L’évolution des séries animées Mario : des années 80 à nos jours

The Evolution of Mario Animated Series: From the 80s to the Present Day

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

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

Summary

1. The Super Mario Bros. Great 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 scenes
  • Cult elements : "Plumber's log...", the Do the Mario theme song

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

Second animated series, produced by DIC Entertainment , centered on elements of the game Super Mario Bros. 3 .

  • Notable change : introduction of the Koopalings (with changed 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 absence from television (1992–2022)

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

  • Super Mario-kun : humorous manga still ongoing
  • Winks : animated advertisements, educational segments

5. Super Mario Bros. – The Animated Movie (2023)

Mario's big animated comeback is coming to theaters with Illumination and Nintendo .

  • Dubbing VO : Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day
  • Success : $1.3 billion at the global box office

6. An animated future for Mario?

Potential projects are beginning to emerge:

  • Spin-off films : Donkey Kong, Luigi's Mansion, Princess Peach
  • Expected formats : animated series in streaming (Netflix, Prime Video)

Bonus: Japanese vs Western Versions

The Mario animated series of the 1980s and 1990s were primarily American productions. There is no equivalent Japanese Mario animated series, but several cultural differences are notable:

  • Original Japanese voices : few official dubbing at the time
  • Comic approach : more burlesque and referenced in the West
  • Aesthetics : Western design very far from the Nintendo Japan style

Manga like Super Mario-kun embody a form of humorous anime adaptation in Japan, with wacky plots that remain faithful to the games' universe.

Comparison 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
Super Mario Bros. – The Movie 2023 3D animated film — Illumination / Nintendo

FAQ – Mario Animated Series

  • Is there a recent Mario animated series?
    No, but the 2023 film could spark future platform-based series projects.
  • Will there be a Mario series on Netflix?
    Nothing official yet, but there are rumors of animated adaptations related to the film.
  • Why do the Koopalings have different names in the 1990 series?
    The official Japanese names were not yet fixed, so American producers created variations.
  • Which Mario animated series is the most iconic?
    The Super Show!, thanks to its live-action segments and its legendary opening credits.

Conclusion

From the traditional animation of the 1980s to the 3D elegance of modern cinema, the evolution of Mario animated series mirrors the history of the video game itself. These productions have entertained, made people laugh, and, above all, earned the loyalty of several generations of fans. In the age of streaming and shared universes, everything suggests that the Mushroom Kingdom will soon return to the small screen.

Back to blog