Super Mario RPG shows us what Yoshi without shoes looks like

Boshi isn't like the other Yoshis.

A promotional image for Yoshi's Island DS featuring lots of different colored Yoshi piling on one another.
Image via Yoshi Fandom

The return of Super Mario RPG reintroduces some of the most imaginative characters of the franchise to a new audience. Alongside wooden warrior Geno and puffy prince Mallow is Boshi, a Yoshi that bravely disregards the design trends of its species by walking barefoot and sporting shades.

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It’s interesting that Mario fans think that Yoshi not wearing shoes is weird considering he’s an animal, but it makes more sense when you look into the character’s design. In an interview with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Yoshi’s concept artist Takashi Tezuka about Super Mario World, it was revealed that Yoshi was conceptualized around the idea of Mario riding a horse. 

There hasn’t been an official statement from Nintendo about Yoshi’s shoes related to horses, and less canonical credibility is given when Tezuka talks about the dinosaur and turtle-like features seen in the final design. Tezuka stated that the hump on Yoshi’s back is not a saddle but a shell as they are a “member of the turtle family”.

Sprite art designs from Super Mario World featuring Yoshi, a redesigned Koopa and other characters. Image via Nintendo
Super Mario World sprite designs. Image via Nintendo

Yoshi’s shoes could stem from their personality. The original sketch for Yoshi was created by Shigefumi Hino, but Tezuka was brought on board to increase their cuteness. It’s also important to note that Super Mario World also gave Koopas a redesign, giving them legs and shoes for the first time in the franchise.

Boshi has more of a controlling, punk-esque personality that fits his character design. In Super Mario RPG, Boshi self-appoints himself as leader of the Yoshis after winning the Mushroom Derby. In the Switch remake, Boshi has shaded sunglasses, a spiked collar, ankle braces, and claws on their feet. This slightly differs from Boshi’s original outfit, which featured toeless socks.

Boshi design from Super Mario RPG and its Switch remake, side by side. Image via Nintendo.
Boshi remake and original designs side by side. Image via Nintendo

Yoshi has always worn shoes within the games, but this isn’t the only time that the dinosaur has been seen without their boots. The 1991 Super Mario World TV series also features barefoot baby Yoshi in the episode Mama Luigi. And a Super Mario World activity book from 1998 showing the iconic green Yoshi in a predicament where an enemy has stolen one of their shoes. Both of these examples have different, less threatening feet designs and are likely non-canon.

Activity in Super Mario Story Quiz Picture Book 5: Mario’s Amusement Park about finding Yoshi's missing shoe.
Everyone forgot about Yoshi’s appearance in Super Mario Story Quiz Picture Book 5. Image via Yoshi Propoganda on Twitter.

There are plenty of fans with very specific interests that have conceived their own Yoshi feet designs if you’re curious enough to look.

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Kate Robinson
Staff Writer. Kate has written about all aspects of the games industry, from the smallest of indie titles to the largest of RPGs. She also has a game design degree obtained from the developers of Sneak King and a unique writing style that is present in all her work.