News culture Super Mario Bros Movie: Nintendo’s hero finally comes to life, and I think it’s crazy!
Published on 01/12/2022 at 11:47
Enthusiastic – but nothing more – by the first trailer of Super Mario Bros The Movie, the second trailer had the effect of a bomb in my gamer heart! More than anything else, it’s the characters’ expressions and looks that impress me the most. Here’s why.
A story of perspective:
This article is an opinion piece, it is by nature subjective. The opinion of the author is personal and is not representative of that of the rest of JV’s editorial staff. Thanks in advance, happy reading!
Me, after the first Mario movie trailer: “Yeah, cool”; Tell me again, after the second trailer: “I really can’t wait”. Is this the work of Kamek magic? Frankly, I don’t know, but this new presentation of the Illumination | nintendo did something to me. It is perhaps the effect of the many references to the plumber’s video games, or of the astonishing coherence that emerges from a world that nevertheless runs on mushrooms! No, what surprises me the most is the comic character and the life that emerges from each of the characters that we have seen.
Challenge not won in advance
Before last October and the first images of Super Mario Bros The Movie, people to place hopes in the feature film should not be numerous. Maybe it’s the consequence of a deep trauma (dating back to 1993 and the live-action Mario movie) or maybe some kind of almost obvious incompatibility – now dismantled – between the famous hero and the great screen. As you know, video game characters have often missed their appointment with the cinema, and the challenge seems even more complicated with Mario, a platform license which, from its first episode in 1985 on the NES, thought of its universe as from its own game mechanics.
“This film is an ambitious task” recognizes Chris Meledandri, CEO and founder of the animation firm Illumination, in the columns of Variety (2018). Naturally, the project required a long gestation period… Seven years to be precise, according to Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of the plumber and consultant of choice on Super Mario Bros. The Movie. FYI, Konji Kondo, essential composer of Nintendo games, is also in the game! CEO Says Even Illumination Creatives Are Mario Fans – Along With Some VO Actors
“We have been working on this film with Chris Meledandri (CEO and founder of Illumination, editor’s note) for a very long time, from brainstorming to production” – Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario (Nintendo Direct)
Great comedic potential
Enlightenment | Would Nintendo have found the perfect balance between tribute and film adaptation? Shigeru Miyamoto thinks so. In a new financial report, the creator of Mario believes he has found the solution to the two main problems posed by this kind of project. “With video games, it’s the gaming experience that makes them convincing, a film that takes up the story of a game will not necessarily be interesting” on the one hand, and on the other hand “people who who have played the video game will expect a movie true to their memories of the game, while those who have never played the video game will expect an enjoyable feature film as standalone entertainment.” He continues, “Well although that is a little bit presumptuous, I think we managed to get it right”.
On the left, “standard” design of Donkey Kong in 3D; right, design in Super Mario Bros. The Movie
I don’t think I’m going too far in saying that the result speaks for itself. So far, this Mario movie seems to be an incredible summary of the Nintendo universe, with unparalleled respect for the license, carried by the talent (and passion, therefore) of Ilumination studios. It is enough to see the “mouth” of the characters, in the good sense of the term. Whether Mario, Luigi, Peach, Donkey Kong, the cast displays irresistible facial expressions, both new and yet familiar. It is also interesting to note that the most famous of the video game monkeys has been the subject of a small redesign, in order to give him a “comical appearance and personality, reminiscent of the original hero”. Dubbing work also comes into play. In short, looking forward to March 29, 2023.
About Super Mario Bros. the Movie
