57 votes

Charles Martinet no longer voicing Mario

Posted by godzilla_lives
Tags: mario, nintendo, actors.voice, charles martinet, characters, source.associated press, short read
https://apnews.com/article/nintendo-mario-voice-charles-martinet-da2f12416319b76a10c06445f5d16db8

Link information

This data is scraped automatically and may be incorrect.

Title
Charles Martinet, the voice of Nintendo's beloved Mario character, steps down
Published
Aug 21 2023
Word count
312 words

25 comments

  1. skreba
    Link
    I paid him like $50 to record my voicemail greeting at Con a few years ago. Got my own little piece of nostalgia and get to annoy anyone who calls me too.

    I paid him like $50 to record my voicemail greeting at Con a few years ago. Got my own little piece of nostalgia and get to annoy anyone who calls me too.

    33 votes
  2. [10]
    godzilla_lives
    Link

    In a question and answer session at a Canadian gaming and comics expo two years ago, Martinet told the audience “I want to voice Mario until I drop dead” in response to a fan's question, according to gaming blog The Game Crater. But he added “if someday I think I am no longer capable of doing it, I will tell Nintendo to look into finding someone else.”

    Nintendo did not give say why Martinet is stepping down or who would replace him as Mario's voice.

    21 votes
    1. [9]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        MimicSquid
        Link Parent
        Recording technology changes, and audio with it. If you pasted in the Mario sounds from 64 into a more recent game they would sound weird.

        Recording technology changes, and audio with it. If you pasted in the Mario sounds from 64 into a more recent game they would sound weird.

        22 votes
        1. ruspaceni
          Link Parent
          I mean i would be concerned if they only have the compressed files instead of the raw ones? fan mods doing that would sound crunchy, for sure, but i find it hard to beleive that nintendo would...

          I mean i would be concerned if they only have the compressed files instead of the raw ones? fan mods doing that would sound crunchy, for sure, but i find it hard to beleive that nintendo would just junk all the old stuff.

          I could see it being jarring if they wanted to add a few new lines and there being a discontinuity between legacy and new - like how you can always tell when someone has added new text to an image in an edit (unless they redo all the text at the same time)

          4 votes
      2. [2]
        lou
        Link Parent
        First, I'm pretty sure he talks more than that. There are lots of Mario games, including RPGs. Second, even short sentences can have a different sentiment in different recording, and there's value...

        First, I'm pretty sure he talks more than that. There are lots of Mario games, including RPGs.

        Second, even short sentences can have a different sentiment in different recording, and there's value in rerecording them to make things fresh.

        19 votes
        1. arch
          Link Parent
          I'm not aware of a single voiced Mario RPG. They're all written with voice bubbles. If I'm wrong let me know, because my kid is too young to read them alone but otherwise has a lot of fun with...

          I'm not aware of a single voiced Mario RPG. They're all written with voice bubbles. If I'm wrong let me know, because my kid is too young to read them alone but otherwise has a lot of fun with Paper Mario or Mario RPG.

          5 votes
      3. CannibalisticApple
        Link Parent
        As lou said, sentiment and tone can change a lot based on circumstances. Having the same sound for every type of injury, whether it's running into an enemy, dropping on spikes or falling into...

        As lou said, sentiment and tone can change a lot based on circumstances. Having the same sound for every type of injury, whether it's running into an enemy, dropping on spikes or falling into lava, would get repetitive. Giving unique sound clips for each one helps with immersion. They also add new stuff in each game that merit having new sound effects/mechanics, like how the cat-like sounds when he gets the cat suit.

        8 votes
      4. [2]
        MimicJar
        Link Parent
        He says "Wowee Zowee" at the end of the recent Super Mario Bros Wonder trailer.

        He says "Wowee Zowee" at the end of the recent Super Mario Bros Wonder trailer.

        6 votes
        1. dr_frahnkunsteen
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          As if Wonder wasn’t already a day-one download for me, now it’s the last time I’ll hear the OG Mario! Edit: apparently he is not voicing Mario in Wonder after all, but that’s ok, we still set the tone

          As if Wonder wasn’t already a day-one download for me, now it’s the last time I’ll hear the OG Mario!

          Edit: apparently he is not voicing Mario in Wonder after all, but that’s ok, we still set the tone

          1 vote
      5. Lapbunny
        Link Parent
        There was a post I saw about his work in a recent Luigi's Mansion game - it had everything from Mario screaming in remorse over Peach getting turned into a painting to Luigi humming along with the...

        There was a post I saw about his work in a recent Luigi's Mansion game - it had everything from Mario screaming in remorse over Peach getting turned into a painting to Luigi humming along with the background music.

        6 votes
    2. kingthrillgore
      Link Parent
      I don't want to be that guy, but I'm worried him stepping down may be signs of some kind of terminal illness.

      I don't want to be that guy, but I'm worried him stepping down may be signs of some kind of terminal illness.

      2 votes
  3. [4]
    mr-death
    Link
    I didn't grow up with a voiced Mario as a child and find his Italian caricature voice to be quite annoying. Nothing against the voice actor, it's what Nintendo wanted.

    I didn't grow up with a voiced Mario as a child and find his Italian caricature voice to be quite annoying.
    Nothing against the voice actor, it's what Nintendo wanted.

    15 votes
    1. [3]
      stimularity
      Link Parent
      This is an interesting take. As someone who always enjoyed the Mario voice, it never occurred to me that there were people that didn't enjoy it. That sucks because a frustrating voice can ruin a...

      This is an interesting take. As someone who always enjoyed the Mario voice, it never occurred to me that there were people that didn't enjoy it. That sucks because a frustrating voice can ruin a game for someone. There are many other Italian stereotypes fresh for the picking. I'm hoping they change it up and we get some baratone opera Mario.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        mr-death
        Link Parent
        It certainly causes me to play certain Mario games with the sound off, that's for sure. I remember when 'A Link To The Past" was re-released for GBA, they ruined the experience for me by adding...

        It certainly causes me to play certain Mario games with the sound off, that's for sure.

        I remember when 'A Link To The Past" was re-released for GBA, they ruined the experience for me by adding all the grunts whenever Link slashed his sword.

        It's all just so over saturated for my liking, especially since it's just the same exact 3 sfx over and over and over.

        If I had to play Super Mario 1 through 3 or Super Mario World with all the "hey" "yo" or "whippee's," I just wouldn't play them.

        This is just my take. I'm 42, and grew up on NES Mario, and loved the SNES games as a (pre)teen.

        3 votes
        1. MetaMoss
          Link Parent
          Yeah, they did that as well for the Super Mario Advance versions of 2, World, Yoshi's Island, and 3, in that order.

          Yeah, they did that as well for the Super Mario Advance versions of 2, World, Yoshi's Island, and 3, in that order.

          1 vote
  4. [3]
    LordSoren
    Link
    Lou Albano and Bob Hoskins are the two Marios I always hear in my head.

    Lou Albano and Bob Hoskins are the two Marios I always hear in my head.

    14 votes
    1. hamstergeddon
      Link Parent
      “Hey, paisonos!” Was a great start to many a Saturday morning growing up

      “Hey, paisonos!” Was a great start to many a Saturday morning growing up

      6 votes
    2. RobotOverlord525
      Link Parent
      I agree on Lou Albano, but I never really identified with Bob Hoskins as Mario. I'll add Walker Boone from the DIC cartoons The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. For me,...

      I agree on Lou Albano, but I never really identified with Bob Hoskins as Mario.

      I'll add Walker Boone from the DIC cartoons The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World.

      For me, Mario has a Brooklyn Italian-American accent, Not this weird exaggerated Italian accent from Mario 64 onward.

      1 vote
  5. [5]
    Corsy
    Link
    Marios voice was only suitable in short bursts anyway. That said, the voice was classic and an absolute icon

    Marios voice was only suitable in short bursts anyway. That said, the voice was classic and an absolute icon

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      yourfavoriteauntie
      Link Parent
      Imagine a game in which Mario goes into a castle library and reads some great works of literature aloud to the gamer... Ha!

      Imagine a game in which Mario goes into a castle library and reads some great works of literature aloud to the gamer... Ha!

      2 votes
    2. [2]
      Matcha
      Link Parent
      That said I wondered what would've happened if he voiced the Mario Movie. Chris Pratt was solid but I think it could've worked. The cameo was funny though.

      That said I wondered what would've happened if he voiced the Mario Movie. Chris Pratt was solid but I think it could've worked. The cameo was funny though.

      1. balooga
        Link Parent
        Now I'm wondering if Chris Pratt's going to be reprising his role in any upcoming games...

        Now I'm wondering if Chris Pratt's going to be reprising his role in any upcoming games...

        1 vote
  6. [2]
    Bullmaestro
    Link
    It would be funny if they replaced him with Chris Pratt...

    It would be funny if they replaced him with Chris Pratt...

    8 votes
    1. Minori
      Link Parent
      Just the one movie is enough... I honestly liked the old Super Mario Bros Super Show significantly more than the movie. I think Mario is better when his voice has some personality.

      Just the one movie is enough...

      I honestly liked the old Super Mario Bros Super Show significantly more than the movie. I think Mario is better when his voice has some personality.