Miyamoto: Mario/Luigi don't have last names, mentions movie

[Phlibbit]

via Game Informer:

GI: Some people claim that Mario and Luigi's last name is "Mario." Are their names officially Mario Mario and Luigi Mario?

Shigeru Miyamoto: This is an old story, but Hollywood did a film version of the Mario Bros. many years back. There was a scene in the script where they needed a last name for the characters. Somebody suggested that, because they were the Mario Bros., their last name should be Mario. So, they made him "Mario Mario." I heard this and laughed rather loudly. Of course, this was ultimately included in the film. Based on the film, that's [how] their names ended up. But, just like Mickey Mouse doesn't really have a last name, Mario is really just Mario and Luigi is really just Luigi.

[Serum]

Then why are they the Mario Brothers? Also, Mickey Mouse's last name is "Mouse" for the record.

[Phlibbit]

I too thought the exact same thing.

[1upmushroom]

Because Mario gets top billing and no one cares about Luigi.

[Serum]

Because Mario gets top billing and no one cares about Luigi.

...except the writers of the movie, who apparently wanted to make the movie all about Luigi.

[1upmushroom]

True but in the games Luigi was given little respect and the filmakers didn't make the games and as you can clearly see, their vision was different from Miyamoto's.

[Phlibbit]

True but in the games Luigi was given little respect and the filmakers didn't make the games and as you can clearly see, their vision was different from Miyamoto's.

Exactly. And that's something that I think has only become even clearer in recent years. With the first few games in Mario canon, there's some semblance of a framework for a story within the world of the Mushroom Kingdom. As more games come out, it's increasingly apparent that the characters in the SMB franchise are primarily used to serve the functions of the gameplay for that particular game. Like Miyamoto said, they're just a cast of characters that fit the roles of gameplay; this leaves any kind of meaningful story (especially from game to game) way out of the priority zone.

[Serum]

True but in the games Luigi was given little respect and the filmakers didn't make the games and as you can clearly see, their vision was different from Miyamoto's.

Exactly. And that's something that I think has only become even clearer in recent years. With the first few games in Mario canon, there's some semblance of a framework for a story within the world of the Mushroom Kingdom. As more games come out, it's increasingly apparent that the characters in the SMB franchise are primarily used to serve the functions of the gameplay for that particular game. Like Miyamoto said, they're just a cast of characters that fit the roles of gameplay; this leaves any kind of meaningful story (especially from game to game) way out of the priority zone.

The original "Super Mario Bros." video game on the NES doesn't technically have a story, per se, but rather a premise: You're a plumber in a strange land trying to rescue a princess from a bad guy who surrounds himself with killer turtles and mushrooms. The movie is so brilliant because it took something without a story and breathed life into it.

[Redstar]

'Mario' as Mario and Luigi's their shared surname simply makes sense, though I can understand why they would not that direction or choose any name at all.

The other choice that would make some sense and that I would enjoy is 'Segale,' the last name of the man that inspired Mario's first.

[Serum]

The other choice that would make some sense and that I would enjoy is 'Segale,' the last name of the man that inspired Mario's first.

I could get behind that, but then they'd be the Super Segale Brothers.

[1upmushroom]

No, they'd still be the Mario Brothers because Mario gets top billing and Luigi gets no respect, at least it seems like this in the games. Plus the name sounds catchier than anything else.

[Serum]

No, they'd still be the Mario Brothers because Mario gets top billing and Luigi gets no respect, at least it seems like this in the games. Plus the name sounds catchier than anything else.

It's not a matter of respect, it's a matter of logistics. If there are two brothers running a business, whether it's plumbing or saving princesses, and their last name is "Mario" or "Segale," the last name is what they call themselves. If their last name is "Segale" they're the "Segale Brothers," if their last name is "Mario" then they're the "Mario Brothers."

To call themselves the first name of one of the brothers makes no sense, especially if they have no last names. There are several companies near me who have "brothers" in their name. They always go by their last name. Like a lawyer team named the "Binder Brothers" or an electrician duo or trio known as the "Dieter Brothers." You go by the last name.

[1upmushroom]

Yes but this is a video game franchise, and one where logic has very little meaning. Besides, Mario and Luigi don't even have last names, from what I've heard they never did, even in the early years.

[Prime Evil]

It's not a matter of respect, it's a matter of logistics. If there are two brothers running a business, whether it's plumbing or saving princesses, and their last name is "Mario" or "Segale," the last name is what they call themselves. If their last name is "Segale" they're the "Segale Brothers," if their last name is "Mario" then they're the "Mario Brothers."

To call themselves the first name of one of the brothers makes no sense, especially if they have no last names. There are several companies near me who have "brothers" in their name. They always go by their last name. Like a lawyer team named the "Binder Brothers" or an electrician duo or trio known as the "Dieter Brothers." You go by the last name.

Ah, but, the general public expects them to call themselves "The Segale Brothers." By calling themselves "The Mario Brothers" as the name of the company, it becomes just a bit more memorable because it doesn't follow the usual naming conventions. And, you know, "Mario" is considerably closer in the phonebook than "Segale," last time I checked.

[Phlibbit]

Ah, but, the general public expects them to call themselves "The Segale Brothers."

I know you're saying this in jest, but the general public doesn't know or care the significance of naming them "Segale." IMO, it's even more confusing to give the brothers that last name.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

And of course, this all overlooks that the Super Show is where it originated in the first place-- they just didn't make as big a deal out of it as the movie.

I do prefer the "Mario" surname, though, and I wonder if he meant the "actors" thing literally.

[ultimateemail5000]

I do prefer the "Mario" surname, though, and I wonder if he meant the "actors" thing literally.

Could be, rumor has it SMB3 is a stage play, which makes sense. The platforms being held up by rope, screws, and such. It couldn't even be the Mario Bros at all in that game, they could be just actors, a stage play. I like looking at it like that. It wuold make sense too what with the curtain opening and dropping at the beginning and end.

[Prime Evil]

Ah, but, the general public expects them to call themselves "The Segale Brothers."

I know you're saying this in jest, but the general public doesn't know or care the significance of naming them "Segale."

I was trying to say that everyone would expect them to follow the usual naming convention for their plumbing company, such as (for example) the Marx Brothers--you have Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and Groucho Marx. If the plumbers are Mario Segale and Luigi Segale, you would automatically say to yourself "Oh, they're Segale Brothers Plumbing."

However, in the business world, going by surname alone might not cut it unless your family's reputation is Just That Good.

If, for example, Segale Brothers Plumbing falls upon hard times (but not for lack of quality) because the name is unmemorable, Mario might think to himself, "I wonder what we could do to improve name recognition?" In a flash of inspiration, he hits upon Mario Brothers Plumbing, which DOESN'T follow the traditional naming convention and is therefore memorable and attention-getting, and might ensure the survival of a really good plumbing business. Soon everyone's saying "Ooh, I'd better call 'Mario Bros. Plumbing',"'cause it rolls off the tongue much more easily than Segale Brothers. Also, a letter dropped from a word means a few pennies saved on making advertisements.

Granted, it's not actually something you'd think about in your everyday life; it's just one of those things that go without saying.

[IbanezJFS]

I'm perfectly happy with their last names being Mario. Everyone here grew up calling them the Super Mario BROTHERS and whenever you see a title called (Fill in the blank) Brother it's always implied that, that's their last name so it makes sense to me.

Plus I wouldn't say no one cares about Luigi I certainly do and when you don't have Luigi you can tell something is missing. I'll give you an example comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham had a tv show that only ran for one season and according to research what killed it was whenever the puppets were out and about Jeff wasn't with them so the dynamic between them which we all know and love was gone. If you took Teller away from Penn & Teller it just wouldn't be the same.

[ultimateemail5000]

I think Nintendo wants everyone to use their imagination on what their last names are, or they just don't care enough.

[Redstar]

To me, it's fun to consider, but in the end not something that has or even needs an answer.

[gboy6]

I came across this http://youtu.be/AAjhjLuWbC8 and was instantly reminded of this thread.
At about 1:21 someone asks a question about his last name. I know it's not official but I thought it was funny when he mentions his other family.
and on a side note someone asks if Luigi would join the Ghostbusters because I recognize some members here are also on the GB Fans forums too.

[ultimateemail5000]

I came across this http://youtu.be/AAjhjLuWbC8 and was instantly reminded of this thread.
At about 1:21 someone asks a question about his last name. I know it's not official but I thought it was funny when he mentions his other family.
and on a side note someone asks if Luigi would join the Ghostbusters because I recognize some members here are also on the GB Fans forums too.

I love these video's, these are great. Actually in this one, somebody asks him if he saw the SMB movie it starts at 4:30.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Loving these. Martinet is a cool guy, I love how he has fun with it and calls every girl a "princess." I bet that's a thrill for a lot of them.

[ultimateemail5000]

Loving these. Martinet is a cool guy, I love how he has fun with it and calls every girl a "princess." I bet that's a thrill for a lot of them.

I agree, it's nice seeing him add life to the character rather than Mario just being silenced and just saying one liners all the time. His voice isn't all that bad like this.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Loving these. Martinet is a cool guy, I love how he has fun with it and calls every girl a "princess." I bet that's a thrill for a lot of them.

I agree, it's nice seeing him add life to the character rather than Mario just being silenced and just saying one liners all the time. His voice isn't all that bad like this.

Have you seen his lengthy Sports Mix press conference?

[ultimateemail5000]

Have you seen his lengthy Sports Mix press conference?

Yeah I watched that on the wii Channel some time ago. I thought it was a very fun watch.

[MrGoomba909]

Because Mario gets top billing and no one cares about Luigi.

...except the writers of the movie, who apparently wanted to make the movie all about Luigi.

I genuinely Laughed Hysterically at this... It's true.

I don't really like Martinet's voice for mario, But I'm glad that He has a fun time with it.