Undertale’s catalog of characters has a level of detail put into them that might not be expected from a game in the sprite style. From Undyne to Mettaton to our topic today, Toriel, all of these characters are deserving of their own deep dive into what makes them such integral pieces to this whacky and heart-breaking world of monsters (some of which you can find here).
Toriel’s role is not just to show you the ropes of negotiation, battle, and puzzles, though if you don’t hang out with her a little bit it might feel that way. However, discovering the intricacies of her characters is just another way of praising this indie classic and it’s cast of memorable monsters.
10 She Likes Snails
Toriel’s motherly persona is exemplified by her famous butterscotch-cinnamon pies and gentle guidance through the Ruins. She also has her personal interests that aren’t reliant on her role as a mother.
In her home, she can be seen reading a yellowish book of snail facts in her big armchair. She also loves snail pie! Wonder which came first, the love of snails or the love of pie?
9 Mom’s Green Thumb
Sparing Toriel repeatedly and ultimately exiting the battle with Toriel alive opens up the potential for a one-time interaction if you’re willing to backtrack a little. If you head back to the area where you woke up, the flowerbed with the sunlight, Toriel will be lingering nearby.
If you interact with her, she’ll say, “Do not worry about me. Someone has to take care of these flowers.” This echoes her nurturing nature but also might allude to her hope that another child might fall and she can save them once again.
8 She Wears Reading Glasses
If you spare Toriel and visit her home, she’ll be sitting in her beloved armchair with a book in hand, half-dozing as she reads. Her sprite might be a little blocky in this rendition, but if you look closely at her sleeping face, you’ll see that this beloved mother figure wears simple reading glasses. As if she couldn’t get cuter, sweeter, and more motherly!
7 She Has Four Single-Use Animations Only For The Annoying Dog
Toriel and the Annoying Dog have a particular relationship (hence the swallowed phone), and in the Hard Mode Ending, you can find an extra interaction between the two.
There are four facial sprites for Toriel that are only used here, showing her exasperation and amusement at this delightfully infuriating little pup. You cannot find these specific emotions at any other point in the game!
6 She’s A Nubian Goat
Toriel’s goatish appearance is based on the delightfully floppy White Nubian Goat. The long ears, small rounded horns, and oblong face all echo the look of this world-traveling breed. Her fangs, fuzziness, and hands instead of hooves are additions to the form, giving her a softer look digitally.
Nubian goats are usually on the shorter side of goats, often being used as milk producers or raised for the meat trade. Safe to say that as long as you’re not playing the genocide route, that future is not in store for Toriel.
5 Tons Of Puns
In a sweet and thoughtful fashion, Toriel keeps a journal for her personal thoughts. Some might think it’s a diary or a detailing of her dreams (like being a teacher at a school somewhere).
Instead, you’ll discover something a little more lighthearted. She has a book of puns, kept for whenever such an opportunity might arise. You never know when someone might need a laugh, even if it’s just a pity laugh.
4 She Has A Double Name
Toriel’s name and use as a tutorial character make the play on her name obvious: Toriel = (tu)torial. It’s almost one-to-one. In addition to this wordplay, Toriel is similar to the name of a watcher angel in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity named Turiel (or Yoriel, depending on the text).
Toriel’s role as the caretaker or watcher of the Ruins echoes Turiel’s motives and roles in the various texts, another clever layer to Undertale’s already multifaceted references.
3 The Difference In A Smile
Toriel’s death sprite is mournful and heartbreaking for fans of the character. She has a sad grimace, defeated closed eyes, and a huge slash through her body that serves as the final blow.
In another version of this death sprite, one in which Toriel commits suicide rather than be killed by another, most of these details are shared except for a smile. She wears a sad but accepting smile, mirroring a little bit of relief on her face. How sad!
2 She Has Red Eyes
You might associate red eyes with something evil, demonic, angry, or otherwise. However, even our sweetest character has them! If you look closely at her sprite in-game, the place where her irises would be is tinted dark red.
It’s barely noticeable on the black and white background, but if you get a moment, you will definitely notice the color shift. Maybe this is an illusion to her relationship with Asgore, or her potential to fight back if you decide to try and kill her.
1 If You Spare Her Thirteen Times…
Fighting the beloved Toriel is an option, especially when you’re a first-time player and don’t know that there are alternative paths to take. However, for the informed player taking their genocide run seriously, there’s a line of dialogue that you might be looking for.
If you spare Toriel exactly thirteen times and then kill her, she will say the one-off line “you really are no different than them” with a sickening smile on her face. ZeekThatGeek captures her personality perfectly in his rendition of the character.
NEXT: 10 Video Games That Defy Genre Classifications
