After more than 30 years giving voice to the titular character of video games Super Mario, the veteran actor Charles Martinet will permanently retire from the recording booth. This Monday, Nintendo reported through social networks that the sixty-year-old actor will no longer be the official voice of the popular plumber in future brand launches. On the other hand, he will continue to occupy a position of honor within the Mushroom Kingdom, as Mario’s Ambassador.
“Charles Martinet has been the original voice of Mario in Nintendo video games for a long time, from Super Mario 64”, read an official statement. “Charles now steps into the new role of Mario Ambassador. With this transition, he will stop recording character voices for our games, but he will continue to travel the world to share the joy of Mario and interact with all of you!”
Martinet has been involved with Nintendo since 1991, though his rise to fame didn’t come until five years later, with the publication of Super Mario 64, the first 3D video game in the franchise and through which the actor popularized the iconic Italian intonation of the jumping hero, although he is also remembered for voicing secondary characters such as Luigi, Wario and Waluigi. His resume boasts more than 150 titles associated with the universe of Super Mariowhere the distinctive phrases of the protagonist sound like “mamma mia” and “Let’s-a-go!”
“It has been an honor to work with Charles to bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him,” adds Nintendo in the same statement and anticipates that he will later publish “a special video message” with the participation of Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto, company executive and creator of Super Mario.
For his part, the Californian actor expressed the following on Twitter: “My new adventure begins! You are all number one in my heart! Whooo!”
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In a statement shared by VarietyNintendo confirmed that the voice of Charles Martinet will no longer appear in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the upcoming video game for the Switch console. Its release is scheduled for October 20, 2023.
Regarding the cinema, Martinet had small cameos in Super Mario Bros. The Movie, giving voice to the father of Mario and Luigi, as well as the character of Giuseppe. Instead, Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) voiced the titular plumber in the English version.
Antonio G. Spindola I have very bad memory. Out of solidarity with my memories, I choose to lose myself too. Preferably in a movie theater.