Koopa Paratroopas Are Real?!

That’s what it looks like from the photo below, though this… uhm, creation was designed by artist Darick Maasen. He added chicken wings and a fresh coat of paint to an antique taxidermied turtle, making it look like a real life version of the classic Mario Brothers foe. Maasen made this Koopa Paratroopa for a video game art show.

On the one hand, awesome. I now know what a Koopa Paratroopa might look like in real life. On the other hand, I’m not super comfortable with taxidermy as art. I think it’s bad enough to be all like, “I’m a human and I can kill a bear, stuff it, mount it in my living room, and make it look ferocious 24/7.” Adding a clown nose and wig to that bear seems just a tad more disrespectful. On the other hand, now I know what a Koopa Paratroopa might look like in real life? So… awesome?!? [TDWGeek]