Charles Martinet may well be the nicest man on the face of the planet - we can say that with some degree of confidence having been lucky enough to spend some time in his company in the past - so it's always a pleasure to hear the man behind Mario's voice talk about his career and association with the character.
Martinet has conducted a new interview with Great Big Story, in which he not only talks about how he got the gig, but also covers a little of his career prior to working with Nintendo - and also touches upon what the Mario games mean to him personally.
As you might expect, it's well worth a watch - as is our own video in which Martinet plays Super Mario Maker whilst providing his own sound effects. Sorry for the blatant plug, but it's really good.
Thanks to Chris L for the tip!
[source greatbigstory.com]
Comments (22)
Waaahoooo
A world without Charles is a world I don't wanna think about.
Could you imagine if Charles was a few seconds later to that audition?
Man. The feels! He's the voice behind my childhood on SM64, MK64, and MP1-3!
I've heard the story so many times, but I'll never tire of it.
@Nik-Davies Yeh, Mario would now sound like this:
"Itsa.... (pants).... me..... (pants) Mario - whew!"
Don't forget Mario's screaming when he fell down into bottomless pit "Huaaa...hahahaha....!!! XD
The close-up of his mouth laughing broke me.
He's such a lovely guy, it's his voice which brings Mario to life. But I do often wonder what would happen if he quit and they had to use a sound-alike? That's going to be horrible.
@Honelith
Ouch...then Shigeru Miyamoto has to create another 3D Mario games and shows Mario is sick due to sore throat and explains why Mario's voice suddenly different. XD
He's truly legendary, I don't want to imagine what they'll do with Mario's voice when he has to retire or when he passes away.
His charm is unique.
@Luna_110
Those are my worst worries right there.
Of course, with all due respect for the guy, should anything happen to him we would also be distraught for him, fair enough, but... hopefully Nintendo will go the Bret Iwan route with him, you know?
He sounds like a charming dude. I need to meet him someday.
Charles Martinet gives Mario so much personality! Nintendo should record many voice clips from him before he retires.
Lovely person. He looks like a big kid just like Miyamoto.
Paarthurnax! I greet thee fellow dova.
I still think it is nuts that Mario is a dragon in Skyrim. Bethesda should put a Mario hat on Paarthurnax in the Switch version of Skyrim.
EDIT: Mario brings out the raunchy in him too. He was voicing an "avatar" of Mario at a Gamestop Expo a few years back and he cracked a ton of jokes loaded with innuendo. Nothing outright offensive of course but very odd to hear and "see" Mario say. I didn't get the chance to meet him personally sadly, but he is super chill.
@AlexSora89
Could you explain the "route" you had mentioned here?
@Mario500
When Wayne Allwine passed away, Disney cast Bret Iwan as the next voice of Mickey, with - due to Disney's apparent reluctance to actually put Mickey to good use, akin to Microsoft with Rare IPs - Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep as Iwan's debut. He proved to be a perfect replacement ever since.
Same - although we don't know it yet - for David Tennant as the next Uncle Scrooge for Ducktales 2017.
He always comes off as one of the most genuine, nicest people in the industry.
Usually when I see the people behind the voice it kind of ruins the magic of the characters, but in his case it enhances it! He's just the nicest most down to earth, likeable guy, and kind of behaves in real live the way you picture Mario acting on a regular day in between Bowser invasions. Great video!
Charles Martinet always does a good Mario voice (and the other voices, obviously). Hopefully he stays for quite somewhile (Of course he will).
Yay another Charles video! immediately ignores article and watches video, lol
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