Style guides exist so that companies can ensure their treasured characters are used consistently through various forms of media - be it video games, TV shows, comic books or cheap lunch boxes produced in far-eastern sweatshops - and Nintendo is no stranger to this process. This recently-unearthed 1993 guide from Nintendo is predictably packed with obsessive information and cool illustrations, all of which serve to detail and document the Japanese's firm's selection of famous faces.
The guide shows exactly what shade of blue Mario's overalls should be (Pantone 293, in case you were wondering) and also indicates the various heights of everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom. Interestingly, all measurements appear to be taken from the tip of Peach's crown - once and for all proving that the oft-kidnapped royal is the centre of that particular universe.
You can view the entire document here, but we couldn't help but end on this page which details the background of everyone's favourite Italian plumber, to be used in "any public performance" of the character. Enjoy.
[source pressthebuttons.com, via kotaku.co.uk]
Comments (31)
Mario is the kindest game character confirmed?
Mario instantly stomps Goombas to death without saying "Hi" or even trying to converse with them and get to understand the whole situation. That whole profile is a lie!
I love that art style.
@BlatantlyHeroic
plays Game Theory videos
In before "bashes his head against blocks" gets intense scrutiny, but there it is, in the NINTENDO style book! XD
Nobody remembers when Mario used to wear red overalls?
@SurferClock I had an outburst reading that. The graphic from Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. clearly shows him using his fists. I also facepalmed with the Brooklyn thing. Seriously? This must be why it spread as far as it did.
@WingedSnagret Skips to end of videos..."But that's just a theory...A Game Theory."
@OneBagTravel Wish they'd bring it back.
So in other words, 100% completion in every Mario game is canon because Mario would want to see what happens.
Accepted.
The small copyright footnote on those pages says 1992 - not 1993.
I'm glad Nintendo Life posted this article. I seen this art on another site and wondered if Nintendo Life was able to create their own article.
"mario is resourceful" is great. what a mind! "mario is tolerant" made me lol. awesome stuff.
Mario the Man.
Short poem by someone in 1992, probably.
Mario is adventurous, Mario is brave.
Mario is curious, Mario is resourceful.
Mario is tolerant, Mario is love.
Brooklyn connection!
How can it not revolve around Peach? She's royalty, possibly the last of the royal bloodline in all of the Mushroom Kingdom! Can't get much more important than that - especially since Nintendo will most likely never make her an actual mother or anything.
@BlatantlyHeroic Death... doesn't really exist in the mushroom kingdom, apparently, so that's up for debate.
What I wouldn't give for someone like Wayforward to make a Mario game with this sort of visual style. So yeah, a 'true' 2D mario that looks like Wario the Shake Dimension.
I'm going to play Shake Dimension now...
@SurferClock I spotted that! I've been pulled up many, many times for suggesting that he uses his head to bash blocks, and I am now vindicated!
@NintyMan The guide has only just been revealed, so this certainly hasn't been revealed before. Obviously the details contained within are fairly well known, though.
What have we learned:
Princess Peach really is the "ruler" of the Mushroom Kingdom.
All of Bowser's minions are not worth being called people.
Mario is loyal, but will sacrifice his companion, Yoshi, for an extra jump...
I remember reading the character and enemy descriptions in the Prima guide for SMW. There was so much personality in the Mario games back then. It's kind of a shame how stagnant the Mario games have gotten in terms of personality these recent years. I wish I could figure out how and why they lost it and how they can get it back.
I am so going to use this in my art references...
I now want Super Mario Bros. Super Show model sheets...
@Rapwned Well duh. If you play the Mario RPG series, he shows mercy to even the bad guys out there.
Little known fact; Magikoopa's favourite word is considered really mean in the UK
@BlatantlyHeroic it's a bit like saying the United States is the kindest country
If Mario is born and raised in brooklyn, why does he speak with an Italian accent?
@BlatantlyHeroic Obviously Mario is also pragmatic.
@WingedSnagret I really don't like Game Theory.
But that's just an opinion....
MY OPINION. THANKS FOR LISTENING.
@Geoffrey maybe he was raised by his Italian parents?
Anyway that's probably old canon made up by NoA, since the games suggest he's from the Mushroom Kingdom and there's no Brooklyn there.
"Mario is loyal"
Uhh, didn't he have like 3 girlfriends?
"He loves his brother Luigi"
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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