Nintendo’s Mario Voice Veteran Charles Martinet Retires After 30 years
In a surprising turn of events, Nintendo announced on Monday that explains Charles Martinet, the iconic voice behind Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, will be stepping down from his roles. Having lent his voice to these beloved characters since 1991, Martinet’s departure marks the end of an era for the Mario franchise.
Renowned as the original voice of Mario from as far back as Super Mario 64, Martinet’s contributions have been immeasurable. His unmistakable vocal talent has graced over 100 titles in the Mario video game series, endearing him to generations of gamers.
Nintendo shared, “Charles Martinet will be stepping back from recording character voices for our games, but he’ll continue to travel the world sharing the joy of Mario.”
We have a message for fans of the Mushroom Kingdom. Please take a look. pic.twitter.com/U1ASicOuTO
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 21, 2023
While fans of the Mushroom Kingdom will undoubtedly feel a pang of nostalgia, Nintendo assures that Martinet’s connection with the Mario universe will persist. Embracing a new role as the “Mario Ambassador,” the specifics of his responsibilities remain a mystery, but the title alone hints at exciting prospects.
This announcement didn’t come out of the blue for dedicated Mario enthusiasts. Martinet’s absence from recent Nintendo Switch game trailers and his cameo role in the recent Super Mario Bros. Movie alongside Chris Pratt has kept fans speculating. The departure, though bittersweet, finally provides closure for the fervent admirers of the franchise.
Nintendo expressed its gratitude, stating, “It has been an honor working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years.”
As a fitting farewell, the company will soon release a video message featuring Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto, the visionary creator of Mario, offering a heartfelt goodbye to an era that has left an indelible mark on gaming history.
