The Tanooki » Mario

Mario wishes his parties were this good

Holly Green — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:53:00 +0000

This sweet shindig, celebrating one special boy’s 4th birthday, was more than just a kid’s birthday party. For starters, there was the Mario cake and Mushroom cupcakes, and handmade Mario and Luigi caps for the boys and Princess Peach crowns for the girls. Next came an obstacle course worthy of the titular plumbers themselves. In the words of the birthday boy’s uncle:

My nephew’s dad and other uncle were “Bowser” and kidnapped the Princess (my niece) and the kids had to make their way through all the levels to rescue her.

The first level involved climbing through a bunch of tunnels and then stomping on all the Goombas. After they all touched the flag at the end, we proceeded to the level with lots of pipes and the underwater level. Each kid had to jump over the pipes without knocking them over. They then had to run through the water level, which consisted of all the other adults at the party blowing bubbles and tossing beanbag Cheep-cheeps at them.

After finishing the 2nd level, the third and final level involved them crossing the “treacherous” balance beams. The Bowsers were armed with fireballs (plastic ball pit balls) and were trying to knock them off the balance beams. Once all the kids were able to make it across the beams, they found a block they could smash so they could all get their own fireflowers (even more ball pit balls) to take down the Bowsers and rescue the Princess!

After rescuing the princess, there was even a Chain Chomp pinata for the adventurers! No word on if it was filled with coins.

For pictures of all the Mario madness, including the costumes and invitations (that look like a Nintendo DS!), check out the gallery below. The crafter in me is particularly impressed by the cake, cupcakes, and Piranha Plant.

BehemothGaming

Super Mario munnys inspire awe, terror

Holly Green — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:10:59 +0000

Okay, so these munnys, custom hand painted to show the darker side of video games, aren’t all Mario inspired. All the same, I wouldn’t fall asleep with my back to them at night. Creepin’ a bit.

Check out more of the artist OSKUNK’s custom work, including hand painted consoles, over at Blogspot.

Flickr

Actor Bob Hoskins regrets Super Mario Bros. role

Jason Leavey — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 01:04:20 +0000

Starring as the lead in a film based on one of the most successful video game franchises of all time sure sounds glamorous on paper. Not so much, in reality. Actor Bob Hoskins, who played a slightly balding version of our dear Mario, named his biggest acting regret in a recent Q&A style interview with The Guardian. His answer?

What is the worst job you’ve done?
Super Mario Brothers.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Super Mario Brothers.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I wouldn’t do Super Mario Brothers.

Even the loyalist Nintendo die-hard would prefer the Super Mario Bros. movie find permanent residency in a pit of lava, rather than their own DVD player. It’s kind of refreshing to hear Hoskins share our sentiments. Of course, I assume that working with John Leguizamo everyday could also have caused feelings of regret and disappointment.

The Guardian
via Kotaku

Stuffed Tanooki Marios plush all the right buttons

Holly Green — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:47:34 +0000

Combining killer stitching skills and artistic interpretation, these were made by Michele Legendre of the aptly named Deadly Sweet Plushes. There were almost too many amazing and squeezably cute creations to share, so I’ve added a bunch to our gallery below. My favorite? Probably Chun-Li, but Protoman makes for serious competition. Ur, uh, I mean the tanooki ones of course!

Deadly Sweet Plushes Etsy
Flickr

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[View with PicLens]

Visit the Bamboo Kingdom with Mario sprite magnets

Holly Green — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:42:29 +0000

Now this is a very grown up spin on a common geekcraft theme. This bamboo magnet set, handcrafted by Aristomatic, is going for $130 on Etsy. My suggestion to the artist? Make one of Boo. Then you could call it BamBOO, get it!? Oh man I suck.

Etsy

Is that a Mario in your pocket… Etch a Sketch?

Holly Green — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:11:58 +0000

The person who did this is a genius. A wicked, wicked, genius by the name of Jane Labowitch. I don’t know whether to praise her or build a bridge out of her. Maybe test her weight, see how she measures up against a duck. What I’m saying is, it’s a level of geek craft mastery I’ve yet to comprehend. Kudos to artist Jane, AKA Princess Etch A Sketch. I think it’s time you got promoted to Queen.

Flickr

Here comes Mario Claus

Holly Green — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:32:54 +0000

Plumber, devoted brother, beloved hero. It’s already known that Mario is a wearer of many hats, be it standard red, fire power white, or…a combination of both? Have a very Mario Christmas with this Santa hat, available from Etsy artist Omonomopoeia for $15.

Etsy

Final Fantasy characters confirmed for Mario Sports Mix

Jason Leavey — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:55:18 +0000

Included in the latest character power-up trailer, comes confirmation that at least five Final Fantasy characters are set to join Mario, Donkey Kong and friends in Mario Sports Mix for Wii. The game allows players to take part in non-Wii Sports activities of volleyball, hockey, basketball and dodgeball.

Square Enix is behind Nintendo’s upcoming sports game, making the otherwise unusual character mash-up common sense — it also seems likely we’ll get a few of Square’s most notable characters in the next Smash Bros. title. Here’s hoping at least.

The new trailer also promises Mii support. Check out the fun above.

Bit.Block

Mario backdrop not included with Conan’s TV return

Jason Leavey — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:32:24 +0000

Looks like Max Weinberg wasn’t the only treasure from Conan O’ Brien’s The Tonight Show to not make the transition to cable television. Conan premiered Monday night on TBS, but as many-a-gamer noticed, his Super Mario monologue backdrop wasn’t brought along for the ride.

It’s a shame we only got to see that awesome set piece used for the few months CoCo took up the hosting duties during the NBC 11:30pm time slot. I can only assume Jay Leno had the whole thing burned in the parking lot after Conan’s last show.

Check out pictures below the break of the NBC Mario background, and the new TBS set after.

[Image - Serious Lunch]

NBC: The Tonight Show Conan Set

TBS: Conan Set

Disney + Nintendo = Steamboat Mario

Jason Leavey — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 13:20:26 +0000

If Disney went to a bar, found Nintendo, and the two crazy kids got drunk and had a one night stand, and then Disney found out she was pregnant with Nintendo’s baby, it would look like this image.

The above pic seen on DeviantART uses Mickey Mouse’s iconic 1920′s cartoon, Steamboat Willie, as inspiration to create this epic Super Mario artwork. The creativity behind this hybrid photo is so inspiring, I’m now desperate for it to become an actual game. A black and white Mario platformer with hints of color in the simplistically upbeat hand-drawn 20s art style.

Do it!

Bellydandies
via Kotaku

First look at Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition package

Jason Leavey — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:17:10 +0000

Twitter followers of Nintendo of America were given a first look at the North American boxart package for the upcoming limited edition of Super Mario All-Stars.

The game’s re-release is a straight port of the SNES title featuring Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and The Lost Levels. The package is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Super Mario Bros.

Looking pretty epic to me. I think red and gold suit Mario very well!

NoA Twitter

Super Mario All-Stars 25th anniversary edition coming to Europe

Jason Leavey — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:16:11 +0000

It appears Japan isn’t the only region getting their hands on a celebratory new Mario software package. The Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition that was announced for the East is now also coming to Europe.

Boxed in Mario’s signature red, contents include the All-Stars game (a repackaged version of the SNES release), as well as a Mario history book and CD. Yawn.

Congrats to Europe for snagging this nifty collector’s set. At least we know that an English version exists, giving us in the U.S. a glimmer of hope. I do wish this collector’s set was a bit more super.

Kotaku

Mario inspired red Wii console announced for Japan

Jason Leavey — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:52:05 +0000

Japan gets all the good stuff,… first at least. The glorious image you see above is of the brand new Mario-red Wii console that is set to make its debut in Japan on November 11th. The console is part of Nintendo’s ongoing 25-anniversary celebration of Super Mario Bros.

Aside from the alluring fire engine red console, this special bundle will also include a few additions inside the box. You’ll receive a red Wii Remote Plus — the just announced new controller that adds Wii MotionPlus within the design of the original Wii Remote — a red Nunchuk, and a red Wii Remote jacket.

The console will also come with a 25th anniversary special edition of Super Mario Bros. pre-installed. Slight differences have been added to the game, including the number “25″ now displayed on coin boxes, as you can see below the break.

The Mario celebration sure is being ignored here in America. Let’s hope this new bundle can get a worldwide release.

Andriasang

Super Envious Bros. – Mario and Luigi trash talk on Facebook

Jason Leavey — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:37:38 +0000

The greatest part of Facebook is the freedom to stalk peer through the window of your friends’ personal lives. Similarly, the social network has allowed us to learn a great deal about the off-screen relationships between some of Nintendo’s greatest characters.

Brothers Mario and Luigi sure seem to fight for the greater good in their many adventures, but the duo doesn’t mind taking a few shots at one another, according to their recent Facebook wall battle.

Check out the conversation in its entirety below.

CollegeHumor

The Onion celebrates Mario’s 25th with the usual tomfoolery

Jason Leavey — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:54:41 +0000

We’re all a bit misty-eyed with our own personal memories of Mario as he embarks on his 25th anniversary as an industry icon. We start to think of our favorite Mario games, power-ups, and products — from an impressive lineup spanning nearly three decades — all of which resonate warm and fuzzy feelings.

The Onion, “America’s Finest News Source” doesn’t want their favorite franchise moments to be unheard, and frankly, neither do we. Here are a few of their own recollections of the Super Mario series, in bullet point form. And, well,… you may not remember them:

1974—In a bizarre incident that will come to shape his development of Mario years later, Miyamoto accidentally smacks his head against a brick outcropping and some gold coins fall out

1994—Following the box-office failure of the Super Mario Bros. movie the previous year, the script for a Mario Kart–based sequel is hastily rewritten into the film Speed, with Dennis Hopper reprising his role as the villain.

1994—Hoping to replicate the success of Mario’s brother Luigi, a third brother, Dan, joined them briefly before giving up the video game life and going back to his family and financial planning job in Pasadena

Oh yea! I forgot about Dan. Check out the entire list of fun Mario facts, as only The Onion knows how to create.

TheOnion

Twenty-five years ago, game designer Shigeru Miyamoto created the video game Super Mario Bros., which has since sold millions of copies and spawned numerous spin-offs. Here are some highlights from the history of the computerized plumber:

1974—In a bizarre incident that will come to shape his development of Mario years later, Miyamoto accidentally smacks his head against a brick outcropping and some gold coins fall out
1981—Kept up all night by a leaky flush toilet mechanism, Miyamoto fantasizes about having a giant ape pelt his shiftless plumber with barrels
1986-1993—In the so-called ‘Mario mania’ years, Sega fails time and time again to score a hit with its goateed Croatian electrician character, Milorad
1991—Super Mario World introduces Yoshi, a complicated allegory for the state of Japanese politics
1994—Following the box-office failure of the Super Mario Bros. movie the previous year, the script for a Mario Kart–based sequel is hastily rewritten into the film Speed, with Dennis Hopper reprising his role as the villain
1994—Hoping to replicate the success of Mario’s brother Luigi, a third brother, Dan, joined them briefly before giving up the video game life and going back to his family and financial planning job in Pasadena
1999—Mario is licensed to the State of New York for use in its plumbers certification exam-prep software
2005—Mario celebrates his 100 billionth death

The Tanooki » Mario

Mario wishes his parties were this good

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