This story was originally published on Passionfruit.
TikTok birthed some of the largest stars, trends, and, of course, dances of the early 2020s. Many famous TikTok creators got their start riding the wave of viral trends, including the Renegade, Savage, the Box, and now the Koopa Shuffle. One of Mario’s most famous and abused enemies went absolutely viral on the app, inspiring a wave of quick dances and sketches from creators admiring the Koopa Troopa’s struggle.
It all started on Oct. 28, 2022, when a TikTok user (@koopatroopa_official) posted a 6-second clip from the remastered New Super Mario Bros. U on the Nintendo Switch. The gameplay shows two green-shelled turtles, known as Koopa Troopas, humbly walking along a moving platform. But when the background music throws in a subtle, but undeniably classic “Bah Bah” tone, the Koopas stop to do their signature hand shimmy. All that progress they just made on the moving platform is lost, and they are forever cursed to never reach the end of their level stroll.
