The Departure of Mario’s Voice Actor: Fans of the Super Mario Bros. franchise were saddened by the news of Charles Martinet, the long-time voice actor for Mario, retiring after over 30 years. This came shortly after the release of the Mario Movie, which featured Chris Pratt as the controversial voice of Mario.
Beneficial Changes for the Franchise: While fans may be disappointed, the departure of Martinet and the influence of the Mario Movie have brought positive changes to the franchise. One notable change is the expansion of the cast of characters, allowing for more voice actors to be involved.
A Respectful Approach to Voice Acting: Unlike the Mario Movie, Super Mario Wonder takes a more respectful approach to voice acting. Many of the new voice actors are relatively unknown in the industry, starting their roles with smaller projects. Kevin Afghani, the new voice of Mario and Luigi, has previously worked on online animations and had a standout role in Genshin Impact as Arnold.
A Steep Climb for the New Voice Actor: Afghani has big shoes to fill as he takes on the iconic roles of Mario and Luigi. The difference in experience between him and Martinet is noticeable, but many fans couldn’t tell the difference in the Super Mario Wonder reveal trailer, which speaks to Afghani’s talent as a new actor.
New Voices for New Characters: Recent tweets have revealed the voices for newcomers in Super Mario Wonder, including Prince Florian, the Flower Kingdom citizens, the Poplins, Nabbit, and a replacement for Princess Daisy. Cup of Tea Productions, a talent agency specializing in English localizations of Japanese games, has provided some of these new voices.
Embracing Diversity in Voice Acting: Super Mario Wonder features the franchise’s first non-binary voice actor, Giselle Fernandez, who voices Princess Daisy. Fernandez has previously lent their vocals to characters in League of Legends and Genshin Impact.
A Replacement for Princess Daisy: Deanna Mustard, who had voiced Princess Daisy for 20 years, has been replaced by a relatively unknown actor. This change has been met with some resistance from fans who believe Mustard gave Daisy her unique personality. However, the addition of diverse voice actors has helped shape the bold new direction of Super Mario Wonder.
Enriching Lesser-Known Characters: The change in voice actors has the potential to enrich the personalities of Mario’s lesser-known characters. Filipino actor Dawn Bennett has taken over the role of Nabbit, previously played by Nintendo sound designer Natsuko Yokoyama. Bennett has an extensive background in English voice acting for games and anime.
A Fresh Direction for the Franchise: While long-time fans may be disappointed by the replacement of legacy voice actors, Super Mario Wonder’s new direction brings in a diverse set of voice actors who will undoubtedly bring fresh ideas to the franchise. Nintendo’s dedication to finding the right voices for their characters is evident in the obscurity and diversity of the new cast.
Source: DOTESPORTS
