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Voice of Mario: Video Interview

Interview: It's-a fifteen-a minutes long!
Even if you don't immediately recognise the name, you will recognise the voice. This is Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, and if you're a fan of the platformers you'll have heard his shouts of "Yahoo" more times than you can count.

Voice of Mario: Video InterviewOriginal production
8:01  The voice of Mario, Charles Martinet, talks about how he got the job, videogame violence, and how Mario games sum up the philosophy of life. In Mario's voice.
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Martinet has voiced Mario games since Super Mario 64, and for the Mario cartoons before that. Not just Mario but Wario, Toad and Waluigi and others in the Mushroom Kingdom.

And we've never witnessed such enthusiasm in a person. From the moment we walked into the interview room to the second we left, Martinet was dropping subtle Mario-isms into everything he said. It's almost like he's in character constantly.

So, what's it like providing the voice for the biggest videogame character in existence? What does the voice of Mario think about violent games? And how strange is it to hear Mario's distinctive voice coming from the mouth of a real human?

This is must-see stuff. Just click the video to the right.

computerandvideogames.com
// Interactive
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Read all 28 commentsPost a Comment
He is exactly the sort of person you warn your children not to approach or talk to.

Creepy, creepy man.
boskersrevenge on 29 Nov '07
Thankfully Mario only says a few choice phrases in games Shocked Unlike Sonic which has started blabbing non-stop. Rolling Eyes

Wonder who did Zool's voice? Confused
vectra on 29 Nov '07
This message is not being displayed because the poster is banned.
a3HeadedMonkey on 29 Nov '07
i can't even click on the link as i am really not interested in the views of a guy that does the voice of a video game character, never mind looking suspiciosly like Chris Tarrant.
roger4000 on 29 Nov '07
i can't even click on the link as i am really not interested in the views of a guy that does the voice of a video game character, never mind looking suspiciosly like Chris Tarrant.

Thanks for the click.
CVG Mike on 29 Nov '07
I think roger4000 has missed the point. It's not just about the voice, it's about being part of what is probably the biggest video game franchise on the planet.

He is an absolute nutter as well, which I guess isn't all that shocking. But hearing how he got the gig and how the characters were brought to life is nice to hear about.

That said, I can't deny he does look like Tarrant.
Dajmin on 29 Nov '07
bollcoks...i'm going to have to watch it now!
roger4000 on 29 Nov '07
watched it. Confused why are the guys arms and hands so long?
roger4000 on 29 Nov '07
nice interview, seems to be a grounded guy.
mass_terra on 29 Nov '07
i can't even click on the link as i am really not interested in the views of a guy that does the voice of a video game character, never mind looking suspiciosly like Chris Tarrant.

Im probably more interested in his views than your views, since he works in the game industry and your just some negative person on an internet forum.
Luna-C on 29 Nov '07
anybody else think he looks like Jeffrey from Rainbow?
WormyTheWorm on 29 Nov '07
Top geezer.
Biggwedge on 29 Nov '07
that guy is brilliant!!! he's a superb PR front for Mario - he's even prompted me to pick up Mario Galaxy instead of Metroid Prime 3 this weekend.

woo hoo!!!
ranaraptor on 29 Nov '07
He's like a cross between Robin williams and boris johnson who works in videogames. Hmm.
hastalavictoria on 29 Nov '07
he's damn lucky - he's the only guy on earth with 'Voice of Mario' on his CV. That's a f*cking cool claim to fame in my book. Is the game really that good???? surely it can't live upto all the hype!

Is it better than Metroid 3?
ranaraptor on 29 Nov '07
absolutely mint. he's a legend. i completely agree with him about galaxy being the best game ever and mario games being like life.
Sinthetic on 30 Nov '07
Top geezer.
Mogs on 30 Nov '07
I believe your article incorrectly credits Mr. Martinet with voicing Mario in cartoons prior to Super Mario 64. I can find no evidence of this, nor do I recall any such cartoons. Please check your sources.
kmartnintendork on 30 Nov '07
he's damn lucky - he's the only guy on earth with 'Voice of Mario' on his CV. That's a f*cking cool claim to fame in my book. Is the game really that good???? surely it can't live upto all the hype!

Is it better than Metroid 3?

errrr, just a bit. Rolling Eyes
Sinthetic on 30 Nov '07
a good interview, but the relentless advertising at the end spoiled it.

Don't get me wrong, the game will be great but... honestly.
javaguy II on 30 Nov '07
Just great fun. Like Mario
me4pd on 1 Dec '07
Hey-a! Its-a me-a! A-Stereo-a-typed-a casually-a racist-a Italiano...Mario-a!

Oh how I lament the day Mario opened his cake hole...

Rolling Eyes

...oh and as for Sonic and bloody Tails DAMN YOU!!! *shakes fists at the sky* Evil or Very Mad
Mappman on 1 Dec '07
Thanks for reading CDG? WTF?
halstation on 1 Dec '07
It's-a me! C>Lemon-a!

Hello? Hel-loooo?

Hmmm... I'll leave it to Charles Martinet, I think...
C>Lemon on 1 Dec '07
He's like a cross between Robin williams and boris johnson who works in videogames. Hmm.

despite myself i find i understand what you mean 0.o

and thats scarey.

this man is the voice of my childhood Razz

ok it wasnt me at oxford street but whatever >_>
Shadow_Fury on 9 Dec '07
watched ages ago on the old ONM site. anyway i enjoyed the intervirew
fienno 123 on 14 Dec '07
its-a me mario!

i woul like to see a mario anime, with a DECENT mario voice!
fienno 123 on 16 Dec '07
what a Class A Bell-end.
Tobal on 19 Apr '09
Read all 28 commentsPost a Comment
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