Super Mario Bros. The Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 computer-animated adventure based on the Super Mario Bros video game series by Nintendo. Produced by Universal Pictures, Illumination and Nintendo, and distributed by Universal, the film was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and written by Matthew Fogel.
The original dub voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen. The film features an original story for brothers Mario and Luigi, Italian American plumbers who are transported to an alternate world and find themselves caught up in a battle between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by Bowser.
After the critical and commercial failure of the live-action film Super Mario Bros. (1993), Nintendo became reluctant to license its intellectual property for film adaptations. Mario developer Shigeru Miyamoto became interested in creating another film, and through Nintendo's partnership with Universal Parks & Resorts to create Super Nintendo World, he met with Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri. In 2016, the two were discussing a Mario movie, and in January 2018, Nintendo announced it would be partnering with Illumination and Universal to produce it. Production was started in 2020 and the cast was announced in September 2021.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released in the United States on April 5, 2023 and received mixed reviews from critics, although audience reception was more positive. The film grossed over $1,177 billion worldwide, setting numerous box office records, including the biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film and the highest-grossing video game film. It also became the top-grossing film of 2023 and the fifth-highest-grossing animated film, as well as the 24th-highest-grossing film of all time.
History
Italian-American brothers Mario and Luigi recently set up a plumbing business in Brooklyn, drawing jeers from their former employer Spike and frowned upon father's approval. After seeing a significant major water leak on the news, Mario and Luigi head underground to fix it, but are sucked into a teleportation tube and separated.
Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom, ruled by Princess Peach, while Luigi lands in the Dark Lands, ruled by the evil King Koopa Bowser. Bowser tries to marry Peach and will destroy the Mushroom Kingdom using a Super Star if she refuses. He imprisons Luigi for threatening Mario, whom he sees as a competitor for Peach's love. Mario meets Toad, who takes him to Peach. Peach plans to team up with the primate Kongs to help fend off Bowser and allows Mario and Toad to travel with her. Peach also reveals that she ended up in the Mushroom Kingdom when she was a child, where the Toads took her and became their boss. In the Jungle Kingdom, King Cranky Kong agrees to help on the condition that Mario defeat his son, Donkey Kong, in a battle. Despite Donkey Kong's immense strength, Mario is much faster and manages to defeat him using a cat suit.
Mario, Peach, Toad and the Kongs use the karts to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, but Bowser's army assaults them on the Rainbow Road. When a blue Koopa General destroys part of the road in a kamikaze attack, Mario and Donkey Kong fall into the ocean while the other Kongs are captured. Peach and Toad return to the Mushroom Kingdom and urge the citizens to evacuate. Bowser arrives aboard his flying castle and proposes to Peach, who reluctantly accepts after Bowser's assistant Kamek tortures Toad. Mario and Donkey Kong, having been eaten by a moray eel-like monster called Maw-Ray, realize that they both want their fathers' respect. They escape the Maw-Ray by riding a rocket from Donkey Kong's kart and hurry to Bowser and Peach's wedding.
During the wedding reception, Bowser plans to execute all of his prisoners in lava in Peach's honor. Toad smuggles an Ice Flower into Peach's bouquet, which he uses to freeze Bowser. Mario and Donkey Kong arrive and free the prisoners, with Mario using a Tanooki Suit to save Luigi. A furious Bowser breaks free and calls in a Bomber Bill to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario swerves it off course and directs it into the teleportation tube where it explodes, creating a vacuum that sends everyone and Bow's castle transported.
Characters
Mario
Mario, a struggling Italian-American plumber from Brooklyn, New York, who is accidentally transported to the world of the Mushroom Kingdom and embarks on a mission to save his brother.
Mario is one of the most iconic characters in the world of video games and the mascot of the Japanese game development company Nintendo. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, he first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong as Jumpman.
Initially, Mario was a carpenter but later took on the role of a plumber, which has become his best-known job. Mario is a friendly, courageous and selfless character who is always ready to save Princess Peach and her kingdom from the clutches of the main antagonist Bowser.
Mario has a younger brother named Luigi, and his rival is Wario. Together with Mario, Luigi made his first appearance in Mario Bros. in 1983. In the game, the two plumber brothers work together to defeat opponents in New York City's underground pipe system.
Mario is known for his acrobatic skills, which include jumping on enemies' heads and throwing objects. Mario has access to numerous power-ups, including the Super Mushroom, which causes him to grow and makes him temporarily invincible, the Super Star, which gives him temporary invincibility, and the Fire Flower, which allows him to throw fireballs. In some games, such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario can use the Super Leaf to fly.
According to Guinness World Records, Mario is the second most recognizable video game character in the world after Pac-Man. Mario has become an icon of popular culture and has appeared in many events, including the 2016 Summer Olympics where Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe appeared dressed as the character.
Mario's voice is provided by Charles Martinet, who has voiced him since 1992. Martinet has also lent his voice to other characters, including Luigi, Wario and Waluigi. Mario's friendly and lively personality is one of the main reasons why the character is so loved by millions of players around the world.
Princess Peach
Anya Taylor-Joy plays Princess Peach, the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario's mentor and love interest, who entered the world of the Mushroom Kingdom as an infant and was raised by the Toads.
Princess Peach is one of the main characters in the Mario franchise and is the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. She was first introduced in the 1985 game Super Mario Bros. as the damsel in distress who must be rescued by Mario. Over the years, her characterization has been deepened and enriched with various details.
In the main series games, Peach is frequently kidnapped by the series' main antagonist, Bowser. His figure represents the classic damsel in distress cliché, but there are some exceptions. In Super Mario Bros. 2, Peach was one of the playable characters, alongside Mario, Luigi and Toad. In this game, she has the ability to float in the air, making her a useful and distinctive character.
Peach has also had a starring role in some spin-off games, such as Super Princess Peach, where she herself has to save Mario, Luigi and Toad. In this game, her abilities are based on her emotions or "vibes" of her, which allow her to use different techniques such as attacking, flying and floating.
The Princess Peach figure has become an icon in popular culture and has been represented in many forms, including toys, clothing, collectibles, and even television shows. Her figure is very popular with young women, who are inspired by her strength and courage.
Peach's character is also featured in many sports games, such as the Mario Kart series and Mario Tennis. In these games, Peach is a playable character and has different abilities than he has in the main series games.
In the 2017 game Super Mario Odyssey, the story takes an unexpected turn when Peach is kidnapped by Bowser and forced to marry him. However, after being rescued by Mario, Peach refuses both and decides to go on a trip around the world. Mario joins her, and together they explore new places and face new challenges.
In general, the figure of Princess Peach is an iconic character in the world of video games, appreciated for her strength, her beauty and her courage. Her personality has undergone many changes and she has given birth to many interesting adventures and stories, making her a beloved character of many people around the world.
Luigi
Charlie Day plays Luigi, Mario's shy younger brother and fellow plumber, who is captured by Bowser and his army.
Luigi is a major character in the Mario franchise, despite starting out as a 2-player version of Mario in the 1983 game Mario Bros. As Mario's younger brother, Luigi feels a sense of envy and admiration towards his older brother.
While initially identical to Mario, Luigi began to develop differences in the 1986 game Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, which allowed him to jump higher and further than Mario, but at the expense of responsiveness and accuracy . Also, in the 2 North American version of Super Mario Bros. 1988, Luigi was given a taller and leaner appearance than Mario, which played a key role in shaping the modern look of him.
Despite having only minor roles in subsequent games, Luigi finally landed the starring role in Mario Is Missing! However, his first major lead role was in the 2001 game Luigi's Mansion, where he plays the role of a scared, insecure, and silly protagonist who attempts to save his brother Mario.
The Year of Luigi, celebrated in 2013, saw the release of many Luigi games to commemorate the character's 30th anniversary. Among these games were Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, New Super Luigi U, and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. The Year of Luigi also brought attention to Luigi's unique personality, which has significant differences from Mario. While Mario is strong and brave, Luigi is known to be more fearful and shy.
The character of Luigi has become so beloved that he has even gotten his own video game franchise, including adventure and puzzle games such as Luigi's Mansion and Luigi's Mansion 3. The character of Luigi has also made appearances in several other Mario games, such as Mario Party, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., where he has become one of the most loved and playable characters.
Bowser
Jack Black plays Bowser, the king of the Koopas, who rules the Dark Lands, steals a super-powerful Super Star, and plots to take over the Mushroom Kingdom by marrying Peach.
Bowser, also known as King Koopa, is a character in the Mario game series, created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Voiced by Kenneth W. James, Bowser is the main antagonist of the series and the king of the turtle-like Koopa race. He is known for his troublemaking attitude and his desire to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.
In most Mario games, Bowser is the final boss who must be defeated to save Princess Peach and the Mushroom Kingdom. The character is represented as a formidable force, possessing great physical strength and magical abilities. Often, Bowser teams up with other enemies of Mario, such as Goomba and Koopa Troopa, to try to defeat the famous plumber.
While Bowser is primarily known as the main antagonist of the series, he has also taken on the role of a playable character in some games. In most Mario spin-off games, such as Mario Party and Mario Kart, Bowser is playable and has unique abilities compared to other characters.
A particular form of Bowser is Dry Bowser. This form was first introduced in New Super Mario Bros., where Bowser transforms into Dry Bowser after losing his flesh. Dry Bowser has since appeared as a playable character in several of the Mario spin-off games, as well as serving as the final antagonist in the main games.
In general, Bowser is one of the most iconic characters in the Mario series, known for his distinctive appearance, his troublemaker personality and his desire to conquer. His presence in the series has made the Mario games more and more interesting, thanks to the challenge he presents to the player.Regenerate response
Toad
Keegan-Michael Key plays Toad, an inhabitant of the Mushroom Kingdom whose name is also Toad, who aspires to go on his first real adventure.
Toad is an iconic character from the Super Mario franchise, known for his anthropomorphic mushroom-like image. The character has appeared in numerous games in the series and has had various roles over the years.
Toad made his debut in the Mario series in the 1985 game Super Mario Bros. However, his first starring role was in 1994's Wario's Woods, where the player could control Toad to solve puzzles. In 2's Super Mario Bros. 1988, Toad made his debut as a playable character in the main Mario series, alongside Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.
Toad has become a very popular character in the Mario franchise due to his friendly personality and problem-solving aptitude. The character has appeared in many Mario RPGs, often as a non-playable character who aids Mario in his mission. Additionally, Toad has been the main character in a few spin-off games, such as the puzzle game Toad's Treasure Tracker.
Toad is one of the members of the Toad species of the same name, which includes characters such as Captain Toad, Toadette and Toadsworth. Each of these characters has their own unique characteristics, but all share the mushroom-like appearance and friendly, fun personality.
In the 2023 live-action The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Toad is voiced by actor Keegan-Michael Key. While the film isn't released yet, Key's take on the character has been the subject of much discussion among Mario fans.
Donkey Kong
Seth Rogen plays Donkey Kong, an anthropomorphic gorilla and heir to the throne of the Jungle Kingdom.
Donkey Kong, also abbreviated to DK, is a fictional gorilla ape featured in the video game series Donkey Kong and Mario, created by Shigeru Miyamoto. The original Donkey Kong first appeared as the main character and antagonist in the 1981 game of the same name, a platformer from Nintendo that would later spawn the Donkey Kong series. The Donkey Kong Country series launched in 1994 with a new Donkey Kong as the protagonist (although some episodes focus instead on his friends Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong).
This version of the character persists as the main one to this day. While the Donkey Kong of the 80s games and the modern one share the same name, the manual for Donkey Kong Country and later games describe him as Cranky Kong, the grandfather of the current Donkey Kong, with the exception of Donkey Kong 64 and the film The Super Mario Bros. Movie, in which Cranky is portrayed as his father, alternately portraying the modern day Donkey Kong as the original Donkey Kong from the arcade games. Donkey Kong is considered to be one of the most popular and iconic characters in video game history.
Mario, the protagonist of the original 1981 game, has become the central character of the Mario series; the modern day Donkey Kong is a regular guest character in the Mario games. He has also been playable in every episode of the Super Smash Bros. crossover fighting series, and served as the main antagonist in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong from 2004 to 2015. The character is voiced by Richard Yearwood and Sterling Jarvis in the animated series Donkey Kong Country (1997-2000), and by Seth Rogen in the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) produced by Illumination Entertainment .
Cranky Kong
Fred Armisen plays Cranky Kong, the ruler of the Jungle Kingdom and father of Donkey Kong. Sebastian Maniscalco plays Spike, the former main villain of Mario and Luigi from the Wrecking Crew.
Kamek
Kevin Michael Richardson plays Kamek, a Koopa wizard and Bowser's adviser and informant. Also, Charles Martinet, who voices Mario and Luigi in the Mario games, voices the brothers' father and Giuseppe, a Brooklyn citizen who resembles Mario's original appearance in Donkey Kong and speaks in his voice in the game.
Mother of the brothers
Jessica DiCicco voices the brothers' mother, plumbing commercial woman, Mayor Pauline, a yellow Toad, Luigi's bully, and Baby Peach.
Tony and Arthur
Rino Romano and John DiMaggio voice the brothers' uncles, Tony and Arthur, respectively.
King of the Penguins
Khary Payton voices the King Penguin, the ruler of the Ice Kingdom who was attacked by Bowser's army
General Toad
Eric Bauza voices General Toad. Juliet Jelenic, daughter of co-director Michael Jelenic, voices Lumalee, a nihilistic blue Luma held captive by Bowser, and Scott Menville voices General Koopa, the blue-shelled, winged leader of Bowser's army, as well as to a Red Toad.
Production
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an animated film produced by Illumination Studios Paris, located in Paris, France. Production on the film began in September 2020, while animation wrapped in October 2022. As of March 2023, post-production work had been completed.
According to producer Chris Meledandri, Illumination has updated its lighting and rendering technology for the film, pushing the studio's technical and artistic capabilities to new heights. The directors, Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, have tried to create an animation that reconciles the cartoony style with realism. In this way, the characters don't appear too "squashy" and "stretchy", but are more realistic, and this makes the dangerous situations they experience more perceived.
As for the go-karts featured in the film, the directors worked with a vehicle designer and artists from Nintendo to create go-karts that were consistent with their depiction in the Mario Kart games.
In making the film's action scenes, the artists took a blockbuster approach. Horvath said that for him the world of Mario has always been one of action, where stories always have a strong emotional impact and are very challenging. For this reason, he and Jelenic collaborated with television artists to create intense and spectacular action sequences. In particular, the Rainbow Road sequence was considered the most demanding and expensive in the film. It was done as a visual effect, and each scene had to be verified by the visual effects department, which required a lot of time and resources.
Donkey Kong's design was first modified from the 1994 game Donkey Kong Country. The artists combined elements of the character's modern design with his original 1981 appearance. For Mario's family, Horvath and Jelenic used drawings provided by Nintendo for reference, creating slightly modified versions for the final film.
Technical data
Original title The Super Mario Bros. movie
Original language English
Country of Production USA, Japan
Year 2023
Duration 92 min
Relationship 2,39:1
Gender animation, adventure, comedy, fantastic
Regia Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Subject Super Mario
Film script Matthew Fogel
Producer Chris Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto
Production house Illumination Entertainment, Nintendo
Distribution in Italian Universal Pictures
Music Brian Tyler, Koji Kondo
Original voice actors
Chris PrattMario
Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
Charlie Day: Luigi
Jack Black: Bowser
Keegan-Michael KeyToad
Seth RogenDonkey Kong
Kevin Michael RichardsonKamek
Fred ArmisenCranky Kong
Sebastian Maniscalco as Team Leader Spike
Khary Payton as King Pinguot
Charles Martinet: Papa Mario and Giuseppe
Jessica DiCicco as Mama Mario and Yellow Toad
Eric Bauza as Koopa and General Toad
Juliet Jelenic: Bazaar Luma
Scott Menville as General Koopa
Italian voice actors
Claudio Santamaria: Mario
Valentina Favazza as Princess Peach
Emiliano Coltorti: Luigi
Fabrizio Vidale Bowser
Nanni Baldini: Toads
Paolo VivioDonkey Kong
Franco Mannella: Kamek
Paolo BuglioniCranky Kong
Gabriele Sabatini: Team Leader Spike
Francesco De Francesco: King Pinguotto
Giulietta Rebeggiani: Luma Bazar
Charles Martinet: Papa Mario and Giuseppe
Paolo Marchese: Toad council member
Carlo Cosolo as General Koopa
Alessandro Ballico: General of the Kongs
