Super Mario Bros Movie Ad Calls Back to Classic Cartoon

The Super Mario Bros are best known for being the face of gaming since the early 80’s, but did you know that they had a television show? It was a cartoon that included live action segments featuring the brothers as everyday plumbers—called the Super Mario Brothers Super show. It aired from 1989 to 1991 and only had one season. The show disappeared into obscurity, but a few dedicated fans held it close to their hearts.

It seems a few of those dedicated fans are in charge of the marketing for the new Super Mario Bros movie. The ad for the Mario movie features the brothers in much the same way that the original cartoon would have, as actual plumbers. It presents itself as an ad for Super Mario Bros Plumbing, with corny dialogue and intentionally amateur editing, all scored to the famously campy “Super Mario Rap” from the classic show. It sells the character of the brothers perfectly and even brings back the original voice actress of Princess Toadstool (Princess Peach) to play as a character in their ad.

Lending itself to the grassroots-feel of the spot is the website and phone number shown at the very end. Calling the phone number, 929-55-MARIO, will provide you with a humorous voicemail message courtesy of Charlie Day playing Luigi. And if you go to their website, it doubles down on this feeling with a website that was clearly made by two plumbers in their freetime. Between faulty links and “Updates soon!” messages, it sells audiences on the updated versions of the Super Mario Brothers. Now we can only wait and see if the movie itself will have us, as the Super Mario Bros Rap says, ‘hooked on the brothers’.