20 anecdotes surprenantes sur Mario que les fans ignorent

20 Surprising Mario Facts Even Fans Don't Know

1477 words | Reading time : 7 minute(s)

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He almost stayed Jumpman forever, and his moustache was born out of a technical constraint. Twenty facts about the plumber: his beginnings as a carpenter in Donkey Kong in 1981, his first name borrowed from Mario Segale, the moustache drawn for lack of pixels for a mouth, his 200-plus appearances and a string of development secrets even fans have missed.

Do you think you know everything about the most famous plumber in video games? Think again! Here are 20 surprising facts few people know about Mario, his origins, his development secrets and his unexpected appearances. Even the most devoted fans are in for a surprise!

Contents

1. Mario almost stayed "Jumpman" forever

In Donkey Kong (1981), Mario was originally called " Jumpman ". The name "Mario" is a tribute to Mario Segale, the owner of Nintendo of America's warehouses.

Official Donkey Kong artwork
It all begins with Donkey Kong in 1981: there, Mario is still only "Jumpman", the carpenter.

2. He wasn't a plumber to begin with

In Donkey Kong, Mario was a carpenter, because the action took place on a building site. He only takes on the plumber's overalls in Mario Bros. (1983), with the arrival of the Warp Pipes.

3. The moustache was born out of a technical constraint

Mario's iconic moustache comes from the fact that a mouth was hard to render on 8-bit graphics.

4. Mario has appeared in more than 200 games

Platformers, sports, educational titles, puzzles… He even turns up as a guest star in NBA Street V3 and SSX On Tour (GameCube versions).

5. The "M" on his cap doesn't date back to 1981

The famous " M " is already on his cap as early as Super Mario Bros. (1985): it was character designer Yōichi Kotabe who refined its shape for that game.

6. Mario would stand around 1.55 m tall

Going by estimates based on the official statues, Mario would be roughly 1.55 m: a hero far shorter than he looks on screen!

7. Yoshi was planned as early as Super Mario Bros.

Miyamoto wanted Mario to ride a dinosaur as early as 1985, but the NES couldn't handle it. Yoshi would have to wait for Super Mario World.

8. Mario kills Donkey Kong… in a manga

In the Japanese manga Super Mario (Kodansha), Mario defeats Donkey Kong and rescues Pauline; the old DK later becomes an ally.

9. The bushes and the clouds share the same sprite

In Super Mario Bros. on NES, the bushes and the clouds are identical; only the colour changes.

10. There is a forgotten "Queen Peach"

Old Japanese books mention a certain " Madame Peach " (an adult version), never used again afterwards.

11. The jump sound has barely changed since 1985

The sound effect of Mario's jump is one of the most recognisable in video games, barely tweaked in 40 years.

12. The cat suit was planned for Galaxy

The feline suit appeared in Super Mario 3D World (2013), designed by the team behind Super Mario Galaxy to marry 2D and 3D handling.

13. A Mario × Zelda crossover almost happened

The idea of bringing Nintendo's heroes together in a single game would only come true with Super Smash Bros., designed by Masahiro Sakurai in 1998.

Nintendo 64 box art for Super Smash Bros.
The crossover has become an institution: Smash brings together every icon Nintendo has.

14. Mario has played the villain

In Donkey Kong Jr. (1982), Mario imprisons Donkey Kong: one of the rare times he plays the bad guy.

15. The 1993 movie is an oddity turned cult classic

The feature film Super Mario Bros. (1993) offers a dystopian take that some fans now treat as a cult classic.

16. Toad Town is the capital of the Mushroom Kingdom

Toad Town (Toadville) serves as the capital in several Mario RPGs.

17. Mario, a football coach?

In Mario Strikers and Battle League, Mario plays a captain whose style is far more serious.

18. Real-life places named Mario

Restaurants, parks and shops called "Mario" exist in Japan and the USA, riding on the popularity of the first name.

19. Super Mario Bros. almost never left Japan

Nintendo doubted it would succeed in the West; the performance of the NES changed everything.

20. His full name really is Mario Mario

Confirmed by the 1993 movie and then by Miyamoto: Mario's name is "Mario Mario", and his brother's is "Luigi Mario".

Quick facts: Mario

First appearance Donkey Kong (1981), under the name "Jumpman"
Origin of the name A tribute to Mario Segale, owner of Nintendo of America's warehouses
Original job Carpenter; plumber since Mario Bros. (1983)
Full name "Mario Mario" (used in the 1993 movie; canon status long debated, confirmed by Miyamoto in 2015)
Height Unofficial: Nintendo has never settled on a height, with sources ranging from 150 to 165 cm (≈ 1.55 m is the figure most often quoted)
Presence in games Featured in a very large number of games (the total depends on how you count)
Quirk A moustache born of a technical constraint of the first low-resolution graphics

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FAQ

  • Why is Mario called Mario?
    Originally named "Jumpman" in Donkey Kong (1981), he was renamed in tribute to Mario Segale, owner of Nintendo of America's warehouses.
  • Has Mario always been a plumber?
    No. In Donkey Kong he was a carpenter, since the action took place on a building site. He becomes a plumber from Mario Bros. (1983), with the arrival of the Warp Pipes.
  • Why does Mario have a moustache?
    His iconic moustache comes from a technical constraint: on the tiny sprites of the day (16×16 pixels on the arcade cabinet), a mouth was hard to render, and the moustache clearly set the nose apart from the rest of the face.
  • What is Mario's full name?
    The name "Mario Mario" (and "Luigi Mario" for his brother) was introduced in the 1993 movie. Its canon status was debated for a long time: Nintendo first stated that the characters had no surname, before Miyamoto confirmed in 2015 that their family name really is "Mario".
  • How long has Yoshi been at Mario's side?
    Miyamoto wanted Mario to ride a dinosaur as early as Super Mario Bros. (1985), but the NES hardware couldn't handle it. Yoshi only appeared in Super Mario World, on the Super Nintendo.

Conclusion

An absolute symbol of the video game industry for over 40 years, Mario keeps on surprising us. Behind his overalls and his moustache hide secrets, scrapped projects and unexpected moments. And it isn't over: with every generation, Mario writes a new chapter in his legend.

Beyond the consoles

Cinema, television, the composers and the theme parks: what Mario has become away from the controllers.

🎬 Mario in film and culture →
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