Who is the Latino in Super Mario Bros?

The Super Mario Bros. series, a beloved and iconic part of gaming culture, does not explicitly feature a Latino character within its main cast, as the characters’ ethnicities are not overtly defined in the games, but Luigi, played by John Leguizamo in the 1993 live-action film, has raised questions about the potential for Latin representation in the franchise. The Mario brothers, Mario and Luigi, are canonically of Italian descent, with their names and backgrounds reflecting this Italian heritage.

Understanding the Characters’ Ethnicities

Character Backgrounds

The Mario series, created by the renowned Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, features a wide array of characters, each with their unique backgrounds and personalities. The main characters, Mario and Luigi, are Italian-American plumbers, according to the American adaptations of the games. However, their ethnicities are not explicitly stated in the games themselves, leaving room for interpretation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Mario Italian or Mexican? Mario is canonically of Italian descent, with his name and background reflecting this Italian heritage.
2. What ethnicity is Luigi? Luigi is also of Italian descent, with his name being the Italian form of the German name Ludwig.
3. Is Bowser black? Bowser, the main antagonist of the series, is portrayed as the King of the Koopas, and his ethnicity is not explicitly stated, but he is voiced by Jack Black in the 2023 movie.
4. What is Mario’s ethnicity? Mario’s ethnicity is Italian, according to the American adaptations of the games, but his ethnicity is not explicitly stated in the games themselves.
5. Is Wario Hispanic? Wario, a character introduced in Super Mario Land 2, was initially considered to be German but eventually developed into an Italian character like Mario.
6. Is Mario a Hispanic name? The name Mario is of Latin origin and is commonly used in many countries, including Italy, Spain, and Latin America.
7. Is Princess Peach Hispanic? Princess Peach, the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, does not have a explicitly stated ethnicity, but she is not typically considered to be Hispanic.
8. Does Mario say “let’s go” or “Mexico”? Mario says “Let’s-a go“, which is a catchphrase used by the character to express excitement or urgency.
9. Is Yoshi Hispanic? The name Yoshi is of Japanese origin and means “good” or “respected“.
10. Is Wario fat or buff? Wario is portrayed as a muscular character with a large belly, but his arms and legs are pure muscle.
11. Why is Wario yellow? Wario’s yellow color scheme is likely used to distinguish him from Mario and to convey his greedy and energetic personality.
12. Who is Mario’s first girl? Pauline, a character introduced in the original Donkey Kong game, is considered to be Mario’s first girlfriend.
13. Is Luigi an Italian name? The name Luigi is of Italian origin and means “renowned warrior“.
14. What is Peach’s nationality? Princess Peach is not explicitly stated to have a specific nationality, but she is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom.
15. Is there a Latino actor who boycotted the Mario movie? John Leguizamo, who played Luigi in the 1993 live-action film, has stated that he will not watch the new Mario movie due to the lack of Latin representation in the film.