Toad Brigade

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The origins of Captain Toad's leadership are rooted in his simple yet driven personality. In an interview with Polygon, director Shinya Hiratake explained that Captain Toad does not really care about general affairs until he spots treasure, at which point he becomes obsessed with acquiring it. IGN described him as an "unlikely protagonist" weighed down by a heavy backpack and a desire for treasure. The team's dynamic was further highlighted in reviews of Treasure Tracker, where critic Marty Sliva noted that the pair of Captain Toad and Toadette are "sweet, endearing characters" who genuinely make players want to root for them. Their charm is evident in small details, such as how they cower in fear when encountering ghosts, adding a unique personality layer to their exploration missions.

In Their Own Story

The adventure truly began when Captain Toad set out on a journey to rescue Toadette from the clutches of Wingo. This mission formed the core narrative of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, released a year after Super Mario 3D World. During his travels, he navigated levels where jumping was forbidden, requiring him to collect five Green Stars per stage while avoiding two-hit deaths. He relied on his trusty headlight to defeat ghosts lurking in the shadows. The team's legacy continued into Super Mario Odyssey, where Captain Toad appeared in all but three of the game's Kingdoms. In each location, he rewarded players with a Power Moon upon being found. His role expanded further in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, marking his 2D debut as he was found in all but two locations of the Flower Kingdom, dispensing 50 flower coins to those who discovered him.

Reader's Guide

Players can find Captain Toad and his squad across multiple major titles with specific mechanics for interaction. In Super Mario 3D World, he appears in separate levels titled "The Adventures of Captain Toad," where he must collect Green Stars without the ability to jump. Two hits result in a life loss, but his headlight is essential for defeating ghosts. For those playing New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, two playable Toads (Yellow and Blue) are available; Blue Toad unlocks by pressing ZL while selecting Yellow Toad on the character screen. In the 2018 release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, the gameplay focuses entirely on puzzle-solving with these constraints. Additionally, a Mystery Mushroom costume based on Captain Toad was made available via an update to Super Mario Maker, allowing players to customize their experience.

Did You Know?

• Captain Toad cannot jump in his own game levels, requiring players to navigate obstacles using only movement and a headlight.
• Yoshiaki Koizumi confirmed in February 2018 that the spots on a Toad's head are biological tissue, not a hat.
• Toadette was created specifically because developers could not find a suitable partner for Toad in Mario Kart: Double Dash.
• Captain Toad appears in all but four of Super Mario Odyssey's Kingdoms to reward players with Power Moons.
• A Mystery Mushroom costume based on Captain Toad was added to Super Mario Maker via an update.

Origins and Character Design

Captain Toad is part of the Toad race created by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo's Mario franchise. Known in Japanese as Kinopio, most Toads look virtually identical with large mushroom-like heads featuring colored spots. Notable exceptions include Captain Toad, Toadette, and Toadsworth. A significant clarification regarding their design occurred in February 2018 when Yoshiaki Koizumi confirmed that the colorful cap on a Toad's head is part of their body, not a hat, ending years of fan debate. The most prominent red-spotted Toad serves as Princess Peach's handler, but Captain Toad distinguishes himself with his leadership role and heavy backpack.

Evolution from Minion to Protagonist

While the standard Toad race debuted in Super Mario Bros. as castle retainers delivering messages like "our princess is in another castle," their roles have expanded significantly. Yellow Toad and Blue Toad became playable characters alongside Mario and Luigi in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. U, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Captain Toad's evolution culminated in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, the first game to feature a Toad as the titular character. He also appeared in all but three Kingdoms of Super Mario Odyssey, rewarding players with Power Moons, and made his 2D debut in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, where he awards 50 flower coins.

Developmental History and Casting

The creation of Toadette as a partner for Captain Toad stemmed from development challenges during Mario Kart: Double Dash; director Kiyoshi Mizuki wanted Toad selectable but could not find a suitable tandem partner. For New Super Mario Bros. Wii, developers chose Yellow and Blue Toads from fan suggestions because of their physical similarity to Mario and Luigi. Voice acting has evolved over time: Jen Taylor voiced the character from Mario Golf until Super Mario Strikers, succeeded by Samantha Kelly starting with Mario Party 8 through Mario & Luigi: Brothership. In other media, John Stocker voiced him in DiC cartoons, and Keegan-Michael Key in two animated films. As of Mario Kart World, Laila Berzins voices the main Toad while Paul Castro Jr. voices supporting Toads.

Roles Across Game Genres

Beyond standard platforming, Captain Toad and his brigade have diverse roles. In Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, they helped retrieve Power Stars to save Princess Peach. In Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, five colored Toads assisted Professor E. Gadd in investigating mansions before Luigi arrived. In the Paper Mario series starting with Sticker Star in 2012, Toads became the most common non-playable character due to IP restrictions on new characters. Captain Toad also appears in Super Mario Bros. Wonder and is scheduled to appear in Meetup at Bellabel Park, a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Wonder releasing March 26, 2026, where he will accompany Mario to find stolen flowers.