It’s safe to say that Mario is having a great year! Not only does he have thehighest-grossing film of the yearwithThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(so far), there are more games starring the plumber that are set to be released later this year. Both Nintendo and Illumination have openly bragged about how wonderful it was that they could “finally” bring Mario to the big screen “for the first time in animation form.” While that makes for a memorable statement, the reality is that anyone who tells you that this is the first animated movie featuring Mario is lying to your face.
In all fairness, they may not know they are lying. For the first animated Mario movie has fallen into obscurity, to the point where it could have very well been lost to the sands of time. Thanks to dedicated fans and historians though, more people are discovering the real first animated Mario movie, and the strange history that follows this particular film.
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What is the Mario Anime
Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!is a Japanese-animated film based on the popular video game franchise,Super Mario Bros.The movie was released in 1986 and was produced byTōei Animation(on the same day asRunning Boy: Star Soldier’s Secret, another anime based on a video game that we may discuss in a future article).
The movie deviates from the traditional platforming gameplay of the video game and instead presents a unique and whimsical storyline. Along their journey, Mario and Luigi encounter various obstacles, enemies, and allies, all while displaying their trademark bravery and determination.
What is the Mario Anime About?
InSuper Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!, the storyline follows Mario and Luigi, the beloved plumber brothers, as they embark on a quest to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil King Koopa (AKA:Bowser). The adventure begins when Mario and Luigi receive a distress call from Princess Peach, who has been kidnapped by King Koopa and taken to his castle. Determined to save her, the brothers set off on a journey through the vibrant and whimsical Mushroom Kingdom.
Along the way, they encounter a variety of challenges and obstacles. They navigate treacherous landscapes, face dangerous enemies, and meet new friends, including a mischievous mushroom named Kinoko and a talking dog called Pochi. With their bravery and quick thinking, the brothers overcome each obstacle in their path. As the brothers draw closer to King Koopa’s castle, they discover the extent of his wicked plans. King Koopa intends tomarry Princess Peachand gain control over the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and Luigi must summon all their courage and utilize their unique abilities to outsmart King Koopa and rescue Princess Peach from his clutches.
What is the History of the Production of the Movie?
Made seven years before thelive-action movie would be releasedacross the globe, this animated film was produced by Tōei Animation and released in Japan in 1986. The movie’s production came about during a period when the popularity of theSuper Mario Bros.franchise was rapidly growing, both in Japan and internationally.
The film was created as a tie-in to the Super Mario Bros. franchise, which had gained immense popularity with the release of the original Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985. Nintendo, the company behind the Mario franchise, collaborated with Tōei Animation to produce the animated adaptation.
While the film’s plot and characters drewsomeinspiration from theSuper Mario Bros.video game,The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!takes VERY a departure from the platforming gameplay and presents its own unique story (particularly with the character Prince Haru, who is Princess Peach’s love interest)! The animation style and storytelling of the film differ from the traditional video game format, giving it a distinctive look and feel (even Luigi’s cosume is off-color from the games). Despite not gaining as much recognition outside of Japan, the film was one of the first attempts to capitalize on the popularity of theSuper Mario Bros.franchise and provide fans with an animated adventure featuring their beloved characters.
What is the Legacy of the Film?
Despite being the first real adaptation of the Mario character, the legacy of the film is that it is still largely unknown to most fans. While the movie has some fans in Japan from kids who grew up with it, the film never made it out of the country and even lacks a DVD or BluRay release. Dedicated Nintendo fans have tracked down the original 16mm prints of the film and have given it a 4K restoration, however, this release was not authorized nor had any input from Nintendo, who to this day hasrarely acknowledgedthe movie.
As a result, it’s hard to determine if there was any interest in bringing the film to America (or if it was even an option in the first place). Americawouldget their own animated Mario cartoon in the form of theSuper Mario Bros. Super ShowfromDiC Entertainmentand then the infamous live-action film would be released to much scorn. This year Nintendo and Illumination have a major hit withThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, and from everything that is being said, the two companies plan to move forward and do more collaborations with each other.
That means the chances ofSuper Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!receiving a new official release of any kind (in any country) going forward is not extremely high. It appears as though both Nintendo and Toei have moved on. Hopefully, fans will keep the film in the public eye so that any future Mario fans who want to view this unique piece of video game history will have the chance to do so.
