Super Mario

Super Mario
Nintendo · Public domain · source
Name	Super Mario
First	Donkey Kong
Creator	Shigeru Miyamoto
Voice	Charles Martinet
Species	Human
Occupation	Plumber
Affiliation	Mario Bros., Nintendo

Super Mario is a fictional Italian plumber and flagship character of Nintendo who debuted in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed by teams at Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development, the character became the protagonist of the Super Mario series, a cornerstone of the video game industry and a symbol of Japanese pop culture and international entertainment franchises.

Overview

Mario serves as the central playable figure in numerous platform game titles produced by Nintendo Co., Ltd. and developed by studios including Nintendo EAD and Nintendo SPD. The character appears across genres including platformers, racing, sports, role-playing, and party video games. Mario is frequently paired with characters from The Legend of Zelda-adjacent teams, crossover events such as Super Smash Bros. and collaborations with companies like Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. Mario’s visual identity is tied to collaborators such as Takashi Tezuka and voice actor Charles Martinet.

Character and Creation

Mario was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto during the development of Donkey Kong and further refined for Super Mario Bros. by teams that included Takashi Tezuka, Kenji Miki, and artists at Nintendo R&D4. The character’s profession and appearance—red cap, blue overalls, mustache—were influenced by hardware limits on consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and arcade cabinets by Nintendo. Mario’s narrative ties link him to characters like Princess Peach, Bowser, Luigi, Toad, and locations like Mushroom Kingdom, with recurring antagonists from titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64.

Video Game Series

The series launched with Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System and expanded through landmark entries including Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Odyssey, and spin-offs like Mario Kart 8 and Mario Party. Developers including Nintendo EAD, directors such as Yoshiaki Koizumi, producers like Koji Kondo (composer collaborator), and composers including Koji Kondo and Kenta Nagata shaped soundtracks. The franchise has appeared on hardware families including Famicom, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and handhelds like the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Mario titles popularized platforming mechanics such as running, jumping, power-ups like Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and transformations exemplified in Super Mario 64’s cap mechanics and Super Mario Galaxy’s gravity-based stages. Level design philosophies were influenced by designers from Nintendo and contemporaries like Sonic the Hedgehog developers at Sega, with innovations in camera systems by teams that worked on Super Mario 64 and motion controls introduced on Wii Sports-era hardware. Game modes often include single-player campaigns, multiplayer modes seen in New Super Mario Bros., and competitive racing in Mario Kart series entries.

Media Adaptations

Mario has appeared in adaptations including animated series produced by DiC Entertainment, feature films such as the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film and the animated 2023 film co-produced by Illumination Entertainment and Nintendo Co., Ltd.. Cross-media projects involve collaborations with studios including Universal Pictures for theme park attractions at Super Nintendo World within Universal Studios Japan and international parks. Comic and manga adaptations have been published by companies like Shogakukan and licensed merchandise tie-ins produced by firms such as Bandai and LEGO Group.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Mario is cited in academic works on video game history and cited alongside icons like Pikachu, Link, Sonic the Hedgehog, and media phenomena such as The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon. The character influenced game design seen in titles by Capcom, Konami, and indie developers like Team Meat who reference classic platforming. Mario’s presence is visible in exhibitions at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and events such as E3 and Tokyo Game Show. Awards include recognitions from entities like The Game Awards and retrospectives in publications like Time and The New York Times.

Merchandise and Commercialization

Merchandise spans toys by Tomy, Bandai, and Jakks Pacific, apparel collaborations with brands such as Uniqlo and Levi Strauss & Co., collectibles by First 4 Figures and Funko Pop!, and licensed products from LEGO Group and Hasbro. Commercial ventures include theme park investments by Universal Parks & Resorts, licensing deals with broadcasters like Nickelodeon for animated distribution, and collaborations with fast-food chains and retailers like McDonald’s and Nintendo’s official stores. The franchise’s commercial strategy involves partnerships with publishers and studios such as Shigeru Miyamoto-led teams, Nintendo Co., Ltd. marketing divisions, and global distributors.

Category:Fictional plumbers Category:Nintendo characters