Ok, we've seen what the Japanese have done
in terms of making a Super Mario Cartoon;
their one and only movie.
Sure, no doubt there were a ton of comics running about
but that's not my main focus here.
About 3 years later the Americans decided to take up the mantle,
and created a few animated series.
One being
Hey, paisanos!
It's the Super Mario Brothers' Super Show
We're the Mario Brothers
And plumbing's our game
We're not like the others
Who get all the fame
If your sink is in trouble
You can call us on the double
We're faster than the others
You'll be hooked on the Brothers
Released in 1989 by DiC Entertainment
the Super Mario Brothers' Super Show
was a 2 season series that was divided into 3 sections.
It featured a live action sitcom setting
where the 2 Italian-American plumbers run their plumbing company in Brooklyn.
During which they show the 11 minute episodes of their main feature
being The Super Mario Brothers
as well as episodes of The Legend of Zelda.
The Mario brothers in the sitcom
have a few adventures of their own in their basement.
They got a portal to the outside world in their medicine cabinet,
and some celebrities stop by for a visit,
as well as other random characters.
Some of their adventures parallel the adventures in the cartoon,
but they are not on the same episode.
Some of them also include moral messages
which seem stronger here than in the cartoon.
Messages like not running away from your family just to get what you want,
be careful of what you buy from strange sales people,
don't blindly do blind dates,
follow the instructions given thoroughly,
and beware of strangers claiming to be a long lost family member
just to steal your fortune,
or anyone claiming anything just to get your money.
However, it features one heck of a creepy transition...
Very scary.
And at the end of every show, they get together to tell the kids:
Until next time everybody:
Do The Mario!
Well, I sure wouldn't want to do this throughout the whole week...
Swing your arms
From side to side
Come on, it's time To go do the Mario
The story behind the cartoon is pretty much that
the brothers were working on a clog
and were sucked into a warp pipe that took them to the Mushroom Kingdom.
In the Mushroom Land
Join the action with the plumbers
You'll be hooked on the Brothers
They were apparently naturals at scaring off King Koopa
so Princess Toadstool decided they should be her bodyguards.
The setting is strongly based on the American Super Mario Brothers 2 video game
with elements from the 1st and 3rd game.
There is no real introductory episode
and each adventure can be taken in any order.
Although each episode starts with a "Plumber's Log" narration.
Plumber's Log:
Number 1000 B.C.
We've arrived in Pyramid Land,
where we've heard the Mushroom People were in real trouble.
King Koopa had appointed himself pharaoh
and was forcing everyone to live by a set of evil laws.
Plumbers Log:
Plumber's Log: Number H2O.
We were heading into deep danger down in Aqua Land.
We'd come to fight Barakoopa,
the most underhanded villain under the sea.
The synopsis is pretty much that
King Koopa wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom,
but before he can do that he needs the Mario brothers out of the way.
He devices many schemes
as well as many costumes and names
for each adventure that parodies other stories.
EMPEROR
Emperor Agustus
Emperor Agustus Septemberus
Emperor Agustus Septemberus Octoberus
Koopa
Emperor Agustus Septemberus Octoberus Koopa to you my little prisoner.
FUM!
FEE!
FI!
FOE!
Moon Man Koopa!?
Oh no!
And Blackbeard Koopa himself!
I am the mighty Robo Koopa.
Mousigor!
Yes, Count Koopula?
It's Koopzilla!
Koopa Kahn and his horde.
And with Herlock Solms my prisoner
I can now commit the criminal caper of the century.
You'll never get away with it Professor Kooparity.
They also seem to come up with different Land names like:
The legendary Cramalot
through the Linguine Empire
Rotunda Land
Robo Land
Turtle Vania
The ancient city of Mythis
Car Land
Pasta Land
In one of the episodes they rap and rhyme throughout the whole thing.
Plumber's Log:
Number 2-2-4
Rap Land isn't rapping any more
Koopa took their king and money too
We're here to figure out what to do
That's right Mario, Show them who's boss!
Princess, King, Stop those albatross.
The main powerup in the Super Mario 2 game are vegetables.
You pull them out of the ground and clobber the enemies.
Although you can do that with almost any object you pull up.
In the cartoon it seems Koopa and his gang
hates vegetables to the point of fear.
Vegetables! Yuck!
That's right, kids!
If you don't want to be as mean and nasty as Koopa
you'd better eat your vegetables.
Although kids would want to be just like Mario
which means they'll be eating lots of spaghetti and pizza all day.
Take it from me: Not a very healthy diet.
In the games you can become invulnerable with a Star powerup,
which is sometimes pretty rare.
Though in this cartoon all you have to do is bump your head
and hope you are conscious enough to see and grab a star before they disappear.
But most of the time when the heroes become super
they are more or less much stronger and can shoot fire;
the one and only long lasting super power from Super Mario 1.
Then there is the questionable powerup
where the brothers perform a pat-a-cake routine
just so they can work together to give each other a boost.
Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake Pasta man
Give me pasta power as fast as you can
Pasta Power!
There are times when the brothers wish to return to Brooklyn,
and a few opportunities present themselves,
only to have them turn back in the last second
to save the Princess for the umpteenth time.
One time they do get back to Brooklyn,
but Koopa follows them and tries to take over.
They lure Koopa into chasing them back
and to make sure Brooklyn is safe
they destroy the gateway.
Well, it would seem I haven't much more to say on this cartoon.
Some cheap animation,
corny jokes,
out of place settings and satire,
and... well...
Just something to keep the kids occupied, I guess...
Well, seeing as I've got a few more minutes on my hands
why not take a look at the other portion of this show:
The Legend of Zelda
This is the Triforce of Wisdom, Link.
The evil wizard Ganon has the Triforce of Power.
Whoever gets both Triforces will rule this land forever!
You must help me, Link!
Hey, for you Zelda, anything.
The Legend of Zelda consists of 13 15-minute episodes.
and is mostly about trying to own 2 pieces of the Triforce:
The Triforce of Wisdom
and the Triforce of Power.
The 3rd piece, the Triforce of Courage, is never mentioned in the show.
The King probably lost it on his way to Gamalon, or something...
The basic plot is that the Triforce of Wisdom
is kept by the King and his daughter Princess Zelda.
The one to guard this relic from the evil Ganon is our hero Link.
Another beautiful day in the magical land of Hyrule.
Boring place...
I used to roam the world,
fighting monsters and sleeping in mud.
A hero's life!
Now look at me.
Living in a castle,
sleeping in a bed.
Yeah, from Adventurer to bodyguard.
The mattress is probably too soft...
But life in the castle has its adventures too
as minions from Ganon try to sneak in to steal the Triforce.
There are many times when both Ganon and Zelda
come close to getting both pieces of the Triforce.
But either due to lack of time,
or someone's clumsiness,
it never happens.
If Zelda gets both pieces
then Ganon is defeated forever.
So sometimes I wonder if Link isn't deliberately
keeping this reality from happening.
We have to get the Triforce of Power!
No time!
After all:
Without a villain what are heroes gonna do?
Only difference is that Sonic has Sally
while Link doesn't get any from Zelda,
Despite there being a hint of love from Zelda.
So, basically, it is a series of Capture the Flag campaigns.
Speaking of the relationship between Zelda and Link,
it is almost always about bickering over the little things.
While Link tries his best to save the day,
he gets very little gratitude from Zelda.
Nice job, hero.
Tada!
Your Triforce chunk, fair maiden.
Kiss me!
Wonderful!
One more to go.
Come on, Link.
We may not need a hero to fight off this attack.
We may not even need you!
Well.
Excuse me, Princess.
ExcJse me, Princess.
ExcUse me, Princess.
Excuse me, Princess.
Aw, come on, Princess.
No!
We almost had the Triforce!
It was right there!
I swear, it's like they were already married.
Many times he tries to get a kiss from Zelda,
and the few times she allows it
something always interrupts the moment.
Ok, a quick little kiss.
But remember, it doesn't mean anything.
'course not...
Kiss me, Princess.
Sure!
Why not.
I guess it won't spoil the day too much.
Link! Look!
Are you gonna talk or smooch?
Pucker up, Princess.
One quick kiss.
Alright!
So for you, a BIG Kiss.
You mean it worked?
Daddy!
This always happens...
Tada!
Saved you again!
Kiss me.
I was just going to.
This always happens!
Hey!
Knock it off, you two.
Spryte!
Ah, the infamous, annoying fairy with all the helpful hints.
Oh, wait.
Wasn't she called Proxy?
Oh, no wait, it's Navi.
And this is the stuff that carries over to the CDI games.
I just saved you from Ganon!
You did not.
As it is written:
You, Link, are the hero of Koridai!
I guess that's worth a kiss, huh?
Hah!
Although, the fairy isn't quite as annoying here.
She does have some useful information,
and can interpret some riddles,
like the ones from the Triforce.
To find your father, royal daughter,
You must search beneath the water.
Yes, the Triforce speaks.
While the Triforce of Wisdom gives hints in rhymes and riddles,
the Triforce of Power doesn't say anything useful.
But you're no amateur,
you're a pro.
And there are times they take the relic for a walk.
Ganon conjures his minions from this Evil Jar,
which seems to also recycle vanquished enemies.
Each time Ganon is defeated with 3 zaps
HE is sent to the Jar and awaits respawn with the others.
And he seems to like teleporting a lot.
I guess he just does that out of frustration
because his powers are limited on the surface.
and when they do
I'll be there!
You know, even if it's a bit much, sometimes I wish I could do that.
Just teleport around
in the middle of a sentence
making it hard
to follow
what
to follow what I'm saying
Although, I swear, not even John de Lancie is that bad
in any of his omnipotent incarnations.
Now I'm not too familiar with the powerups
but I think they got most of them correct.
But I don't think I've heard of a flying shield in the games.
But it seems that if anyone can do magic if they set their mind to studying it
I guess anything can go here.
In the next to last episode
Link manages to destroy the Evil Jar,
making me want to shift the order of the episodes a little.
Oh, yeah.
Unlike Super Mario I feel that there is a solid introductory episode
and possibly a good ending episode.
I mean, once the Jar is destroyed
and the evil magic is tearing the underworld apart,
what more is there to do?
So, that was the Super Show.
And I think the Zelda cartoon was somewhat better than the Mario Cartoon.
Maybe better animated,
but that could just be the slightly better adventures
making me forget about the other cheesiness.
Up next, we shall jump a number,
And take a look at The Adventures of Super Mario Brothers 3