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About These Characters
It All Started With Mario
The Look of Mario
Super Mario Bros.
History
Pictures
About These
Characters: I usually like to single out individual
characters in a feature, but you can't really talk about how great the
Mario character is without mentioning all of the characters in the
Super Mario Bros. universe. Mario is really a package deal.
Where would he be without Luigi, or the Princess, or Toad, or Bowser,
or Yoshi? Let alone other characters like Wario, Donkey Kong,
Pauline, etc. Mario is quite a phenomenon, and I felt it was
better to talk about the entire cast as a whole, rather than in
individual features.
They're all cute, harmless characters that have remained timeless and enjoyable for all audiences. The Mario characters also have a staying power that other video game characters have not. You can always count on a cheery, colorful video game experience.
It All Started With Mario: It all started with Mario. Well, something that became Mario. The character that would become the Nintendo company's mascot first appeared as the hero in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. Created by video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the character was initially a carpenter called "Jumpman". In Japan, the character was more popularly known as "Mr. Video Game". The Donkey Kong game was one of Nintendo's attempts to get into the American market. The character of Jumpman, as he was known then, was made to be an everyman because they thought most Americans could relate to it.
During localization of the Donkey Kong game for American audiences, Nintendo's warehouse landlord confronted Nintendo's Minoru Arakawa, demanding back rent. The landlord's name was Mario Segale. After a fierce argument and convincing Segale that he would be paid, the Nintendo employees decided to name the character in the game after him. So the character of Jumpman was called Mario in all subsequent re-releases. The first time the character was ever called Mario was in the arcade game Donkey Kong Junior (1982). This is also the only time the character of Mario was portrayed as an antagonist, rather than a hero.
A colleague of Miyamoto told him that Mario looked more like a plumber. The idea took, and Miyamoto changed Mario's profession and developed the arcade game Mario Bros (1983). The character now worked as a plumber in the sewers of New York City. This time, however, he was joined by brother Luigi. With Mario Bros., one thing was made perfectly clear: Mario and Luigi were Italian-American plumbers based in New York. Another interesting quirk is that their names were Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. This game was a simple premise that involved the brothers going through sewer pipes and defeating their pest enemies. Since then, animal pests became a popular element in Mario games.
The Look of Mario: Mario's signature look developed due to the limitations of graphics at the time. Miyamoto clothed the character in bright red overalls and a blue shirt to contrast against each other and the background. White gloves were added to draw attention to the character's arms as they moved back and forth. Mario was given a cap so Miyamoto didn't have to draw his hairstyle. Another advantage was that Mario's hair would not need to be animated as he jumped.
Mario needed to look human, so he was given a large nose. A thick mustache was done to avoid drawing a mouth. Facial expressions were hard to do at that time.
Because of the technology of that era, Mario became identified as the short, pudgy Italian with stereotypical features. The look took, and has been used long since the vast improvements in video game design. The only changes made to Mario's look are really advancements, like the red "M" inside a white circle on his hat, and gold buttons on his overalls. Mario has also been given a more polished, streamlined look over the years.
Super Mario Bros.: Creator Shigeru Miyamoto designed Mario to be just a bit part character. Any game that needed a guy, that's where they'd put Mario. He never expected Mario to become popular, or headline a series of games that has lasted three decades and will probably be around as long as video games are still played. In late 1985, Mario next appeared in the game Super Mario Bros. This game was made expressly for the Nintendo Entertainment System console, and would become one of the most famous games of all time. Mario is again paired with younger brother Luigi, although the setting in this game is incredibly different from Mario's previous games.
Set in a place called the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario (or Luigi), must save Princess Toadstool from the evil King Koopa. Sewer pipes are still used, like in Mario Bros., and animal pests still serve as enemies, but the mushrooms were a new theme, and the whole game was made on a much more grand scope. The game scrolled from left to right, allowing for a bigger adventure. Princess Toadstool was renamed Princess Peach in later games, and King Koopa was renamed Bowser.
In 1983 there was a great crash in the video game market of North America. Super Mario Bros. is said to be most responsible for ending the terrible two year slump. It certainly put the NES console on the map, and almost EVERY kid wanted one. At this point, Nintendo made the Atari consoles look like dog dump. Nintendo's games were a bit better done and had slightly better graphics. 1985 was definitely Nintendo's first big year.
The Mario Legacy: Mario and related characters have appeared in over 200 video games to date (2009). They have appeared in almost every type of video game besides action, including: educational, fighting, puzzle, racing, role-playing, and sports. The most signficant Mario games, besides the standard action games, are the Mario Kart games. This was the very first time popular characters were used in a go-cart racing game, and is STILL the biggest and longest-running cart-racing franchise. The first Mario Kart game was Super Mario Kart, made for the Super Nintendo console in 1992.
The Cast: Mario would never have made it this long in video games if he didn't have a great supporting cast of characters. This cast grew over time, with changes being made here and there. Here is a listing of Mario's supporting players as they originally appeared.
Donkey Kong- He first appeared as the villain in the arcade version of Donkey Kong (1981). The great ape held Pauline prisoner, as carpenter Jumpman (later called Mario) tried his best to save her. Donkey Kong and Mario are essentially separate franchises. Donkey Kong is almost always the hero in his own games, but when he's paired with Mario, he's a villain.
Pauline- Pauline is the first girlfriend for Mario. She was later replaced by Princess Toadstool (aka Princess Peach). Pauline bears a good resemblance to the Princess. She was basically dropped after the Donkey Kong game. She did appear in the 1994 Game Boy remake of Donkey Kong, and again in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006). Now, though, she's just called "Mario's friend" to try to eliminate any confusion as to who is Mario's girlfriend.
Donkey Kong Junior- He first appeared in the arcade game Donkey Kong Junior (1982). This is the first game where Mario is called Mario. It's also the first, and only, time Mario is portrayed as a villain. In this game, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior are the heroes.
Luigi Mario- Luigi made his debut in the original Mario Bros. arcade game of 1983. He's the younger, taller brother of Mario. In this game, and in the later Super Mario Bros.(1985), Luigi is shown to be the same shape and height. The only times we see him as taller and skinny is in the promotional artwork. It wasn't until Super Mario Bros. 2 that Luigi appears different from Mario besides coloring.
Princess Toadstool- Princess Toadstool first appeared in the game Super Mario Bros. (1985). She is the second girlfriend of Mario. Until 1993, this character was called Princess Toadstool or simply Princess in English-speaking territories. The first time she was called Princess Peach was in the game Yoshi's Safari (1993). The name was not widely used until 1996, with the release of Super Mario 64. Now the name has just stuck. She usually plays the character Mario has to rescue, although she DID have to rescue Mario in the game Super Princess Peach.
King Koopa- King Koopa made his slimy debut in the game Super Mario Bros. (1985). He is the reptile king that holds Princess Toadstool prisoner. Since this game, the character has been called Bowser. He looks like a cross between a turtle and a dragon. Bowser has become one of the most recognizable video game villains of all time and has appeared in almost every major Mario game. Most notably, he is missing from Super Mario Bros. 2 (aka Super Mario USA), the Super Mario Land games, and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. He is almost always made to be a villain, but on occasion he has teamed up with Mario to defeat common enemies, and only because he has an agenda. Still, his image has been softened over the years and a personality has been developed starting with the 1980s cartoons and, ultimately, through the improved story-telling in video games. We have found out over the years that Bowser has no less than eight children, called the Koopalings, all individually named.
Toad- Toad had a minimal role in Super Mario Bros. (1985). He'd appear at the end of every level, just to tell Mario that the Princess is in another castle. Really, Toad is the name of that race of creatures, a mushroom humanoid species. Toad also happens to be the name of this particular character. In Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) (aka Super Mario USA), Toad is a playable character, along with Mario, Luigi, and Princess. Since then, we almost always see Toad. Sometimes he is a playable character, sometimes he's just seen. The cute little mushroom guy makes an endearing presence in all Mario media.
Yoshi- Once Yoshi came along, in 1991, it was made very clear that Super Mario Bros. was here to stay. Yoshi, made to look like a baby dragon or dinosaur, is actually a member of his own race of creatures called Yoshi. The lovable little reptile first appeared in the game Super Mario World (1991). What's unique about Yoshi is that he was the first character in the franchise that COULD be spun off into his own projects. Yoshi has appeared in his own games, and he's appeared in many Mario games. He is as much his own franchise as he is a part of the Mario franchise. That's a special and unique quality among video game characters.
Wario- Wario was created by Gunpei Yokoi as another antagonist for Mario. Wario was purposely created to be a more evil enemy than Bowser, Mario's then archnemesis. He debuted in the Game Boy game Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992). Wario is, quite simply, an "evil" Mario. He looks similar to Mario, but with scary physical features and personality. Wario being the ultimate evil, however, was phased out when he was put into his own games, starting with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994). This was the first time he was a playable character and the main character, and he had his own set of villains. Like the Yoshi character before him, Wario was another who was able to be a part of the Mario franchise and hold his own franchise. Since his very evil debut, Wario has become more of a "bad boy" Mario. He's a rival of Mario, and he's selfish and greedy, but he's good in his own right. Wario is more of an "in-your-face" character than Mario, and is seemingly used to bring in the more cynical audience of gamers. This character is certainly a sign of the times, and probably wouldn't have been so well-liked back in the 1980s when video games were cute and kind. Today, though, he's a perfect fit with a rather downbeat society.
History:
Pictures:
They're all cute, harmless characters that have remained timeless and enjoyable for all audiences. The Mario characters also have a staying power that other video game characters have not. You can always count on a cheery, colorful video game experience.
It All Started With Mario: It all started with Mario. Well, something that became Mario. The character that would become the Nintendo company's mascot first appeared as the hero in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. Created by video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the character was initially a carpenter called "Jumpman". In Japan, the character was more popularly known as "Mr. Video Game". The Donkey Kong game was one of Nintendo's attempts to get into the American market. The character of Jumpman, as he was known then, was made to be an everyman because they thought most Americans could relate to it.
During localization of the Donkey Kong game for American audiences, Nintendo's warehouse landlord confronted Nintendo's Minoru Arakawa, demanding back rent. The landlord's name was Mario Segale. After a fierce argument and convincing Segale that he would be paid, the Nintendo employees decided to name the character in the game after him. So the character of Jumpman was called Mario in all subsequent re-releases. The first time the character was ever called Mario was in the arcade game Donkey Kong Junior (1982). This is also the only time the character of Mario was portrayed as an antagonist, rather than a hero.
A colleague of Miyamoto told him that Mario looked more like a plumber. The idea took, and Miyamoto changed Mario's profession and developed the arcade game Mario Bros (1983). The character now worked as a plumber in the sewers of New York City. This time, however, he was joined by brother Luigi. With Mario Bros., one thing was made perfectly clear: Mario and Luigi were Italian-American plumbers based in New York. Another interesting quirk is that their names were Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. This game was a simple premise that involved the brothers going through sewer pipes and defeating their pest enemies. Since then, animal pests became a popular element in Mario games.
The Look of Mario: Mario's signature look developed due to the limitations of graphics at the time. Miyamoto clothed the character in bright red overalls and a blue shirt to contrast against each other and the background. White gloves were added to draw attention to the character's arms as they moved back and forth. Mario was given a cap so Miyamoto didn't have to draw his hairstyle. Another advantage was that Mario's hair would not need to be animated as he jumped.
Mario needed to look human, so he was given a large nose. A thick mustache was done to avoid drawing a mouth. Facial expressions were hard to do at that time.
Because of the technology of that era, Mario became identified as the short, pudgy Italian with stereotypical features. The look took, and has been used long since the vast improvements in video game design. The only changes made to Mario's look are really advancements, like the red "M" inside a white circle on his hat, and gold buttons on his overalls. Mario has also been given a more polished, streamlined look over the years.
Super Mario Bros.: Creator Shigeru Miyamoto designed Mario to be just a bit part character. Any game that needed a guy, that's where they'd put Mario. He never expected Mario to become popular, or headline a series of games that has lasted three decades and will probably be around as long as video games are still played. In late 1985, Mario next appeared in the game Super Mario Bros. This game was made expressly for the Nintendo Entertainment System console, and would become one of the most famous games of all time. Mario is again paired with younger brother Luigi, although the setting in this game is incredibly different from Mario's previous games.
Set in a place called the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario (or Luigi), must save Princess Toadstool from the evil King Koopa. Sewer pipes are still used, like in Mario Bros., and animal pests still serve as enemies, but the mushrooms were a new theme, and the whole game was made on a much more grand scope. The game scrolled from left to right, allowing for a bigger adventure. Princess Toadstool was renamed Princess Peach in later games, and King Koopa was renamed Bowser.
In 1983 there was a great crash in the video game market of North America. Super Mario Bros. is said to be most responsible for ending the terrible two year slump. It certainly put the NES console on the map, and almost EVERY kid wanted one. At this point, Nintendo made the Atari consoles look like dog dump. Nintendo's games were a bit better done and had slightly better graphics. 1985 was definitely Nintendo's first big year.
The Mario Legacy: Mario and related characters have appeared in over 200 video games to date (2009). They have appeared in almost every type of video game besides action, including: educational, fighting, puzzle, racing, role-playing, and sports. The most signficant Mario games, besides the standard action games, are the Mario Kart games. This was the very first time popular characters were used in a go-cart racing game, and is STILL the biggest and longest-running cart-racing franchise. The first Mario Kart game was Super Mario Kart, made for the Super Nintendo console in 1992.
The Cast: Mario would never have made it this long in video games if he didn't have a great supporting cast of characters. This cast grew over time, with changes being made here and there. Here is a listing of Mario's supporting players as they originally appeared.
Donkey Kong- He first appeared as the villain in the arcade version of Donkey Kong (1981). The great ape held Pauline prisoner, as carpenter Jumpman (later called Mario) tried his best to save her. Donkey Kong and Mario are essentially separate franchises. Donkey Kong is almost always the hero in his own games, but when he's paired with Mario, he's a villain.
Pauline- Pauline is the first girlfriend for Mario. She was later replaced by Princess Toadstool (aka Princess Peach). Pauline bears a good resemblance to the Princess. She was basically dropped after the Donkey Kong game. She did appear in the 1994 Game Boy remake of Donkey Kong, and again in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006). Now, though, she's just called "Mario's friend" to try to eliminate any confusion as to who is Mario's girlfriend.
Donkey Kong Junior- He first appeared in the arcade game Donkey Kong Junior (1982). This is the first game where Mario is called Mario. It's also the first, and only, time Mario is portrayed as a villain. In this game, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior are the heroes.
Luigi Mario- Luigi made his debut in the original Mario Bros. arcade game of 1983. He's the younger, taller brother of Mario. In this game, and in the later Super Mario Bros.(1985), Luigi is shown to be the same shape and height. The only times we see him as taller and skinny is in the promotional artwork. It wasn't until Super Mario Bros. 2 that Luigi appears different from Mario besides coloring.
Princess Toadstool- Princess Toadstool first appeared in the game Super Mario Bros. (1985). She is the second girlfriend of Mario. Until 1993, this character was called Princess Toadstool or simply Princess in English-speaking territories. The first time she was called Princess Peach was in the game Yoshi's Safari (1993). The name was not widely used until 1996, with the release of Super Mario 64. Now the name has just stuck. She usually plays the character Mario has to rescue, although she DID have to rescue Mario in the game Super Princess Peach.
King Koopa- King Koopa made his slimy debut in the game Super Mario Bros. (1985). He is the reptile king that holds Princess Toadstool prisoner. Since this game, the character has been called Bowser. He looks like a cross between a turtle and a dragon. Bowser has become one of the most recognizable video game villains of all time and has appeared in almost every major Mario game. Most notably, he is missing from Super Mario Bros. 2 (aka Super Mario USA), the Super Mario Land games, and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. He is almost always made to be a villain, but on occasion he has teamed up with Mario to defeat common enemies, and only because he has an agenda. Still, his image has been softened over the years and a personality has been developed starting with the 1980s cartoons and, ultimately, through the improved story-telling in video games. We have found out over the years that Bowser has no less than eight children, called the Koopalings, all individually named.
Toad- Toad had a minimal role in Super Mario Bros. (1985). He'd appear at the end of every level, just to tell Mario that the Princess is in another castle. Really, Toad is the name of that race of creatures, a mushroom humanoid species. Toad also happens to be the name of this particular character. In Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) (aka Super Mario USA), Toad is a playable character, along with Mario, Luigi, and Princess. Since then, we almost always see Toad. Sometimes he is a playable character, sometimes he's just seen. The cute little mushroom guy makes an endearing presence in all Mario media.
Yoshi- Once Yoshi came along, in 1991, it was made very clear that Super Mario Bros. was here to stay. Yoshi, made to look like a baby dragon or dinosaur, is actually a member of his own race of creatures called Yoshi. The lovable little reptile first appeared in the game Super Mario World (1991). What's unique about Yoshi is that he was the first character in the franchise that COULD be spun off into his own projects. Yoshi has appeared in his own games, and he's appeared in many Mario games. He is as much his own franchise as he is a part of the Mario franchise. That's a special and unique quality among video game characters.
Wario- Wario was created by Gunpei Yokoi as another antagonist for Mario. Wario was purposely created to be a more evil enemy than Bowser, Mario's then archnemesis. He debuted in the Game Boy game Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992). Wario is, quite simply, an "evil" Mario. He looks similar to Mario, but with scary physical features and personality. Wario being the ultimate evil, however, was phased out when he was put into his own games, starting with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994). This was the first time he was a playable character and the main character, and he had his own set of villains. Like the Yoshi character before him, Wario was another who was able to be a part of the Mario franchise and hold his own franchise. Since his very evil debut, Wario has become more of a "bad boy" Mario. He's a rival of Mario, and he's selfish and greedy, but he's good in his own right. Wario is more of an "in-your-face" character than Mario, and is seemingly used to bring in the more cynical audience of gamers. This character is certainly a sign of the times, and probably wouldn't have been so well-liked back in the 1980s when video games were cute and kind. Today, though, he's a perfect fit with a rather downbeat society.
Game Appearances:
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Junior
Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Junior
Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
History:
Pictures: