Top 10 Bowser Designs | Movie Bowser Speed-Art
Hey Jack, I’m back! Today I’m gonna rank my top 10 favourite Bowser designs. After covering The Evolution of Bowser on Tell It Animated, I’ve had a hankering to get some of my thoughts on the Turtle-Ox out there.
So, I’m-A Ready to rank my favourite looks for the King of the Koopas! I’m gonna be looking at his guides, video game models, box art, shows, and movies for this list, so let’s get started!
10. Smash Bros. Melee - Game Model (2001)
Starting off at number ten is Bowser from Super Smash Bros. Melee. This version feels like Nintendo trying to make Bowser look genuinely intimidating for once. He’s darker, more monstrous, and way more aggressive-looking than his standard Mario appearance. I especially like the musculature on him here. While I wouldn’t like it for his main design, for a fighting game with a darker, more mature tone, it works quite well. Unfortunately, later entries in the Smash series blend in more of his regular look as they go on.
9. Original Box-Art Design (1985)
At number nine is Bowser’s original box-art design from the early days. He looks a little weird, a little goofy, and honestly kind of like Nintendo hadn’t fully figured him out yet. The proportions are all over the place, and he has that classic old-school game-art energy where characters never quite match the sprites. But there’s a lot of charm here. Early Mario artwork has this storybook vibe that I really love. It goes for a more fantasy element, and you can see the more Ox-inspired look here instead of the turtle look, though it does lack the horns, so I guess they didn’t want to go full-on Ox.
8. Super Mario Bros. Super Show - King Koopa cartoon (1989)
Coming in at number eight is King Koopa from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. This design is barely Bowser by today’s standards, but I can’t help loving it. The green skin, tiny crown, and crocodilian features somehow create one of the strangest cartoon villains Nintendo has ever approved. He honestly feels more like a mob boss than a fantasy turtle dragon. Plus, the voice is iconic. He honestly looks more like Wart or Donkey Kong’s future villain, King K. Rool. I’m not sure if Koopa inspired that design in any way, but it’s interesting to note.
7. Super Mario 64 - Game Model (1996)
In seventh place is Bowser from Super Mario 64. There’s just something about early polygonal Nintendo characters that hits differently. The low-poly look gives him this chunky toy-like quality that weirdly works. While his head is a little big, it just helps to add to the 90s charm. He’s simple, expressive, and the boss fights helped make this version stick in my brain forever. Spinning him by the tail is permanently burned into my memory.
6. Super Mario Maker - Bowser Sprite (2015)
At number six is Bowser’s sprite in Super Mario Maker. Specifically, the classic sprite style has been brought into modern games. Bowser’s old sprites sometimes left much to be desired, and while I really like some of those old looks, the new sprite here is absolutely fierce and terrifying. It’s somehow able to do so much with so few pixels, really outstanding work by the modern Nintendo game makers.
5. Paper Mario Series - Paper Bowser (2000-)
Halfway through at number five is Paper Bowser. I love that the Paper Mario games somehow make Bowser both threatening and hilarious at the same time. His design is mostly the same, but the expressions and animations absolutely carry him. He uses his more orange 90s colouring, and even as the Paper Mario games kept releasing sequels, Bowser still sticks to the core design outlined in his first game. So I respect them for keeping the style consistent in the series.
4. Super Mario World - Manual-Art (1990)
At number four is the Super Mario World manual-art Bowser. This is where Bowser starts becoming way closer to the version we know today. He still has that old-school Mario artwork style, but he looks cleaner, meaner, and more confident. There’s a lot of personality here. Also, this might just be nostalgia talking because Super Mario World is a great game, but I really think this artwork totally captures Bowser’s rude-cool attitude perfectly.
Before I get to my top 3, feel free to leave your ranking or your favourite looks for Bowser down in the comments.
3. Bowser’s Fury - Game Model (2021)
In third place is Bowser’s Fury. This version basically asks: what if Bowser became an actual kaiju? He’s enormous, terrifying, has glowing lava textures and huge spikes—and honestly, this might be the coolest Bowser has ever looked in motion. His bright, glowing eyes contrast well with his darker skin, and it’s really one of the first games where Bowser has been full-on evil in a long time.
2. Modern Bowser Game Model (Sunshine (2002-Now)
Runner-up goes to Bowser’s modern design used from Mario Sunshine onward. This is Bowser perfected. He’s huge, expressive, threatening when he needs to be, but also goofy enough to fit Mario’s world. Nintendo really found the sweet spot here. His colours are bright and fun, but with the right lighting, he can still be menacing. Whether he’s kidnapping Peach, entering kart races, or somehow becoming a professional tennis player, this version just works for so many games.
1. Super Mario Bros: The Movie / Galaxy Movie (2023)
And in first place is Movie Bowser from the Super Mario Bros. films. This version keeps everything I love about modern Bowser and pushes it further. He looks intimidating, expressive, and somehow Jack Black’s voice makes the character even more entertaining. I like that his skin blends in the yellow and orange tones with green scales, almost like it’s using the best of all versions of Bowser. His hair is lush like a rock star, and he appears massive. I like that the movies make Bowser feel like a threat while still keeping that weird, lovable side of his personality intact. Also, Peaches. Need I say more?
So those are my favourite Bowser designs! What are your favourites? Let me know in the comments, and if you haven’t already, check out my Evolution of Bowser video over on Tell It Animated. It dives deep into Bowser’s lore and history to bring to light versions of this character that I’ve never seen anyone talk about before.
I’d also like to thank my patrons, like Adrian Dawson, and until next time, I’ve been Aaron, and I’ll tell you something later!