By Ash Parrish, a reporter who has covered the business, culture, and communities of video games for seven years. Previously, she worked at Kotaku.
07.09.2023 - 17:35 / gameinformer.com / Mario / New / Nintendo
Last month, Nintendo revealed longtime Mario voice actor Charles Martinet will no longer voice the character. The company stopped short of revealing who is taking over the role, although it did say we’d find out in the upcoming release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which does not feature Martinet as Mario.
Now, Nintendo has released a new video featuring Martinet and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto discussing their history together, the role of Mario, and Martinet’s new role, Mario Ambassador.
You can watch the video in full below, but we’ve transcribed most of it for your reading as well:
Here’s a special video message from Shigeru Miyamoto and Charles Martinet regarding the change of Mario’s voice actor, announced on 8/21. pic.twitter.com/4mOpD2Cx3a
Shigeru Miyamoto: «It has been quite a long time since I first met you, Charles-San, and since then, we have enjoyed a long journey together through many games and projects involving Mario and his friends. The very first time you voiced Mario in a Super Mario game was Super Mario 64 back in 1996. Whenever we’d meet, you would always call me 'Papa!' and I also remember filming PR videos together. You have traveled the world visiting events, joyfully performing the voice of Mario for fans, and putting smiles on people’s faces.
»You always place a priority on spreading joy, and I am sure you will be a great Mario ambassador. For all of you watching, please know that in this role, Charles will continue to travel around the world and meet fans, performing the familiar voices at events, signing autographs, and enjoying interacting with you all. Starting with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which will be released in October, the voices of some Mario characters have become new, so please check them out.
«Charles-san, your dedicated effort, your talent, and your height, which I remember from where you almost hit your head at the entrance of a restaurant at Kyoto, all leave an impression on me. I am deeply grateful for your thoughtfulness when bringing our character to life with your voice. I look forward to seeing you enjoy the moments with Nintendo fans at events all around the world.
»And for all of you Mario fans, we ask you all to honor Charles-san together with us, and please look forward to seeing him in his new role. Charles-san, thank you very much."
Charles Martinet: "Thank you so much, Papa. For many years, it’s been a privilege to be able to bring your amazingly wonderful characters to life. I’m completely honored and joyed. Thank you. My favorite thing in the world is to meet Mario fans, fellow Mario fans like me, because I’m just so grateful for your joy and happiness and enthusiasm. I think all that we’re here to do, or all that I’m here to do, is touch
By Ash Parrish, a reporter who has covered the business, culture, and communities of video games for seven years. Previously, she worked at Kotaku.
After stepping down as the voice of Mario and preparing for his new role as Mario Ambassador, Charles Martinet has a message for fans. With help from creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the longtime voice of Mario took a moment to introduce his new role and gush about how much he loves all the people who have supported him as Mario over the years.
Charles Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto have explained Martinet’s new role as ‘Mario Ambassador’.
Nintendo has shared a video of Charles Martinet saying goodbye to his role as Mario, as well as revealing that he calls Shigeru Miyamoto "papa".
Nintendo of America recently announced that Charles Martinet would be hanging up his cap as the voice of Mario, a role he's occupied the goomba-stomping boots of since 1996. Nintendo of America announced the transition via a post on Twitter/X last month, revealing he'd be «moving into the brand-new role of Mario Ambassador.»
It was a surprise to fans worldwide when we discovered that the iconic character, Mario, would receive a new voice actor. Nintendo’s flagship character had been voiced for decades by Charles Martinet. This actor has been offering his talents to Nintendo to give Mario those iconic phrases fans have become familiar with. But after his lengthy run, it looks like Charles was ready to hang up his cap and pass the torch. Unfortunately, we’re not sure just who that torch has been passed on to.
We may have heard Mario and Luigi’s new voices in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but Nintendo will not be confirming who is voicing them until the game’s release, according to Nintendo president Doug Bowser.
We won't find out who the new voice of Mario is until the credits of Super Mario Bros. Wonder roll.
Voice actor Charles Martinet, who provided the voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and other iconic characters for decades, has spoken publicly about his new 'Mario Ambassador' role, and has revealed that he’s not entirely sure what it will consist of yet, either.
Mario Ambassador Charles Martinet is still unsure what his new role actually entails.
Wa-hoo! To celebrate the upcoming launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Nintendo announced the launch a Mario-themed Nintendo Switch OLED on Oct. 6. You can currently pre-order the console modeled after everyone's favorite red plumber on the Nintendo Store for $349.99.
15 minutes of new gameplay showed off many of Mario's Wonder-ful new moves.