As Nintendo celebrates 40 years of the Super Mario Bros. series, a couple of iconic developers want to see the popular plumber make it to his 100th anniversary. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Super Mario World director Takashi Tezuka discussed how the Nintendo mascot can live on for decades and decades to come in a recent book.
VGC reported on and transcribed a new Nintendo Museum book focusing on Mario’s 40th anniversary. In it, Miyamoto and Tezuka–alongside other developers–are asked about the plumber remaining a cultural icon in 2085. “One might think it would be a miracle if Mario was still here after 100 years, since we make things while not knowing when our players may get bored with them,” Tezuka said.
Tezuka, who also directed Super Mario Bros. 3 and produced Super Mario Bros. Wonder, noted how “different times bring different kinds of fun.” The developer pointed out that what Mario is capable of doing in games today has changed a lot since the NES era.
Miyamoto emphasized the importance of evolution for Mario, too. “It’s a given that Super Mario will constantly evolve by incorporating new digital technology,” said Miyamoto, who directed the original Super Mario Bros. “Now we’re working in visual fields like movies, but I want to make sure we keep it interactive and digital. As long as we don’t forget Mario’s prime point–running and jumping–as we add new things, I think Mario will be with us for a long time to come.”
There is no new Mario game for the character’s 40th anniversary. Instead, Nintendo released remasters of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Switch and Switch 2 earlier this month. Miyamoto also kicked off the Nintendo Direct in September by celebrating his creation.
Looking ahead, The Super Mario Bros. Galaxy Movie is slated to premiere in theaters on April 3. Next year will also see the planned release of Mario Tennis Fever for Switch 2, as well as the Switch 2 Edition for Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
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