The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer dropped yesterday, giving fans their first look at new additions, Bowser Jr. and Princess Rosalina (voiced by Benny Safdie and Brie Larson, respectively). We saw only a hint of Rosalina’s magical prowess, and a taste of Junior’s chaotic temper, but fans noticed something was off about the mischievous prince of the Koopas (h/t to Kotaku).
Bowser, Jr first appeared in Super Mario Sunshine and inherited his father Bowser’s fiery temper and imposing traits, but packaged in a pint-sized form that’s equal parts bratty and endearing. However, his usually bright, cartoonish eyes now looked unsettlingly bloodshot, giving him an unexpectedly intense stare that caught everyone off guard.
What is wrong with his eyes???? pic.twitter.com/2geVN1bpP5
— SuperWiiBros08 (@SuperWiiBros08) November 12, 2025
No other character in the film seems to share Bowser Jr.’s eerie, red-rimmed gaze, leaving fans to wonder what creative direction the filmmakers were taking. The trailer hints at a desperate, sleep-deprived Koopa kid determined to rescue his father from Mario and Luigi’s grasp–a mission that may explain his stressed-out appearance. Still, the image of his glassy, overworked eyes has proven hard to shake. Earlier in the footage, his father even quips that he needs eight hours of sleep to avoid turning into a monster, which now feels less like a joke and more like a grim warning.
