Luigi is Mario's younger brother and a main protagonist of the 1986 anime film. He works alongside Mario at their grocery store, rather than being a plumber as in the games, and is portrayed as a lazy, money-driven character with little interest in heroism. At the start of the story, he dismisses Mario's account of Princess Peach's appearance as a dream and only agrees to journey into the Mushroom Kingdom after discovering that Peach's pendant could lead to great treasure. His primary motivation throughout the film is personal gain: he frequently daydreams about collecting gold coins and asks the mushroom hermit about rewards. Luigi is notably cowardly and opportunistic; he panics in dangerous situations, briefly considers abandoning Mario to search for treasure on his own, and often complains about hunger and fatigue during the adventure. Despite these flaws, he does not abandon his brother entirely and occasionally contributes by noticing useful details, such as the nature of the pendant. His relationship with Mario is defined by comedic bickering: he calls Mario "big brother" and defers to him in combat situations, but he is also quick to point out Mario's mistakes. Luigi does not develop into a brave hero; his attitude remains largely unchanged by the end of the film, though he willingly returns home with Mario after Peach marries Prince Haru. In terms of abilities, Luigi shows no special powers or combat skills. He is capable of climbing and running, and he picks up coins when the opportunity arises, but all major battles and power-up usage are handled by Mario. His character design in this film uses a blue cap and overalls with a yellow shirt, distinct from his later green attire, and he is depicted as taller and thinner than Mario. His contributions to the story are mainly as a comic foil and a reluctant sidekick, providing contrast to Mario's earnest but short-lived romantic quest.