Goomba (film species)

“You may think of evolution as an upward process. Things evolve from primeval slime... up to single-cell organisms... up to... intelligent life. De-evolution, of course, works the opposite way. Back to simpler forms. For instance... even our musical friend, Toad... can become... a loyal child of the royal family. Goombas, ah!”

—President Koopa, Super Mario Bros. (film)

Goomba
First appearance	Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Variant of	Dinohattanite
Notable members Toad

Goombas are a de-evolved form of Dinohattanites appearing in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film. They are the film's equivalent of the Goombas from Super Mario Bros., but taking their own unique design where they are depicted as more lizard-like, with tiny saurian heads on a disproportionately large bodies, much taller than human characters. Depending on a Dinohattanite's ancestry, the Goomba's head type varies, showing either a rounded head, a snake-like head, or a velociraptor-like head. They are depicted as being of lower intelligence, and communicating in mainly grunts, but are capable of utilizing weaponry. All Goombas present in the film respond to President Koopa's orders, with the exception of Toad.

History

Super Mario Bros. film

A Goomba is introduced briefly when Mario and Luigi are running around Koopa Square confused of their whereabouts. They are properly introduced later on when Toad's character is arrested and sentenced to become a Goomba for singing Anti-Koopa songs; it is also implied that this was the fate of anyone within Dinohattan who committed crimes short of de-evolution of Primordial Slime. President Koopa showcases his abilities to de-evolve Dinohattanites with his Devo Chamber machine to Mario and Luigi, when Toad is turned into a Goomba. Mario and Luigi, enraged after having witnessed Toad's fate, attempt to push Koopa into the machine and then escape out of the Devo Chamber.

Mario and Luigi with the Goombas in the elevator.

Throughout the film, Goombas appear as low-intelligence cronies responding to Koopa's commands. The kidnapped Brooklyn women, which includes Angelica, Daniella and Daisy, are held in a part of Koopa's Tower called "Goomba Barracks" for the majority of the film. It is implied that the Goombas in Koopa's Tower are permanent residents of the Goomba Barracks as shown when Mario and Luigi escape from said tower, they take one of the mattresses the Goombas sleep on to do so. Toad, in his Goomba form, appears in several scenes throughout the film but can be told apart from the other Goombas as he has a harmonica attached to the front of his suit.

Various Goombas were later outfitted with Devolution Guns in preparation of invading Earth. The Goombas, however, often had a weakness for dancing; Mario and Luigi discover this when they are hiding in an elevator that they occupy. Mario and Luigi begin rocking the Goombas back and forth to the elevator music playing to distract them. They begin to take a liking to dancing as evidenced by Toad later exploiting this to prevent the Goombas from following Koopa's order to shoot Mario after the dimensions become separated once again. After Koopa is successfully defeated, Goombas can be seen dancing in couples in Koopa Square.

Gallery

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  President Koopa with various Goombas

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  A Velociraptor-type Goomba

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  Toad in his Goomba form

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  Early concept art

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  Concept art, more closely resembling their final design

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  Promotional art of the main characters' escape from Koopa's Tower

Trivia

• The song "Walk the Dinosaur" featured on the official soundtrack credits the song to "The Goombas featuring George Clinton". This is for humorous intent. The dancing Goombas from the film are featured in the music video.