8 Fun Facts About Super Mario You May Not Know
Mario has been jumping, stomping and collecting coins since 1981. He has starred in more than 200 games, raced karts, played tennis and saved Princess Peach more times than anyone can count, yet some of his best stories happened before he was even called Mario.
So grab a snack and settle in. Here are eight fun facts about Super Mario, counting down from No. 8, that even long-time players may not know.
No. 8: Nintendo started out making playing cards in Kyoto
Long before consoles, Nintendo was founded in Kyoto in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi to make hanafuda, the small, beautifully illustrated Japanese flower cards used for traditional games. The company tried everything from taxis to instant rice over the following decades before finding its future in toys and, eventually, video games.
That Kyoto craftsmanship still shows in the way Japanese brands treat everyday things. Skater, a Japanese lunchware brand from Nara, makes its Super Mario lunch gear for real school days, with stacking boxes that fit neatly into a cooling bag.
→ Take a look at the Super Mario Lunchboxes with Cooling Bag 2.6L
No. 7: Mario was first a carpenter called Jumpman
Mario made his debut in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. The game was set on a construction site, so he was a carpenter, not a plumber, and the development team simply called him Jumpman. He only became a plumber in Mario Bros. in 1983, when the action moved into the pipes beneath New York.
A builder at heart, then. Fitting for a hero who spends so much time knocking blocks into shape.
→ For school projects and craft builds: the UHU Stic Glue Stick 40g, Super Mario Limited Edition
No. 6: His famous look was a pixel problem
Early arcade screens had very few pixels to work with, so Shigeru Miyamoto designed around the limits. A cap meant he did not have to draw or animate hair, eyebrows or a forehead. A big moustache gave Mario an obvious human face without needing a mouth. Overalls in a contrasting colour made his arms easy to see when he moved.
A technical shortcut became one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the world. Now his cap and moustache turn up everywhere, including the lunchbox.
→ See the Super Mario Chopsticks, Fork and Spoon with Case Set
No. 5: Mario is said to be named after a warehouse landlord
The popular story goes that Nintendo of America staff were working out of a rented warehouse near Seattle when their landlord, Mario Segale, arrived to ask about overdue rent. Soon after, Jumpman had a new name. Some former staff say it was more of an in-joke, since few of them had ever met him, but the name stuck either way.
So the most famous name in gaming may have come from a warehouse full of boxes. Speaking of storage, Skater's sealed containers keep snacks, fruit and leftovers tidy in the fridge or the school bag.
→ Meet the Super Mario Sealed Storage Containers, set of 3
No. 4: The Super Mario theme is preserved by the US Library of Congress
You can probably hum it right now. Composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario Bros. in 1985, the bouncy overworld theme was selected for the US National Recording Registry in 2023. It was the first piece of video game music ever chosen, alongside recordings by artists such as Madonna and Mariah Carey.
Here is a handy tip for parents: humming the theme through once or twice is a fun way to keep little ones washing their hands for long enough. A soap dispenser shaped like a Question Block helps too.
→ Take a look at the Super Mario Foam Soap Dispenser, Question Block
No. 3: The bushes are made from the clouds
Look closely at the first level of Super Mario Bros. and the green bushes on the ground share their shapes with the white clouds in the sky. To save precious memory, the team reused pieces of the cloud graphics and simply recoloured them green.
It is a clever bit of 1980s thrift. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it, so next time it rains, look up and see which clouds could be bushes.
→ For grey skies: the Super Mario Wind-Resistant Folding Umbrella
No. 2: Bowser was nearly an ox, and his Japanese name comes from a soup
Miyamoto first imagined the King of the Koopas as an ox, inspired by a character from an old Japanese animated film. Fellow designer Takashi Tezuka pointed out that the drawing looked more like a turtle, and the spiky-shelled Bowser we know was born.
His Japanese name, Kuppa, is said to come from gukbap, a Korean rice soup. Miyamoto reportedly considered naming him after other Korean dishes too, including yakiniku and bibimbap.
Those Koopa shells have been flying across screens ever since. Epoch, the Japanese toy maker, turned them into a two player tabletop game.
→ Meet the Koopa Shell Air Hockey Game
No. 1: Mario has his own day: MAR10
Write March 10 as "Mar10" and it looks a lot like "Mario". Nintendo noticed too, and MAR10 Day is now celebrated by fans around the world every year with game news, special events and plenty of themed parties.
In Australia, March is still warm enough for a Mario picnic at the park. Pack a cold drink and a Mario-shaped ice pack, and you are ready to celebrate.
→ See the Super Mario One Touch Water Bottle 480mL and the Ice Mario Character Coolant
Which Mario Gift?
- For school lunches: the Lunchboxes with Cooling Bag (No. 8) with the Chopsticks, Fork and Spoon Set (No. 6).
- For hot days and sport: the One Touch Water Bottle with the Ice Mario Coolant (No. 1).
- For rainy afternoons: the Koopa Shell Air Hockey Game (No. 2).
- For the bathroom: the Question Block Foam Soap Dispenser (No. 4).
- For a small add-on gift: the Super Mario UHU glue stick (No. 7) or the Ice Mario Coolant.
Super Mario FAQ
Why is Mario called Mario?
The popular story is that Nintendo of America named him after Mario Segale, the landlord of its warehouse near Seattle in the early 1980s. Before that, the character was known as Jumpman.
Was Mario always a plumber?
No. In his first game, Donkey Kong in 1981, Mario was a carpenter working on a construction site. He became a plumber in Mario Bros. in 1983.
What is MAR10 Day?
MAR10 Day is a celebration of Mario held every year on March 10, because "Mar10" looks like the name Mario. Nintendo and fans mark the day with news, events and themed celebrations.
Who composed the Super Mario Bros. theme?
Nintendo composer Koji Kondo wrote the theme for Super Mario Bros. in 1985. In 2023 it became the first video game music selected for the US National Recording Registry.
Bring a little Mario home
Whether your Mario fan is five or fifty, a bit of the Mushroom Kingdom makes lunchtime, rainy days and handwashing a little more fun.
Explore our Super Mario collection, with everything packed in Brisbane and shipped Australia-wide and to New Zealand.
Sources: Nintendo, the US Library of Congress National Recording Registry, and interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto and the original Super Mario Bros. team.
SHOPPUROO™ is a family-owned Brisbane store offering a curated range of authentic Japanese brands and carefully selected lifestyle products.
