Over the years, few video game companies have created as many classic characters as Nintendo. The Japanese game developer's list of gaming icons is an impressive one, including the likes of Link from The Legend of Zelda series and Pikachu from the Pokemon franchise. However, arguably the most popular Nintendo character of all time is Mario from the Super Mario series.
First appearing in Donkey Kong from 1981, there are doubtlessly many factors that have contributed to the incredible popularity of Mario. For example, the character is instantly recognizable due to his eye-catching red and blue overalls and signature cap. Furthermore, the platforming found in many of his mainline adventures is arguably some of the best found in all of gaming. However, one area not to be overlooked is the character's iconic voice performed by Charles Martinet throughout many games in the series. Recently, the voice actor for Mario talked about his time performing as the titular character.
In a recent interview with Retro Gamer, Charles Martinet spoke about many aspects of his time playing Mario in the Super Mario franchise. Among the details learned in the discussion, it was revealed that he has a deep connection to the character. Interestingly, this connection went far beyond work as he even stated that he often dreams as Mario. “These characters for me are always there,” he noted. According to Martinet, these dreams often see him flying over lakes and oceans and have a “Galaxy-Esque” feel to them. Furthermore, he revealed that some of these dreams are even in 2D.
In addition to speaking about his love for Mario, Martinet talked about the varied approach to playing the character. In the interview, he revealed that each time working for Nintendo is different. According to the voice actor, sometimes his dialogue is recorded only a couple of weeks before a game releases, while other times, it could be years before the launch of a title. In addition, he noted that the amount of time spent recording lines varied significantly depending on the project. “I've recorded an hour, and I've recorded 20 hours,” he said. In addition, he stated that one of his favorite projects to work on was Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch due to how "the characters change and switch."
It’s exciting to see voice actors put so much effort into bringing fans the best experience possible. This recent interview with Charles Martinet obviously attests that he is one of those whose work is inextricably connected to their day-to-day lives. Based on recent comments from the voice actor, he wants to continue to voice Mario for as long as he can. Hopefully, for fans of the Super Mario series and Martinet's iconic voice, that means many more games featuring his voice talents in the coming years.
Source: Retro Gamer (via Games Radar)