After a 27-year run, Charles Martinet, the iconic voice behind Nintendo’s Mario character, has retired from voicing the beloved plumber. Nintendo announced Martinet’s retirement and his new role as a Mario ambassador on social media. Fans are saddened by the news and Nintendo has yet to reveal the identity of the new voice actor for Mario.
For millions of gamers worldwide, the voice of Nintendo’s iconic, mustachioed plumber character Mario has been synonymous with one man, Charles Martinet. However, the era of Martinet voicing the infectiously enthusiastic character has come to an end after an impressive 27-year run. Nintendo announced this significant change on social media, stating the beloved voice actor is stepping back from the task of voicing Mario but will continue engaging in a new and no less important role, as a “Mario ambassador.”
Joining Nintendo back in 1996, Martinet took the reins as Mario’s voice in the game Super Mario 64. His energetic voicing spans across many games in the Mario series, from beloved characters Luigi and Wario, right through to the recent Super Mario Odyssey. Martinet’s decision to retire from voice acting has saddened fans, who grew fond of his dynamic and iconic portrayals over the years.
Rumour mills started churning earlier when fans detected a different voice for Mario in the promotional materials for the upcoming Nintendo Switch game, Super Mario Bros Wonder. Nintendo later confirmed the suspicions, revealing that Martinet did not voice Mario in the forthcoming video game release. Yet, amidst the sea of speculation, Nintendo remains tight-lipped about the identity of the new voice actor entering the fold.
Martinet’s retirement comes on the back of an eventful year for the Mario franchise, namely the Hollywood outing of Super Mario in an animated blockbuster that saw Chris Pratt voicing Mario. A cameo with Martinets voice can, however, be found tucked away in the film, giving fans, perhaps unknowingly, a kind farewell nod from the long-serving voice actor. With a mammoth box office collection topping $1 billion, the Mario movie’s success has paved the way for an exciting future for the franchise.
Nevertheless, Nintendo assures fans they haven’t heard the last of Martinet, who is eagerly stepping into his ambassador role. Taking on a world tour, he will continue to converse with and inspire Mario fans globally. Moreover, fans can anticipate a heartfelt video message from the face behind Mario and the franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto in the coming days.
Although the iconic voice of Martinet will no longer resonate in Mario’s character, his impact remains cemented in the hearts of the franchise fans. Getting used to a different voice behind the beloved Mario is sure to be a journey of adaptation. Meanwhile, Martinet’s exemplar work in the series will be cherished nostalgically, one gaming adventure at a time.
