Does Disney Have Mario? Unraveling the Gaming Giant’s Ownership
No, Disney does not own Mario. The iconic plumber and the entire Super Mario Bros. franchise remain firmly under the ownership and control of Nintendo, a Japanese company with a long and storied history in the gaming industry. Despite widespread association of animation with Disney and the popularity of both franchises, there is no ownership connection between the two media giants.
The Myth of Disney’s Mario: Why the Confusion?
The confusion surrounding Disney’s potential ownership of Mario often stems from several factors:
- Disney’s Dominance in Animation: Disney’s longstanding presence and unparalleled success in the animated film industry have led many to assume they own a large portion of animated characters.
- Licensing and Collaboration: In the past, Nintendo granted Disney licenses to produce Disney playing cards in Japan. This collaboration, though limited, may have created a perception of a deeper connection. Nintendo has also published a handful of Disney games in the past.
- Shared Target Audience: Both Disney and Nintendo cater to a broad, family-friendly audience, further blurring the lines for some.
- Cultural Impact: The pervasive presence of both franchises in popular culture can lead to assumptions about their interconnectedness.
The Reality: Nintendo’s Iron Grip on Mario
Nintendo has always been fiercely protective of its intellectual property, and the Mario franchise is its crown jewel. The company has consistently developed, published, and maintained ownership of all aspects of the Mario universe, including characters, games, and related media. While Nintendo partners with other companies for certain projects, like the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie, these collaborations are strictly licensing agreements and do not involve transferring ownership.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie: A Universal Success, Not a Disney Venture
The recent success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie further complicates the perception. The film was produced by Illumination Entertainment, the animation studio behind the Minions movies, and distributed by Universal Pictures. Therefore, the movie’s streaming rights are held by Peacock, Universal’s streaming service, not Disney+. This emphasizes that while the movie is a major entertainment event, it doesn’t represent any ownership change for Mario.
Super Nintendo World: A Universal Theme Park Experience
The highly anticipated Super Nintendo World theme park attractions further solidify the link between Mario and Universal, not Disney. These immersive lands are being built at Universal Studios parks worldwide, including Universal Studios Hollywood (already open) and Universal Orlando Resort (scheduled to open as part of the Epic Universe park in 2025). The presence of Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, Yoshi’s Adventure, and Donkey Kong: Mine Cart Madness at Universal parks underscores the strategic partnership between Nintendo and Universal.
Nintendo’s Independence: A Key to Its Success
Nintendo’s independence and unwavering control over its intellectual property have been crucial to its success. By maintaining ownership of Mario and other iconic franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, Nintendo can ensure the quality, consistency, and creative direction of its products. This strategy has allowed Nintendo to build a loyal fan base and maintain its position as a leader in the gaming industry. To delve deeper into the influence of games and learning, consider visiting the GamesLearningSociety.org website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Disney and Mario
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship (or lack thereof) between Disney and Mario:
1. Is Mario owned by Disney?
No, Mario is not owned by Disney. Nintendo owns the Mario franchise.
2. Did Disney ever buy Mario?
No, Disney has never purchased the Mario franchise from Nintendo.
3. Does Disney have any rights to Mario?
Disney does not currently have any significant ownership rights to Mario. Any past collaborations were limited to licensing agreements.
4. Is the Super Mario Bros. Movie a Disney film?
No, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures, not Disney.
5. Is Mario on Disney Plus?
No, Mario content is not available on Disney Plus. The streaming rights to The Super Mario Bros. Movie belong to Peacock, Universal’s streaming service.
6. Are there any Mario attractions at Disney World?
No, there are no Mario attractions at Disney World. Super Nintendo World is located at Universal Studios theme parks.
7. Is Super Nintendo World part of Disney?
No, Super Nintendo World is part of Universal Studios, not Disney.
8. Can I meet Mario at Disney World?
No, you cannot meet Mario at Disney World. You can meet Mario and other Super Mario characters at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood.
9. Does Disney own Nintendo?
No, Disney does not own Nintendo. Nintendo is an independent Japanese company.
10. Are Disney and Nintendo partners?
While there have been limited collaborations in the past, Disney and Nintendo are not significant partners in terms of ownership or ongoing projects.
11. Where can I watch the Super Mario Bros. Movie?
You can stream The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Peacock (with a subscription) or rent/purchase it on platforms like Prime Video, ROW8, Redbox, and Vudu.
12. Is Mario available to play on Disney platforms?
No, Mario games are primarily available on Nintendo consoles and mobile devices. There is no official Mario presence on Disney gaming platforms.
13. Which theme park has Mario World?
Super Nintendo World is currently open at Universal Studios Hollywood and will be coming to Universal Orlando Resort in 2025.
14. Is Super Mario Run a Disney game?
No, Super Mario Run is a Nintendo game available on mobile devices.
15. Why do people think Disney owns Mario?
The perception that Disney owns Mario likely stems from Disney’s dominance in animation, past licensing agreements, and the shared family-friendly target audience of both franchises. However, Nintendo retains full ownership of Mario.