Why is Mario considered a plumber?

Why is Mario Considered a Plumber?

Mario, one of the most iconic video game characters, has a reputation as a plumber in the eyes of many players. But, have you ever wondered why Mario chose this profession? In this article, we’ll take a journey through the history of the Mario series to uncover the reasons behind Mario’s trade.

Early Days

Mario, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, was first introduced in the classic arcade game Donkey Kong in 1981. In this game, Mario is depicted as an ordinary man, not a plumber, but rather a construction worker trying to rescue a damsel in distress from the clutches of an ape. At this early stage, Mario’s role was primarily that of an everyman, with no specific occupation or skills other than the ability to scale ladders and throw things.

The Birth of Wario and the Introduction to Plumbing

Fast forward to Super Mario Land, the 1989 release for the Game Boy. In this game, the protagonist’s rival, Wario, is introduced as Mario’s arch nemesis. Wario was created by Mario Takeshi Tezuka and has since become one of Mario’s most memorable and endearing adversaries.

Interestingly, Wario‘s design mirrors Mario’s, but with some fundamental differences. Wario was given a distinctive mustache and was initially depicted as a gold digger trying to find treasure. By creating a character that played on the opposite of everything Mario represents, Miyamoto inadvertently stumbled upon the roots of Mario’s plumbing origins.

The Game Plan

During the development process of Super Mario 64 in the 1990s, developers realized that Mario’s universe was begging for a concrete connection to the real world. Inspired by the need to find a common ground for the fantasy world and its inhabitants, Miyamoto incorporated elements from the real-world world. Plumbing, for instance, became a more relatable profession for characters in this universe.

Plumbing allows Mario to explore sewage systems, hidden pipes, and underwater areas, creating countless opportunities for gameplay mechanics such as underwater swimming, coin collecting, and even power-gaining by using water for his jetpack.

Here are the reasons why we consider Mario a plumber (see Table 1 for a summary)

Mario’s Plumbing Adventure

Miyamoto acknowledged the reasoning behind Mario becoming a plumber in an interview:

‘In 1983’s Mario Bros., Mario must fix leaky pipes throughout the sewer system, proving that the plumbing aspect would play a crucial role throughout the game.’

In response to Wario’s impact on the series, this bold new direction led Nintendo to define Mario’s image more profoundly, making plumbers more relatable protagonists. Since then, piping systems and hidden areas hidden behind pipes (warp pipes, tunnels, sewers, toilets, sinks, etc., have been integral to both The Legend of Zelda series and the popular Mario platformer series.
Mario and Wario then continued on separate paths throughout their development history. There have been several games developed under this framework.

Why did Mario choose plumber? Mario, being fictional, isn’t necessarily inspired by human experience, except perhaps indirectly through Miyamoto’s understanding of plumbing within his imaginative universe. If he has been designed plumber by nature, his experience could help create more storylines with other characters too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC7JYKERV8I