Mario - Outsider or Insider

[Johnny Unusual]

In more Western Mario media, the dude comes from "our world" but I'm pretty sure it's not really said within the games (or is likely contradicted. Within the world of Mario, was he originally an outsider to the Mushroom Kingdom and the overall world or did he live within it before becoming an adventurer?

 

[FelixSH]

Mario comes from that island from Mario Land 2. He is obviously royalty there, why else would he own a castle, and have a statue in his image there?

Granted, he might have married whoever ruled before. But considering that no one was there to defend the throne against Wario, he clearly is the sole ruler there.

 

[Becksworth]

I believe the current in game canon is "Dropped on Yoshi's Island by accident by the stork, eventually brought to his parents in the Mushroom Kingdom, eventually moved to New Donk City where he kept getting into shit with a gorilla over his then poli-sci major girlfriend, moved back to the Mushroom Kingdom to enlist in the various wars againsts Bowser's imperialist regime, at some point bought an island with all the gold he had quietly been stealing from the kingdom residents in the confusion, but he was never quite able to get the funk out after Wario crashed the place, so he eventually bought a more modest house with his brother back in the Mushroom Kingdom."

That or the stage actor theory...

 

[Becksworth]

More important question, whose pizza is better: New Donk City or Diamond City?

 

[Felicia]

I believe the current in game canon is "Dropped on Yoshi's Island by accident by the stork, eventually brought to his parents in the Mushroom Kingdom, eventually moved to New Donk City where he kept getting into shit with a gorilla over his then poli-sci major girlfriend, moved back to the Mushroom Kingdom to enlist in the various wars againsts Bowser's imperialist regime, at some point bought an island with all the gold he had quietly been stealing from the kingdom residents in the confusion, but he was never quite able to get the funk out after Wario crashed the place, so he eventually bought a more modest house with his brother back in the Mushroom Kingdom."

That or the stage actor theory...

Don't forget that he fought in 'Nam at one point.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

This isn't a value judgement but I am surprised how many people feel "nah, Brooklyn." Again, though it's possible I'm missing some canon, is Brooklyn even mentioned in the games. Or are we seeing the Super Show/the Movies a reflection of all Mario continuities? I'm down for all of it, even though I feel like he grew up in New Donk City.

 

[RT-55J]

For people who cite Yoshi's Island as the reason he can't be a New Yorker, have you ever seen all the mushroom houses they have in Brooklyn? I think not.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

This isn't a value judgement but I am surprised how many people feel "nah, Brooklyn." Again, though it's possible I'm missing some canon, is Brooklyn even mentioned in the games. Or are we seeing the Super Show/the Movies a reflection of all Mario continuities? I'm down for all of it, even though I feel like he grew up in New Donk City.

From Mario Bros.

Story​

The premise of this game revolves around twin plumbers, Mario and Luigi, who are in the sewer system of New York[4][5] (their house according to Atari[6]). The sewers are overrun by waves of enemies, which must be defeated for coins.

I think Brooklyn stemmed from that and where NoA was located at the time.

Links work to show the cited interviews there, btw. Relatively recent stuff, too.

 

[Bongo]

Mario is a figure of mythology and metaphor. The varying attestations of his origins only reflect the multitudes he contains.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Into the Mario-Verse

 

[Felicia]

Mario is a figure of mythology and metaphor. The varying attestations of his origins only reflect the multitudes he contains.

That reminds me of my favorit Zelda timeline theory, the "Literal Legend" theory in which each game is just the retelling of the same basic story by different cultures.

Also, I recall hearing somewhere that Shigeru Miyamoto once compared Mario to Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp": A character that can take on any role necessary for the film/game.

 

[FelixSH]

Also, I recall hearing somewhere that Shigeru Miyamoto once compared Mario to Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp": A character that can take on any role necessary for the film/game.

I think it was a podcast, where the hosts mentioned that in an interview or something, Miyamoto said that he saw the games as plays (becoming a bit more text in SMB 3, at the start). So Mario, Bowser, Peach and all the others just play their acts, and are only coworkers.

Which basically means, that we know even less about his childhood and general live.

 

[Lokii]

Mario is a human man.

 

[BEAT]

MARIO IS A MAN WITH NO PAST.
AN ETERNAL OUTSIDER IN HIS OWN WORLD.

 

[q 3]

The truth is known only by those those bold enough to speak aloud his true name, Oiram

(I thought this thread was going to be about his belly button. Q: does he have one)

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

To be honest, all this is why I'm happy to accept the movie as canon and forget everything else.

 

[Lokii]

the only canon in mario should be the one that shoots bomb oms or bullet bills

 

[RT-55J]

canoncity is irrelevant. all is vanity. the truest mareo of all can only be found in the heart of a child

 

[Olli]

The truth is known only by those those bold enough to speak aloud his true name, Oiram

I think you mean Xoiram

 

[Pombar]

I think you mean Xoiram

Probably didn't mean him, that guy's a nobody

 

[Bongo]

The truth is known only by those those bold enough to speak aloud his true name, Oiram

(I thought this thread was going to be about his belly button. Q: does he have one)

I think you mean Xoiram

Mario (マリオ) オリマ (Olimar)

 

[Johnny Unusual]

the only canon in mario should be the one that shoots bomb oms or bullet bills

Or Mario to another part of the level, which exists within a painting.

 

[Daikaiju]

Mario & Luigi are from Brooklyn. Mario somehow ended up in New Donk City during the DK incident. But due to its familiarity to our world, he didn't even realize he'd crossed over and returned. Later working as plumbers, while working on a building's connection to the city water and sewage system (Mario Bros), Mario & Luigi inadvertently fend off a scouting mission by Bowser's forces (probably mapping the warp pipe network). They end up in the Mushroom Kingdom when trying to trace the source of the pest infestation.

 

[Lokii]

makes sense except shellcreepers and sidesteppers aren't koopa troopas and crabbers

 

[Daikaiju]

makes sense except shellcreepers and sidesteppers aren't koopa troopas and crabbers

Possibly Troopas and others transformed for the mission. We do know Bowser has access to that kind of magic from SMB. Possible it also took him a while to completely undo it, since Koopas walk around on four legs until SMW.

 

[Baudshaw]

Mario isekai is funny but stupid, I prefer Mario but Jesus

He was born through the will of the mushrooms

 

[Baudshaw]

The

Mario isekai is funny but stupid, I prefer Mario but Jesus

He was born through the will of the mushrooms

then again, if the Mario movie is the defining canon, maybe I’m completely wrong

I just don’t want Mario being a New Yorker
(눈_눈)

 

[Becksworth]

Trust the fungus.

 

[Neo Skimbleshanks]

Would never occur to me he was from outside of the Magical Kingdom outside of the movies. Very casual fan. He doesn’t really say a lot (including about how strange this unfamiliar land is…) and obviously he has this kind of stylized Italian accent. But I would never say he was from Italy, I suppose because it never comes up in games - it’s not clear to me that Earth exists in the games - and he’s always from New York in the alternate canon movies. Just my thoughts…

 

[gogglebob]

makes sense except shellcreepers and sidesteppers aren't koopa troopas and crabbers

Well yeah. Mario was so good at Mario Bros., he made the scouting party extinct. Bowser had to start employing his more elite troops by the time Mario was munching super mushrooms.