Papy Champi (Toadsworth) : le majordome de Peach

Toadsworth: Peach's Butler

1149 mots | Temps de lecture : 5 minute(s)

Behind every great princess is a devoted servant. In the Super Mario universe, this role falls to Toadsworth (Papy Champi in French), the elderly Toad who has watched over Princess Peach since her earliest childhood. Recognizable by his white beard, round glasses, and cane, this anxious butler spends his time worrying about his protégée.

Often relegated to the shadows of the crown, Toadsworth nonetheless remains a discreet pillar of the Mushroom Kingdom. This is a portrait of an endearing secondary character, his quaint turns of phrase, his memorable appearances, and his paternal bond with Peach.

Summary

A devoted tutor in the service of Princess Peach

Toadsworth is presented as Princess Peach's personal attendant and butler. He is not a simple servant: official documents indicate that he has looked after the princess since her earliest age, acting as a tutor or preceptor.

His role has long caused confusion. Some fan rumors imagined him as Peach's father or grandfather, but the physical differences and his subordinate status make this hypothesis unlikely. He is primarily the one who raised and educated the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, while remaining in her service.

Always protective, he panics as soon as Peach disappears, to the point of scolding Mario or fainting from emotion.

His debut in Super Mario Sunshine

Toadsworth makes his first appearance in Super Mario Sunshine, released on GameCube on October 4, 2002, in Europe (July 19, 2002, in Japan). He accompanies Mario and Peach on vacation to Isle Delfino, where the trip turns into a nightmare upon arrival.

He is not playable: he plays the role of a supporting character who comments on the action and worries about the princess. Before him, very similar characters already held this role of an elderly advisor, such as the Chancellor in Super Mario RPG, but Toadsworth is the first to bear this lasting name and identity.

His catchphrases and personality

What makes Toadsworth memorable is his antiquated way of speaking. In the English version, he punctuates his sentences with quaint very British expressions like "Tally-ho!" and "Pip pip!", a quirk that particularly intensified from Mario Party 7 onwards.

  • Anxious and protective: he constantly fears that misfortune will befall Peach.
  • A bit senile: his memory and reactions are sometimes amusing.
  • Quite timid: he readily relies on Mario to lead the charge.
  • Solemn: his sermons and grand pronouncements are his trademark.

An email in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door attributes him the age of 60, making him one of the few characters in the saga whose age is officially stated.

His appearances in the Mario & Luigi series

Toadsworth plays a recurring role in the RPGs developed by AlphaDream. In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, he makes a brief appearance to give the brothers their equipment before they leave.

His role is expanded in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, released in Europe in 2006 on Nintendo DS. The game introduces his younger counterpart, dubbed Toadsworth the Younger, encountered through time travel.

This younger version sports a red vest, a brown mustache, and wears neither glasses nor a cane. Tasked with looking after Baby Peach, he teams up with his future self to teach the Mario Bros. new techniques, such as the Spin Jump, while trying to entertain the baby.

A playable character in sports and party games

While Toadsworth remains a background character in the main adventures, spin-offs finally bring him to the forefront. He becomes playable in several sports and party titles:

  • Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers: he swings the bat on Peach's team.
  • Mario Power Tennis: he officiates as an umpire on the court.
  • Mario Party 7: he acts as the master of ceremonies and organizes the cruise at the heart of the plot.

In terms of voice acting, he was first voiced by Scott Burns (also the voice of Bowser at the time, from 2002 to 2008), before being taken over by Charles Martinet in later appearances.

Summary sheet

French Name Papy Champi (Toadsworth)
Type Elderly Toad, butler
First Appearance Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
Official Age 60 years old (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)
Role Princess Peach's attendant and tutor
Voice Scott Burns then Charles Martinet
Catchphrases "Tally-ho!", "Pip pip!"

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FAQ

  • Is Toadsworth Princess Peach's father?
    No. Despite fan rumors, official documents present him as Peach's attendant and tutor, not a member of her family. He raised and educated her from childhood but remains in her service.
  • In what game does Toadsworth first appear?
    He makes his debut in Super Mario Sunshine, released on GameCube on October 4, 2002, in Europe (July 19, 2002, in Japan), where he accompanies Mario and Peach to Isle Delfino.
  • How old is Toadsworth?
    An email in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door attributes him the age of 60, making him one of the few characters in the saga whose age is officially specified.
  • Is Toadsworth playable?
    Yes, in several spin-off games. He is playable in Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers (Peach's team), and serves as an umpire in Mario Power Tennis.
  • Who is Young Toadsworth?
    He is Toadsworth's younger counterpart, introduced in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Encountered through time travel, he looks after Baby Peach and sports a red vest and a brown mustache.
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