In the opening act of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Mario is thrust into the whimsical Mushroom Kingdom, a land populated by the diminutive and iconic Toads. Characterized by their mushroom-capped heads and endearing, high-pitched chirps, these citizens largely blend into a harmonious collective. However, one specific individual shatters this mold. Sporting low-slung spectacles and a commanding, resonant baritone, the Toad General is a figure of undeniable gravitas who demands immediate respect.
This stoic character is brought to life by the legendary Eric Bauza, a titan in the voice acting industry whose credits include a vast array of Looney Tunes icons and hundreds of animated roles. Following his diverse contributions to the 2023 blockbuster, Bauza returns to the fray in the highly anticipated The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. In a recent discussion, he reflects on reprising his role as the Toad General and shares insights into scenes that didn’t make the final cut, including an expanded presence for the fan-favorite Diddy Kong.
Polygon: Tell us about the inception of the Toad General. What specific direction were you given for this role?
Eric Bauza: The vision for the Toad General was always centered on high-stakes intensity. He’s a no-nonsense leader; there’s zero room for the typical “cute” factor associated with Toads. I actually drew significant inspiration from Keith David. I wanted that same commanding resonance—a voice that instantly signals authority.
It’s amusing to see the fan discourse online, though. Hardcore Mario enthusiasts often ask why he wasn’t just introduced as Toadsworth. They feel if you just added a mustache, he’d be the perfect fit. Fans will always find a point of contention, almost as if they think Nintendo’s leadership is testing their patience on purpose!
In the initial film, you handled several roles. Could you elaborate on those other characters?
I originally voiced Diddy Kong, who had a much more substantial sequence that unfortunately hit the cutting room floor. He was intended to be Donkey Kong’s hype man—very much in the vein of a WWE personality—but that entire scene was excised. I also provided the voice for Sports Coat Kong.
An interesting bit of trivia: there was some uncertainty regarding the rights to the original Yoshi sound bites during production. Because they weren’t sure how much Yoshi would feature, they had me record a variety of lines for the character. In the end, he appeared as a post-credits Easter egg, but I’m still not entirely sure if they used my recordings or the classic archival audio.
Was Nintendo a big part of your upbringing?
Absolutely. I was obsessed. I owned practically every iteration: the original NES, Super Nintendo, the Japanese Famicom, N64, and the Game Boy. I’ve spent a lifetime playing through those worlds.
When playing the classics, do you lean toward Mario or Luigi?
It’s always been Mario for me.
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When you’re hitting the track in Mario Kart, who is your primary racer?
It has to be Yoshi. Even back in the arcade days, he was my go-to. He’s just incredibly intuitive to handle. I occasionally cycle in Toad, but Yoshi remains my personal favorite.
With a Donkey Kong project in development and rumors of a Star Fox film, what would a standalone Toad General movie look like?
That would be incredible. I envision it as a classic military farce—something like Police Academy or McHale’s Navy, but entirely populated by Toads. A high-energy, slapstick military comedy would be the perfect vehicle for the General.
Source: Polygon
