Why doesn't Princess Peach look like she used to?

In the 1980s, Princess Peach looked completely different from how she looks in modern Super Mario games... So, why did Nintendo change Peach's character design so drastically?
PATREON - / thomasgamedocs
TWITTER - / thomasgdocs
SOURCES
- www.kunc.org/2015-06-19/q-a-s... Miyamoto and Tezuka quote
- iwataasks.nintendo.com/interv... Super Mario Bros early development
- iwataasks.nintendo.com/interv...
CREDITS
Yoichi Kotabe Footage
- • Grand Atelier d'animat...
- • Yoichi Kotabe Trying O...
- • Isao Takahata et Yoich...
Some videogame footage via World of Longplays
Footage of carpet from Super Mario Bros 2 via SupperMarioBroth
MUSIC
- Super Mario World Arranged Soundtrack: "Super Mario World" and "Super Mario Bros"
- Super Mario Sunshine Original Soundtrack: "Secret Course"
- Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack: "Bo-Bomb Battlefield"
Other music via Epidemic Sound

[@Frytoons]

“Why doesn’t Princess Peach smell like she used to?”

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

She smells like strawberries. Edit: And peaches.

[@glitch_a]

@a child has Born Stop spamming

[@Weezeler]

Why doesn’t princess peach walk like she used to

[@Subscribe_to_faledy4]

But she smells the same (Illuminati conferred music)

[@Algeriawindows69]

why doesn't princesses peach talk like she used to

[@Rosalina102798]

Most interesting thing about this I didn't know was that Miyamoto is appearantly a pretty snazzy illustrator, as well.

[@Fractal_blip]

So is his nephew!!

[@kingjohansonic4370]

So

[@kingjohansonic4370]

E i

[@thegloobster]

Oh yeah! He drew a lot for concept art! Like the original concept for Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Mario, Pauline, ect. All drawn by hand by Miyamoto himself! Very cool to think about really!

[@mistertagomago7974]

Ngl I kinda love that original goofy looking illustration of peach.

[@ohjocelyn3910]

i’m hoping for a “why princess daisy doesn’t look like she used too?” she did have a huge change from the n64 to the gamecube

[@bewearstar9462]

Mario party 4 was the change but in super smash bros melee she used her n64 and gameboy/gameboy advance design

[@greenamogus]

I prefer N64 Daisy because Game Cube Daisy looks like a Peach skin

[@everyojaniromerosifuentes5612]

She used to look Latina in Mario Tennis 64

[@bewearstar9462]

@@everyojaniromerosifuentes5612 mario part 3 and mario party e+ and mario land and super smash bros

[@bewearstar9462]

@les fede never mind your right the dress is different the crown is also different

[@JustAPrinnyDood]

Sonic would be a good one. He's had a bunch of design changes.

[@ThomasGameDocs]

definitely on my list!

[@moonwolf6504]

Man just got taller

[@Toadmeister601]

@@ThomasGameDocs That's great to hear!

[@SilverBirb]

@@ThomasGameDocs :))))))

[@NatetheNintendofan]

Because you classic and modern Sonic and boom Sonic and movie Sonic

[@irresponsibledad]

4:09 I never noticed before that Peach's sprite in SMB is giving a finger gun, like "Hey great job, champ. You beat the game!"

[@UnexpectedGamer7]

omg, I can't unsee it now XD

[@xdragoonzero0]

And Toad is flipping the double bird.

[@insertcreativehandlehere]

"We present you with a new quest"

[@squidnipendleton3765]

Next up: "Why Doesn't Waluigi Love Me Like He Used To?"

[@Martiganz_]

take my like

[@ShadowSorel]

Thomas Gay Docs

[@squidnipendleton3765]

@@ShadowSorel 👁👄👁

[@G_Fantastic]

@a child has Born i like how nobody care about you

[@G_Fantastic]

@@ShadowSorel f

[@disneyvillainsfan1666]

Remember when Her name was Princess Toadstool? Hard to believe.

[@reemsespeemses]

her last name is toadstool

[@GigsVT]

Remember when the name of the game was super mario brothers, and people actually said it correctly?

[@King_Cisco]

It still is. Her name is Peach Toadstool.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Though, Princess Toadstool is the title for Peach as to "Queen of England" for Queen Elizabeth.

[@JrIcify]

Some people think it's a completely different person because of that.

[@pegasuspizza]

10:58 "For the first time, Peach was no longer a flat collection of Pixels, but instead an object"

[@konan.n_doyle]

The first time out of many 😔

[@superbodoque7860]

"Women are not objects" "It's a fucking video game character"

[@frog_enthusiast05]

I've always headcanoned that Peach dyed her hair red when she was younger, and went back to her natural blonde when she got older lol

[@Just-View]

8:52 I like how Shigeru Miyamoto’s taste towards cat girls has influenced the design of Princess Peach.

[@Anthony-fu6cl]

I'm looking at 3d world in a completely different light now ಠ_ಠ

[@jesterx5542]

A true legend lmao

[@Just-View]

Good, now you’re looking at the game as it was intended in Miyamoto’s eyes.

[@ikki-gaming8933]

Cat girls weren't a thing at the time... ugh.

[@jesterx5542]

@@ikki-gaming8933 cat girls were a thing since like 90s anime/Manga

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Yoichi Kotobe's art style for the game cover looks very pleasing to the eyes, especially how he illustrated Mario's adventures and the odds of the Mushroom Kingdom. The gameplay and the box art feels like they are different dimensions.

[@ShadowSorel]

here's hoping for a "why daisy doesn't sound like she used to"

[@howeee]

@its fine ok

[@ShadowSorel]

@its fine bruh

[@HarrowwInk]

replace the 'aisy' in 'daisy' with 'onkey kong' pls

[@ShadowSorel]

@@HarrowwInk sure, but i will then replace the "onkey kong" with "aisy" again.

[@That_Lady_Charlie]

@@HarrowwInk Donkey Kong Country happened. the end.

[@Hetachan]

Peach is such an iconic design! The dress and hair just work so well :) I'd love to see more videos like this as well as the ones about why characters sound different now compared to the past!

[@ChaossX77]

Because of different voice actors.

[@jamesmartin2063]

@@ChaossX77 can you explain the name of those cartoons I just saw in the video 5:51 5:59 6:18 6:19

[@larshmallows]

I rly expected some kinda insight on her GameCube era redesign but I guess there's not much to find on it? I think a lot of subtle changes happened w that redesign that really solidified Peach as she is now.

[@Anthony-fu6cl]

Yeah, this covered the biggest jump from 2d to 3d, but it also would have been nice to cover her post 64 era changes, smash bros changes, proportion changes, and outfits over the years.

[@natnew32]

Same

[@paulinetrivago.7540]

Daisy has to be chosen for this, her classic design is one of the most beloved designs in the mario Fandom

[@victoriabell9546]

You talking about how she looked like in her official artwork in Super Mario Land or how she looked like during the Nintendo 64 era?

[@paulinetrivago.7540]

@@victoriabell9546 her mario land artwork I say is her original design, her classic is N64, however I would like to see the evolution of it. And possibly even get an answer as to why her (and peachs) design changed in the GameCube

[@jamesmartin2063]

@@paulinetrivago.7540 peach's eyes are blue because that colour represents bubbles from the powerpuff girls and thomas from thomas the tank engine and friends and thomas games docs's name represent thomas the tank engine

[@gemmalow6515]

Took me so long to realize Pauline wasn't Peach. I think I found out when I was like 10 that Peach wasn't the girl in Donkey Kong

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Same. I don't know who Pauline was until the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. She is sassy and gorgeous, but I'm glad that _Mario Odyssey_ brought her back to the spotlight even more, especially "Jump Up Superstar".

[@Eros_is_calling]

Pauline is like blonde in her original game, but now she has DARK BROWN hair and A BRIGHT RED dress

[@gemmalow6515]

@@Eros_is_calling I know right?? But Nintendo is all "it's the same character guys, just as you remember" and it's like no, no it clearly isn't

[@dustymcwari4468]

Tbf, in some artworks and the original sprites depict Pauline as a blond with many dress colors like pink or blue, and Peach sometimes wearing a red dress and also getting kidnapped 24/7 by a big animal can make them feel like the same character, almost as if she debuted in Donkey Kong along with Mario and the original DK (now Cranky Kong)

[@alexanderip1003]

@@Eros_is_calling but the dress has no puffy sleeves, lace trim or panniers

[@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth]

I've always been more confused by how much Peach's design clashes with the cartoon appearances of Mario and Luigi.

[@TheOneGuy1111]

I think the cartoons, not being aware of Nintendo's intent for her appearance, just based her design on her in-game sprites. Edit: Oops, I think I misread the original post here; I thought it was about why cartoon Peach doesn't match Nintendo's design.

[@miiiwu1999]

There’s a phenomenon in character design where goofy cartoons still feel the need to make female characters have more realistic proportions because. Yknow. Booba. And often hair even tho the male counterparts don’t have human hair (think Daffy Duck vs his gf from the looney tunes show) It’s honestly a pet peeve of mine. I think it’s called the smurfette effect?

[@rainpooper7088]

@@miiiwu1999 No, the Smurfette Principle is when there’s only one female character in a cast of male characters. While the male characters get to have different personalities and quirks, the one female character tends to boil down to „girl“. I don’t actually think there’s a singular name for the trope of males being more cartoony and females being more realistic despite it being pretty common. The trope where female anthros are given human hair when the males are not is called the „Female Furry Mane“. „Tertiary Sexual Characteristics“ is the trope where character designers use extra design elements like eyelashes to make a character look more feminine and „Non-mammalian Mammaries“ is when they give boobs to species that should not realistically have them just to make the character read as female.

[@MLGDuckk]

@@rainpooper7088Very educational, thank you.

[@weshuiz1325]

"They could used peach" Cries in daisy *Yes, how many women does mario need?*

[@chunkvader473]

Hes in his own harem anime

[@EscapesAndRemoves]

Imagine Muscly Mario.

[@reckermatouvc]

daisy is Luigi's romantic interest though

[@weshuiz1325]

@@reckermatouvc in mario land(gameboy) this was daisy

[@reckermatouvc]

@@weshuiz1325 this what? nuts?

[@PlymouthActivist4Justice]

I always used to think that Peach and Princess Toadstool were two different characters. Certainly seems to be that way if you take the cartoons into it. Same with Bowser and King Koopa. Seems like two different characters with different personalities.

[@princesspeachtoadstool3953]

I have an au where they are different characters.

[@retrofan4963]

But in the cartoons they're the same characters as their game counterparts.

[@princesspeachtoadstool3953]

I know. I still like making that an au though. Kinda like a dimension where you see your part self

[@retrofan4963]

@@princesspeachtoadstool3953 Oh, I see what you mean :)

[@retrofan4963]

@@princesspeachtoadstool3953 You know what I find pretty interesting? King Koopa in the Mario cartoons has more similarities with King K Rool than Bowser in the games. King Koopa in the Mario cartoons wear different disguises depending on the different environments the episode take place. King K Rool does the same thing in each game. Makes me wonder if King K Rool is inspired by Bowser in the Mario cartoons.

[@ktoon4725]

Honestly I’m probably really interested in why Daisy doesn’t look like she used to

[@larshmallows]

I wonder if there's even anything to find about that... It really just seems like the redesign came outta nowhere

[@ughcreature]

idk but im glad they gave her her own identity and didn't just have her stay a peach clone

[@NIntender684]

@@ughcreature Daisy was described as a tomboy in the manual for Super Mario Land, so I think the tomboy thing was there from the start.

[@KamyAnai03]

Because she used to look soo girly and like a Peach clone, nowdays she looks more tomboyish and unique :) .

[@kiwikarp9509]

@@claysonantoons3142 I want to know why they scrapped her tan. She ruled a dessert kingdom so it didn't make sense.

[@connordarvall8482]

The idea of Luigi spinning being too powerful for a console is inherently funny to me.

[@fymblebymble]

Such a testament to Yoichi Kotabe’s work that the design has remained so so true to what he drew to this day. So iconic

[@TheHeavenlyBuddy]

thomas back with another banger video. we love to see it.

[@G_Fantastic]

@You have to know You have to learn what is muslim and allah :/

[@Shroom-Mage]

I was surprised that this video missed the most important quality of Peach's design that has been in every single iteration: the downward point on the front center of her hair. Every single piece of promotional art, every concept render, and even every single sprite has that point. Even the crunchiest of sprites depict it. It actually contrasts Daisy's hair very well, which has a central part, no matter the detail or iteration.

[@EpiKLGD]

Why don’t my legs work like they used to? (Before)

[@krankergeist2519]

"When your legs don't work like they used to before"

[@boomkaboom95]

This is wonderful research! I love Peach. It’s also worth mentioning her dress was redesigned too! It now has peplums and trimming at the bottom of her skirt instead of the half light pink look

[@_surge.surfer_]

Request: "Why doesn’t Bowser look like he used to?"

[@cuterblueloveuwulilathepig3556]

Yes :)

[@spiderman2638]

Already made.

[@arrowghost]

I grew up with the NES and DIC cartoon, I love Bowser when he's green with a crown. The current design took a while for me to get used to

[@moversti92]

SMB1 has literal programmer graphics.

[@marondadebrito1516]

I’m curious whether Kirby has sounded the same over the years…

[@bluberrydee6205]

*HIGH PITCHED BEEPS* DISCOO Hai! Poyo! hai! Hai!

[@masterfarr8265]

character designs just evolve over time.

[@supermark64]

What's interesting is that her designs in the American Mario cartoons such as Super Show seem to take inspiration primarily from her NES look, but also include elements from the artwork.

[@tiagosiqueira1059]

Great explanation! I only missed a look over the Mario animated series, much older then its firts 3D apearence, but still with close art ressemblance to her original redesign. She had red hair, tho

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

Imagine running out of time to hire a professional illustrator so you just have to make and slap on your own design to be the official box art! The Mario box art would literally be seen by hundreds of millions of people and you had to just cobble it together!

[@MCDreng]

I like Miyamoto's Mario from that box.

[@Martiganz_]

thanks again thomas for making all these great videos for us to watch

[@isonikku]

the old peach in the thumbnail looks like she’s choking on a jawbreaker

[@PBody54M]

Just a bit of constructive criticism: I do wish that this video spent less time on Super Mario 64 (which essentially was just a 3D representation of Yoichi Kotabe's artwork) and instead discussed her more significant redesign during the Gamecube era, with Super Mario Sunshine and especially Mario Party 4 redesigning her dress in a way that all future games would follow. Mario Tennis Open was also an odd choice to use for the comparison at 12:15, since Peach's hairstyle and dress are very clearly different from Super Mario 64; it undermines the point you're making about a lack of "major changes" other than being "a little smoother".

[@xdsagecat3920]

These vids help me with my anxiety so from the bottom of my hear I thank you for making these vids

[@HY0]

I love your videos Thomas! Definitely some of my favorite things to watch these days, please keep up the great content. Would love to see a similar video on Luigi! He's gotten some major changes in appearance over the years, although some people don't generally notice too much. Appreciate you!

[@Tuxedoz]

Absolutely loved the background music. Another fantastic video, Thomas!

[@unmeiartist]

Wonderfully edited and insightful video as always, Thomas! :) Thanks for treating one of my favorite video game characters with the respect she deserves as royalty~

[@Whithbrin355]

That's all well and good but it still doesn't answer the question I've actually been wondering for years. why did the pattern on her outfit change slightly in the gamecube era and never change back. It's such a minor change but personally it's been bugging me for years.

[@cantin8697]

0:06 The eye is on the side, like a rabbit's. Idk, just something I noticed which made me go "Hold up!"

[@person4164]

You can really tell that this is gonna become a series

[@luisc100]

It kinda already is, but youre right, we need more of this

[@Premium-Content]

This is a quality series. Good work!

[@gabrielchee8470]

Mega man: me next! Kirby:Same!

[@benallen895]

bruh I just watched you play piano and now this lmao

[@ThomasGameDocs]

you cannot escape me

[@mashiemaponya4339]

me too

[@Pajderman]

I think the design of Peach in the letter from Super Mario Bros 3 deserves a mention. In the NES version of the letter her distinct hairstyle is there. Great video as always!

[@jeremysart]

I was looking for this comment, that was the first thing that popped in my head

[@reimuhakurei9762]

i cant believe you used all my favorite songs in this one video... from the mario world jazz album to que sera sera from katamari. excellent taste man

[@VirtuaMaster]

Ok but what about the Bow-Bow? The king of koopas definitely had some major redesigns over the years!

[@666blaziken]

So happy you are doing this series! Design Artist Mark Flynn's series is always great to watch, but he uploads very infrequently, so I'm pretty stoked about this. With that being said, I have always personally wanted a "why doesn't Shulk look like he used to"

[@Flareboxx]

I'm so glad I discovered your channel this year, all of your videos are so interesting!

[@WumBuh17]

Great videos Thomas! I have been slowly watching through all of your videos since I stumbled across your channel. I absolutely LOVE the videos focused on music. Keep up the great work, I can tell you love what you are doing!

[@nandakishore3154]

Next up: why doesn't sonic the hedgehog look like he used to

[@niffuM4205]

classic or modern?

[@KamyAnai03]

I dont like the modern Sonic, the classic one was soo cute :3 ❤

[@jasminefrazier8624]

@@KamyAnai03 modern sonic is cute too

[@nordicnostalgia8106]

I would like to add that the Japanese cover art for SMB was also used in Europe

[@gacd2104]

I love this channel. Keep it up, Thomas

[@mybabydoritotoad1734]

great vid!!! literally obsessed with watching your vids aaa ^^

[@toukannot7375]

I hope for: "why doesn't ThomasDocs look like he used to?" I can't wait for this!

[@marcchgirl26]

Peach is so cute!👑🍑💕 Her animations in the new Mario Party makes her look even more adorable!!🥰

[@spudsT]

Tezuka seems to be the unsung hero in Nintendo’s history. What a cool dude.

[@apprehensive_bit7542]

The two roads at the end just standing there like “BUP”

[@dddangerdick]

I'm not sure if it would make a full length video but I'm interested to see the history in all of Mega Man's voices.

[@YataNr1]

Wow, Shigeru Miyamoto really is a video game making prodigy, thats for sure

[@cityofcolour_9053]

Super interesting as usual! Love princess peach! Also love that you used Katamari music in some places haha

[@leonardoalmeida1779]

I didn't expect it to be so interesting, but it was haha. Thanks Thomas!

[@OmegaTheYellow]

Could you please make "Why doesn't Mario look like he used to?"

[@BLACKNINJA5511]

Who else teared up a bit when the piano came in?

[@No_king1143]

gay

[@sensokaeru7070]

Oooooomg! I was so surprised to hear that you used Katamari Damacy music in this video!

[@majingazetto5147]

Somehow I'm kind of disappointed, that you didn't mention her own game in this video. Yet you did a good job. I always enjoy your videos. Always cheery and relaxed. love it!

[@certifiednobody]

Oh, next you should discuss why Sonic looks different. He's gone through quite a few changes through the years, from his original design, to Greg Martin's Americanized art, to the Uekawa graffiti-styled art, all the way to Paramount's movie redesign by Tyson Hesse

[@nsjn3756]

Next up: why waluigi is so underrated

[@photoxlo]

Love your videos!

[@Mileena-glass]

i rlly enjoyed the vid so much thxx alot

[@howeee]

"Peach was no longer a flat collection of pixels, but instead an object"

[@DJNeoncat]

I hate to say this, but i kinda imagined that if peach was a playable character, that if she picked up a fire flower, her color pallette would be like her nes sprite counterpart.

[@DogeKing909]

She does look pretty similar though

[@DarkBowser64]

That is what she does! In Super Mario 3D World, her color palette on her dress when using a fire flower turns red and white and her hair is wrapped in a ponytail. It's a clear reference to the original Super Mario Bros.

[@DogeKing909]

@@DarkBowser64 yeah but it’s not completely the same, like the red stripe is at the bottom instead of somewhere in the middle of the dress

[@foursidekm]

It's pretty similar. Luigi has the same thing too

[@shoelaceslol]

I used to think old peach’s crown was apart of her head 🙁

[@4dkarma486]

5:04 can we just talk about how cute that koopa troopa is

[@kirbywordy]

hey thomas, here's a video idea you could do What date did the NES come out? there's alot of confusion on the actual date

[@HeruruMeruru]

I know this is kind of more related to an adaptation of a game rather than an actual game, but I would love to see a video going over how Ash Ketchum's voice changed. I remember sending pasta to the dubbers and everything... Over fifteen years later I still can't accept the new voice, lmao.

[@mekman4]

Awww, that original art for Super Mario Brothers was on a lot of promotional material. I grew up with that image. I really liked it.

[@IDontWantThisStupidHandle]

9:51 -- the Princess Peach on the right's eyes give me nightmares...

[@The15You]

Hey, now looking at characters designs, what could be the choices for Super Smash Bros designs ?

[@TeamBlueToad]

Peach noticed how popular she became in the franchise so she decided to do some makeup to get even more fans.

[@ImSoCold....]

She definitely got more fans 😉

[@ImSoCold....]

@lmpastur oh yeah....LOADS😏

[@majinya6199]

I'm more into Bowsette, Yeah looks like Peach but i like the whole horns and tail thing going on

[@KamyAnai03]

@@majinya6199 Bowsette is gross, Peach is classy and pretty .

[@majinya6199]

@@KamyAnai03 To each their own.

[@Piggles64099]

6:43 That's where Luigi cyclone in the Super smash bros. series came from!!

[@SouthyTR]

Awesome video

[@kygigni]

Why doesen't bowser look like he used to. Please make a video about that.

[@sunvieightmaster88]

Next Up: Why doesn't Thomas sound like he used to

[@G_Fantastic]

cuz he is growing up

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Awesome Video

[@lewpal]

I mean. The thumbnail answers it’s own question.

[@bash8598]

Why doesn't Wario call me like he use to?

[@richymacmillion]

I really hope you do a Princess Daisy one. Would love to see what you can find!

[@cassandralyris4918]

I kind of like thinking of the OG red head Princess as Princess Toadstool and the blonde version is Princess Peach. As an 80's baby I have a big soft spot in my heart for Princess Toadstool and sassy "EXCUUUUSSEEE ME, PRINCESS" Zelda. 😂😂

[@ghoulchan7525]

i think the most interesting bit was that the animator of Heidi which was a show i liked as a kid (it was on tv here for a long ass time) also worked on the Mario series.

[@CP-kq4eh]

Only real gs remember peach as princess toadstool

[@Sharpedo43]

For me, Peach's design from Super Smash Bros. Melee is "the perfect one".

[@mariajimenafigueroa233]

I'm gonna say it: S-WEET!

[@KamyAnai03]

Melee Peach is soo beautiful and perfect, my least favorite is the SSBU one, i dont know why .

[@irisblom9509]

Woah I'm early! Can't wait to watch this!

[@MaisyRose]

it was such a nice surprise to hear katamari music in the background

[@nintendolife25]

Whoa, I didn’t know an animator from Studio Ghibli worked for Nintendo! That’s actually pretty cool…

[@cadencockburn]

I'll pay you $200 to make: "Why Does Peach Rule 34 Look Different Than It Used To?" No reason why it would just be an interesting video LOL!

[@deafseal1330]

B)

[@2blackdomino]

I would be interested too :)

[@fishnewt1331]

Peach hovering down in Mario 64 was a very magical moment.

[@jacobo41]

This is a great video