Mario has been a doctor and even a race car driver, but he's best known as a plumber over his 35-year existence.
Although creator Shigeru Miyamoto has previously discussed his character's career choices, in a recent interview with CNN - focused on the history of the video game industry's most iconic mascot - he further explained why Nintendo made him a plumber.
The team apparently wanted someone that players felt like they already knew - kind of like the guy down the road, and a character that was in touch with the ah...realities of life, well, kind of...
"We wanted him to be someone who might live near you, and not a superhero."
If Mario was a real person, Miyamoto says he would tell him to stay true to himself and not worry about "competition" with others. Oh, and to work out and keep grooming that mustache!
"living in a way that's true to yourself is more enjoyable than being in competition with others...You'll be keeping plenty busy, so don't forget to work out and keep your mustache well groomed"
Wise words, indeed. If Mario was real, would you want to live near him? Weigh up the pros and cons in the comments below.
[source edition.cnn.com, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 36
Mario the everyman, hero of the proletariat.
I don't think I know anyone near me who has any of Mario's infinite professions.
@Kalmaro you don't know any doctors?
Mario was real, would you want to live near him.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................What you looking at me for you know its yes!
@ConsumingCinema Personally? Sortof? I guess I meat have anyone living near me that has his professions.
Of course I've known him since I was 7 years old it's been ten years I still get excited hearing there's going to be a new Mario game it's not even a question that I want to meet him
Thank you, Miyamoto! You have brought happiness to millions. You are the real hero!
If my neighbor was that bouncy, I'd be very worried.
Your friendly neighborhood Plumber hero, Super Mario to the rescue.
Not a superhero, but has a 6x his own height vertical jump? Pull the other one, Nintendo.
Did they ever explain why they made him Italian?
The plumber in our street wears a red hat. And he is able to shoot fireballs. He has a girl friend named Peach and a brother called Sidney.
It's always good to live close to someone who has a constant supply of 'shrooms.
@Dezzy Because he was named after Nintendo of America's landlord, whose name is Mario
@Dezzy
Mario was created during 80's era.
At the same time, Italiano Disco was very popular during 80's era.
I think the Italian nationality for Mario probably came from Italiano music idea.
@Anti-Matter
Lol thank you for the wild guess!
True, my neighbor loves mushrooms.
Now if only someone like Daisy could enter my life...
@RickD
This got me thinking... have Nintendo ever depicted that moment of arrival in any of the Mario games? It would be interesting to see the story of how he ended up there in a game.
Altought he might not be "someone from your neighbourhood", he is a more relatable character I would say.
"Living in a way that's true to yourself is more enjoyable than being in competition with others [...]" and those are true words of wisdom that should be applied for everything
@RickD @Ooyah
Yeah I'd like to know what Mario's back story is supposed to be now. Back in the '90s he was always a Brooklyn plumber who somehow ended up in the Mushroom Kingdom.
But (I think) all Paper Mario games have depicted Mario and Luigi living in the Mushroom Kingdom and obviously Yoshi's Island had him there as a baby. Plus Odyssey seemed to imply that Donkey Kong abducting Pauline all took place in New Donk City and that it was never New York.
So yeah I'm confused about what Mario's back story is supposed to be now. I'd prefer he still be from Brooklyn and accidentally fell through a warp pipe but they do seem to be moving away from that.
@BulkSlash @RickD
That is really interesting. I was unaware of that development in Odyssey. But, if that is the case, how would Nintendo explain some of the earlier games featuring Mario? He is clearly a plumber in Mario Bros., and Wrecking Crew looks like a "real world" scenario. Cement Factory too! Unless they are "retro-fitting" these games out of the canon. Or maybe those were hallucinations which Mario had after one too many mushrooms... 😉
Don't try to be cool or you won't age well. A lesson Sonic never learnt.
He seems be have done every job under the sun so .. yeah XD
Knowing a good plumber is quite valuable nowadays!
I’m kind of surprised why they settled on plumber when his first games were more of a generic laborer/handyman. I guess the pipes from Mario Bros arcade game really cemented it?
@BulkSlash I kind of like New Donk City as a replacement for New York in his backstory. It makes it a bit less special (since warp pipes are all over the place), but it’s a good blend of his cartoon and canon origin.
@Anti-Matter Mario is named after Mario Segale, a Seattle landlord whom Nintendo leased a warehouse from.
Much like Kirby is named after a lawyer that defended Nintendo in the Universal suit (over Donkey Kong).
We all know Nintendo works backwards in development to everyone else. They make a game mechanic (Splatoon, Star Fox, Capt. Toad, Arms), then they stick a character on top of it. Mario is the same, but limited by graphics at the time. I don't think all of Mario's persona and traits were more than an afterthought of 'he sort of looks like a plumber'.
When games are produced mascot before mechanic... you get Bubsy the Bobcat.
Mario - Just your average Joe.
You can save your princess too.
@BulkSlash I like that he doesn’t really have a back story. Things get weird when you just add them in, decades later.
I don’t know or live near anybody that can jump the height of my house, consume mushrooms to grow bigger, eat flowers to throw fire, and grab a Star to turn into an unnerving death machine. BUT YEAH HE TOTALLY NOT SUPER HERO
Mario has been around longer than 35 years--the sale brochure/flyer for Donkey Kong in 1981 referred to him as Mario the carpenter. It's only Super Mario Bros. that is 35 years old.
https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=316&image=2
@SmaggTheSmug I didn't know that was what Kirby was named after. Thanks!
@BulkSlash I'm going to say.... Multiverse... I mean ut is a possibility with all that goes on
Super mario (with super powers aka Superman or Goku style) lol watch Mario Ball Z on YouTube 😂👍
Dr mario,
The plumber,
Expert in racing,
Knows how to throw a mario party.
Kicks ass against mighty opponents (smashbros)
He can even race against sonic 😂
He is a referee, he can play all kinda sports.
Is there anything mario cant do?
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