Game:

Super Mario Odyssey (2017)

Duration: 5:09

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Princess Peach in the Super Mario Bros Movie is fundamentally different to any version of the character we've seen before. Except, of course, that she isn't.

In some of the earliest Super Mario Bros cartoons, Princess Toadstool is often shown as a compassionate, engaged leader who stands up for the rights of the Mushroom Kingdom's many residents. This is the kind of Princess Peach that we appear to see in the Mario Movie trailers (although how much the trailers will reflect the finished film remains to be seen).

This is a necessary change, to give Peach something to make her interesting outside of a game environment. The character is all but entirely absent from the vast majority of Mario games: it's enough for the player to be tasked with rescuing her, without needing to know much about her. Aspects of her personality often shine through more in subtle moments of animation and voice acting, rather in anything she actually does while trapped in a cage.

For a film, though, without the instant investment that comes from literally controlling the protagonist, audiences need a reason to care about Peach, and in this case, that means a more decisive, outspoken, capable persona.

It's the same reason why Sonic the Hedgehog has a clear lesson to learn in the Sonic movies (both times, the lesson is: friendship is magic).

Then there's Luigi, the perfect damsel in distress for this film, since, unlike Peach and Mario, his personality is a fundamental part of his gameplay in the Luigi's Mansion titles. Luigi is at his most fun when he is conquering his fear, so naturally, he gets terrified by Bowser. It's just a solid fit.

Thanks for watching!

Lots of love,
Matthew (Kotor)

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