Charles Martinet, previously the voice actor for one of gaming’s most famous characters and now serving as Nintendo’s official Mario Ambassador, has felt the need to clarify his role in voicing Mario for fans. Contrary to a widely shared post suggesting he is no longer allowed to do Mario’s voice, Martinet explained that he simply won’t ad-lib lines for Mario.
Following a meeting at a convention, YouTuber Ricky Berwick asserted on X that actor Martinet wasn’t permitted to record the voice of Mario or any of his famous characters’ voices. In response, another user shared a similar account, stating that Martinet was unable to do the voice due to a contractual obligation. Later, Berwick explained in a comment on his initial post that Martinet indeed provided the Mario voice for him behind the scenes, but was prohibited from doing so on camera.
Instead of fretting over a potentially binding contract with Nintendo, Martinet clarified in a direct response to a post that his decisions regarding what he voices for fans during conventions stem from his personal preferences.
Whenever I encounter a fan, I provide the voice for them,” Martinet assured. “However, I stick to Mario-related lines and dialogues, refraining from improvisation. This is my decision to uphold the authenticity of the character’s essence.
I had the honor of being the original voice behind Mario in Super Mario 64 back in 1996, and ever since then, I’ve stepped into his iconic shoes for numerous games. Recently, however, my role as Mario has transitioned to a more ambassadorial one, with the title of Mario Ambassador being bestowed upon me – though it does come with some ambiguity. Now, the esteemed voice actor Kevin Afghani is stepping up to bring our beloved character to life in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Nintendo was rather discreet about this change, simply suggesting fans look for the new voice actor’s name in the end credits of the game.
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2025-06-12 15:09