Charles Martinet

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"Charles" redirects here. For the historical writer in Mario's Time Machine, see Charles Dickens. For the historical scientist in Mario's Time Machine, see Charles-Gaspard de la Rive. For Luigi's voice actor in The Super Mario Bros. Movie whose full first name is Charles, see Charlie Day.
Charles Martinet
Charles Martinet portrait photo, used as recently as the The Super Mario Bros. Movie cast images
Portrait of Martinet, used for the announcement of his cameo appearances in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Full name Charles Andre Martinet
Born September 17, 1955 (age 69)[1]
Super Mario–related role(s) Voice actor for several characters in the franchise, including Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, etc. (1991–2023)
Voice actor for Mario and Luigi's father and Giuseppe in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Mario Ambassador (2023–present)
“Ah, that Charles Martinet. Nice Italian boy.”
Mario, Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Charles Martinet (last name pronounced mar-tin-AY, born September 17, 1955, in San Jose, California) is an American actor and voice actor best known for his voices in the Super Mario franchise. He voiced several characters in the franchise, including Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and some of the bosses in Super Mario Advance.[2] In addition to English, Martinet speaks fluent French and Spanish, as well as some Italian.[3]

At the time of his audition in 1990, Martinet had never heard of Mario or Nintendo.[4] Martinet originally was not invited to audition for the role of Mario; according to him, he crashed the auditions and was asked to do an Italian accent. His recordings left so much of an impression that they were the only ones sent to Nintendo.[5] As a former Shakespearean actor, Martinet has stated that Mario's voice was based on his voice for Gremio, a character from The Taming of the Shrew.[6] Some sources have alternatively, if erroneously, cited Petruchio (actually played by John Callahan) from the same play as the inspiration.[7]

Martinet was flown to SimGraphics in South Pasadena the next day[8] to be fitted for the Mario in Real Time system, wherein he had motion sensors attached to his face, which transposed his facial movements to a computer-generated Mario head on a screen. Martinet watched people passing by the screen through a hidden camera and talked to them as Mario; this was used rather often by Nintendo for promotional events.[9] He would not start voicing Mario in games until the 1994 CD release of Mario Teaches Typing (featuring an altered form of Mario in Real Time).

Martinet's voice for Mario would be solidified as standard by its usage in Super Mario 64. The non-Japanese version of Mario Kart 64 would be the first game to feature him as the voice actor for Luigi and Wario (with him having developed the former's voice when trying to minimize his mouth movements while speaking in Mario in Real Time),[10] and he went on to also voice Waluigi upon the character's introduction in Mario Tennis. Martinet has been recognized by Guinness World Records as providing the "most video game voiceover performances as the same character" (at least 100 as Mario, as of the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate).[11]

In 2021, when asked if he wanted to voice Mario in the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Martinet stated, "[I]t sounds like a marvelous thing, it sounds like great fun and if they invite me to play, I'll go in and play with great joy and happiness,"[12] similar to his statements from 2003 of wanting an "animated movie" and that he "would love to do every voice for Nintendo [he] possibly could."[13] Martinet would ultimately not go on to voice Mario and Luigi in the movie (with the characters instead being voiced by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, respectively, in English), but he provided the voices of their father and Giuseppe in several languages.

On August 21, 2023, Nintendo announced that Martinet had stepped down from voicing characters in the Super Mario franchise, and he would be taking on the role of Mario Ambassador,[14] which entails interacting with fans, signing autographs, and performing his Super Mario voices at events. The final Super Mario game released prior to this that features his voice was Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (although the 2023 Summer Tour in Mario Kart Tour, which began the day after the announcement of Martinet's retirement, introduced a variant of Mario with a new voice line by him), while the final game in the franchise in which he recorded new voice lines was WarioWare: Get It Together! He was succeeded by Kevin Afghani, who has voiced Mario and Luigi starting with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Wario starting with WarioWare: Move It!,[15] and Waluigi starting with Super Mario Party Jamboree.[16] However, Martinet's voice clips are still used in some newer games and reissues of games that featured them originally,[17] as well as for Mario in Real Time at Nintendo New York,[18] LEGO Super Mario, and in attractions, costume meet-and-greets, and trailers for Super Nintendo World.[19]

Portrayals[edit]

Sampled voices[edit]

  • In Super Mario 64, part of Mario's line "Here we go!" is referenced and altered for the Bob-omb Buddies' "speaking" sound. Said samples are further modified for Monty Moles and Goombas in the Mario Party series.[40]
  • In Mario Kart 64, a pitched-down version of Wario's laugh is used for the Thwomps.
  • Charles Martinet provided the "Human, Laugh - Comical Laugh: Male" voice in The General Series 6000 Sound Effects Library. A sped-up version of this laugh has been used for Boos (as early as Super Mario 64), Dry Bones (as early as Super Mario Galaxy), Six-Face Sal, and Chortlebot, while a slowed-down version was used for Bowser's laugh in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS.[41]

Quotes[edit]

“I want to voice Mario until I drop dead … If someday I think I am no longer capable of doing it, I will tell Nintendo to look into finding someone else.”
Charles Martinet, Eurogamer[42]
“I think everybody in the world has so much impact. But you know we artists here at this great SacAnime, we get to talk experience with our fans' reaction to our work over 25 years, 30 years, 31 years for me, and it's a beautiful thing. I wish every electrician could hear 'thank you very much, that plug in the kitchen every day for 30 years, we had toast, my kids had toast in the morning!' Because it is true, we have so much impact on each other, and I think as a world, people are really good. You see so much news about how terrible things are, but human beings are truly truly good. That's what I wish for the world to understand, the beauty of humankind.”
Charles Martinet, Sacramento Special Report[43]
“For me, I would never get tired of doing Mario, because if I say 'it's-a me, Super Mario!' What happens is someone smiles, and that makes it like it's the very first time I ever did it.”
Charles Martinet, Sacramento Special Report[43]

Gallery[edit]

Promotional images[edit]

Events[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • In Mario Party, Super Smash Bros., Mario Golf, and Mario Party 2, as well as the Japanese version of Mario Kart 64,[44] Martinet's surname is misspelled as "Martinee," similar to how it is pronounced.
  • Martinet also voiced boxers in 1994's Super Punch-Out!! In addition to this, in the same year, he offered to voice Link before being turned down by Shigeru Miyamoto.[45]

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ a b c d e "Interview with the Voice of Mario" quote from GameSpy: "And I played Wart, Clawgrip, Triclyde, Mouser, and of course Mario, in Super Mario Advance."
  3. ^ Daniel K. (September 23, 2012). Intervista a Charles Martinet (voce di Super Mario Bros.). YouTube.
  4. ^ Nintendo UK (September 14, 2015). Nintendo UK Live #6 - Charles Martinet: Super Mario Maker launch day special (Wii U). YouTube.
  5. ^ GamerSpawn (September 10, 2011). The Voice of Mario - Charles Martinet Interview. YouTube. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011, 10:40:08 UTC via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ http://www.gooddealgames.com/interviews/int_Charles_Martinet.html
  7. ^ KISS ME, PRINCESS PEACH: ACTOR BASED SUPER MARIO'S VOICE ON HIS PERFORMANCE AS PETRUCHIO IN THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
  8. ^ Geek To Me Radio (July 18, 2022). 314-Nolan North, Charles Martinet, and Keith Coogan. YouTube.
  9. ^ https://twitter.com/CharlesMartinet/status/1493266234644779012?s=09
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ Twitter post by Charles Martinet
  12. ^ Nintendo Life: Charles Martinet Would Love To Voice Mario In Upcoming Illumination Movie
  13. ^ nsidr: E3 Interview: Charles Martinet (archive)
  14. ^ https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1693624002982314108
  15. ^ https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-confirms-charles-martinet-is-not-involved-in-super-mario-bros-wonder
  16. ^ https://twitter.com/KevinAfghani/status/1847099431646384229
  17. ^ a b gonintendo (August 22, 2023). Switch release of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon to retain Charles Martinet's work gonintendo. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Journey USA (February 25, 2024). Unbelievable Hidden Gems at Nintendo Store NYC | 4K HDR. YouTube. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Nintenduo World (December 22, 2023). DONKEY KONG COUNTRY - OFFICIAL NEW TRAILER of Super Nintendo World (2024). YouTube. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  20. ^ File:Pianta confirmation Martinet.jpgMedia:Pianta confirmation Martinet.jpg
  21. ^ File:Pianta confirmation Martinet Burns.jpgMedia:Pianta confirmation Martinet Burns.jpg
  22. ^ GameXplain (March 18, 2021). We Meet Mario, Luigi, & Princess Peach @ Super Nintendo World...Who TALK! YouTube. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  23. ^ Universal Parks News Today (February 4, 2021). Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge FULL RIDE WITH AR & QUEUE TOUR - Super Nintendo World. YouTube. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  24. ^ https://www.eldoblatge.com/fitxa/5990
  25. ^ Dit zijn de Vlaamse stemmen van The Super Mario Movie - Moviepulp
  26. ^ The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Finnkino. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  27. ^ Super Mario Bros. le film | Forum du Doublage Québécois
  28. ^ https://www.synchronkartei.de/film/55103
  29. ^ Super Mario Bros.: A film (The Super Mario Bros. Movie). DVDNews. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  30. ^ Italian cast. Il Mondo dei Doppiatori. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  31. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQSTOCgfS8c&t=390
  32. ^ 偉憶數位錄音 We Digital Media Co., Ltd,'s post on Facebook
  33. ^ https://www.centralcomics.com/super-mario-bros-o-filme-as-vozes-portuguesas/
  34. ^ SUPER MARIO BRAĆA FILM (THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE) - SINHRONIZOVANI TREJLER G
  35. ^ https://www.eldoblaje.com/datos/FichaPelicula.asp?id=68673
  36. ^ Super Mario Bros. Filmen | Dubbningshemsidan
  37. ^ https://www.facebook.com/DubLoverPierrot/posts/pfbid02CYoptifTxwCzKVgAPqQzKTaLjYKvgVbUn6ou6NYYwDeMfkczABQQmbTb1xpa5vJNl
  38. ^ https://kinobaza.com.ua/titles/super-mario-movie
  39. ^ Trang này lưu trữ danh sách diễn viên lồng tiếng hoạt hình chiếu rạp (April 5, 2023). Phim Anh Em Super Mario (2023) Studio: Đạt Phi Media. Facebook. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  40. ^ "The Bob-omb Buddy Sound is Mario's Voice" - YouTube video by Crazy900's Vid Vault
  41. ^ File:Charles Martinet and the Comical Laugh Pt 2.pngMedia:Charles Martinet and the Comical Laugh Pt 2.png
  42. ^ Charles Martinet: "I want to voice Mario until I drop dead" / "I'm not going anywhere for a long time!". Fangamer. Tom Phillips. Published Oct 26, 2021
  43. ^ a b Charles Martinet Interview: "Mario Never Says No". Sacramento Special Report. Published Sep 10, 2022
  44. ^ https://tcrf.net/Mario_Kart_64#Credits_Differences
  45. ^ Convention Coverage (February 10, 2023). Charles Martinet Got This Response When He Pitched The Idea Of Voicing Link In The Legend Of Zelda. YouTube.

External links[edit]