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Character fact sheetName: Polterpup (オバ犬, Oba-ken in Japanese, from obake, "ghost", and ken, "dog") First Appearance: Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo 3DS, 2013) Home: Evershade Valley (originally) / Luigi’s home (modern) Voiced by: No credited voice actor Associates: Luigi (owner / closest companion), Professor E. Gadd, Mario, Princess Peach, the wider Luigi’s Mansion cast |
General profile
Polterpup is Luigi’s ghostly canine companion and one of the most beloved supporting characters in the modern Mario series. Introduced in 2013’s Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for the Nintendo 3DS, Polterpup is a small, translucent ghost dog with floppy ears and a wagging tail. Despite being a ghost, he acts like a normal dog — playful, loyal and energetic — and unlike the other ghosts of Dark Moon he is a nuisance rather than a threat. Professor E. Gadd guesses that he is "something like a silver retriever!"
Polterpup’s defining role is as Luigi’s loyal sidekick across the Luigi’s Mansion series. In Dark Moon, he repeatedly steals things Luigi needs — a special key in the Haunted Towers, a clock hand in the Old Clockworks and the front-door key of the Treacherous Mansion — and escapes from the Poltergust 5000 until E. Gadd repairs the Ghost Container. E. Gadd surmises that he is simply lonely and looking for someone to play with. After King Boo is defeated, a remorseful Polterpup is cheered up by Luigi and adopted as his pet. By Luigi’s Mansion 3 (2019) he is part of Luigi’s household and one of the game’s most important supporting characters, saving Luigi from drowning and from a deadly fall.
The character has become a fan favourite of the Luigi’s Mansion series. Outside the main games, he is a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a statue in Super Mario Run and a character in the Super Mario-kun manga, and Luigi mentions him in Hello, Luigi!
Quotes
Enemies
Polterpup has no personal enemies beyond the general Luigi’s Mansion villain roster. As Luigi’s loyal companion he is fundamentally opposed to King Boo (Luigi’s arch-nemesis), Hellen Gravely, and the various boss ghosts of the Luigi’s Mansion series. In Luigi’s Mansion 3 his loyalty drives several plot moments: he pulls Luigi out of the flooded Reservoir, and he unintentionally saves Luigi from King Boo by pushing him aside while chasing a bat. He also tries to befriend Polterkitty in Luigi’s Mansion 3, only to be rejected.
Friends
Polterpup’s closest companion is Luigi, who treats him with the deep affection one would give a beloved family pet. The relationship has the visual and emotional dynamic of an owner-and-puppy bond. Beyond Luigi he is friendly and loving towards everyone around him: Professor E. Gadd (who is researching what breed he is), Mario (whose cake he eats in Luigi’s Mansion 3), Princess Peach, and the Toad assistants he poses with at the end of Dark Moon.
Appearances
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS, 2013)
Polterpup debuted in Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for Nintendo 3DS (2013) as a recurring antagonist ghost in the early mansion missions. He first appears in the Gloomy Manor, digging up an amethyst and getting it stuck in a tree, then steals the special key in the Haunted Towers mission "Pool Party", leading to the chase mission "Doggone Key". He later swallows a clock hand in the Old Clockworks and knocks the front-door key out of Luigi’s hand in the Treacherous Mansion, where he is finally stored in the repaired Ghost Container.
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon ending sequence (2013)
At the end of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, after King Boo is recaptured, Polterpup and the other ghosts are released from the Ghost Container. He approaches Luigi unhappily, aware of the trouble he caused, but Luigi cheers him up. After a celebratory photograph with Luigi, Mario, E. Gadd, the Toad assistants and some of the other ghosts, Luigi adopts him and takes him home as his new pet. He also gains pupils like the other rehabilitated ghosts.
Luigi’s Mansion 3DS Remake (2018)
Polterpup did not appear in the original 2001 Luigi’s Mansion, but he appears in the 2018 Nintendo 3DS remake: when a Luigi amiibo is scanned, Polterpup shows up after Luigi loses all his health and eats a Gold Bone to revive him.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Switch, 2019)
Polterpup has his most substantial role in Luigi’s Mansion 3 for Nintendo Switch (October 2019), where he acts as a tutorial guide. He accompanies Luigi to The Last Resort, licks Luigi awake in the basement after his escape from King Boo, and shows him the new Poltergust G-00. He pulls Luigi out of the water when Clem floods the Reservoir, helps search for Polterkitty, and at the end saves Luigi twice: by pushing him aside before King Boo can trap him, and by catching him when the hotel collapses.
ScareScraper Polterpup Mode (2013)
Polterpups as a species appear in Dark Moon’s ScareScraper multiplayer mode, in their own Polterpup Mode. The Luigis must use their Dark-Light Devices to spot the dogs’ footprints, then stun each Polterpup with the Strobulb and vacuum it up; Big Polterpups have twice the HP, and every Polterpup drops a Gold Bar when captured.
Other Appearances and Cameos
Polterpup appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014) and as a support spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch, 2018). He returns in the Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD remaster (2024), and a Fleeing Polterpup & Luigi Statue was added to Super Mario Run during the event for its launch. He also appears in the Luigi’s Mansion 3 arc of the Super Mario-kun manga.
Trivia & Official Sources
- In Luigi’s Mansion 3, Professor E. Gadd says he is researching what breed Polterpup is, guessing he is "something like a silver retriever!"
- Polterpup’s Japanese name, Oba-ken (オバ犬), is a pun on obake ("ghost") and ken ("dog"). His English name is a portmanteau of "poltergeist" and "pup".
- In Dark Moon, the Dark Moon’s absence makes Polterpup mischievous rather than hostile, and if Luigi runs out of health while carrying a Gold Bone, Polterpup licks him back to health.
- Polterpup gains pupils at the end of Dark Moon like the other rehabilitated ghosts, but in Luigi’s Mansion 3 he no longer has them.
- Polterpup returns in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Switch, 2024), and a Fleeing Polterpup & Luigi Statue was added to Super Mario Run during the event marking its launch.
- Polterpup’s appearances outside the Luigi’s Mansion games are a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, a spirit in Ultimate, a Super Mario Run statue and the Super Mario-kun manga.
Sources
- Super Mario Wiki: Polterpup