Chain Chomp: Mario's Chained Biting Ball

EnemyChain ChompSuper Mario 64

Miyamoto based him on a dog from his childhood, held back by a chain that was far too short. Wanwan in Japan — literally "woof-woof" — the Chain Chomp shows up in Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1988. This portrait covers his anatomy, his status as a legendary guard in Super Mario 64, his unchained and giant versions, his cousins, and his career as an icon from Mario Kart to Odyssey.

A heavy black metal ball, two round eyes, a maw bristling with fangs and a chain riveted to a stake: the Chain Chomp (Wanwan in Japanese) is one of the most instantly recognizable enemies in the Mario universe. He hurls himself at the player, barking, and then the chain snaps him back, over and over, like a guard dog you can never quite get close to.

First appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1988, this furious watchdog owes his existence to a childhood memory of Shigeru Miyamoto's. Since then he has sunk his teeth into nearly every major entry in the saga, from Super Mario 64 to Super Mario Odyssey, with a detour through Mario Kart. Here is his story.

Contents

• A biting origin signed Miyamoto
• What a Chain Chomp looks like
• The legendary guardian of Super Mario 64
• Broken chains, giant versions and cousins
• An icon from Mario Kart to Odyssey
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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A biting origin signed Miyamoto

The story is famous among fans. As a child, Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, was reportedly chased by a dog that lunged at him, only to be stopped dead by the chain tying it to its post. That fright, mixed with relief, directly inspired the Chain Chomp's behaviour: an aggressive, noisy creature, yet a prisoner of its own leash.

That canine link runs all the way to his original name. In Japanese, the Chain Chomp is called Wanwan (ワンワン), an onomatopoeia that reproduces a dog's bark, the equivalent of our "woof-woof". Everything about the character points back to a chained-up guard dog: the barking, the way he charges, and that chain which shapes his every move.

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What a Chain Chomp looks like

The Chain Chomp takes the form of a big shiny black metal ball, fitted with two eyes and a wide mouth packed with sharp white teeth. A chain usually links him to a stake or a wooden block driven into the ground, which limits how far he can reach.

How he works is simple but fearsome: the Chain Chomp gnaws at thin air, then lunges at Mario the moment he gets too close, before the chain yanks him back. He is generally invincible: you do not beat him, you dodge him. He is as much a booby trap as an enemy, and is often counted among Bowser's troops as a guard.

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The legendary guardian of Super Mario 64

It is probably in Super Mario 64 (1996) that the Chain Chomp left his deepest mark. Right at the heart of the first level, Bob-omb Battlefield, a giant Chain Chomp is chained to a stake, not far from a cage holding a Power Star.

The beast charges relentlessly and impresses with its sheer size. To free the star "Behind Chain Chomp's Gate", the player has to drive the stake into the ground with three Ground Pounds (the ground pound attack): the chain then gives way and the Chain Chomp, free at last, sails off into the sky. That scene has become one of the cult moments of the first 3D Mario.

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Broken chains, giant versions and cousins

Over the games, the Chain Chomp has branched out into a whole family. You come across Big Chain Chomps that are far more imposing, chainless Chomps that roll like boulders (notably in Super Mario Galaxy, where you can send them flying back into enemies), and also the Flame Chomp (Fire Chomp), a flying variant that hovers along trailing a chain of fireballs which it hurls at Mario.

The Paper Mario series offers paper versions, such as the Paper Macho Chain Chomp in Paper Mario: The Origami King. Some Chomps also serve as genuine bosses: in Super Mario Odyssey, the Broodal Madame Broode fights alongside her golden Chain Chomp with its spiked collar, a battle Mario wins by turning the animal against its own mistress.

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An icon from Mario Kart to Odyssey

The Chain Chomp spills well beyond the platformers. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!! on GameCube, he becomes a special item reserved for Baby Mario and Baby Luigi: hooked to the front of the kart, he charges into the lead and shoves aside everything in his path, a developer choice that plays on the creature's "cute" side for the youngest drivers.

In Super Mario Odyssey (2017), the capture mechanic of Cappy lets Mario take possession of a Chain Chomp: he then uses it like an elastic wrecking ball to launch himself forward and smash through stone walls. Still biting, still tied to his chain, the Chain Chomp remains after more than thirty years one of the most identifiable faces in Mario's universe.

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Quick facts

First appearance	Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Japanese name	Wanwan (ワンワン), "woof-woof"
Creator	Shigeru Miyamoto
Type	Enemy / chained guard, Bowser's troops
Inspiration	A childhood dog held back by its chain
Notable games	Super Mario 64, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Super Mario Odyssey
Signature trait	An invincible metal ball that bites and charges like a guard dog

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FAQ

• Is the Chain Chomp a dog?
  Not officially, but everything points that way. Shigeru Miyamoto drew on a dog that chased him as a child before being stopped by its chain. His Japanese name, Wanwan, even imitates a dog's bark.
• Can you kill a Chain Chomp?
  As a rule, no: the Chain Chomp is invincible and works as an obstacle to avoid rather than an enemy to defeat. A few versions are exceptions, like the giant Chain Chomp in Super Mario 64 that you can set free, or the rolling Chomps in Super Mario Galaxy that you can knock back.
• Which game did the Chain Chomp first appear in?
  The Chain Chomp makes his debut in Super Mario Bros. 3, released in 1988 in Japan. Even there he acts as a chained guard that charges the player before being held back by his chain.
• How do you free the giant Chain Chomp in Super Mario 64?
  In Bob-omb Battlefield, you have to hit the stake he is tied to with the ground pound attack, three times. The chain gives way, the Chain Chomp flies off and the Power Star behind the gate becomes reachable.
• What is the Chain Chomp called in French?
  Nintendo now simply calls him "Chomp" in recent games. In Canadian French (Quebec), he is also known as "Boulouf".

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