The Mushroom Conundrum: Mario's True Feelings?

The Super Mario Bros. franchise has been a part of gaming history for decades, with the recent release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie bringing the beloved characters to the big screen. While the movie stays true to the lore of the games, one notable change is Mario's relationship with mushrooms. In the movie, Mario is portrayed as initially hating mushrooms, which is a departure from their role as power-ups in the games. This change was suggested by Miyamoto, who believed Mario shouldn't enjoy eating mushrooms. However, by the end of the film, Mario seems to have overcome his aversion, as he no longer minds their taste. This shift may be indicative of Mario's character development or a pragmatic approach to utilizing power-ups. Interestingly, in the games, Mario's expressions sometimes indicate that he finds normal mushrooms bland but enjoys them on pizza.

In the movie, Mario hates mushrooms

This change in Mario's attitude towards mushrooms may have been influenced by the filmmakers' desire to give the character a more realistic tone. In the games, Mario speaks in an overly cartoonish manner, which may not have translated well to the big screen. As such, the filmmakers opted for a more realistic interpretation of the character, including having him speak with an Italian-American accent, similar to that of the actor portraying him.

The decision to have Mario dislike mushrooms may also have been influenced by the lore of the Mushroom Kingdom. In the early games, it is implied that Bowser turned the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom into "stones, bricks, and even field horse-hair plants." This could explain why the power-ups in the games are depicted as sentient beings rewarding Mario for saving them, rather than just inanimate items to be consumed. By having Mario hate mushrooms, the film may be alluding to this darker interpretation of the Mushroom Kingdom's backstory.

Additionally, the film's portrayal of Princess Peach as a fighter and a protector of the Mushroom Kingdom adds a new layer to the story. With Peach taking a more active role, the dynamic between her and Mario is altered, and the film focuses on their partnership and mutual training rather than a simple rescue mission. This shift in the narrative could also have influenced the decision to have Mario dislike mushrooms, as it further emphasizes the differences between the game and film versions of the characters.

Overall, while Mario's hatred of mushrooms in the movie may seem like a minor detail, it actually speaks to the larger shifts in tone and character interpretation that were made in bringing the Super Mario Bros. franchise to the big screen. By having Mario hate mushrooms, the film creates a unique take on the well-loved character while still paying homage to the games that inspired it.

In the games, Mario eats mushrooms

The evolution of the Mushroom Kingdom and its power-ups in the Mario universe is an interesting aspect of the franchise's lore. In the original NES Super Mario Bros. game, the manuals describe Bowser turning the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom into "stones, bricks, and even field horse-hair plants." This backstory implies that the power-ups Mario collects are sentient beings rewarding him for his heroism, rather than items to be consumed.

As the franchise progressed, the nature of the power-ups shifted. Later games in the series depict Mario physically eating the mushrooms, indicating a shift towards treating them as consumable items rather than sentient beings. This evolution in the portrayal of power-ups reflects the changing narrative and gameplay mechanics of the Mario franchise across its long history.

While the games predominantly depict Mario eating mushrooms for their power-boosting effects, there are hints that he may also enjoy their taste. In one of the RPG games, such as the Mario & Luigi or Paper Mario series, it is rumoured that Mario makes a satisfied face after consuming a mushroom, implying he likes the flavour. Additionally, as a stereotypical Italian character, it is joked that Mario likely enjoys mushrooms on his pizza.

Overall, while Mario's relationship with mushrooms in the games is primarily focused on their power-enhancing benefits, the character's taste for mushrooms has been a subject of speculation and humour among fans, with some evidence suggesting he may indeed find them delicious.

Mushrooms are power-ups

In the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie, Mario is portrayed as initially hating mushrooms, but by the end of the film, he no longer seems to mind the taste. This is a notable change from the games, where there is some indication that Mario enjoys the taste of mushrooms, at least in one RPG game where he makes a satisfied face after using a mushroom item to heal up. According to the Paper Mario game, he finds normal (magic) mushrooms bland and uninteresting.

The movie also introduces some other changes to the lore of the Mario games. For example, in the film, Peach trains Mario in the use of power-ups before they set out on their first adventure together, and she is shown to be a fighter and the protector of the Mushroom Kingdom. Additionally, the film focuses on Mario meeting Peach and their journey to save Luigi, rather than the games' usual focus on Mario and Luigi saving Peach from Bowser.

Despite these changes, the movie largely stays true to the lore of the games, and the filmmakers made efforts to maintain consistency with the source material. For instance, they included a Mario Kart segment with Rainbow Road, and they incorporated input from Shigeru Miyamoto and Koji Kondo, such as Miyamoto showing the team how to draw Bowser's nose.

Princess Peach trains Mario

In the Super Mario Bros. movie, Princess Peach trains Mario in the use of power-ups before they embark on their first adventure together. This marks a departure from the video game lore, where the focus is typically on Mario and Luigi rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser. The movie, however, centres on Mario meeting Peach, their training journey, and their subsequent collaboration to save Luigi from Bowser.

In the film, Peach is portrayed as a more assertive and combative character, defending the Mushroom Kingdom and standing up to Bowser's army. She is depicted as a protector of the Mushroom Kingdom, having arrived there as a young child, possibly from Earth, like Mario and Luigi.

The training aspect of their relationship adds a new dynamic to the classic Mario narrative. While the movie maintains the core elements of the Mario franchise, it introduces twists and expands the roles of key characters, including Princess Peach. By having Peach train Mario, the film establishes a more collaborative and balanced partnership between the two protagonists.

During their training journey, Peach imparts her knowledge of power-ups to Mario, who is known for consuming various items, including mushrooms, to gain strength and abilities. While there is speculation about Mario's feelings towards mushrooms, with some suggesting he initially hates them, by the end of the film, he seems to have acquired a taste for them.

The Super Mario Bros. movie, therefore, presents a unique interpretation of the well-loved video game series, enriching the relationship between Mario and Princess Peach through their training journey and collaborative adventure.

Mario's character has evolved

Over time, Mario's character has evolved and expanded beyond his original role as a player character in the Donkey Kong franchise. He became the star of the Mario franchise, with his own series of games spanning various genres, including puzzle, role-playing, and sports games. Mario's profession as an Italian plumber and his distinctive appearance, including his large nose, moustache, overalls, and red cap, have remained consistent throughout his evolution. However, his personality and roles have changed, and he has taken on many different roles across the Mario franchise.

Mario's adventures typically involve rescuing Princess Peach from the villain Bowser, with the help of his brother Luigi and various power-ups. While Luigi initially served as a way to make the game multiplayer, his character has evolved, and he is now a well-loved member of the cast, known for his kindness and nervousness, especially around ghosts. Princess Peach has also evolved from a simple damsel in distress to a more active and fighter role in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, where she trains Mario in the use of power-ups and stands against Bowser and his army.

Mario's character has also appeared in other Nintendo properties, such as the Super Smash Bros. series, and has inspired many other video game characters, including Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog. His likeness has been featured in merchandise, and he is widely considered the most famous video game character in history, establishing himself as a pop culture icon.

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