Nintendo has released a new anniversary commercial titled "It's You, Mario" to mark the Super Mario series' 40th anniversary.
The short spot traces Mario's evolution from the Famicom era through landmark entries in the franchise, using archival imagery and music to evoke key moments in the platform series.
The ad is part of a wider slate of activities celebrating four decades of Nintendo's flagship character.
Journalistic summary of fan reaction: many viewers noticed the ad's selective retrospective and asked, in effect, where several major entries went — specifically calling out Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 3D World as conspicuously absent from the montage.
Confirmed platform and release information for the titles referenced or omitted:
- Super Mario Bros.: first released on Nintendo's Famicom in 1985 and later on the NES, the game established Mario as a household name.
- Super Mario Bros. 3: originally released in Japan in 1988 for the Famicom.
- Super Mario World: launched on the Super Famicom/SNES in 1990.
- Super Mario Sunshine: released for Nintendo's GameCube in 2002.
- Super Mario 3D World: first released for Wii U in 2013; a remastered version, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, arrived on Nintendo Switch in 2021.
- Super Mario Galaxy: released for Wii in 2007; its sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, launched in 2010.
The ad's choices mean entire console generations and several fan-favorite releases receive little or no screen time.
That editorial decision prompted discussion among long-time players and preservation-minded observers, who said the spot felt like a snapshot rather than a comprehensive retrospective.
Separately, Nintendo has made the soundtracks from Super Mario Galaxy (2007) and Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) available on Spotify for a limited time as part of the 40th anniversary programming.
Fans who want to hear those orchestral scores should check streaming platforms while the release window remains active.
Overall, "It's You, Mario" functions as a celebratory vignette: concise, affectionate, and designed to spotlight the series' longevity.
While collectors and series historians may note omissions, the commercial underscores Nintendo's continued investment in Mario as a core franchise developed by Nintendo's internal teams, including historic groups now organized under Nintendo EPD.
The short spot traces Mario's evolution from the Famicom era through landmark entries in the franchise, using archival imagery and music to evoke key moments in the platform series.
The ad is part of a wider slate of activities celebrating four decades of Nintendo's flagship character.
Journalistic summary of fan reaction: many viewers noticed the ad's selective retrospective and asked, in effect, where several major entries went — specifically calling out Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 3D World as conspicuously absent from the montage.
Confirmed platform and release information for the titles referenced or omitted:
- Super Mario Bros.: first released on Nintendo's Famicom in 1985 and later on the NES, the game established Mario as a household name.
- Super Mario Bros. 3: originally released in Japan in 1988 for the Famicom.
- Super Mario World: launched on the Super Famicom/SNES in 1990.
- Super Mario Sunshine: released for Nintendo's GameCube in 2002.
- Super Mario 3D World: first released for Wii U in 2013; a remastered version, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, arrived on Nintendo Switch in 2021.
- Super Mario Galaxy: released for Wii in 2007; its sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, launched in 2010.
The ad's choices mean entire console generations and several fan-favorite releases receive little or no screen time.
That editorial decision prompted discussion among long-time players and preservation-minded observers, who said the spot felt like a snapshot rather than a comprehensive retrospective.
Separately, Nintendo has made the soundtracks from Super Mario Galaxy (2007) and Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) available on Spotify for a limited time as part of the 40th anniversary programming.
Fans who want to hear those orchestral scores should check streaming platforms while the release window remains active.
Overall, "It's You, Mario" functions as a celebratory vignette: concise, affectionate, and designed to spotlight the series' longevity.
While collectors and series historians may note omissions, the commercial underscores Nintendo's continued investment in Mario as a core franchise developed by Nintendo's internal teams, including historic groups now organized under Nintendo EPD.