Mario

## Super

**Mario** is a heroic Italian plumber coming from New Donk City starring as the main character in the *Mario* series, one of Nintendo's most popular franchises and one of the biggest series in video gaming. Mario is known for saving Princess Peach from the Mushroom Kingdom's enemy, Bowser, alongside his brother Luigi in many of his games. Mario is also the mascot of Nintendo and has been known as the most famous video game character of all time.

## Biography

Mario first appeared as a carpenter in the game Donkey Kong saving his girlfriend Pauline from the clutches of the evil Donkey Kong, and first appeared in his own series in Super Mario Bros. in 1985, and since then has appeared in over 250 games, almost always being a playable main character whose heroic acts prevail over the bad guys. Canonically, he first appeared in the world when a stork carrying him and his brother was attacked by Kamek and he fell onto Yoshi's back, experiencing his first adventure. He mostly lives in the Mushroom Kingdom, regularly stopping Bowser's evil acts, and rescuing Peach from him after she is kidnapped. He has also ventured to many other worlds and times to save the world from destruction. He is labeled as a plumber but is rarely seen doing his job.

## Appearance

In Mario's current appearance, Mario wears blue overalls with yellow buttons, a plain red shirt, a red hat with a red "M" on it, brown shoes, and white gloves that look similar to Mickey's. Mario has a round nose, a bumpy dark brown Italian mustache, brown hair, and is also a bit overweight. Mario looks a lot like his brother, Luigi. Mario's clothing changed over the games. His overalls' and shirt's colors were switched around and he has been growing a bit taller or more well-rounded.

Interestingly, Mario seems to have a tribal tattoo that he keeps hidden under his overalls, located on his left arm. This fact was revealed in an ad for the Gameboy Advance SP: Tribal Edition. The canonicity of whether Mario has this tattoo was uncertain until Super Mario Odyssey when it was revealed that he no longer has it. Possibly, this tattoo was a temporary one, and the fact that he did have it at one point is canon.

In Super Mario Odyssey, he has access to a wide array of outfits that can be bought at the various Crazy Cap stores across the globe. These vary from swimsuits, tuxedos, snow coats, and more. It is also likely Mario has his ears pierced, as he wears the earrings when he puts on Peach's Lamode Dress.

## Personality

While Mario appears to be an ill-defined hero archetype, a closer look reveals the trademark qualities that make him a beloved role model for children.

Mario is adventurous and curious about the world around him. He is well-known for his wide-eyed good humor. These traits lead him to his frequent acts of resourcefulness and inventiveness, such as swinging a raccoon tail as a lethal bludgeon and traveling through plumbing to skip entire levels; and Mario's love of exploration leads him to victory time and time again.

It should come as no surprise Mario has a strong moral compass. He is brave in the face of danger, doing what he thinks is righteous even in the most treacherous situations. He is tolerant of others, loyal to his many friends, supportive of his brother Luigi, and grudgeless against his enemies. His tolerance extends to new kinds of foods and music.

## Abilities & Power Ups

**Mario** has many abilities throughout his many games. Mario's oldest abilities include his Super Mario power-up which makes Mario bigger after he eats a Super Mushroom, Fire Mario which makes Mario able to shoot fireballs after getting a Fire Flower, and Invincible Mario which makes Mario invincible after touching a Starman. He has found several other power-ups over the years, such as the Metal Cap and *Flying Cap*, *Tanooki Leaf*, and Ice Flower. He has even ventured into interstellar space and found odd alien powerups like the Bee Mushroom and the Cloud Flower.

He also has many abilities of his own. He can jump amazingly high and fall on top of enemies to crush them, or he can kick and punch them in the 3D games. He can also Spin Jump in many games, harnessing a magical power to destroy enemies easier.

## Relationships

### Luigi

Mario's relationship with Luigi is one of the most complex in the entire Mario lore, as it ranges from a loving one to one where Luigi is constantly feeling left out. In one particularly strange and uncharacteristic instance, he intentionally steps and squirms on Luigi's foot when Luigi receives a trophy in *Mario Power Tennis*. In the RPG games, Luigi is characterized as tired of being Player 2", for despite being a hero in his own right, he is often overshadowed by Mario. While Mario has given him proper credit, he seems to have outright lied in the *Mario Sports Mix* press conference, stating that "Luigi loves being [his] sidekick".

Luigi will often join Mario on his adventures and the two of them are normally paired together in sports titles and spin-offs. They have a distinct yet strong brotherly bond and will stop at nothing to help each other when one is in trouble, as seen in games such as *Luigi's Mansion*. It is stated in the 1993 official Nintendo Character Manual that Mario when he retires, plans to give his plumbing business to Luigi.

### Yoshi

Yoshi might be Mario's first good friend. As explained in the numerous prequels that make up the Yoshi's Island series, Yoshi has protected and carried Mario to his parents when the Stork failed to deliver him. In the present day, Yoshi continues to help Mario against Bowser, usually serving as his steed.

### Princess Peach

Mario often rescues her from Bowser, who kidnaps her fairly often. The actual relationship between the two is unclear sometimes; some sources state they are in an ongoing relationship or state it is a crush at best. Regardless, Peach has kissed Mario on the cheek on many occasions as well as baking him a cake to celebrate her rescue. In the Smash series, she has a ring on her finger, possibly indicating they are married, although this is merely speculation.

### Bowser

Mario and Bowser's relationship is a unique one. While for sure they dislike one another for Bowser kidnapping the Princess and Mario having to go all that way to save her, there are times the two partner up with one another (*Super Paper Mario*, *Bowser's Inside Story*, etc.) to take down a greater threat. In the end, it's usually Mario who defeats Bowser.

### Wario

Wario is Mario's rival. As explained in numerous games where Wario appears, but sometimes they are on friendly terms such as in the *Mario Party* series and Super Mario 64 DS.

### Waluigi

Mario and Waluigi lack interaction with each other because of Waluigi's rivalry with Luigi, but Waluigi seems to hate Mario too in some games, they have battled each other in *Mario Dance Dance Revolution* without Luigi which is their only interaction that has nothing to do with Luigi and Wario.

### Pauline

Mario often rescues her from Donkey Kong in some Mario and Donkey Kong games because Donkey Kong has a strong crush on her, referenced to King Kong. People often believe that Mario and Pauline have broken up with each other since Mario rescues Princess Peach too, people also believe Pauline and Peach hate each other because they both love Mario, however, it is unknown how the relationship with Pauline and Peach will be in *Super Mario Odyssey*.

### Rosalina

Rosalina and Mario seem to be on friendly terms with each other since Mario helps Rosalina in *Super Mario Galaxy* and joins Mario's adventure in *Super Mario 3D World*.

### Donkey Kong

Mario and Donkey Kong's relationship is mixed up since Mario saves Pauline from Donkey Kong in the series with *Mario and Donkey Kong*, but also is on his side in some Mario games where Donkey Kong appears, in some Mario and Donkey Kong games, in the end, Donkey Kong doesn't feel happy, but Mario cheers him up.

## See also

* **Paper Mario** - The paper version of Mario that stars in the *Paper Mario Series*.
* **Baby Mario** - The baby version of Mario, used mostly in the *Yoshi Series.* From the 18th Dimension.
* **Dr. Mario** - Mario as a doctor that appears in the *Dr. Mario Series*.
* **8-Bit Mario** - The NES version of Mario that appeared in the old *Super Mario* games.
* **Subcon Mario** - The version of Mario that appears in *Super Mario Bros. 2*.
* **Azure Mario** - The Mario clone from *Mario Tennis 64*.
* **Tanooki Mario** - The Mario clone from *Mario Kart 8*.
* **Shadow Mario** - A form of Bowser Jr in *Super Mario Sunshine*.
* **Cosmic Mario** - An enemy from the *Mario Galaxy Games*.
* **Cosmic Clone** - An enemy from *Super Mario 3D Land*.
* Alternate versions of Mario - **Jumpman**, **Antonio**, **Mariī** and **Maryotto**.
* The Mario Kart Tour Alternative Forms - **Mario (Musician)**, **Mario (Hakama)**, **Mario (Santa)**, **Mario (Happi)**, **Mario (Classic)**, **Mario (Chef)**, **Mario (Swimwear)**, **Mario (SNES)**, **Mario (Sunshine)**, **Mario (Halloween)**, **Mario (Racing)**, **Mario (Tuxedo)**, **Mario (Baseball)**, **Mario (Satellaview)**, **Mario (Golf)**, **Mario (Aviator)**, **Mario (Samurai)** and **Mario (King).**