Editing Mario (section)

==Concept and creation==
[[File:Shigeru Miyamoto 20150610 (cropped 2).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] is the creator of Mario.|right]]
[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] created Mario while developing ''[[Donkey Kong (1981 video game)|Donkey Kong]]'' in an attempt to produce [[Nintendo]]'s first blockbuster video game; previous games, such as ''[[Sheriff (arcade game)|Sheriff]],'' had not achieved the success of games such as [[Namco]]'s ''[[Pac-Man]]''.<ref name="wii-com1">{{Cite web |title=Mario Couldn't Jump At First |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/nsmb/0/0 |work=Iwata Asks: New Super Mario Bros. Wii |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=June 24, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725233103/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/nsmb/0/0 |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |page=1}}</ref> Originally, Miyamoto wanted to create a game that used the 1930s characters [[Popeye]], [[Bluto]], and [[Olive Oyl]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Rus |date=September 14, 2010 |title=IGN Presents The History of Super Mario Bros. |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/14/ign-presents-the-history-of-super-mario-bros |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109000531/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/14/ign-presents-the-history-of-super-mario-bros |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |access-date=April 9, 2014 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref><ref name="35factsgamespot">{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/35-facts-about-mario-only-hardcore-fans-will-know/2900-424/ |title=35 Facts About Mario Only Hardcore Fans Will Know |author=Fox Van Allen |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312222239/https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/35-facts-about-mario-only-hardcore-fans-will-know/2900-424/ |url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, however, because Nintendo was unable to acquire a [[license]] to use the characters (and did not until 1982 with ''[[Popeye (video game)|Popeye]]''), he ended up creating an unnamed [[player character]], along with [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]] and [[Pauline (Nintendo)|Lady]] (later renamed Pauline).<ref name="History" />

In early development of ''Donkey Kong'', Mario was drawn using pixel dots in a 16x16 grid.<ref name="originsofmario">{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/19/415568892/q-a-shigeru-miyamoto-on-the-origins-of-nintendos-famous-characters |title=Q&A: Shigeru Miyamoto On The Origins Of Nintendo's Famous Characters |website=[[NPR]] |author=NPR Staff |date=June 19, 2015 |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=June 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619152426/https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/19/415568892/q-a-shigeru-miyamoto-on-the-origins-of-nintendos-famous-characters |url-status=live}}</ref> The focus of the game was to escape a maze, and Mario could not jump. However, Miyamoto soon introduced jumping capabilities for the player character, reasoning that "If you had a barrel rolling towards you, what would you do?"<ref name="wired">{{Cite magazine |last=Orlando |first=Greg |date=May 15, 2007 |title=Console Portraits: A 40-Year Pictorial History of Gaming |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/06/gallery-game-history/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020153928/http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/multimedia/2007/05/gallery_game_history?slide=18 |archive-date=October 20, 2008 |access-date=May 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="wii-com1"/> Continuing to draw from 1930s media, ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' was an inspiration, and Mario was set in [[New York City]].<ref name="Kohler 36">{{Cite book|last=Kohler|first=Chris|year=2005|title=Power-up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|publisher=BradyGAMES|page=36 |isbn=978-0744004243}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2023 |title=マリオ映画公開記念！宮本茂さんインタビュー 制作の始まりから驚きの設定まで |trans-title=Commemorating the release of the Mario movie! Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto From the beginning of production to the surprising setting |url=https://www.ndw.jp/mario-interview-230425/2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425155151/https://www.ndw.jp/mario-interview-230425/2/ |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |website=[[Nintendo Dream]] |language=ja |access-date=November 14, 2024 |quote=もともと『マリオブラザーズ』は、土管がいっぱいあるニューヨークの地下で活躍する兄弟、ニューヨークのなかでもたぶんブルックリン、というところまで勝手に決めていて。『ドンキーコング』は舞台がニューヨークですし。[Miyamoto: Originally, ''Mario Bros.'' was arbitrarily decided as brothers who are active in the underground of New York, where there are many clay pipes, and probably Brooklyn in New York. ''Donkey Kong'' is set in New York.]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/how-the-creator-of-mario-designs-games-shigeru-miyamoto-game-designer-spotlight |title=How the Creator of Mario Designs Games – Shigeru Miyamoto – Game Designer Spotlight |first=Caleb |last=Compton |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |date=May 4, 2021 |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323141759/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/how-the-creator-of-mario-designs-games-shigeru-miyamoto-game-designer-spotlight |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Name===
Though the protagonist is unnamed in the Japanese launch release of ''Donkey Kong'', he was named "Jumpman" in the English instructions<ref>"[[iarchive:NEXT Generation 26/page/n49/mode/2up|Mario: Alive, Well, and Living in the Bronx?]]" ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' 26:46. Brisbane, CA: [[Imagine Media]]. February 1997.</ref> and "little Mario" in the sales brochure.<ref name="tafa_dkusflyer">{{Cite web |title=Donkey Kong |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/videogames/show/294#gallery-2 |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive (KLOV) |access-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331185616/https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/videogames/show/294 |archive-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref> Miyamoto envisioned a "go-to" character as needed for any game he developed, though limited to [[cameo appearance]]s because he did not expect the character to become singularly popular.<ref name="yahoo">{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2009 |title=Playback 93 |url=https://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-93/1378336 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211223939/https://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-93/1378336 |archive-date=December 11, 2009 |access-date=December 24, 2009 |publisher=Yahoo! Games |url-status=dead}}</ref> To this end, he originally named the character Mr. Video, comparing what he intended for the character's appearances in later games to the cameos that [[Alfred Hitchcock]] had done within his films.<ref name="wii-com2">{{Cite web |title=The Reason Mario Wears Overalls |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/nsmb/0/1 |work=Iwata Asks: New Super Mario Bros. Wii |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=June 24, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725233103/https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/nsmb/0/1 |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |page=2}}</ref> In retrospect, Miyamoto commented that if he had used the name "Mr. Video", the character likely would have "disappeared off the face of the Earth".<ref name="wii-com2" />

[[File:Mario Segale 2016.jpg|thumb|The character was named after real estate developer [[Mario Segale]].<ref name="35factsgamespot" />|upright|right]]
According to a widely circulated story, during the [[Internationalization and localization|localization]] of ''Donkey Kong'' for American audiences, [[Nintendo of America]]'s warehouse landlord, [[Mario Segale]], confronted then-president [[Minoru Arakawa]], demanding back rent. Following a heated argument in which the Nintendo employees eventually convinced Segale he would be paid, they opted to name the character after him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=April 25, 2010 |title=The True Face of Mario |url=https://technologizer.com/2010/04/25/mario/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625120834/http://technologizer.com/2010/04/25/mario/ |archive-date=June 25, 2011 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=[[Technologizer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pryne |first=Eric |date=March 27, 2010 |title=Powerful Segale family has massive vision for Tukwila expanse |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/powerful-segale-family-has-massive-vision-for-tukwila-expanse/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921064117/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011460764_segale28.html |archive-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref> This story is contradicted by former Nintendo of America warehouse manager [[Don James (executive)|Don James]], who stated in 2012 that he and Arakawa named the character after Segale as a joke because Segale was so reclusive that none of the employees had ever met him.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/02/gamelife-podcast-episode-18/ |title=Game Life Podcast: When Jay Mohr Met Tomonobu Itagaki |first=Chris |last=Kohler |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=February 17, 2012 |access-date=September 28, 2024 |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417022605/https://www.wired.com/2012/02/gamelife-podcast-episode-18/ |at=52:00 |quote="And so we thought, 'This guy [Segale] is a recluse. No one's ever actually met him.' So we thought, 'Wouldn't it be a great joke if we named this character Mario?' And so we said, 'That's great', and we sent a telex to Japan, and that's how Mario got his name."}}</ref> James repeated this account in 2018.<ref name="JamesE3Quote">{{Cite AV media |title=Nintendo Treehouse Live - E3 2018 - Arcade Archives Donkey Kong, Sky Skipper |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CizC6MqyiJM&t=138s |publisher=NintendoEverything |via=[[YouTube]] |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=September 28, 2024 |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003035157/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CizC6MqyiJM |url-status=live |at=2:25 |quote=Mr. Arakawa, who was the president, and myself looked at the character, and we had a landlord that happened to be named Mario as well, and we'd never met the guy, so we thought it'd be funny to name this main character Mario after our landlord in Southcenter. And that's actually how Mario got his name.}}</ref> A friend of Segale commented: "My direct understanding and perception is that Mario Segale doesn't mind at all the fact that his name inspired such an iconic character, and that he shows humble pride in that fact in front of his grandchildren and close-knit adult circles."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/02/663372770/mario-segale-inspiration-for-nintendos-hero-plumber-has-died |title=Mario Segale, Inspiration For Nintendo's Hero Plumber, Has Died |first=Bill |last=Chappell |website=[[NPR]] |date=November 2, 2018 |access-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-date=March 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305052527/https://www.npr.org/2018/11/02/663372770/mario-segale-inspiration-for-nintendos-hero-plumber-has-died |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{anchor|Mario Mario}}Though it is implied by the title of the ''Mario Bros.'' series, in a 1989 interview, his full name was stated not to be "Mario Mario".<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Inside Super Mario Bros. |series=[[Inside Edition]] |last=Loy |first=Joel |network=[[CBS Television Distribution]] |air-date=1989}}</ref> The first notable use of "Mario Mario" is in the [[Super Mario Bros. (film)|1993 live-action film adaptation]] of the ''Super Mario'' series, and further in [[Prima Games|Prima]]'s official video game strategy guides, in 2000 for ''[[Mario Party 2]]''<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tica |first1=Don |last2=Govia |first2=Mario De |last3=Pham |first3=Tri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_XFa3rPUvSMC |title=Mario Party 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide |date=2000 |publisher=[[Prima Games]] |isbn=978-0-7615-2767-1 |access-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516115241/https://books.google.com/books?id=_XFa3rPUvSMC |archive-date=May 16, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2003 for ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Stratton |first1=Stephen |last2=Buchanan |first2=Levi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8bpFw-oJTqgC |title=Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga : Prima's Official Strategy Guide |date=2003 |publisher=[[Prima Games]] |isbn=978-0-7615-4423-4 |page=21 |access-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516094254/https://books.google.com/books?id=8bpFw-oJTqgC |archive-date=May 16, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, after Mario voice actor [[Charles Martinet]] stated that the character's name was, in fact, "Mario Mario" at [[San Diego Comic-Con]],<ref name="MartinetComicConQuote">{{Cite AV media |title=Mario reveals his last name & other tales - San Diego Comic Con 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAjhjLuWbC8&t=1m15s |publisher=Patrick Scott Patterson |via=[[YouTube]] |date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624114504/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAjhjLuWbC8&t=1m15s |archive-date=June 24, 2020 |url-status=live |quote=What's my last name? That's a very good question. That's right, it's Mario! My name's-a Mario Mario. Of course, my brother's name, a-Luigi Mario. And of course, my mama's-a Mama Mia Mario; my papa Papa Pio Mario. Of course, my grandmama Grandmama Mia Mario and my greatpapa et cetera, et cetera. Yeah, first name Mario, last name Mario. Yahoo!}}</ref> Nintendo CEO [[Satoru Iwata]] said Mario had no last name,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2012 |title=Nintendo Chief: Mario Is Part Of Gamers' DNA |first=Stephen |last=Totilo |url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-chief-mario-is-part-of-gamers-dna-5935721 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614023613/https://kotaku.com/5935721/super-marios-boss-doesnt-want-to-overdo-it-with-mr-video-game-and-wont-deceive-you-with-dlc |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |quote=Could that mean that Mario's last name is "Video Game"? No, Iwata replied. "He does not have a last name."}}</ref> with which Miyamoto agreed the month after.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 10, 2015 |title=Mario's Creators Answer Burning Questions About The Series |first=Dan |last=Ryckert |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/10/miyamoto-tezuka-interview.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912011321/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/10/miyamoto-tezuka-interview.aspx |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=December 20, 2017 }}</ref> Two months after Iwata's death in July 2015, Miyamoto changed his stance, asserting at the Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary festival that Mario's full name is indeed "Mario Mario".<ref name="getnews.jp">{{Cite news |date=September 14, 2015 |title=【衝撃事実】ついに任天堂公式のマリオの本名が判明！任天堂の代表取締役・宮本茂氏が明かす |trans-title=[Impact fact] The real name of Nintendo's official Mario is finally revealed! Nintendo Representative Director Shigeru Miyamoto reveals |website=ガジェット通信 GetNews |url=https://getnews.jp/archives/1144379 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616214455/https://getnews.jp/archives/1144379 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/super-mario-bros-luigi-last-name/ |title=Super Mario Bros: What Is Mario and Luigi's Last Name? |first=Aaron |last=Greenbaum |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322082138/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/super-mario-bros-luigi-last-name/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Mario can also be referred to as Super Mario when he acquires the Super Mushroom power-up.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years |url=https://archive.org/details/super-mario-bros-encyclopedia-the-official-guide-to-the-first-30-years/page/112/mode/1up |publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]] |date=October 19, 2015 |isbn=9781506708973 | oclc=1033469908 |page=112 }}</ref>

===Appearance and profession===
According to Miyamoto, Mario's profession was chosen to fit with the game design. Because ''Donkey Kong'' takes place on a construction site, Mario was made into a carpenter; and when he appeared again in ''[[Mario Bros.]]'', it was decided that he should be a [[plumber]], because a lot of the game is situated in underground settings.<ref name="usatoday">{{Cite news |last=Snider |first=Mike |date=November 8, 2010 |title=Q&A: 'Mario' creator Shigeru Miyamoto |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/11/qa-mario-creator-shigeru-miyamoto/1 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111140107/https://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/11/qa-mario-creator-shigeru-miyamoto/1 |archive-date=November 11, 2010 }}</ref> Mario's character design, particularly his large nose, draws on Western influences; once he became a plumber, Miyamoto decided to "put him in [[New York City|New York]]" and make him [[Italians|Italian]],<ref name="usatoday" /> light-heartedly attributing Mario's nationality to his mustache.<ref name="IGN Miyamoto Interview">{{Cite magazine |last=Kohler |first=Chris |date=June 27, 2008 |title=Q&A: 90 Minutes With Miyamoto, Nintendo's Master of Amusement |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/06/interview-90-mi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727214650/https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/06/interview-90-mi |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref> Other sources have Mario's profession chosen to be carpentry in an effort to depict the character as an ordinary hard worker, making it easier for players to identify with him.<ref name="mariomania">{{Cite book |editor-last=Arakawa |editor-first=Minoru |date=1991 |title=Mario Mania |location=Redmond, WA |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |pages=30–32 |asin=B000BPL42C |chapter=The Man Behind Mario }}</ref> After a colleague suggested that Mario more closely resembled a plumber, Miyamoto changed Mario's profession accordingly and developed ''Mario Bros.'',<ref name="History"/> featuring the character in the sewers of [[New York City]].<ref name="Grajqevci">{{Cite web |last=Grajqevci |first=Jeton |date=October 9, 2000 |title=Profile: Shigeru Miyamoto |url=https://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=223 |website=N-Sider |access-date=May 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514232650/http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=223 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to the graphical limitations of [[Arcade cabinet|arcade hardware]] at the time, Miyamoto clothed the character in red [[overalls]] and a blue shirt to contrast against each other and the background, making the movements of his arms easily perceptible.<ref name=NGen38>{{Cite magazine |first=Neil |last=West |title=The Way Games Ought to Be... |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=38 |date=February 1998 |pages=106}}</ref> A red cap was added to let Miyamoto avoid drawing the character's hairstyle, forehead, and eyebrows, as well as to circumvent the issue of animating his hair as he jumped.<ref name=History/><ref name=usatoday /> To give distinctly human facial features with the limited graphical abilities, Miyamoto drew a large nose and a mustache, which avoided the need to draw a mouth and facial expressions.<ref name=CNN>{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Anjali |date=February 15, 2007 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto Talk Asia interview |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/miyamoto.script/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=February 28, 2009 |archive-date=April 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401060304/https://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/miyamoto.script/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Omitting a mouth circumvented the problem of clearly separating the nose from the mouth with a limited number of pixels available.<ref name=NGen38/>

Over time, Mario's appearance has become more defined; blue eyes, white gloves, brown shoes, a red "M" in a white circle on the front of his hat and gold buttons on his overalls have been added. According to an interview, Japanese character designer [[Yōichi Kotabe]], who worked on redesigning characters in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' (1985), revealed that Mario's M on his hat was originally the resemblance of [[McDonald's]] logo; Kotabe later changed the design of M and straightened its lines to clearly distinguish the difference.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2018/12/06/les-confidences-du-dessinateur-historique-des-personnages-nintendo_5393660_4408996.html |title=Les confidences du dessinateur historique des personnages Nintendo |trans-title=The secrets of the historic designer of Nintendo characters |author=William Audureau |website=[[Le Monde]] |date=December 6, 2018 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |language=fr |quote=J’ai gardé la ligne de contour épaisse du personnage. En revanche, j’ai accentué les traits du « M » sur la casquette de Mario, pour bien le distinguer du logo de McDonald’s, qui nous demandait, au contraire, s’ils pouvaient davantage se ressembler. [I kept the thick outline of the character. On the other hand, I accentuated the lines of the "M" on Mario's cap, to clearly distinguish it from the McDonald's logo, which asked us, on the contrary, if they could be more alike.] |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011004513/https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2018/12/06/les-confidences-du-dessinateur-historique-des-personnages-nintendo_5393660_4408996.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The colors of his shirt and overalls were also reversed from a blue shirt with red overalls to a red shirt with blue overalls. Miyamoto attributed this process to the different development teams and artists for each game as well as advances in technology.<ref name="mariomania" />

===Voice acting===
[[File:Charles Martinet Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2020.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Charles Martinet]] voiced Mario for over 30 years before shifting to a [[brand ambassador]] position.]]

Mario was voiced by [[Charles Martinet]] from 1991 to 2023.<ref name="martinetBBCnews">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19664003 |title=The actors hiding inside your video games |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=[[BBC News]] |last=Savage |first=Mark |archive-date=April 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422005227/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19664003 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="EW">{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/longtime-mario-voice-actor-charles-martinet-retires-from-role/ |title=Charles Martinet retires as the voice of Mario: 'You are all Numba One in my heart!' |date=August 21, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |last=Holt |first=Christian |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214010831/https://ew.com/movies/longtime-mario-voice-actor-charles-martinet-retires-from-role/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When he crashed the audition,<ref name="martinetthenational">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/2022/03/10/charles-martinet-on-30-years-of-voicing-nintendos-beloved-mario-its-such-an-honour/ |title=Charles Martinet on 30 years of voicing Nintendo's beloved Mario: 'It's such an honour' |date=March 10, 2022 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |last=Lau |first=Evelyn |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829191641/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/2022/03/10/charles-martinet-on-30-years-of-voicing-nintendos-beloved-mario-its-such-an-honour/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the directors were preparing to close for the night, already packing up when he arrived. He was given this prompt: "an Italian plumber from [[Brooklyn]]". He immediately thought of a stereotypical [[Italian language|Italian]] accent with a voice similar to that of a mobster. He then assumed the voice would be too harsh for children, so he planned on using a voice of an older figure.<ref name="silicon audition">{{Cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/its-a-me-charles-martinet-the-voice-of-mario/ |title=It's a me Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario |date=July 26, 2006 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=[[Siliconera]] |archive-date=November 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102222705/https://www.siliconera.com/its-a-me-charles-martinet-the-voice-of-mario/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, according to Martinet, the audition for Mario was the only time where his thoughts crashed and he spoke complete nonsense. After he was prompted about the character, he babbled the following in a soft and friendly voice instead:<ref name="GamerSpawnInterview">{{Cite AV media |title=The Voice of Mario – Charles Martinet Interview |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Eudb_Tqg8 |via=[[YouTube]] |date=September 10, 2011 |publisher=GamerSpawn |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226223908/https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Eudb_Tqg8 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Hello, ima Mario. Okey dokey, letsa make a pizza pie together, you go get somea spaghetti, you go geta some sausage, I getta some sauce, you gonna put some spaghetti on the sausage and the sausage on the pizza, then I'm gonna chasea you with the pizza, then you gonna chasea me with the pizza, and gonaa makea lasagne.<ref name="MartinetAuditionQuote">{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/marios-voice-actor-recalls-his-rambling-audition-5361823 |title=Mario's Voice Actor Recalls His Rambling Audition |date=September 17, 2009 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=[[Kotaku]] |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116101324/https://kotaku.com/marios-voice-actor-recalls-his-rambling-audition-5361823 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

The voice he chose was derived from another voice role he used to play the character Gremio from [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]''.<ref name="martinetthenational"/><ref name="gamesradarmartinet">{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/legendary-mario-voice-actor-charles-martinet-on-his-favorite-characters-and-why-he-now-dreams-in-2d/ |title=Legendary Mario voice actor Charles Martinet on his favorite characters and why he now 'dreams in 2D' |date=January 3, 2022 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |last=Fisher |first=Andrew |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325140440/https://www.gamesradar.com/legendary-mario-voice-actor-charles-martinet-on-his-favorite-characters-and-why-he-now-dreams-in-2d/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Martinet kept speaking with the voice until the audition tape ran out; the clip was the only tape sent back to Nintendo, and the director called the company to say he had "found our Mario".<ref name="martinetBBCnews"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Voice of Mario |url=https://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/august02/mario/index2.shtml |work=[[GameSpy]] |date=August 10, 2002 |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222130723/http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/august02/mario/index.shtml |archive-date=December 22, 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> He used the voice for an attraction at [[trade shows]] where small tracking sensors were glued onto his face, and he remained hidden behind a curtain while voicing a 3D model of Mario's head on a television. When attendees approached the screen, they conversed and interacted with Mario.<ref name="martinetthenational"/><ref name="martinetBBCnews"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ryan |first=Jeff |date=2012 |title=Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_JvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 |location=London, England |publisher=[[Portfolio (publisher)|Portfolio]] / [[Penguin Group|Penguin]] |page=137 |isbn=978-1-59184-563-8 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829191634/https://books.google.com/books?id=9_JvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the long shifts, Stevie Coyle was hired as a voice match to take over during breaks by Martinet's suggestion.<ref name="Summer CES"/><ref name="Coyle Interview"/> The successful attraction was used for five years until Martinet was called by Miyamoto, requesting the voice for a video game.<ref name="martinetthenational"/>

His first official video game voice role is the CD rerelease of ''[[Mario Teaches Typing]]'' in 1994, and his first major voice acting role is ''[[Super Mario 64]]''. He received Miyamoto's instructions on the types of sound clips needed, and Martinet appreciated the fun tone of the game and later called Miyamoto a genius.<ref name="silicon audition"/> He continued to voice other various ''Mario'' characters, such as [[Luigi]], [[Wario]], and [[Waluigi]].<ref name="silicon audition"/> He said his time in the studio recording voice clips consisted of "45 takes of every sound [he] can think of".<ref name="eurogamermartinet">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/charles-martinet-i-want-to-voice-mario-until-i-drop-dead |title=Charles Martinet: "I want to voice Mario until I drop dead" |date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |last=Phillips |first=Tom |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829191634/https://www.eurogamer.net/charles-martinet-i-want-to-voice-mario-until-i-drop-dead |url-status=live }}</ref> His time commitment has ranged from one week before a game's release to three years. The amount of clips varies from one hour of audio to 20.<ref name="gamesradarmartinet" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/charles-martinet-dreams-mario |title=Charles Martinet Says He 'Dreams As Mario' |date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=[[IGN]] |last=Moore |first=Jared |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829192154/https://www.ign.com/articles/charles-martinet-dreams-mario |url-status=live }}</ref> Martinet was recognized by the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' for the most roles performed with the same character, at the time one hundred, and is the most of any video game voice actor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/charles-martinet-now-holds-a-guinness-record-for-voicin-1831124428 |title=Charles Martinet now holds a Guinness record for voicing Super Mario 100 times |first=Sam |last=Barsanti |date=December 15, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216125556/https://news.avclub.com/charles-martinet-now-holds-a-guinness-record-for-voicin-1831124428 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of January 2022, he has voiced Mario in over 150 games and has recorded 5&nbsp;million audio files with the voice.<ref name="gamesradarmartinet"/><ref name="eurogamermartinet"/> In an interview, Martinet said he wants to continue voicing the character until he "drops dead", or until he can no longer perform the voice accurately.<ref name="eurogamermartinet"/> In August 2023, Nintendo announced Martinet would be retiring from the voice role of Mario,<ref name="EW"/> and would continue to promote the franchise as a "Mario Ambassador", a [[brand ambassador]] position.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mario's new voice actor has revealed himself |url=https://www.polygon.com/23914663/nintendo-mario-new-voice-actor-charles-martinet-kevin-afghani |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2023-10-13 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> Voice actor [[Kevin Afghani]] succeeded Martinet in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' the following October.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/13/23916232/super-mario-bros-wonder-new-voice-kevin-afghani |title=Here's Mario's new voice actor |date=October 13, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=[[The Verge]] |last=Parrish |first=Ash |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020175609/https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/13/23916232/super-mario-bros-wonder-new-voice-kevin-afghani |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/mario-new-voice-actor-nintendo-kevin-afghani-1235755568/|title=Mario's New Voice Actor Announced by Nintendo After Charles Martinet's Departure|first=Ethan|last=Shanfeld|website=Variety|accessdate=October 13, 2023|date=October 13, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018225905/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/mario-new-voice-actor-nintendo-kevin-afghani-1235755568/|url-status=live}}</ref>