Les séries animées Mario : des années 80 à nos jours

Mario Animated Series: From the 80s to Today

894 mots | Temps de lecture : 4 minute(s)

Before becoming a cinematic icon and dominating game consoles, Mario also made his mark through several animated series. Broadcast in the 80s and 90s, then reinterpreted in the 2020s through animated cinema, these adaptations have accompanied generations of gamers and viewers. A look back at the evolution of the Mario universe on television… and beyond.

Table of Contents

1. The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989)

The first official Mario television series, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! combined animation and live-action segments. The Mario brothers were played by Lou Albano (Mario) and Danny Wells (Luigi).

  • Broadcast: Monday to Friday, September to December 1989
  • Format: Animation + live-action comedy sketches
  • Cult elements: “Plumber’s log…”, the theme song Do the Mario

2. The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)

The second animated series, produced by DIC Entertainment, focused on elements from the game Super Mario Bros. 3.

  • Notable change: Introduction of the Koopalings (with modified names)
  • Duration: 26 episodes

3. Super Mario World (1991)

Series inspired by the game Super Mario World on Super Nintendo.

  • Setting: Dinosaur Land, with Yoshi
  • Absences: Toad
  • Duration: 13 episodes

4. A Long Television Absence (1992–2022)

After 1991, no official animated series for 30 years. Mario remained present via:

  • Super Mario-kun: Humorous manga still ongoing
  • Nods: Animated commercials, educational segments

5. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Mario’s big animated comeback happened in theaters with Illumination and Nintendo.

  • English voice cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day
  • Success: approximately $1.36 billion at the worldwide box office

6. An Animated Future for Mario?

Potential projects are starting to emerge:

  • Spin-off films: Donkey Kong, Luigi’s Mansion, Princess Peach
  • Anticipated formats: Animated streaming series (Netflix, Prime Video)

Bonus: Japanese vs. Western Versions

The Mario animated series of the 80s-90s were primarily American productions. There is no equivalent Japanese animated Mario series, but several cultural differences are notable:

  • Original Japanese voices: little official dubbing at the time
  • Comedic approach: more slapstick and referential in the West
  • Aesthetics: Western design very different from the Nintendo Japan style

Manga like Super Mario-kun embody a form of humorous animated adaptation in Japan, with outlandish but faithful storylines to the game universe.

Comparative Table of Mario Animated Series and Productions

Title Year Format Number of Episodes Production
Super Mario Bros. Super Show! 1989 Animation + live-action 52 animated + segments DIC Entertainment
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 1990 Animation 26 DIC Entertainment
Super Mario World 1991 Animation 13 DIC Entertainment
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 3D animated film — Illumination / Nintendo

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FAQ – Mario Animated Series

  • Is there a recent Mario animated series?
    No, but the 2023 movie could spark future series projects on streaming platforms.
  • Will there be a Mario series on Netflix?
    Nothing official yet, but rumors are circulating about animated adaptations related to the movie.
  • Why do the Koopalings have different names in the 1990 series?
    The official Japanese names were not yet set; American producers therefore created variations.
  • Which Mario animated series is the most iconic?
    The Super Show!, thanks to its live-action segments and its mythical theme song.

Conclusion

From the traditional animation of the 80s to the 3D elegance of modern cinema, the evolution of Mario animated series reflects the history of video games itself. These productions have entertained, made people laugh, and most importantly, fostered loyalty among generations of fans. In the age of streaming and shared universes, everything suggests that the Mushroom Kingdom will soon return to the small screen.

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