For millions of people, Mario is a middle-aged man who has saved princesses, battled long-time enemies, driven karts, taught typing, invited friends to party, competed in the Olympics, and even eradicated viruses as a doctor, but according to the re-publication of an old interview with Mario’s creator, the plumber we all know is not as old as we believe he is. Shigeru Miyamoto says Mario is 24-25 years old. Really?
The 2005 interview, re-published on Nintendo’s Japanese site, shows Miyamoto stating Mario’s age is the only sure thing about the character.
As translated on Ars Technica, Miyamoto said: “I think it was fortuitous that we didn’t put any restrictions on Mario as a character. Normally when you create a character and present him to the world, all the details get filed in: what’s his favourite colour? what kind of food does he like to eat? But aside from the fact that he’s about 24-25 years old, we didn’t define anything else.”
Miyamoto then said the following: “When we make a game we take care not to add incongruence to that game’s world. With that caveat, I’d like to keep using Mario in future games.”
While the Mario film and games have given us the idea Mario is a middle-aged man probably in his 40s or 50s, Miyamoto’s statement about the plumber’s age may make fans ask the creator himself why doesn’t Mario look younger.
[Sources]: Nintendo Japan: 宮本茂口ングインタビュー マリオの生みの親からのメッセージ. Ars Technica UK: Mario is only 24 years old, according to creator Shigeru Miyamoto .
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