Unveiling Charles Martinet’s Unforgettable Farewell Performance as Mario

Highlights

Mario voice actor Charles Martinet is stepping back from the role, marking the end of an era cherished by millions of fans worldwide.

Martinet's farewell as Mario's father in the Super Mario Bros. movie is a poignant and appropriate conclusion, symbolizing the beloved character's journey into a new era. Although Martinet will no longer provide Mario's voice in upcoming games, he will maintain his connection with Nintendo through different roles and fans can anticipate his involvement in other exciting ventures.

Mario voice actor Charles Martinet's final performance is particularly significant considering his decision to step away from the role. Martinet's portrayal of Mario holds a special place in the hearts and memories of countless fans worldwide. However, all good things must come to an end, and Martinet is now transitioning to a different position within Nintendo. Although his last appearance as Mario initially seemed like a playful Easter egg, it now feels fitting.

In 1991, Charles Martinet began his journey as the voice of Mario for Nintendo. Interestingly, he was the final candidate to audition for the role and almost missed the opportunity entirely. Initially, he participated in trade show events, engaging attendees in conversations in Mario's voice through a display. Martinet's first foray into the world of video games was in the 1992 Super Mario Bros. pinball machine, followed by Mario Teaches Typing in 1994. Many fans would undoubtedly recognize his iconic voice from its debut in the 1996 release of Super Mario 64. Since then, Martinet has lent his talents to portray not only Mario but also Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and various other characters in over 100 Nintendo games.

Martinet has made the announcement that he will no longer be the voice actor for Mario, but will take on the role of Mario Ambassador instead. Although he will no longer be recording, he will continue to travel for Nintendo events. It is possible that future projects may still include Martinet's voice for Mario, but currently his final Mario credit is in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where he voiced Mario and Luigi's father. This marks a heartfelt farewell to Martinet and signifies a transition to a new era of Mario.

Nintendo has confirmed that Martinet will not be providing his voice work for the next major Mario game release, Super Mario Wonder. Fans had already suspected that a new voice actor would be taking on the role based on early trailers. The identity of the new voice actor for Mario has not yet been revealed. Despite the change in voice actor, Mario's voice will still be reminiscent of Martinet's previous work.

Martinet has personally commented on the news, taking to Twitter to share his excitement about his new adventure. He expressed his gratitude to his fans, referring to them as number one in his heart. Additionally, there will be a recorded video featuring Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto that will be released online at a later date. Although Martinet will no longer be voicing Mario in future games, he will continue to be involved with Nintendo in various capacities.

Interestingly, Martinet's most recent Mario credit is in the Super Mario Bros. film. However, his last video credit comes as a surprise with Mario + Rabbids Spark of Hope, a tactical game published by Ubisoft. In this project, Martinet provided the voices for both Mario and Luigi. It is worth noting that Martinet will not be giving up voice acting completely, as he is currently involved in other projects such as voicing Magenta for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Although this role is different from Mario, it holds a special significance for him as well.