- This article is about one of Mario's transformations. For Mario disguised as a statue in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, referred to as A Plumber's Lament (In Search of Lost Brother in the remake), see Garro.
Statue Mario (also known as Mario Statue[1] or a Statue[2]) is a derivative form of Tanooki Mario that debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3. The form renders the user invulnerable to all enemies while making them immobile.
In Super Mario Bros. 3, this form resembles Kṣitigarbha, the protector of travelers and the guardian of souls, who is known as Daigan Jizō Bosatsu in Japan.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Tanooki Mario can become Statue Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3 by holding 
and pressing 
at the same time.[3] As a statue, Tanooki Mario can neither move nor be hurt.[4] Statue Mario can defeat enemies by landing on them from above, including stronger enemies like Piranha Plants, Piranhacus Giganticuses, Venus Fire Traps, Spiny Eggs, Thwomps, Podoboos, Firesnakes, Chain Chomps, and even Koopa Shells or Buzzy Shells. Statue Mario can stomp Lava Lotuses, Bloobers, and fish enemies underwater except Boss Bass.[5] The Statue form is also the only way to destroy Roto-Discs and Rocket Engine flames. Statue Mario also automatically reverts to Tanooki form after five seconds. Statue Mario always faces the opposite direction Tanooki Mario was before and after changing. Tornadoes can turn Statue Mario back into Tanooki Mario on contact in Super Mario All-Stars, and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 depicts Luigi as taller consistently, and adds new utilities to this form, as it can reveal Vanishing Blocks and break Rock Blocks.
A Koopa Troopa suspiciously looks at Statue Mario in artwork and during Sky Land's segment of the ending;[6] this does not occur in remakes.
Super Mario 3D Land
Statue Mario or Luigi is used with a Statue Leaf in Super Mario 3D Land. Mario's Statue form now wears a red scarf and depicts Tanooki Mario raising his right hand, and Luigi's Statue form instead wears a green scarf while showing Kitsune Luigi raising his left hand. The player can no longer transform on the ground, due to the transformation replacing the Ground Pound. The longer 
or 
is held, the longer the brothers stay in Statue form. Statue Mario or Luigi lasts for about twelve seconds after landing before reverting to Tanooki form; the statue shakes shortly before its time limit expires. The Statue form protects Mario or Luigi from most hazards within levels, except for lava, pits, poison, or time running out. Most enemies ignore Statue Mario or Luigi.[7] Most enemies can be defeated by Statue Mario, and obstacles are either destroyed or stopped upon touching Statue Mario or Luigi. The Statue form can pound in raised stumps with only one pound, not from two like other forms need.
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
In Super Mario 3D World and its port, despite Tanooki Mario's reappearance, neither Statue Mario nor the Statue Leaf return, but if Mario uses a Lucky Bell to turn into Cat Mario, he can transform into Lucky Cat Mario, which functions similarly to Statue Mario, though Mario is invincible (rather than ignored and invulnerable) and earns coins while falling in that form. Similar to the Statue form, Lucky Cat characters raise their right paw (left for Luigi).
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2
A costume takes the form of Statue Mario in Super Mario Maker. Mario can wear this costume once he collects its respective Mystery Mushroom. The Statue Mario costume can be unlocked by clearing the Secrets of Statue Mario Event Course, released on March 3, 2016. Mario does not take the form of the statue himself, but carries it instead. Additionally, in Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario Maker 2, knocking on a Warp Door in the Super Mario Bros. 3 theme may cause Weird Mario to appear in this form.
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario as a Jizo in
Super Mario OdysseyIn Super Mario Odyssey, when Mario captures a Jizo, it looks like the current appearance of Statue Mario. Unlike in prior games, he can move while using one, letting him line up with other Jizo statues (for a Power Moon), collect additional coins or Hearts from glowing spots, weigh down P Switches, and break certain cracked blocks. Uncaptured Jizos also resemble the original appearance of Statue Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Mario Kart series
One of Tanooki Mario's tricks (which is anti-gravity-specific in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and appears randomly in Mario Kart Tour) is briefly transforming into this form before turning back.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
There is a trophy of Statue Mario in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS based on his appearance in Super Mario 3D Land.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition
This form returns in Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition as an unlockable form. Statue Mario, who is Light/Fire-attributed, is gained after ★World 1 is cleared; his skill "Statue Shine" changes all orbs into Light Orbs and Heart Orbs, and his leader skill, aptly named "Mario's Luck", raises the team's attack power by 3x, as long as their HP is 50% or more of the total. Statue Luigi, who is a Light/Wood character, is unlocked after beating ★World 2; his "Statue Flash" skill turns Heart Orbs into Light Orbs, and his leader skill "Luigi's Luck" increases the team's attack power by 3.5x after attacking with 4 or more attributes at once.
Super Mario-kun
Statue Mario appears in Super Mario-kun. They use this form even without the usage of a Tanooki Suit and, unlike in the games, Mario can move and even fight his enemies as a statue. A running gag sees Mario or Luigi using this power-up underwater, sinking to the bottom. In a chapter from volume 6, Mario and Luigi are turned into stone by Sphinx Zō. However, only Mario resembles the Super Mario Bros. 3 statue.
In volume 46, Luigi wins two Statue Leaves from a raffle held by a Monty Mole wearing glasses. Mario and Luigi then use their statue forms in order to defeat the Morty Mole that was attacking the festival.
Profiles
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Trophy
Statue Mario
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| Category: Series Related
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How to unlock:
Random
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| Statue Mario is invincible and will be ignored by his enemies. If he transforms in midair, he'll do a nice Thwomp impression but he can't move! Well, unless a moving platform carries him into unlucky enemies. Give it a try in Super Mario 3D Land! (American English)
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| Statue Mario's not just invincible – he's invisible to enemies. If Mario turns into Statue Mario in mid-air, he'll slam down and be stuck to the spot. Moving platforms will still carry him, though, and he'll knock down anyone in his way. Try it next time you play Super Mario 3D Land! (British English)
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Gallery
Japanese commercial for a Super Mario Bros. 3 themed desk from Kurogane
Statue Birdo from
Super Mario-kun Volume 8
Statue Mario and Statue Luigi from Super Mario-kun
A sprite of Statue Mario/Luigi in Super Mario Bros. 3
Transformation effect in Super Mario Bros. 3
A sprite of Statue
Luigi in
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Statue Luigi in Super Mario 3D Land
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition
The Statue Mario costume's appeal pose in
Super Mario Maker, revealing that
Small Mario is carrying the statue
The Weird Mario that answers the door in Super Mario Maker
Statue Luigi (Club Nintendo)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (Famicom 40th Anniversary)
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|
| Japanese | 地蔵マリオ
Jizō Mario | Jizō Mario | | [?] |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 地藏马力欧
Dìzàng Mǎlì'ōu | Jizō Mario | | [8] |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 地藏瑪利歐
Dìzàng Mǎlì'ōu | | [9] |
| Dutch | Standbeeld-Mario | Statue Mario | | [?] |
| French | Mario Statue | Statue Mario | | [?] |
| German | Statuen-Mario | Statue Mario | | [?] |
| Italian | Mario statua | Statue Mario | | [?] |
| Statua | Statue | | [10] |
| Korean | 돌부처마리오
Dolbucheo Mario | Stone Buddha (Statue) Mario | | [?] |
| Portuguese | Mario Estátua | Statue Mario | | [?] |
| Russian | Марио-статуя
Mario-statuya | Statue Mario | | [?] |
| Spanish | Mario Estatua | Statue Mario | | [?] |
Notes
- According to the comic book story "Tanooki Suits Me", the statue transformation is triggered by pressing a button on the front of the Tanooki Suit, and to change back, one has to simply wish to be human again.
- The effect of the Stone Cap in Paper Mario is similar to Statue Mario, as it also transforms Mario into an invincible, yet immobile stone statue.
- While the form itself does not appear in the game, in the final levels of New Super Mario Bros. 2, the Koopalings show up and try to turn Mario/Luigi into stone with a blinding light from the Koopa Clown Car. Unlike the proper Statue form, this state is involuntary and serves as a hindrance, which Mario/Luigi must avoid by hiding behind walls in the background. If they are turned to stone, the player must mash the buttons to revert to normal.
- According to the Prima Games guide of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Statue Mario depicts Mario as an old man.[11]
References
- ^ 1992. Mario Paint Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 60.
- ^ 1993. Super Mario All-Stars instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 34.
- ^ "Tanooki Mario can turn into a statue for a short period of time by pressing the B Button and down on the
Control Pad at the same time." – Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of America (English). Page 9.
- ^ "While Mario is a statue, he cannot be harmed." – 2003. Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (English). Page 14.
- ^ Blue Television Games (December 30, 2020). What Can Tanooki Mario Stomp?! (05:28). YouTube (English).
- ^ VideoGamePhenom (September 8, 2019). Super Mario Bros. 3 - Ending (01:09). YouTube (English).
- ^ "Although some enemies ignore Statue Mario, others will rush in and wait for the transformation to wear off!" – von Esmarch, Nick (November 13, 2011). Super Mario 3D Land PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-307-89386-4. Page 16.
- ^ 超级马力欧 3D乐园:力量提升. iQue (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ 超級瑪利歐 3D樂園 繁體中文版 - 香港任天堂網站. Nintendo HK (Traditional Chinese). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition, Italian instruction manual. Page 24.
- ^ "This effect, created while wearing the Tanooki Suit and pressing ↓ and
, allows Mario to turn into a statue of an old man (actually Mario in 40 or 50 years)." – Hodgson, David S J. (October 21, 2003). Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-4425-9. Page 10.
