Along with providing nostalgia and backstory to Nintendo's most beloved video game characters, The Super Mario Bros. Movie also made changes to characters, namely Princess Peach, that make for a more dynamic, realistic, and fair depiction of the game's principal female character. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 animated film following the origins of Mario and Luigi, the legendary video game brothers created by Nintendo in the 1980s. The film included a star-studded cast including Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor Joy, Jack Black, and Seth Rogen.A major benefit of The Super Mario Bros. Movie was its ability to bring new backstory and context to the characters alongside the many Super Mario Bros. references in the movie. The movie's writers could and did create explanations for who Mario and Luigi are and how they find themselves in the fantastical world of the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's Castle. Luckily, The Super Mario Bros. Movie explored more than just the titular characters and gave each cast member a strong personality and history. In the case of Princess Peach, these additions were especially important.
Mario Franchise's Female Character Controversies Explained
In the past, the Mario franchise has been known to create female characters who fall into stereotypical feminine roles and lack the same importance as their male peers. This problem occurs in many different ways that are significant but often go under the radar. For example, almost every female character has a male counterpart: Peach aligns with Mario, Daisy with Luigi, Toadette with Toad, and Birdo with Yoshi. Furthermore, these characters often aren't even available to be played in Super Mario Games, and instead, act as damsels in distress for the male characters to save. All in all, the Mario franchise's female characters are mired in overtly feminine roles that keep them from expressing personality or strength.
Although it would make sense that over the years Nintendo's portrayal of Mario's female characters would improve, the truth is less optimistic. In 2016, the Mario franchise received much criticism for its first iPhone game, Super Mario Run, because of Peach's outdated role as the damsel in distress. However, the franchise has improved in some ways. Peach and Rosalina have both become characters that can be played in the latest Mario game, Super Mario 3D World. Additionally, in regard to Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, she is a much fiercer and more skilled character who fights just as hard as Mario.
Super Mario Bros Movie Shows What Peach Would Have Been Like In The Wii Game
One of the most important aspects of Peach's representation in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is how frequently she is seen performing different tasks from the video games. This is significant because the Mario franchise has frequently lacked using Peach as a playable character, specifically in the latest New Super Mario Bros. Wii game. However, this problem changes when Peach is seen throughout the movie engaging in combat, completing platforms, and driving in a kart. Additionally, Peach gets new costumes when she uses power-ups and is highly skilled in everything she does.
Not only is this change exciting for Peach, but it also offers a glimpse into what could have been for the New Super Mario Bros. Wii game. While the game didn't offer Peach as a player, the movie has shown how she would've looked in the game doing various different tasks, focusing on her movement and skill to her costuming. This focus on Peach's abilities on-screen may inspire more of her character in future games.
Super Mario Bros 2 Still Has Several Female Characters To Introduce
The Super Mario Bros. Movie only scratched the surface of the Mario world and there are still countless female characters to be introduced. In Super Mario Bros. 2, audiences will likely meet Daisy but could also see Toadette, Birdo, or Rosalina as well. Based on how Peach was represented in the first film, there are high hopes that the remainder of the Mario women will also get dynamic, interesting depictions. In this way, the franchise has yet another chance to improve upon past mistakes and create a world that is updating with the times and with what fans want.
Although Princess Peach and other female characters in Mario have been sidelined in the past, The Super Mario Bros. Movie shows that change could be coming for the franchise and it will be beneficial. While Peach long remained rooted in her antiquated role as a princess in need of saving, she has now entered a new phase in which she is a powerful ruler with ambition and skill. On such an optimistic note, it's easy to anticipate the reveal of more female Mario characters in the next film.