Butterfly
- This article is about generic butterflies sometimes seen in theSuper Mario franchise. For the enemy inDonkey Kong 3, seeButterfly (enemy). For themicrogame fromWarioWare: D.I.Y., seeButterflies (microgame).
| Butterfly | |||
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 Artwork fromMario Party: Star Rush | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. Print World (1991) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) | ||
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Butterflies appear in theSuper Mario franchise as both ambient and interactable creatures. Various species are based on butterflies, the most recurring of which areFlutters.
History[edit]
Super Mario Bros. Print World[edit]
Butterflies first appear inSuper Mario Bros. Print World as one of the selectable borders.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 /Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Butterflies inSuper Mario 64 andSuper Mario 64 DS are seen flying around in a few stages, as well as outside theMushroom Castle. Butterflies appear in groups of three and have two variations: In the first variation, one butterfly turns into a1-UP Mushroom upon being hit byMario, and the other two do not transform into anything. In the second variation, one butterfly turns into a 1-UP Mushroom, and the other two transform into bombs similar to aflame thrower oriron ball and chase Mario until they hit him or something else. In either situation, the butterflies explode.[1][2] Exploding butterflies can be found only onTall, Tall Mountain andTiny-Huge Island. In this game, butterflies are violet with white spots on their wings.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
Butterflies inSuper Mario Sunshine can be eaten by aYoshi to get different items. Yellow butterflies yield regularcoins, blue butterflies yieldBlue Coins, and green butterflies yield 1-Up Mushrooms. In this game, butterflies are usually found fluttering around in groups, and they are rarely by themselves like inSuper Mario 64.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
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Butterflies inSuper Mario Galaxy and itsNintendo Switchport appear throughout variousgalaxies, mostly for ambient purposes. However, the player can point theStar Pointer at butterflies and collect oneStar Bit per butterfly by moving the pointer around while still touching it, but this does not work while Mario orLuigi is on theComet Observatory. If Mario or Luigi sleeps near butterflies, they will sit on Mario's or Luigi's head.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Butterflies inSuper Mario Galaxy 2 are shimmering and golden, and they appear on theStarting Planet inSky Station Galaxy (three also appear on thePeewee Geo Planet later in the galaxy), but only while Co-Star Mode is active. The player can use theCo-Star Luma tospin the butterflies in the same way as they would any other object. When spun, each butterfly releases three Star Bits, after which they disappear. They also disappear the second that Co-Star Mode is deactivated, though when it is used again, they return. If spun by the Co-Star Luma, they are gone for good. These golden butterflies also appear on theEarth Planet, theYoshi Tower Planet, theFossil Planet, theSolar System Planet, and theCone Planet in theYoshi Star Galaxy. A different variety of butterfly also appears on theStone Mountains Planet in theFluffy Bluff Galaxy. These particular butterflies are purple and are present for decoration only.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
TheLost Kingdom inSuper Mario Odyssey is home to a large number of multicolored butterflies; they are mostly found in colonies and scatter slightly when Mario invades them. Apart from the ornamental butterflies, there is also a considerably larger, glowing butterfly that holds aPower Moon. It is always found east fromRocky Mountain Summit, resting on the edge of a narrow cliff jut. It flies away if Mario comes close to it, returning to the same spot after Mario leaves; however, it does not react to being approached byCappy. This butterfly is theorized to be an adultTropical Wiggler.[3] There are also butterflies that resemble large whites and swallowtails in theWooded Kingdom andMushroom Kingdom, respectively.
Mario Party 4[edit]
Butterflies inMario Party 4 appear in yellow, red, and blue varieties in the minigameButterfly Blitz, where they are worth one point, two points, and three points, respectively.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat[edit]
Butterflies inDonkey Kong Jungle Beat are yellow and appear sporadically, and ifclapped, they turn into onebeat each.
Yoshi's Crafted World[edit]
InYoshi's Crafted World, there are five colorful butterfly crafts that are made of cut paper with drawn faces and black pipe cleaner antennae inSpring Sprung Trail, which the pinkBlockafeller requests. Their wings are pink, light yellow, light green, and light blue. Some grassland courses also have yellow butterfly crafts used as props byShy Guys hiding behind some cardboard bushes.
Illumination film series[edit]
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
Butterflies appear inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie as wildlife in theMushroom Forest. Some of them appear in their design fromSuper Mario 64.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie[edit]
This section isreferring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released film. When the film is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the film was first released.
In the title announcement trailer forThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a yellow butterfly serves as the focus of the tracking shot as it lands on top ofMario's cap while he is sleeping (similar to the ending ofSuper Mario Galaxy) under a tree, then flies overPeach's Castle and finally to space as the title is revealed, landing on the letter "M" of Mario's name in the logo.[4]
Mario Kart World[edit]
Butterflies appear inMario Kart World, where they have thick yellow bodies with pairs of black eyes, black antennae, and purple wings with white stripes on them. They carry rings tied to their bodies in the air.
Gallery[edit]
Border fromSuper Mario Bros. Print World
Screenshot fromSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Make Eggs, Throw Eggs)
Model fromSuper Mario 64
Texture fromSuper Mario 64
Screenshot fromDonkey Kong 64
Artwork fromSuper Mario Sunshine
Artwork fromMario Party 4
Screenshot ofMario Party 4
Model fromSuper Mario Galaxy
Screenshot fromSuper Mario Odyssey
Craft fromYoshi's Crafted World
Butterfly fromMario Kart World
Names in other languages[edit]
Butterfly[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | チョウ[5][6] Chō | Butterfly | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 蝴蝶[6] Húdié(Mandarin) Wùhdíp(Cantonese) | Butterfly | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 蝴蝶[6] Húdié(Mandarin) Wùhdíp(Cantonese) | Butterfly | |
| Dutch | Vlinder[6] | Butterfly | |
| French | Papillon[7][6] | Butterfly | |
| German | Schmetterling[7][6] | Butterfly | |
| Italian | Farfalla[8]:19[9][6] | Butterfly | |
| Korean | 나비[6] Nabi | Butterfly | |
| Russian | Бабочка[6] Babochka | Butterfly | |
| Spanish | Mariposa[7][6] | Butterfly |
Yellow Butterfly[edit]
"Yellow Butterflies"[10] are a specific type of butterfly that releases coins when eaten byYoshi inSuper Mario Sunshine.
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian | Farfalla Gialla[8]:46 | Yellow Butterfly | |
| Farfalla gialla[8]:61 | Yellow butterfly |
Blue Butterfly[edit]
"Blue Butterflies,"[10] also lowercased,[11] are a specific type of butterfly that releasesBlue Coins when eaten by Yoshi inSuper Mario Sunshine.
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian | Farfalla Blu[8]:46 | Blue Butterfly | |
| Farfalla blu[12] | Blue butterfly |
Green Butterfly[edit]
"Green Butterflies"[10] are a specific type of butterfly that releases1-Up Mushrooms when eaten by Yoshi inSuper Mario Sunshine.
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian | Farfalla Verde[8]:46 | Green Butterfly |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^MrRobertZ (August 21, 2006).Super Mario 64 - Convert All Butterflies.YouTube. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- ^UncommentatedPannen (October 26, 2018).Butterfly Triplets.YouTube. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^「失われた国「ロス島」に生息する不思議な蝶です。一説によると、同じくロス島に生息する「シマハナチャン」の成虫だとも言われているんです。」("It's a mysterious butterfly that inhabits the Lost Kingdom "Forgotten Isle". According to one theory, it may be the adult form of the "Tropical Wiggler," which also inhabits Forgotten Isle.") – February 21, 2018.スーパーマリオ オデッセイ : オデッセイジャーナル【ワールド】.Nintendo (Japanese). Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^Nintendo of America (September 12, 2025).The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Official Title Announcement.YouTube. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
- ^Takashi, Watanabe, Noriko Oketani, Geesen Ueno, Mitsuharu Orihara, Tatsuhiko Mizutani, and Yasushi Nakahara, editors (2002). 『スーパーマリオサンシャイン 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo:Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN4-09-106064-1. Page20. Retrieved from Imgur.
- ^abcdefghijIn-game name for theButterfly Mobile fromSuper Mario Odyssey.
- ^abcIn-game name forButterfly Blitz fromMario Party 4.
- ^abcdeHodgson, David S. J., Bryan Stratton, and Stephen Stratton (2002).Super Mario Sunshine Guida Strategica Ufficiale realizzata da Prima Games. Translated by Associazione Culturale Go!. Giaveno:Yoo Too Videogames,Prima Games (Italian). ISBN88-900922-1-1.
- ^Andrea Minini Saldini (November 2002).Nintendo La Rivista Ufficiale Numero 6. Milan:Future Media Italy SpA (Italian). Page 59.
- ^abcHodgson, David S. J., Bryan Stratton, and Stephen Stratton (2002).Super Mario Sunshine: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Roseville:Prima Games. ISBN0-7615-3961-2. Page 46.
- ^Averill, Alan, and Jennifer Villarreal (2002).Super Mario Sunshine: Official Player's Guide. Redmond:Nintendo of America. ISBN1-930206-23-2. Page 120-21.
- ^Andrea Minini Saldini (December 2002).Nintendo La Rivista Ufficiale Numero 7. Milan:Future Media Italy SpA (Italian). Page 83.
- Butterflies and caterpillars
- Shapeshifters
- Explosives
- Earth animals
- Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
- Mario Golf: World Tour characters
- Mario Kart World species
- Mario Party 4 species
- Super Mario 64 species
- Super Mario Galaxy species
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 species
- Super Mario Sunshine species
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie characters
