Rosalina
- “May the stars shine down on you. ”
- —Rosalina, Super Mario Galaxy
Rosalina is a character who makes her debut appearance in the game Super Mario Galaxy. Rosalina first appears in the Gateway Galaxy, and she is also the adopted mother of the Luma. Rosalina commands the Comet Observatory. She is a very powerful figure, as her duty is to watch over and protect the cosmos as well as the Luma.
Rosalina's back-story is chronicled in her storybook told by her in the Comet Observatory's Library in Super Mario Galaxy. Nine chapters are unlocked throughout the game, and the last is unlocked by completing the game. During the story, Rosalina mentions her home planet as "a blue planet"; Earth is also known by this name, so it is possible Rosalina comes from Earth.
History
Super Mario Galaxy series
Super Mario Galaxy
During one of these centennial visits to Mushroom World, the Comet Observatory is attacked by Bowser, who steals the observatory's Power Stars and Grand Stars. Rosalina later appeared to Mario/Luigi after Peach is kidnapped. In order to aid Mario/Luigi she gives him Luma, the same one seen with Peach at the Star Festival. After Mario/Luigi collects enough stars to power the ship, Rosalina flies the observatory to the center of the universe for the final confrontation with Bowser.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Rosalina appears during the ending sequence of Super Mario Galaxy 2. Lubba reveals at this time that he and Rosalina had met before, but the details of their meeting remain unknown. Rosalina also frequently sends letters to the Baby Luma that's with Mario, but she does not reveal her identity in them.
When the player manages to get 120 Stars and beats the final boss again, a scene is shown, showing Rosalina and her Lumas in the Library, revealing that she was telling the story of Super Mario Galaxy 2. Then, she decides to narrate how Mario (and Luigi) collect every Green Star to her Lumas. If Mario and Luigi manage to collect every single star in the game, and survive the Grandmaster Galaxy Daredevil Comet run, Rosalina will thank and join the two on the Starship Mario.
Players can also use Rosalina to represent their file on the file select screen. However, the Rosalina avatar can only be used on save files in which the player has collected 120 stars, and unlocked the Green Star Prankster Comets.
This game also features a cosmic entity that highly resembles Rosalina, known as the Cosmic Spirit.
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart Wii
Rosalina makes her first playable appearance in Mario Kart Wii, where she is a Large-Sized unlockable character. Rosalina rides in Large karts, and is the first female character to ever be in this class. While racing, a Luma orbits around Rosalina. Rosalina's racing symbol is a Grand Star. Like Peach and Daisy, Rosalina appears in a biker suit while racing on any of the motorbikes, only that the color scheme is different to the overall color scheme of her main dress. Her signature bike is the Twinkle Star and her signature kart is the Dragonetti. Rosalina is the staff ghost character for Rainbow Road.
Character Description
Rosalina is a human with aqua-blue eyes and platinum-blond hair. She is portrayed to be caring, and has a large association with space.
Rosalina has a very tall frame in terms of other characters. Rosalina appears to have a similar body composition to Peach, though she is taller and is even classified as a Large-Sized character as a result. Rosalina's skin is very fair, being a pallor white. Most of her facial features are similar to Peach's, but are tapered sharper. She has the same type of lips and nose as Peach, though her mouth has more of a natural frown and a pinkish-orange tone. Her eyes are similar to Peach's as well, but are more almond-shaped and have a deep, brown shade to her lashes rather than black. Like other main human characters, Rosalina has blue eyes, though hers have a noticeably cyan hue.
Rosalina's hair is depicted as a platinum-blonde, a much lighter blond than Peach's yellow-blond. Rosalina's hair style is very similar to Peach's, as it consists of two separate flips on the sides in the same shape. Unlike Peach's hair however, Rosalina's includes one large bang (which covers her right eye completely), two long, shaped ear-tails and two rows of flips at her shoulder. Continuing from her shoulder is a large single flip down her back.
Clothing
Rosalina currently appears in a pale turquiose dress said to be a color that only exists when the sun peers out of the clouds. Her brooch and crown are silver star shaped accessories. Her earrings are also star shaped, but yellow in color. The brooch's jewel is yellow and her crown jewels are pink in the front and back, and turquoise on the sides. The dress cuts off at the top of her chest, where a powder-blue flap loops around. The dress has long sleeves with wide openings at the bottom, which are topped with powder-blue frills. At the bottom of her dress is a unique powder-blue frill that loops around until turning up to a point at the middle; under this a layer of a light, ribbed under-dress is visible. Rosalina's nail-polish is a light purple. In Super Mario Galaxy, Rosalina holds a silver wand with a golden star at the top. Rosalina has silver dress shoes.
Alternate Outfits
Motorbike Gear
As bikes were a newly added feature to Mario Kart Wii, each human female participant was depicted in a biker suit if riding on any of the bikes. Like Peach and Daisy, Rosalina's biker suit has the same design in general, but with some differences that were still exclusive to her. Rosalina's color pallete for her outfit when riding motorbikes is primarily white and teal, a color scheme also found on her usual dress. Specific elements were still included to make Rosalina's outfit unique including her star jewelry. Other than that, Rosalina also has her version of the outfit's general design including pairs of biker boots and gloves, and a teal scarf that rests to the side of her chest. A white heart with a teal outline is present on her back; the heart is hidden by her hair unless it is flowing up.
Development
Although Rosalina's design has not been changed since her debut, when she was originally being created for Super Mario Galaxy, her concept design was vastly different compared to what she looks like now.
She was depicted with a beehive hairstyle along with short, straight-cut bangs, and long, curly ear-tails. She had more unique facial features including eyes with three length-varying lashes as opposed to the facial features she has now which are more similar to Peach's. However, her outfit design was indeed more similar to the other princesses. Having a similar base for her dress aside from unique star-shaped frills coming out of her sleeves similar to Daisy's, and a star-shaped ruffle at the bottom of her dress. Her jewelry was more simple, having a star-shaped brooch, and earrings in the same shape. Instead of a crown she had a tiara with a single star jewel at the center. Her gloves were long, and shaped just like Peach's. She also had a light collar which stretched up the back of her head and it opened at her brooch. Aside from these details it was not clear what colors were intended other than blue tones and lighter colors.
Personality and Traits
Rosalina is generally wise, kind, thoughtful and mother-like. She has an intimate knowledge of the universe and cares deeply for the Lumas. Rosalina is also a friend of Mario and Luigi; towards the end of Galaxy she aids Mario to reach Bowser in order to save Peach. Her outward strength and inner sorrow is most likely due to the loss of her mother, as Rosalina is often described as feeling lonely.
It has also been shown that Rosalina's voice is rather monotone; even when she is excited. Like most players, Rosalina enjoys special activities, but in a very humble manner.
Powers and Abilities
Rosalina has special powers as seen in Super Mario Galaxy. For example, once sufficient power is restored to the Comet Observatory, Rosalina is able to use her powers to surround the observatory in a force field, transforming it into a starship as a form of transportation. Also, she can be protected by a force field that resembles a bubble. If the player attempts to jump on her, the bubble would appear. Rosalina also has the ability to float in mid-air, just like the Lumas. Referenced by the fact that she visits the Mushroom World every one-hundred years, Rosalina is apparently immortal or has stopped aging. Alternatively, she may in fact age normally. If she is usually traveling through the universe at near light speed then, according to the theory of special relativity, much less time would pass for her than would pass back on the Mushroom World due to time dilation. In this case she may in fact still be a young woman.
Interactions with Other Characters
Luigi
- Main article: Luigi
Rosalina also befriended Luigi who acts just as Mario does in his run-through of Super Mario Galaxy. Luigi tells Mario upon being rescued that he can only have his Power Star if he tells Rosalina that he obtained it for her. Rosalina is also seen alongside Luigi in a secret picture with the Toad Brigade at Peach's Castle that could be obtained upon collecting all 121 power stars with both Mario and Luigi.
Lumas
- Main article: Luma (species)
One of Rosalina's most notable relationships is with the Lumas. Rosalina has cared for the Lumas since she was a little girl, when she found one looking for its mother. The two quickly bonded and they searched the galaxies together in search of their missing mothers. The Luma comforted her when she cried about her mother and the two soon found more Lumas. Rosalina then decided to build a home for the Lumas and care for them for eternities to come. When Rosalina once again mourned for her mother, all of the Lumas embraced her and together, they baked a cake topped with Star Bits. Rosalina also reads them bedtime stories every night in the Library to help them sleep. One of her most trusted advisors is also the Luma, Polari. A Luma also revolves around her in Mario Kart Wii.
Mario
- Main article: Mario
Mario befriended Rosalina during the events of Super Mario Galaxy. When Rosalina was in need of help to recover her lost Grand Stars that power the Comet Observatory, Mario came to her aid. With his help, Rosalina was able to power the Comet Observatory and continue her orbit around the universe. In return for Mario's help, Rosalina helped Mario in his adventure to rescue Princess Peach, by using the Comet Observatory to destroy a fleet of Bowser's airships and transport him to where Peach was being held captive by Bowser. At the end of the adventure, Rosalina appears one more time in front of Mario, and speaks to him about the stars. After that, she bids him goodbye.
Polari
- Main article: Polari
Polari is Rosalina's advisor and acts like a father to Rosalina, caring for her very much. Polari always stands by Rosalina's side (except when he's helping Mario).
Portrayals
- Mercedes Rose is the current voice actress for Rosalina; she has portrayed this Mario series' female character for Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart Wii, and Super Mario Galaxy 2.
List of Appearances by Date
| Title | Description | Original Release Date | System/Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Galaxy | Non-Playable Character | Japan: November 1, 2007 |
Wii |
| Mario Kart Wii | Unlockable Playable Character | Japan: April 10, 2008 |
Wii |
| Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Non-Playable Character | North America: May 23, 2010 |
Wii |
Official Bios and Game Stats
Mario Kart Wii
- Class: Large-sized
- Stats:
- Acceleration: */***
- Top Speed: ***/***
- Off-Road */***
- Actual Bonuses
- Speed: +1
- Handling: +1
- Mini-Turbo: +1
- Game Bio: "Making her debut on the track, Rosalina shows her experience of space travel translates well to rocketing round the race course. With a friendly Luma by her side, Rosalina is right at home on the track!"
- Guide Bio: "Watching over and protecting the cosmos sure gets tiring! But with Mario's help, Rosalina can spend some time with her new hobby: riding only the biggest, baddest bikes!"
Super Mario Galaxy Trading Card Description
Rosalina's home is the Comet Observatory, a very important place that serves as the launching pad for all of Mario's adventures throughout the universe. She has an expansive knowledge of the universe and is known as a kind and motherly figure, especially to the Lumas-those cute little stars that she adopted who help Mario throughout his journey to save the princess.
Quotes
- "To save your special one, you'll need the power to travel through space."
- "May the stars shine down on you..."
- "Do you hear the baby stars? These newborns will grow up to become galaxies someday. When stars die, they turn to stardust and scatter across the cosmos. Eventually, that stardust reforms to create a new star... And so the cycle of life continues. But the cycle never repeats itself in quite the same way.... So...you'll see."
- "Yes... All new life... Carries the essence of stars... Even all of you..."
- "I will watch over you from beyond the stars."
