon in order to obliterate the topmost section of a nearby wall, which will release the hidden Power Star.
Super Mario Sunshine
In Super Mario Sunshine, there are very few cannons, most of which are operated by Monty Moles. These cannons are completely red in color and have three openings from which multiple Bullet Bills, Missile Bills, and Bombshell Bills can be shot. They effectively take the place of Bill Blasters in this regard. When Mario approaches the cannons, the Monty Moles will cease firing Bullet Bills at him, and will instead begin to pelt Mario with multiple Bob-ombs, which Mario must diffuse (by spraying them) and then throw back at the mole to defeat it.
The first cannon that is encountered in this game is found on the upper west side of Delfino Plaza. When Mario first comes across it, a Pianta mechanic working inside it will tell Mario that it is unfortunately out of order, and therefore unable to be used at the moment. However, after Shadow Mario has kidnapped Peach and taken her to Pinna Island, the cannon becomes accessable, and Mario is able to use it to shoot himself to Pinna Island to pursue Shadow Mario. From this point on, the cannon continues to act as Mario's only means of transport to Pinna Park, which he must return to every time he wishes to travel there. When Mario enters this cannon, he will automatically be shot to the island, without needing to aim first.
The second cannon in the game can be found near the entrance to Pinna Park, and is manned by a Monty Mole. In the episode "The Beach Cannon's Secret", Mario must dodge incoming Bullet Bills and make his way to the cannon, where he must throw Bob-ombs at the Monty Mole to defeat it. After it has been defeated, Mario must enter the cannon's opening to complete a Secret Level and return to Delfino Plaza. Mario can also use the Bullet Bills fired from the cannon as an opportunity to collect many Blue Coins, which are hidden under baskets that can only be broken open by Bullet Bills.
The third and final cannon in the game is found in Noki Bay in the level Uncork the Waterfall. In this level, the cannon is positioned atop an extremely large cork, and continuously shoots out spiky balls of Goop which gradually fall down cliff faces and cause widespread pollution in the area. Mario must make his way to the top area of Noki Bay until he reaches the area with the cannon. Again, he must diffuse Bob-ombs and then throw them back at the Monty Mole to defeat it. This time, the entire cannon will explode when defeated, and the cork blocking the waterfall will be dislodged, releasing the Shine Sprite for that level.
New Super Mario Bros.
A type of Cannon called a Warp Cannon appears in New Super Mario Bros.. These cannons blast Mario or Luigi to a different world. They are usually unlocked by finding a secret goal in a level. Another type of cannon called Cannon Pipes appear, which, when entered, blasts Mario or Luigi to an unreachable place in a level, similar to the slanted pipes from Super Mario World.
Super Mario Galaxy
Cannons reappear in Super Mario Galaxy. These cannons appear to be more advanced than the cannons from Super Mario 64 and they largely fulfill the same role as in that game. They also have much more precise aiming, since the player uses the 
to aim. The 
button fires the cannon and Mario can get to high places and Power Stars.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, cannons from Super Mario Bros. 3 that fire cannonballs re-appear. The rotating sets of four cannons also appear, and one of them is larger and fires Giant Cannonballs. This one is usually found at the end of the airship stages before the battle with Bowser Jr., with one of their cannons being a Warp Pipe that doesn't fire and which characters must enter. Warp Cannons and Cannon Pipes from New Super Mario Bros. also appear. Another type of cannon which makes an appearance are cannons from the 1-Up Blast mini-games. Characters enter these cannons and aim before they blast themselves and attempt to pop balloons to earn 1-Ups.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Cannons once again appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2. However, they only appear in Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker, where they are mostly used in place of Launch Stars. In the Throwback Galaxy, the cannon from Whomp's Fortress is replaced by a Sling Star. Cannons in these games are pretty much the same as the original, but there's a target to land on. If the hero manages to hit the center, he gets an extra life.
Donkey Kong series
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
In Donkey Kong for the Game Boy, cannons appear in a variety of forms. Their appearance changes from level to level. In the Desert, the canons have a dated look taken from the Middle Ages (top image). They fire out bullets that look like Bullet Bills. If Mario gets hit by one, he gets killed. On the Airplane, cannons are made out of steel and look more contemporary, but their basic function is unchanged (middle image). In later airship levels, some cannons can change their angle of fire: they will now shoot diagonally and upwards (bottom image).
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Cannons later appear in boss fights against Donkey Kong in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. To use them, the player must use the stylus to move the handle to aim. To fire, the player must tap the "Shoot" button.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Although no regular, harmful cannons appear in the game, Pot Cannons make an appearance as the first helpful cannons of the Mario series in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. They appear in Land's End and help Mario to reach higher places.
Mario & Luigi series
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
A cannon also appears in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. After the crash of the Koopa Cruiser, Bowser gets stuck in it, and tells Mario and Luigi to get him out. They can not, however. Tolstar then tells them that he will help them getting Bowser out if they collect 100 Beanbean Coins. The Mario Bros. do get the 100 Beanbean Coins, but Tolstar betrays them. Mario and Luigi defeat Tollstar in a battle, but the green Starshade Bro. then comes out and lights the fuse of the cannon, sending Bowser to crash into Hoohoo Mountain. The Cannon then dissapears, allowing Mario and Luigi to pass.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Cannon items appeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. They were named Cannonballers, and were one of the many Bros. Items in the game.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
A Giant Cannon appears in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, in the Fahr Outpost area. This cannon is vital for Mario in the game. He has to use it in order to shoot himself up to the Moon. The cannon itself is big enough that it can fit more than 100 Bob-ombs inside of it. The Bob-ombs are needed to fire the cannon off.
Yoshi's Universal Gravitation
Cannons were used to blast Yoshi to new heights in Yoshi's Universal Gravitation.
Mario Pinball Land
In Mario Pinball Land, Cannons blast Mario to other areas. To access the Cannon in the Fun Fair, Mario must hit and then roll into it to choose a location the player wishes to go to.
Mario Party series
Mario Party 4
Four cannons appear in the 1-vs-3 minigame Hide and Go BOOM! from Mario Party 4, as the hiding spots of the three players. The fourth player lights the fuse to fire the cannons to send them flying.
Mario Party 7
A Cannon has appeared in Mario Party 7 as an orb in Pagoda Peak.
Mario Party 8
In Mario Party 8, on the board DK's Treetop Temple, characters can use Cannons to blast to a space somewhere at the top of the map for five coins. On the board Goomba's Booty Boardwalk, Pirate Goombas used Cannons to blast any characters who land on the respective ? Space back to the start.
Mario Party DS
Cannons appear in Mario Party DS. They appear on the board, Bowser's Pinball Machine, where they are scattered on sides of the board. If the player lands on the space next to the cannon, they hop in it. Then they have to draw a line in the direction they want to land. Then they will land on a bumper that they bounce off. After they bounce off the bumper, they will land on a space. A Cannon also appears as a collectible. It is a board feature from Bowser's Pinball Machine. The figure can be unlocked by being launched by a cannon on Bowser's Pinball Machine three times.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3
Smaller Cannons that shot exploding Cannonballs appeared in Mario Hoops 3-on-3's Pirate Ship court.
Wario: Master Of Disguise
In Wario: Master of Disguise a golden cannon known as Blamses was a popular attraction. Another cannon in Master of Disguise is the Sphinx Jr., and another cannon known by K9 Cannon.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
During the Adventure Tour of the DS verison in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, cannons were used to launch Mario or Sonic to a different island after they have saved the Snow Spirits.
Mario Sports Mix
Cannons make an appearance in the Mario Sports Mix party game Bob-omb Dodge where players get to dodge the Bob-ombs that are shot out for two minutes. Also in the game, players can use Warp Cannons in the Flower Cup Tournament to unlock alternate routes.
Trivia
- In the game Mario is Missing!, Luigi had to return the ammunition of a cannon (the Emperor's Cannon) to the Kremlin.
- In Super Princess Peach, Kaboombas, which appeared in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, were named "Cannons".
