List of references in animated television
Template:MoreImages Template:Articleabout The following is an alphabetical list of Mario-related sightings and references in animated/anime television shows and movies.
American Dad!
Episode 58: "Spring Breakup" (originally aired May 18, 2008)
At Roger's spring break party, there is a brief scene involving a gorilla that resembles Donkey Kong, who is standing atop a mountain of beer kegs. The gorilla proceeds to toss a keg down to two frat boys in a similar manner to Donkey Kong throwing a barrel from the original Donkey Kong game.
S06E14: School Lies (originally aired April 10, 2011)
Mario, along with other video game characters such as Pac Man and Sonic, appears in a poster in an arcade door.
Arthur
In the "A Word from Us Kids" segment for the episode "Arthur's Dummy Disaster", a certain child has a dummy which he calls "Mario". He describes the dummy, which is quite obviously a crudely drawn Mario, as being very athletic.
Also, the episode "Meek for a Week" features a heart-shaped watch known as the "Princess Peach Watch". Despite its name, though, it has nothing to do with Princess Toadstool; the names of the watch and princess may be coincidental.
In the TV special "Arthur's Perfect Christmas", Muffy, during a line in a song, describes that presents mean nothing if her friend Francine isn't by her side. As she sang this, Francine appears in a Mario outfit, at the end of a level, and is hit by a bunch of rolling Barrels.
Batman: The Animated Series
The episode "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?" features the computer game Riddle of the Minotaur, a game designed by Edward Nygma, a.k.a. The Riddler. When Dick Grayson (a.k.a. Robin) plays Riddle of the Minotaur on the computer, the sound effects used in the game are taken directly from the NES version of Super Mario Bros.
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
In the episode, "The Map of Infinity", one of the heads on the two-headed dragon in the temple makes a Bowser roar.
Chowder
In the episode Chowder and Mr. Fugu, Chowder tries to find a place where he and Mr. Fugu can find food for themselves without Mr. Fugu eating his. He finally stops at a place where "every dish is different". The two men that take Chowder's order greatly resemble Mario and Luigi, though they only appear on-screen for seconds.
In the episode "Sniffleball", Chowder must run 14 bases in a game of sniffleball so that he can leave the game. One of the bases features him, Gorgonzola, and Panini in an area that resembles a castle in Super Mario Bros. Chowder jumps on Gorgonzola's head and into a Warp Pipe, and Gazpacho declares him "safe". The scene is even in 8 bit. In addition, a song similar to the underground theme plays.
In the episode "Big Ball", Chowder and Mung Daal joined Team Macadamia when Truffles became coach to Team Goulash to win the game. In some scenes of the episode, Chowder's Macadamia cap looks similar to Mario's cap. There is even a Bowser look-alike at the end that says "game over".
In the special pop-up commentary episode of "Stinky Love" it says the costumer is based off of Mario.
In the episode "The Garden", there's a Piranha Plant that swallows Chowder.
Class of 3000
In the episode Funky Monkey, a gorilla escapes from the class and takes refuge at the top of a construction site. Li'l D climbs the platforms to reach him, and the gorilla throws barrels at him in the process like in Donkey Kong. Li'l D even uses a large mallet to knock the barrels away.
The Critic
Episode S2E08: "Frankie and Ellie Get Lost (originally aired May 7, 1995)
While Franklin is driving to the airport, he starts halucinating, and imagines that he is in a video game with a gorilla tossing barrels at him. The car horn doubles as the jump button, rewarding Franklin with points for each jump he makes.
Darkwing Duck
Episode 84: "The Frequency Fiends" (originally aired Oct. 17, 1992)
During the climax of the episode, Darkwing, Launchpad, Gosalyn and Megavolt build a life-sized level of the video game Son of Whiffle World to distract the Frequency Fiends (energy-based clones of Gosalyn). Although the Whiffle Boy series is more of a spoof of the Mega Man series, the level had a similar design to the first level of Donkey Kong. Darkwing, dressed as Whiffle Boy, had to leap over drums thrown down from the top level by Launchpad in order to rescue Gosalyn, who was dressed like a princess.
Dexter's Laboratory
Episode 55A: "Copping an Aptitude"
In one scene, Dexter is studying while three college students are playing Mario Kart 64. The girl says, "Ha! Eat my dust, Toad!" The boy says, "Oh yeah? Well here comes the leader shell!" The second boy then says, "Here's Lightning for both of you!" As the scene ends, Dexter tells the three to shut up, and the sound that plays when a player completes a lap can be heard.
DuckTales
Episode 61: "Once Upon a Dime" (originally aired Dec. 24, 1987)
Near the beginning of the episode, Huey, Dewey and Louie try to convince Scrooge that they have a lucky quarter of their own in contrast to Scrooge's lucky dime. Huey goes on to tell Scrooge that they won six rounds of a game called Ducky Kong with it, and that the arcade machine gave them back their quarter every time.
El Chavo (animated series)
In the episode "Un Buen Recado" (American title/meaning: "A Good Message" ), El Chavo, Quico and Ñoño ("Junior" in the Engilsh verison) can be seen inside Quico's house playing a parody of Super Mario Bros. where Chavo is Mario, Quico is Luigi, and (presumably) Ñoño is Wario. In addition, the game pads they use are identical to the NES controllers. Though the gameplay and background of the game are that of Super Mario Bros., the status that is seen on the screen, as well as the box for saving items, is a reference to Super Mario World. In the game, El Chavo, Quico, and Ñoño are all displayed as themselves with a mustache (and Ñoño with a cap resenbing Wario) instead of being portrayed as Mario characters. Señor Barriga ("Mr. Beliarge" in the English version) is also represented as Goombas in the game. When Ñoño reaches the flagpole at the end of the level, he inadvertently causes it fall due to his weight.
El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera
In the El Tigre episode "Mother of All Tigres", at the end, they show two plumbers who look very much like Mario and Luigi, both with M's on their hats. The Luigi look-alike shouts "It's the zombie plumbers", which might be Wario and Waluigi, since one of them has a W on his hat.
The Fairly OddParents
"Fairy Fairy Quite Contrary" (originally aired Sep. 13, 2002)
In this episode, Timmy challenges his rival, Remy Buxaplenty, to a fairy duel. In the first portion of the duel, the fairies must save their respective godchildren from a gorilla, who throws barrels down girders at them à la Donkey Kong.
In another episode "Odd Ball", The Power Up sound is used at one point. First aired on October 10, 2003
The Nintendo GameCube and its competitor, the Xbox, are parodied in this episode as the [V-Cube http://fairlyoddparents.wikia.com/wiki/V-Cube.]
Fish Hooks
In the episode "Fish Out of Water," Oscar and Bea become trapped under a cabinet by a large cat. It is at this point that Oscar tells Bea that he is a "plumber" and she is a "princess." He goes on to say that their situation is like being in a giant videogame where the plumber is trying to get to the princess, but a "giant monkey" always gets in the way by throwing barrels. This is most likely a reference to the relationship between Mario and Princess Peach, as she is usually kidnapped by Bowser (or another villain), and Mario must travel through multiple levels to save her. In addition, the part about the giant monkey throwing barrels could be a reference to Donkey Kong.
In the beginning of the episode "Doggonit," Oscar is seen playing a videogame that involves a yellow character in red overalls jumping across obstacles and fending off a turtle with a saw. The character bears a striking resemblance to 8-Bit Mario from Super Mario Bros., and the turtle looks a lot like a Shellcreeper. Oscar says the game he is playing is called "Kooky Carpenter Cousins," which seems to be a reference to Mario and Luigi, if one understands the "Carpenter Cousins" part to parody the fact that Mario and Luigi are brothers as well as plumbers.
In the episode "Underwater Boy," Oscar's video game makes sound effects from the Donkey Kong game on the Atari 2600 (mostly the walking, victory, and jumping noise).
Foofur
The name of the dog catching company in the series is called Bowser Busters. Interesting enough, the show debuted a year after Bowser's video game debut.
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
"The Buck Swaps Here" (originally aired May 18, 2007)
In the episode, there are two men carrying a large mirror - one is tall in green overalls and a blue shirt, the other short and plump with red overalls and a blue shirt. This makes the two resemble the Mario Brothers. Also, when attacking the robber, they shout with Italian accents.
"Destination Imagination" (originally aired November 27th, 2008)
The foster gang enters a game very similar to Super Mario Bros. with Snails replacing the Koopa Troopa and Garlic replacing Mushrooms, which is a Wario reference.
Futurama
Episode 1ACV01: "Space Pilot 3000" (originally aired Mar. 28, 1999)
At the very beginning of the series' premiere episode, a spaceship is seen flying through space, with Fry providing a voiceover. It is then revealed to the audience that Fry is actually playing an Asteroids-style arcade game, just as he encounters a gorilla similar to Donkey Kong, except with overalls. Although Fry attempts to blast the gorilla with lasers, the gorilla throws barrels at the spaceship, causing Fry to lose. A later shot of arcade cabinet then reveals that the game is entitled Monkey Fracas Jr., probably as a throwback to Donkey Kong Jr..
Episode 2ACV09: "A Bicyclops Built for Two" (originally aired Mar. 19, 2000)
A Donkey Kong-esque character appears behind a pile of crates and is subsequently blasted by Fry while playing a virtual reality video game; additionally, Fry makes the same noise Mario does when he jumps in this episode.
Episode 3ACV18: "Anthology of Interest II" (originally aired Jan. 6, 2002)
This episode centers on the show's various characters using the Professor's "What If?" machine to show them various alternate realities. In the second act of the episode, Fry wants to know what life would be like if it was more like a video game. The machine shows a world where Earth goes to war with the Planet Nintendu 64.
At the start of the scenario, President Nixon is signing a peace treaty with Donkey Kong, who is the Nintendian ambassador to Earth. The Planet Express crew watches on TV, leading to a mild argument between Fry and Professor Farnsworth about Donkey Kong.
Fry: Wait a second. I know that monkey. His name is "Donkey"!
Prof. Farnsworth: Monkeys aren't donkeys! Quit messing with my head!
DK turns on Nixon, however, and Mario, who is part of the Earth U.N. (for Italy), expresses fear: "Mamma mia! The cruel meatball of war has-a rolled onto our laps, and-a ruined our white pants of peace."
Donkey Kong then stomps atop the United Nations building, slanting the ledges across the side of the building diagonally, similar to the girders in the first level of the original Donkey Kong game.
Later on in the episode, the characters exit a Pac-Man-inspired maze through a Warp Pipe.
Towards the end of the episode, Donkey Kong demands for the citizens of Earth to hand over a million dollars in quarters over to the Nintendians. Lrrr then explains that the Nintendians need the quarters to do their laundry, and implies that Donkey Kong's loincloth needs washing.
The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings (aired August 10, 2003)
A kid used a holophoner (an instrument that when played, creates holograms) and plays "a stranger in the night". In the hologram, a man plays a piano, and stairs appear, and the man and a woman climb them. A barrel rolls down and the woman jumps over it, the number 100 appears and the "jumping over a barrel" sound effect from Donkey Kong plays. The man then also jumps over the barrel to the same effect.
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (released June 24, 2008)
A Honkey Kong cabinet (a reference to Donkey Kong) can be seen at the arcade Fry visits.
Later on, the sound effect of Mario being defeated in Donkey Kong can be heard when a ship is destroyed by Yivo.
Futurama: Bender's Game (released November 4, 2008)
During the opening sequence, a pixelated Bender can be seen beating his chest in the same manner as the original Donkey Kong.
Rebirth (aired June 24, 2010)
When the Planet Express ship is under attack towards the start of the episode, Fry picks up an NES controller and exclaims "We've lost power of the forward Game Boy! Mario not responding!". As Fry fiddles with the controller, sound effects from Donkey Kong can be heard.
Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences (aired August 26, 2010)
The host of the costume contest is dressed up as Mario.
Law and Oracle (aired July 7, 2011)
At the beginning of the episode, Fry is playing a Paper Boy-themed video game. One of the obstacles in the game is a barrel-tossing gorilla.
Reincarnation (aired September 8, 2011)
The second segment of the episode, "Future Challenge 3000", is portrayed as an 8-bit video game. During one scene, a depressed Professor Farnsworth can be seen leaping over barrels in a Super Mario Bros.-inspired setting. Sound effects from Donkey Kong can also be heard at certain points as well.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
"Bearded Billy"
Mandy says "My method is on like Donkey Kong!".
"Billy and Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure"
The Warp Pipe sound effect is used at one point.
Go Go Moba Boy
In Episode 1, where Moba Boy is fighting a mechanical rabbit, it spits out a egg which resembles Yoshi's.
Haré+Guu
In one episode, Haré is seen in a world of Video-Game parodies. He is punched up, and is sent flying through the air. Sonic the Hedgehog jumps out, hits his head, which sends him flying down, only to be punched to the side by a Mario figure.
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
In the episode "Kitty Kontest", Kaz enters Ami and Yumi's cats, Jang Keng and Tekirai, in a dog show. He nicknames Jang Keng "Bowser" in an attempt to sneak into the show.
Histeria!
Episode #43: "Communuts!" (originally aired May 8, 1999)
One sketch in this episode centers on Joseph Stalin speaking with his agent (played by Chit Chatterson). At the beginning, when the secretary asks if he has an appointment, Stalin demands, "Do you know who I am?!" The secretary replies, "Well, you look a little like that Super Mario guy."
Kappa Mikey
In the episode "Ship of Fools", the LilyMu company gets their own game which is a spoof of the game Donkey Kong. In it, Gonard is Donkey Kong, Lily is Pauline and Mikey is Mario.
Keroro Gunsou
Episode #126: "Keroro & Natsumi, Who's the real hero?"
To demonstrate a new "Reality-avoiding" device, Kululu and Saburo transported themselves into a Mario-esque game. It should be noted that various elements from Super Mario Bros. are used, including various bricks, a ? Block, a Warp Pipe, a Poison Mushroom look-alike, and a Bullet Bill knock-off. Also to note is that Kululu is dressed as Mario (Albeit with a different hat and slightly edited overalls) and that Saburo is dressed as Luigi (Again, with the differences listed previously.)
Kika and Bob
In the episode "New York", when Kika and Bob take off in a helicopter, Luigi can be seen fixing it, and told them that he's not done yet.
The Legend of Zelda
"Doppelganger" (originally aired Oct. 20, 1989)
Near the beginning of the episode, Link can be heard whistling the Mario theme.
Lucky Star
In the episode "That Feeling", during the next episode preview, Konata makes a reference to a well-known cheat from Super Mario Bros..
MAD
In the beginning of the theme song, a character that resembles Mario walks across the screen. Also, in the series' third episode, a made-up character called Fabricio who likes to make pizzas is called Mario and Luigi's other brother. A Koopa can also be seen in this scene, crashing down on his head. In addition, during the Grey's in Anime skit, a 1-Up Mushroom can be seen in the background of one scene, also in the seventh episode there is a sketch where two Goombas are walking between two Warp Pipes, until one is stomped by Mario.
Later, during "Mad's Guide to Video Game Cheats", a cheat was shown that could make Mario hail a cab during New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Later, there was a Donkey Strong skit where Donkey Kong sold a DVD on how to gain muscles. When at the school in this part, the chalkboard reads, "Sorry, Mario. Your princess is in another castle."
In "Gaming's Next Top Model", among the models were Princess Peach, Zelda/Sheik, Samus (who later turns into Zero Suit Samus), and Birdo. Mario was one of the judges, Bowser, Ganondorf and Ridley appeared to help the models "get in touch with their bad side" and Lakitu was the photographer.
In "ArThor", Mario and Donkey Kong are eating lunch when ArThor asks them if he can borrow a hammer. He then proceeds through an area resembling 25m from Donkey Kong to save Jane Foster. In "Super 80's", Donkey Kong with Mario on his back grabs J. J. Abrams and starts to hammer him making beeping sounds.
In "Minute to Flynn It", the fake Flynn's head turn into Mario's and then into Link's. In "ThunderLOLcats", Luigi's sprite in the MS-DOS version of Mario is Missing! was one of the memes attacking the kingdom of Thundera and Mario's face can be seen in the background of the internet world.
In "Grey's in Anime", a guy dressed like Wario, appeared along with a 1-Up Mushroom in the Dancing Scene. In "The Celebrity Ape-rentice", Donkey Kong appeared as one of the contestants with Mojo Jojo (The Powerpuff Girls) and Caesar (Rise of the Planet of the Apes ).
"Koopa Soup" is a segment in MAD that has Bowser making soup in Koopa shells. Also, Mario appears at the end, stepping in the soup by accident.
Megas XLR
Episode 18: Thanksgiving Throwdown (First aired: Saturday November 27, 2004)
The "Fabio Brothers" in this episode are very similar to the known Mario Brothers. In this episode there are other allusions to other fictional characters as Sonic the Hedgehog.
Monica's Gang (Turma da Mônica)
In the episode O Detective, Jimmy Five and Clotilde pass in a ladder, making it fall down and a man painting a house get suspended in a window. This man uses a red and blue cap, red overalls and blue shirt. This man also had a mustache. This remembers the old Mario's color palette, besides his Portuguese voice is similar to Mario's.
Mr. Men and Little Miss
Mr. Brave Vs Koko the Gorilla
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The Mr. Men Show
- In the "Cars" Episode" Mr. Nervous and Little Miss Scary have a car race in Mario Kart style. The go-karts look similar to the karts in Mario Kart DS. It is later shown that they are actually using Toy Cars.
- In the "Game Shows" episode, a box that resembles a Question Block is seen in the "What's In the Box?" game show.
Muppet Babies
Episode 85: It's Only Pretendo (Originally aired December 2, 1989)
Throughout the entire episode, the babies play several "Pretendo" video games, and imagine themselves as characters in them. During the first part of the episode, Gonzo pretends to be "Super Bario Weirdo" in a Donkey Kong-style game, which has a dragon named King Copacabana in place of Cranky Kong throwing green balls in place of barrels. He then imagines himself in an area similar to the game's third level, where he hops across moving platforms to reach a cupcake. Gonzo then finds himself back in the first level, where Piggy has taken the place of the King Copacabana, although she's actually just disconnected the system in reality.
Piggy then attempts to play Donkey Kong Jr., but fails miserably. Going back to the original Donkey Kong, Piggy pretends to be a "Baby Mutant Ninja Piggy", scares off the real Mario, climbs up to King Copacabana and defeats him.
After Piggy's play session, Gonzo goes through his Pretendo cartridges, three of which are titled Super Bario Bros., Son of Super Bario Bros. and Second Cousin of Super Bario Bros..
A little later, Gonzo and Piggy imagine themselves in a The Legend of Zelda-inspired game entitled The Legend of Emelda: The Quest for the Golden Key. Strangely enough, the music that plays at the start sounds very similar to the cavern music from Super Mario Bros. 2.
In addition to spoofing the games, actual footage of the games themselves is shown briefly.
My Life As a Teenage Robot
Two mustachioed, Italian brothers dressed in red and green clothing similar to that of Mario and Luigi, are recurring villains on the show. Additionally, they are named "the Mad Hammer Brothers."
Phineas and Ferb
In the episode "It's About Time", Candace says, "Where are we going to find electricity in Dinosaur Land". A reference to Super Mario World.
In the episode "Gaming the System", the Mario jump noise is remade and heard a few times. The noise is heard again in "Brain Drain" as well as the jump sound effect from Mario Bros.. The Mario coin noise is also in "Gaming the System." In the beginning of the episode, Buford is wearing a red shirt and blue shorts. Also in "Gaming the System", the skeleton fish underwater slightly resemble Fishbones.
Also, in the episode "Tree to Get Ready" Candace and Stacy are playing a Punch-Out! parody on a Famicom.
In "Perry Lays an Egg" a Donkey Kong toy is seen at exactly ten minutes and fifteen seconds into the episode.
Pink Panther and Pals
In the episode "Pinxillated", one of the arcade games involves The Pink Panther (replacing Mario) jumping over barrels thrown by an ape (Inspector Clouseau) to reach the top. This is a reference to the game, Donkey Kong. In the same episode, also appeared a parody of Street Fighter and Pac-Man.
The Powerpuff Girls
In the episode "The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!", one of the scenes contain the girls and a professor in a kart-like buggy, and they then fire a Green Shell at the villains up front in a parody of Mario Kart.
Pucca
In episode named Funny Love Eruption, Garu is traveling to the volcano trying to calm it. At one point, he jumps on several crocodiles, and writings as: 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and a 1-Up even appear.
The Ren and Stimpy Show
Episode 1: Stimpy's Big Day / The Big Shot
This episode begins with a fake commercial, showcasing a boy who is offered a bicycle, which he rejects. The boy is then offered a video game, which he also rejects. But when "Log" is offered to the boy, he graciously accepts. The video game, although only a still shot of it is shown for a few seconds, clearly resembles Super Mario Bros.
Rugrats
In one episode, Tommy, Chuckie, and Kimmy dodge dragon eggs Donkey Kong style.
Robot Chicken
On a certain episode of Robot Chicken, called "Halo Kong", they show Spartans from the Halo series going into Donkey Kong. They kill Mario by breaking his neck and they kill Donkey Kong by setting off a mine near Donkey Kong. The Spartans then rescue Pauline.
One of the segments featured a parody of the "Fast and the Furious" movie trilogy. Competing in the segments street race are Mario, Luigi and Wario along with several other pop-culture icons. Despite cheating by using the "blue tortoise shell" of the Mario Kart series, the bros. and Wario still lose. Additionally, Yoshi can be seen in the background during part of the race.
A "bloopers" segment in the episode "Massage Chair" had people attempting stunts similar to those featured on MTV's "Jackass". One clip had a fight with people dressed as Donkey Kong and Mario.
Another segment features Mario and Luigi going on a series of misadventures in Vice City, which is among the ones featured prominently in the Grand Theft Auto video game series (though the setting resembles more Liberty City from GTA III, GTA: Liberty City Stories and GTA IV). After committing several crimes such as animal abuse (killing a turtle thought to be a Koopa Troopa), destruction of property, hit and run and possession of illegal substance (originally thought it was a Mushroom), Luigi ends up being killed by being shot multiple times by the police because he is holding a wrench and Mario gets blown up by the military, after going on a fit of rage to the sight of his dead brother (he kills some soldiers before being shot to death while yelling "You'll never take me alive, you mother--"). It is to be noticed that, as the brothers rampage through the city, their wanted level rises to five stars, while in Grand Theft Auto the maximum wanted level is actually six stars.
The short ends with Yoshi going down the same road the bros. did but instead going left at the fork in the road. He ends up in Raccoon City, the setting of various Resident Evil games after exclaiming, "Raccoon City sounds lovely!" (in addition, the sign that says "Raccoon City" also has the words "Residents Evil" underneath it). While driving through the destroyed city, Yoshi ends up being decapitated by several zombies.
Toad appeared in the Robot Chicken sketch called "I'm the Best" in the episode, "Due to Constraints of Time and Budget". In the sketch, Toad appears as the getaway driver for a group of robbers following a bank heist and had outrun the cops using his own kart from the Mario Kart series. During the chase, Toad used many items from the Mario Kart games as well including Banana Peels, Koopa Shells, Stars and even the Golden Mushroom. The items were easily accessed as he just had to press buttons in his kart. However he and the robbers were sent over a cliff once one panicking robber pressed the blue shell button which soon hits them. The scene is based off of the beginning scene from the movie Transporter. The setting at the end seems to be Yoshi Valley, as Toad mentions that the police wouldn't be able to find or catch up to them there.
It can be noted that "I'm the best!" is one of Toad's quotes from Mario Kart 64.
Another segment features Mario meeting Princess Peach's parents. After Mario eats some mushroom soup, he sneezes and turns into Super Mario. Mario accidentally knocks a flower pot which turns him into Fire Mario and then he sneezes fireballs. Mario sneezes again causing a Green Shell to rebound from three Question Blocks and Princess Peach's Castle begins to collapse.
Princess Peach appears in a musical at the end of the episode, "Fool's Goldfinger".
Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated
In the episode Dead Justice, the Ghost of Dead Justice shoots bullets that resemble Banzai Bills. Drawings of the bullets, done by Deputy Bucky, resemble Banzai Bills even more.
Secret Mountain Fort Awesome
In one episode, Festro and the Fart race on a racetrack that is very similar to SNES Rainbow Road. Festro even calls it the Rainbow Racetrack. Another character, Dingle, rode on a rocket and used a fishing line to grab the Fart when he fell off the course, in a similar manner to Lakitu.
Seth McFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy
Seth McFarlane, famous for creating American Dad and Family Guy, has made a series of internet cartoons called "Seth McFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy", which first episode had a spoof of Super Mario. In this animated short, Mario confronts Bowser on a bridge over lava in his castle à la Super Mario Bros. After leaping over Bowser, Mario removes the axe, causing the Koopa King to plunge into the lava, and he runs over to where Princess Toadstool is waiting. The Princess thanks Mario for rescuing her, but rejects his offer for a kiss, as they just met, and that she doesn't want to make out with him. Mario explains that he merely wants a kiss as opposed to sex, and questions the Princess as to what he went through to reach her. The Princess concludes that Mario merely leapt a bunch of mushrooms (Goombas), and Mario argues that she was pathetic enough to get kidnapped by mushrooms in the first place. After Mario bickers about more aspects of his adventure, the Princess still refuses to kiss him. Mario then calls for Bowser (whom he refers to as "Dragon") to keep the Princess. Upon hearing this, Bowser leaps out from the lava, grabs the Princess and bites her head off.
The Simpsons
Episode 3F07: "Marge Be Not Proud" (originally aired Dec. 17, 1995)
In this episode, Bart wants the new extremely violent video game Bonestorm, but is having trouble getting it. After Jimbo and Nelson brag to him about their shoplifting, Bart observes that the display case housing Bonestorm has been left open. As he contemplates stealing the game, some video game characters pop up in his mind, the Mario Bros., Donkey Kong and Sonic among them.
- Luigi: Go ahead-a, Bart, take-a the Bonestorm.
- Mario: The store, she's so rich. She'll-a never notice.
- Donkey Kong: Duh, it's the company's fault for making you want it so much.
- Lee Carvallo: Don't do it son. How's that game going to help your putting?
- Sonic: Just take it! Takeittakeittakeittakeittakeit TAKE IT!
Notably, in this cameo Mario and Luigi's heights are switched.
Episode 3G01: "The Springfield Files" (originally aired Jan. 12, 1997)
At the Noiseland arcade, Donkey Kong is shown sitting under a banner declaring that on Friday he can be met in person, but no one seems to be coming to see him. The Manager walks by and says, "Sorry Donkey Kong, you're just not a draw anymore." DK responds by throwing a barrel at him, to which he replies, "Hey, he's still got it!"
Episode HABF20: "Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em"
An arcade machine depicting what appears to be the first level of Donkey Kong can be seen in the background of the arcade Bart enters at the beginning of the episode. Additionally, when Marge and Homer are in their carpentry clothing, Marge wears overalls and a green shirt while Homer wears overalls and a red shirt, the respective colors of Luigi and Mario.
Episode GABF02: "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" (originally aired Feb. 6, 2005)
Shortly after Homer's showboating makes him a laughingstock, a bus full of Italian-Americans shows up in front of the house while he's taking out the trash. Mario comes out of the crowd, stands next to Homer, and says, "Fast-a, fast-a, take-a my picture with-a the Internet marmalok!" Homer then starts throwing trash cans at him in the style of Donkey Kong until he finally knocks him out.
Episode GABF09: "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star" (originally aired May 15, 2005)
At the beginning of the episode, when Skinner is introducing the school play, he says, "Now kids, since the Middle Ages had no compact discs or Super Mario Men..."
Episode MABF01: "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" (originally aired December 13, 2009)
During Bart's dream about Bro-Town, Mario & Luigi are among the brothers he sees, where they jump into a pipe, hit a block and chase after the mushroom that pops out of it.
The Smurfs
In the episode "Kow-Tow, We Won't Bow" from season 5 of The Smurfs, when Smurfette calls for help, the scene switches to Puppy who is seen growling at a plant that greatly resembles a Piranha Plant.
South Park
Episode 1110: Imaginationland (originally aired Oct. 17, 2007)
In several shots, a character resembling Mario, except with an "E" on his hat, can be seen among the residents of Imaginationland.
Episode 1111: Imaginationland Episode II (originally aired Oct. 24, 2007)
In several shots, a character strongly resembling Wario, except with a "V" on his hat, can be seen among the evil residents of Imaginationland.
Episode 1112: Imaginationland Episode III (originally aired Oct. 31, 2007)
In several shots, Mario, Wario, and a green Bowser can be seen among the residents of Imaginationland.
Episode 1503: Royal Pudding (originally aired May 11, 2011)
At the Canadian Royal Wedding in this episode, the Princess of Canada is taken by a monster, which may be a reference to Bowser kidnapping Peach all the time. Also when the princess is taken, the reporter comments that "The little mushroom people of Nova Scotia" are screaming with horror. The mushroom people somewhat resemble Toads.
Spider-Man
In one episode of the new animated Spider-Man TV show, the viewer could see a person playing what seemed to be a handheld video game. While he was playing, the viewer could hear both the Mario jump sound and coin collect sound from Super Mario Bros. on the NES.
Spliced!
Octocataclysm
When Princess Pony Apehands in her collar takes Octocat to the top of a construction site, Mr. Smarty Smarts makes his way up with barrels being thrown at him as a reference to Donkey Kong.
SpongeBob SquarePants
Atlantis Squarepantis
In the part when Sandy Cheeks is in a videogame, she goes down a Warp Pipe and into a room that has the same frame and background as the used during game play of Dr. Mario. Also, she kills bacteria by stomping them, when she does so, the Jump sound is used. When the gang is rescued, the losing theme from Donkey Kong plays. Finally, when SpongeBob, Squidward, and Patrick get kidnapped by a large virus, they shout, "HELP!", which appears on the screen. It is the same style as when Pauline shouts "HELP!" in Donkey Kong.
Also, the King throws Squidward into a painting, a reference to Super Mario 64.
Squidbillies
In one episode, before Early sends his son Rusty off to Japan, he tells him to say "hi" to Mario and "all his Mushroom Buddies" for him.
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!
Episode 40: "Galactic Smash: Space Attack (Part 1)" (originally aired Sep. 8, 2007)
At one point, Otto gets a hologram and turns Chiro into Mario from Super Mario Bros., Link from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward
In the episode "The Gaminator," Michelangelo comments that a certain videogame he and the other turtles are sucked into is the greatest platformer since Super Fabio Bros., a clear parody of Super Mario Bros.
Tiny Toon Adventures
Episode W-165: K-ACME TV
Halfway through this episode, a fake commercial plays, advertising "the brand new hit video game, Super Plucky-o Bros.!" The game parody features Plucky-o and his brother Linguini (two Plucky Ducks) being guided through Fungoworld, where they must rescue Princess Loon (Shirley the Loon) from the Toadstool Tower by picking a magic kumquat from a tree. Linguini tries to do so, but is then chased away from said tree by the Dizzy Doofus (Dizzy Devil), and then Pluckyo eludes various enemies larger than himself, until finally he finds "The Giant Nyah Nyah of Power" (a magic egg) that turns him into an invincible giant who defeats the enemies and plucks Loon from the tower. The game then ends, and we find Plucky playing it in an arcade. "It's more than a game, it's an obsession!" he says, right before a set of false teeth come out of the game and begin chasing him around as the segment ends.
Total Drama Revenge of the Island
Bigger! Badder! Brutal-er!
While the contestants were being warned about the wildlife, a roar that sounds like Bowser's from Mario Kart 64 can be heard coming from one of the mutated animals.
Runaway Model
At one point in the episode, Sam, who is suffering from game withdrawal, imagines himself as an 8-Bit character. Later, Sam is seen running up the construction site to save Lindsay while Sasquatchanakwa throws barrels at him. At one point, Sam grabs a hammer and starts to destroy the barrels, an obvious reference to the original Donkey Kong arcade game. He ultimately fails, and Brick exclaims "Game over" to him afterwards.
Transformers Animated
The Autobot characters Huffer and Pipes are designed to look like Mario and Luigi, respectively.
Yin Yang Yo!
Episode 122: Attack of the Vidiots/Fit to be Tried
In the "Attack of the Vidiots" segment, Yang is sucked into his video game by The Lesson, which forces him to play endlessly (or, at least, until he has learned how bad it is to play too much videogames). At a certain point, when Yang saves the princess, she says "Thank you, but the real princess is in another castle", in the same fashion of the Toads up until World 7-4 in Super Mario Bros..
Sound Effects Heard in Animation/Cartoons
Sound effects from Mario games are also fairly common in modern animated series, particularly those with scenes that involve arcades, video game systems, or computers. Here is a list of animated TV shows where Mario sound effects can be heard (listed in alphabetical order).
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (In the episode "Birth of a $ale$man", the Super Mario Bros coin block sound is heard numerous times.)
- Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
- American Dragon: Jake Long
- Back to the Future: The Animated Series (Sound effects from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World are used throughout the episode "Bravelord and the Demon Monstrux", which features an arcade game).
- Batman: The Animated Series (used as sound effects for the "Maze of the Minotaur" game)
- Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
- Danny Phantom (The Mushroom sound effect has been used during "Teacher of the Year" and "Micro-Management")
- Dave the Barbarian (as well as the "Barrier" sound from Sonic)
- Dexter's Laboratory
- Dino Squad (In the episode "The Lost Worldwide Web" one of the team members plays an online game using a few sound effects from the Mario games, most noticeably the Mushroom one).
- Drake & Josh (In the episode: "The Bet", while Josh is playing the GameSphere, Super Mario Brothers sound effects can be heard. Josh also says "Its Turtle stomping time!!).
- Fairly OddParents (In the episode "Odd Ball", the Mushroom sound effect is used).
- Hero Factory (During the episode "Savage Planet", the heroes are seen playing a game of robo-ball against ten computer-created opponents; every time one of the virtual players was knocked out of the arena and when they won, the coin sound effect can be heard)
- Invader Zim (sound effects from Mario Bros. are used for a scene in an arcade)
- Kim Possible (in one episode, they are in an arcade. Sounds from Sonic and Pac-Man are also heard)
- Lloyd in Space
- The Mr. Men Show (In the episode "Game Shows," When Mr. Nosy and Mr. Small open the box (which resembles a Question Block), it makes the sound when entering a course in Super Mario Bros. 3).
- Curious George (In "Doctor George," George tries to investigate a mysterious noise that sounds exactly like the sound when Mario goes down a Warp Pipe).
- The Mighty B! (In the episode "Doppelfinger," The sound from Fire Mario when throwing fireballs can be heard in a segment)
- Mucha Lucha!
- Oruchuban Ebichu ep. 9 (The coin sound effect is used)
- Phineas and Ferb ("Gaming the System", "Brain Drain")
- The Real Ghostbusters ("Stay Tooned")
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 series)
- Teacher's Pet
- Teamo Supremo
- The Weekenders (Two teenagers are playing an arcade game and several sounds from Super Mario Bros. are heard.)
- Total Drama Revenge of the Island (an edited version of Bowser's roar from Mario Kart 64 is heard in the background of an episode)
