The iconic video game character Mario has finally made his way to the big screen in the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Despite Mario’s creation in 1981, it took until 2023 for a proper animated theatrical project based on the character to be created. The creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, recently spoke to The Rolling Stone about the difficulties of bringing the beloved character to life in a feature-length film.
Translating The Abstract Idea of Mario into Visuals
Miyamoto shared that bringing the “abstract idea of what an action Mario game is like” onto the screen was a significant challenge. Miyamoto said that “there’s a lot of hardship” involved in playing Mario games. The filmmakers initially encountered many difficulties trying to recreate that experience in the movie visually. However, using familiar assets from the games helped the team “create something that was convincing and felt good” for the audience.
Choosing Illumination As A Partner
The creator chose Illumination, the animation studio behind Despicable Me and Minions, as the project’s partner because the two parties realized that their “philosophies and way [they] think” were in sync. Miyamoto said that Chris Meledandri, Illumination’s CEO, wanted to “create something new” rather than approach the project as a business proposition. Miyamoto said that the partnership with Illumination has been a smooth sailing process.
The Success Of The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been a massive success at the box office. The CEO of Illumination, Chris Meledandri, recently stated that he is “not allowed to talk about” the possibility of making a sequel. However, given that the film had a post-credits scene setting up Yoshi for an upcoming debut, it’s hard to imagine Nintendo not having already commissioned a sequel. Additionally, fans have floated the idea of spin-off films, such as a Luigi’s Mansion adventure with Charlie Day’s character. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is currently playing in theaters worldwide and will be available on premium video-on-demand platforms on May 9.
