Following the news of Charles Martinet moving away from the voice of Mario, Nintendo shares a special message. Read on to learn what they had to say, and the next Mario title.
Iconic Voice Actor Steps Back from Mario
Transitions to New Role as Mario Ambassador
On August 21, 2023 the world received news that Charles Martinet was effectively retiring from lending his voice to Mario games. Instead, Martinet will transition to the new role of being Mario Ambassador.
With a new Mario game coming out soon, fans were shocked at the news of his absence from the upcoming title, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder.” Everyone flocked to show appreciation for his nearly 30-year career, and celebrated his achievements and voices across countless Mario games.
However, Martinet himself claims he has yet to know what being Mario ambassador actually means. He revealed in a Q&A Panel at Galaxycon Austin 2023 that he doesn’t know much what the role entails for now, but will learn alongside all the fans in the future. He also clarified that he is not retiring from work or voice acting in other roles.
Shigeru Miyamoto and Charles Martinet Give Their Thoughts
Martinet reflects back on his storied career of traveling and meeting Mario fans all over the world. He thanks Nintendo for giving him the privilege of bringing several Mario characters to life, touching people’s hearts and providing smiles and laughter. He cherishes all of his previous experiences, and is deeply honored with the role of Mario Ambassador moving forward.
Shigeru Miyamoto, famed creator of Mario, looks back at the friendship they’ve cultivated while working on Mario projects, with most notably Martinet calling him, “Papa!” in his Mario voice. He thanks Martinet for spreading happiness and joy among fans and assures everyone that he will become an excellent Mario ambassador. He also shared a funny anecdote about how Martinet, being so tall, almost bumped his head on the entrance of a restaurant in Kyoto, which will leave a lasting impression on the legendary game developer.
Lastly, he hopes fans look forward to the new voices in Super Mario Bros. Wonder
this coming October.
Next Stop, Super Mario Bros. Wonder!
With Martinet stepping back, everyone is excited to see and hear the person who will be filling the big shoes of Mario. The wait won’t be long however, as the newest game, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” will be released for the Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023.
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is a big departure from recent Mario titles, being the first title to go back to a traditional 2D side scrolling adventure in almost a decade.
With so many new changes to expect in the future of Mario, excitement is high and many will be clamoring for the new adventure.
