Case Study (what in the media did we love as children. Why?)

I have chosen to look at Mario. Why and how my biggest childhood favorite caught my imagination. A true fondness that i still feel today.

There are so many reasons have always, and will always, adore Mario. I feel the reasons I am emotionally attached the character are the reasons that so many are too.

Who is Mario? 

Mario is the most famous computer games character of all time and the mascot of the largest computer games industry in the world.  He is a slightly over weight italian plumber and the brain child of Shigeru Miyamoto, the man considered by many to be the god farther of computer games. He has a big mustache and wears a cap adorned with the letter M (Famously all Miyamoto's characters all wear hats as he feels he cannot draw hair).

The simplicity of the character design is what makes him so appealing and universal. His clothes are coloured only in primary colours and he is undoubtably instantly recognizable. What I feel is a testimony to how good of a piece of character design he is, is the fact that even in 8-bit and drawn only from fifty odd pixels he is still incredibly recognizable. In 2006 a survey found that world wide he was recognized by more people than Ronald McDonald , Sonic and Bugs Bunny. In-fact the only character more recognized was Mickey Mouse, and he got a 70 year head start.

The reason also he appeals so greatly to the masses I feel are his adventures. The world he inhabits is clearly based on our own. There is grass, trees ,flowers, even some familiar creatures. The world is however completely idealized aesthetically. The sky is blue, the trees are green and gravity is slightly weaker. By basing the games in a world that is familiar it asks little of the gamer, only to believe in the lore of the land. Mario's world is viewed from the eyes of child everything is exaggerated. Everything that inhabits his world is just that little bit extraordinary and slightly surreal. I think the wonder of The Mushroom Kingdom (Marios world) is that it is rooted firmly in the thoughts of a child and is not afraid to make you suspend your disbelief and just except that a flower can eat you.

The final and most important reason i believe Mario impacted so greatly on me, and others across the world, is this. It is the most universal story ever told.

 A look at the characters of the Mario universe and identifying the archetypal roles within the world. Using  Vladimir  Propp's  Narrative  theory, based on Russian fairy tales and believed to be the root of all good storys. Propp was a great inspiration to Joseph Campbell

  It follows the three act structure equilibrium ,disequilibrium, equilibrium. This is found in everything from Greek tragedies to Shakepheare, Citizen Kane to Coraline. 

1. The Villain- Bowser, struggles to over come the Hero in attempt to prevent him from achiveing his goals and normally kidnaps the princess.  
   
2. The Donor- Luigi, provides The Hero with the magical helper he he needs in order to complete his quest.   
   
3. The (Magical) Helper-,Power ups (mushrooms, fire flowers and coins), assists the Hero in there quest by providing assistance beyond the capabilities of the Hero.
   
4. The Princess  — Princess Peach Princess acts as the Hero's Reward For Completing the Quest.
   
5. The Dispatcher-Normally the Princess' Castle, the dispatcher provides the missing link to the hero and is often found in the second or third act.The Dispatcher offers the final piece of the puzzle.
   
6. The Hero- Mario,The Hero always responds to the donor character.The Hero Always falls in love with and often marries the princess.
   

These are the reasons I believe Mario is the success it is now, and then reason why I love him so.