An Interview with Charles Martinet

We talk to Charles Martinet about Mario's career, working with Miyamoto and why Link still doesn't have a voice.

You may not be entirely familiar with his name or for that matter any of his other works but as the voice of one of videogames most iconic characters, Charles Martinet vocal talents are instantly recognisable by gamers and non-gamers alike. The character in question? Mario but we can’t forget all the other characters of the Mushroom Kingdom. Other famous credits include the underappreciated bother Luigi, arch nemesis Wario, the misunderstood Waluigi and of course the infant versions of the famous plumbers. If you’ve played any Mario game in the last decade, then chances are you’ve been subject to his talents.

On a trip to the UK to promote the upcoming release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii at London’s Odeon Covent Garden Cinema we met with Charles Martinet as he joined the festivities of crowning the UK’s best Nintendo gamer at the grand finale. Sat in front of a cinema screen, what better way to kick start our meeting with the legendary voice actor than break the ice with a round of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a game that Charles voices two out of the four of the games playable characters.

"When I play it, all I'm thinking is this is just amazing fun!"

It is here we see the true Charles Martinet: give him the opportunity and he will explode with a flood of familiar voices and catch phrases. As we run around mushroom kingdom, Charles provides hilarious commentary, speaking on behalf of Mario and Luigi’s actions and flawlessly reacting falls and mushroom pickups. His enthusiasm says he has done this many times before. For Charles, the arrival of New Super Mario Bros Wii in his own words is ‘a hallmark’ for gaming: “I giggle and laugh when I see it [New Super Mario Bros. Wii]. When I play it, all I’m thinking is ‘this is just amazing fun!’ and it’s co-operative which is the only way I can play it.” This is hallmark has been built up of the countless titles Charles has voiced since his vocal gaming debut when then Nintendo 64 launched with the revolutionary Super Mario 64 in 1996. “I absolutely loved Super Mario 64. That was the first time we ever did a voice in a game and that was so brand new, all of a sudden it was like “Woo Hoo!, Let’s a go!”, all these things I had said in the real time animation system were coming to life.” 

 Super Mario 64 was Charles Martinet's first big hit as a voice actor.

Since then, his voice has been featured in almost every Super Mario game since then. From Mario Kart 64 to Mario Party 8 to the astral delights of Super Mario Galaxy where Mario made his Wii debut in 2007: “We recorded that one in Japan in Tokyo. Working with the producers there and all the creative people at Nintendo America and all the people in the studio, it was a really magical few days because seeing the footage and then seeing the game, I was just in absolute awe at the wonder!”