Fan art can truly be an amazing thing. By taking some artistic liberties and approaching a property with a wild and interesting aesthetic, a family-friendly franchise can become dark, and a cute and cuddly character like Mario can become a horrific abomination. Take it a step further, characters and settings can be reimagined as a whole new genre. Cartoon characters can be envisioned within the real world, and sci-fi heroes can be plunged into a world of medieval fantasy.
Nintendo’s properties are some of the best sources of inspiration for fan artists, as they encompass so many characters, concepts and genres to play with. Super Mario Bros. features two brothers who ostensibly work as plumbers, but are usually too busy hopping over Goombas and saving damsels in distress from fierce jurassic turtles to get any plumbing done.
Fans around the world have embraced the Japanese craziness of the Mario world. Although the iconic plumber’s signature look has remained largely unchanged since his first appearance in 1981, other than some improvements in graphics, many artists have come up with some crazy creative ways to reinvent his design, as well as his cast of supporting characters.
Here are 20 Crazy Fan Redesigns of Super Mario Characters
Half and Half
When Mario was first introduced in 1981, things were a little different. Originally depicted as a carpenter with red overalls and a blue jumper, it took Nintendo’s designers a little while to get that iconic color scheme right. Eventually changing it up to blue overalls in Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario’s suit variation when affected by the fire flower also got the reverse color scheme treatment in the plumber’s earlier appearances.
This artistic rendition depicts how an eerily, semi-realistic design based on those original pixel sprites could look.
Emerging from the blocky squares of color are a freaky redesign for Mario and a fanged, clawed Goomba that looks much nastier than the low-level minions we know today. With him looking much more like a plumber than today’s springy, cheerful Mario, we don’t really fancy this version, even if he can throw fireballs.
Scary Mario And Yoshi
Yoshi was first introduced as a sidekick to Mario, who could carry him on his back, devour enemies and flutter in the air for a longer jump in Super Mario World. His concept can be traced all the way back to the first Super Mario Bros. game.
Creator Shigeru Miyamoto wanted Mario to have a dinosaur friend since his first game, but it took four tries for the now iconic dinosaur partner to be implemented in the games. His debut was so popular, the sequel to World was subtitled Yoshi’s Island, and introduced Yoshis of all colors.
This piece gives the duo a bizarre new look, harking back to Yoshi’s prehistoric origins with the inverted legs of a velociraptor, and the stubby arms of a T-Rex. Mario looks more Quasimodo than a plumber, and his wider build means it’s probably best he avoids riding this spindly version of Yoshi.
Smash Club
Fight Club is a seminal piece of turn-of-the-century filmmaking from visionary director David Fincher. It uses raw, powerful performances from Edward Norton and Brad Pitt to lambast a toxic, masculine rebellion against a disillusioned, cynical society that ultimately proves morally bankrupt and excruciating to watch. So, of course, it’s perfect for Mario fan art.
Mario takes the role of Tyler Durden, even if our eyes are drawn to the terrifying Donkey Kong leering in the background.
Of course, the Smash Bros. games don’t have any underlining themes other than the deep desire to watch our favorite video game characters duke it out against crazy backdrops, but it is pretty cool that this artist has imagined a scenario in which totally shredded versions of cute and cuddly video game mascots head to the basement of a dingy bar to battle it out once a week.
Mob Boss Bowser
The very idea of Bowser in a suit conjures up sickening memories of the disastrous attempt at a live-action Mario Bros. movie, but as King Koopa pulled off a sharp white wedding tuxedo with boatloads of style in the latest game Super Mario Odyssey, we think the look is pretty safe territory again.
Swapping Dennis Hopper’s awful haircut with Bowser’s signature tuft, this artist opts to accurately translate the ugly visage of Mario’s worst enemy, horns and all, slimming him down enough to fit in a stylish dinner jacket with a striking yellow necktie. This Bowser is probably more likely to bust your door down demanding his protection money than steal your princess girlfriend, but he won’t stop himself from doing that should it be required.
King Donkey Kong
Before Bowser there was Donkey Kong, Mario’s barrel-throwing nemesis who has since been given a makeover, his own franchise, and turned over a new leaf. Although the damsel in distress Pauline has been replaced by Princess Peach (until her revival in Mario Odyssey), both Mario and Donkey Kong have remained staple characters for Nintendo since their appearance in 1981’s Donkey Kong arcade game. Of course, Mario was originally called Jumpman, but he doesn’t like to mention that.
This piece of art is an affectionate tribute to the characters’ roots, depicting a scaffolding scene high above the clouds.
Miyamoto originally drew inspiration from another famous ape, so here Donkey Kong is depicted as a type of King Kong wannabe.
Mario Boom
Is it really possible for an article about Mario not to eventually mention its number one rival? Sonic the Hedgehog debuted in 1991, and was intended to serve as competition for Mario on Sega’s consoles, until the PlayStation came around.
An impossibly fast, lightning blue, and icy cool hedgehog, Sonic was on his way to becoming the most recognized video game character around, until attempts to reinvent the franchise with clunky 3D put a halt to the series’ popularity.
In 2014, Sega attempted to reboot the franchise with Sonic Boom, shifting towards RPG styles of gameplay and giving their four key characters an edgy new look. This fan art gloriously mocks this critically panned attempt at a revamp, especially its confusing decision to give the characters bandages everywhere.
After the Credits
Here’s a cool piece of fan art that’s a rare but exciting example of a real painting based on geek culture. Though most fan artists will use Photoshop or other computerized brushes for pieces that are just as awesome, Jose Emroca Flores earns a few bonus points for using oil paints and canvas for this painting which can be found hanging in the L.A.-based iam8bit gallery. You can also splurge on your own print, should you feel so inclined. Flores, who goes by Emroca, describes this piece as a moment after the credits of a Mario game.
A small opportunity, after Bowser’s been defeated, to sit on some floating bricks and reflect over the tranquil Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario is sporting his traditional red overalls and muddy green sweater, and Princess Peach has swapped her stuffy dress for something a little more comfortable - needless to say, she can’t be torn away from her royal crown.
Pixel Heroes
Micro Heroes are a popular form of Pixel Art that takes a body template for artists to meticulously edit, pixel by pixel, to create cool representations and variations of pop culture characters. Any property you can think of has been recreated with Micro Heroes, so it makes sense that there would be really cool Mario designs out there.
This artist has revamped Mario’s classic design with a chiseled and cool new look, as well as coming up with some power up concepts that we wish were included in the games.
The fire and ice suits are both given a sleek new design, but there are also sweet concepts for an invisibility suit, a Hurt Locker-esque bomb disposal suit, as well as a set of armor modeled after the iconic mushrooms and stars. Our favorite has to be the penguin suit, proving that Micro Heroes look cool with flippers.
Super Mushroom Kingdom Squad
Poor Princess Peach has been getting kidnapped by Bowser since 1985, but it wasn’t until 20 years later that the damsel in distress was given her own game. 2005’s Super Princess Peach was the first time Peach was the main playable character for a Nintendo game, but unfortunately it was criticized for simplified gameplay and some weird gender-related implications. Peach is sporting little more than a bra and short shorts giving her a pair of legs Bayonetta would be jealous of.
Even if it’s unlikely, this concept art for a fictional Super Princess Peach sequel looks far more exciting.
With an RPG flavor and a Bowser who looks straight out of the sleazy ’90s, this would be a far better gaming experience than the hand-holding platformer we were given instead.
Updating the OG
As mentioned before, it took Nintendo several runs at the drawing board to get Mario’s signature style down pat. Beginning life with bright red overalls and a blue sweater, color limitations meant that both his sweater and hair were a ghastly green color and his skin a sickly yellow in the Nintendo Entertainment System’s original Super Mario Bros.
This piece imagines a world no one wants to live in, where Nintendo simply ran with those awful original colors. It may look good in 8-bit, and although the artist has done their absolute best, not even Mario can pull off that color scheme.
There’s a reason Mario Odyssey opted to keep the blue sweater for its retro costume, as the drab sweater being more beige than green simply doesn’t work against the colorful backdrop of modern Mario games.
Realistic Donkey and Diddy
Diddy Kong was introduced in Donkey Kong Country, a 1994 game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System that saw him team up with Donkey Kong to recover their hoard of bananas from King K. Rool and the Kremlings. Diddy is Donkey Kong’s nephew who dreams of one day becoming a hero as great as his uncle.
Although cool, here’s an image with the potential to give you vivid nightmares.
Toeing the line between cute cartoon and terrifying uncanny valley, this realistic depiction of the Kongo jungle’s favorite traveling companions combines their iconic designs with real life textures. While Diddy looks like a harmless baby orangutan, Donkey sports a more terrifying look that remains true to his usual, cartoony self.
Shy Sorcerer
Shy Guys’ spooky faces and mysterious cloaks make them absolutely perfect for some darker, disturbing Mario fan art. They originally debuted in a non-Mario game, Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which was later changed into Super Mario Bros 2. Whilst most of the other sprites were remodeled, the Shy Guys were kept as they were. Don’t let their wide eyes fool you into thinking they’re cute, though, as they’re nefarious troublemakers who frequently work for Bowser.
This rendition of the mysterious forest dwellers imagines them as dark, spectral sorcerers.
The cloak is now an ornate cape, and this Shy Guy specifically looks like he’s been crying tears of blood. It’s unlikely that this Shy Guy is going to be working for Bowser any time soon; he’s more likely the stuff of King Koopa’s nightmares.
Enemies Redesigned
Goombas and Koopa Troopas have been getting in Mario’s way since the very start, and although their design is practically faultless, we can’t help but think they could do with a bit of retouching to make them just a little more frightening. While the Goombas have been given wings occasionally, and Dry Bones are a bit spooky for younger kids playing in the dark, they’re still a little too cuddly to pose a real threat.
These designs are surely a much better match. Throw a couple of these monsters at the gates of Bowser’s castle and he’ll have no need for Boos, Lakitus, or Hammer Bros. Swapping the Koopa’s pudgy arms and legs for powerful limbs, this overgrown turtle could swipe Mario’s mustache clean off.
It’s the psychotic, razor-toothed Goomba he’ll need to look out for, though.
Two Plumbers
Have you noticed that the Mario Bros. never actually get round to doing their job? So-called plumbers, the two heroes may warp down a pipe every now and again, but it’s usually to fight their way through a spiny underground dungeon rather than to clear a blocked sink.
This art imagines how the pair would look if they got off their lazy butts and did their job.
They’re wearing far more fitting overalls of one color, and come prepared brandishing plungers for real pipes, not those man-sized teleportation tubes. Although Luigi looks pretty good in this rendition, Mario is adorned with a highly unfortunate handlebar mustache and looks like he’s never jumped a day in his life, other than to reach a piece of cake on the top shelf.
Gulf of Mexico
Here’s an appropriate idea for some Mario fan art; what if Mario and Luigi were hired to clean up the BP oil spill? For those unaware, the spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico after the BP (British Petroleum) Deepwater Horizon rig exploded. Essentially, this game would serve as the clean-up sequel to the Mark Wahlberg movie from a couple of years ago.
Unfortunately for our protagonist, this is another artist’s rendition that imagines Mario piling on the pounds a little bit, despite the constant running and jumping. Other than that, it looks like a really cool concept for an admittedly dark game that will never happen. The level of detail combined with the cartoonish style is reminiscent of Borderlands, and you can even find a moving version on the artist’s YouTube channel!
Epic Bowser
Move over Dennis Hopper, this is surely the closest approximation to how Bowser should look in a live-action Mario Bros. movie. Unfortunately, an epic showdown in Bowser’s Castle with this realistic style is unlikely to ever happen, as Illumination Entertainment have bought the film rights to Nintendo and are likely to retain the games’ cute, cartoonish style.
This piece uses realistic scale textures that really make Bowser look like a cross between a giant turtle and a dinosaur.
Straight out of a Dark Souls title, this Bowser looks like he eats Mushroom Kingdom heroes like peanuts, and we can only imagine what his Koopa Troopas look like. The artist even included a more human looking Mario, no doubt terrified in the foreground.
Grand Theft Mario
The first Mario Kart game was released for the SNES in 1992, and it revolutionized the racing genre. Introducing items and wacky courses, it established the racing game as a platform for all ages and abilities, and not just gearheads wanting a simulator for the latest sports cars.
Mario Kart is quite definitely a kid-friendly experience, but it’s easy and fun to imagine how it might look if Mario and friends had to steal their karts and escape Mushroom Kingdom police.
Now you don’t have to! One creative artist has depicted how your favorite Mario characters may look in a Grand Theft Auto game. Though Mario and Peach are rocking their new look – appreciating the ink that is a reference back to his plumbing days – our eyes are on Luigi, with his slick shades and crisp new beard.
Dark Luigi
Some Mario games unlock Luigi as a playable character once you’ve defeated Bowser, but let’s be honest, how many of us actually went back and played the whole game over again as Luigi?
Tired of his brother having all the fun, Luigi starred in his own game Luigi’s Mansion for the Game Cube in 2001 - one of the first games released for the innovative system. One of the most successful launch titles ever, it was praised for its spooky visuals and fresh gameplay, which eventually lead to a sequel: Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for the 3DS.
What if Luigi’s Mansion was a genuine haunted house movie?
Though it was never as scary as a horror film, this piece reimagines the series by way of The Conjuring. Those terrifying, eyeless Boos are certainly enough to scare any plumber witless.
Damsel in Distress
Results vary, but it’s estimated that Princess Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser almost 20 times throughout the Super Mario franchise. Most recently, she was almost forced to marry her captor in Super Mario Odyssey. Toadsworth has remarked that, on average, she’s probably kidnapped at least once a week. That doesn’t stop her from being an excellent ruler, and by now, rescuing her is far too much fun to stop.
This piece imagines a more realistic scenario of Peach being carried away by a huge, ugly monster. Peach is genuinely terrified, and Bowser with a bulging stomach, drooling profusely, looks far more monstrous than his cartoonish video game counter-part that sometimes borders on friendly.
It looks like Peach may not come out of this one alive.
Tyrannosaurus Yoshi
For a character supposedly modeled after a dinosaur, Yoshi isn’t particularly large or frightening, though we love him all the more for it. In the sacrilegious film adaptation, he was depicted as a tiny velociraptor, straight out of Jurassic Park, ultimately failing to capture the charm of the original character.
This artwork reimagines Yoshi how we’ve always wanted to see him. Scaled up to T-Rex size, there’s no way anything Bowser throws at Mario is going to make a dent this time. A larger Yoshi also means Mario can power up at the same time, and you can see him making quick work of a couple of scaly Goombas.
What might stand in their way is the teeth of that hideous piranha plant, but our money’s still on Yoshi’s incredible upgrade.
Did you find any cool and crazy Mariofan art? Link it in the comments!
