128 Marios

Welcome To...

2010-02-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

What's new?

2010-02-09T16:58:00.002-05:00

It's been a year since the 128th Mario dropped, and I thought it would be nice to let you know what else I have going on.

Check out Wonderly Wroth for all your strange, unnecessary fiction/writing needs!

About This Site

2009-02-09T20:06:00.002-05:00

From October 10th, 2008 to February 9th, 2009 I drew a new picture of Nintendo's mascot character Mario every day. Some were straight homages to the game series, many were humorous, others were juxtapositions of the character into entirely new art styles.

The project was first and foremost a personal creative challenge to boost my creative output and improve my drawing skills, but I like to think I made it entertaining to follow along with, also. I suppose you can be the final judge of that.

The "128" derives from the infamous Super Mario 128, a promised sequel to Super Mario 64 that was hyped by Nintendo for years but which never materialized. I suppose "64 Marios" would have been more obvious, but 128 seemed like the right length for the project.

A Retrospective

2009-02-09T20:05:00.000-05:00

Archive Links

2009-02-09T20:04:00.005-05:00

Older Posts
Look for this near the bottom right of most pages to browse through the archives manually!

Top Marios
15 of the better pieces from the archives (in my opinion, anyway).

Style Parodies
Mario drawn in the art style of other games, TV shows, etc.
(Note that this doesn't account for non-art style specific parodies, of which a great many more exist in the archives)

Powerups
Different forms Mario has taken in his many adventures.

Holidays
Celebrate festivities with Mario & co.

Months
I gave Mario a sort of day off to enjoy himself every month.

Bottom Marios
For the sadomasochists in the audience.

Pro Tips

2009-02-09T20:02:00.001-05:00

I learned quite a few things from doing 128 Marios, which is enough in and of itself to have made the project a success. A few choice bits of wisdom for any artists in the audience who are thinking about doing something similar in the future:

Don't waste too much time on your ideas. This isn't to say you shouldn't be ambitious, but understand what level of ambition is appropriate for whatever you're working on. Too often, especially early on, I'd find myself getting far too caught up in the minutia of a Mario - and yet, not only did the extra work not come through in the art, these pieces actually got consistently less positive feedback then the ones I hammered out quick and painlessly! Maybe it's just irony, but I think there's a value to spontaneity in art (even if the artist's first instinct is to fight it).

Buffers of content are not as great as they sound. A lot of online cartoonists suggest working at least a week ahead of your update schedule. And yeah, it does spare you the initial anxiety of having to get your next update hammered out before the deadline rolls around. Personally, though, I find that it's in working through this anxiety, and in knowing that your work will be seen by someone as soon as you're finished with it, that you're able to put the most spontaneity (I'm using that word a lot) and creativity into your work. I feel like the quality of my work on this site shot way, way up once I stopped worrying about how far ahead I was.

It's really not that hard to keep a schedule. Unless you make it hard for yourself, anyway. This is sort of in opposition to the suggestion above, and yeah, you'll need to create small buffers at points where you know you literally won't be able to make it to the tools of your trade. In general, though, if you really care about what you're working on you will find a way to make time for it, no matter what. (Or maybe I'm just saying that because I'm a jobless college student.)

Special Thanks

2009-02-09T20:01:00.003-05:00

Like any proper game ending, I have a list of weird names to read off! Huge thanks go to the following ladies and/or gentlemen:

Rei, official #1 fan of 128marios, whose promotional efforts and support have been invaluable to the site.

Max, Deebee, and everyone else who commented on the procession of Marios via the inter-net. Without your support, I never would have made it this far.

My parents, for being enthusiastic and supportive of the site as opposed to insisting I simply "mind my studies". Also for creating me, I guess.

My brother, for his continuing enthusiasm and also for suggesting a few of the more popular Marios.

Shigeru Miyamoto, without whom none of us would be here.

And last but not least...

Myself, for doing all of the actual work!

#128/128 - 128 Marios

2009-02-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
...and that's the end! Come back tomorrow for my closing thoughts (and some extra content, too).

#127/128 - Saved!

2009-02-08T00:42:00.006-05:00

Thank you, Mario!
Your quest is over.
...well, not quite yet. Tune in tomorrow for the ending!

#126/128 - Final Boss

2009-02-07T01:30:00.001-05:00

#125/128 - February

2009-02-06T00:03:00.001-05:00

Dawn of a new day!

#124/128 - Mario Valentines!

2009-02-05T01:06:00.002-05:00

We won't be making it to the actual holiday, so I figured I'd be pre-emptive.
This one is not as simple as it may initially appear!

#123/128 - Super Mario Strikers

2009-02-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

Presented in glorious Squigglevision!

#122/128 - Fantastic Mario Bros.

2009-02-03T00:12:00.002-05:00

#121/128 - A Pair of Pathetic Peripatetics

2009-02-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

A pale, ill-fitting counterfeit of work by the greatest cartoonist of all time.

#120/128 - Star Get!

2009-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

#119/128 - Money Mario

2009-01-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
The idea for today's Mario was submitted by Andrew M., age 11. Thanks for following the site, Andrew!

#118/128 - Toon Mario

2009-01-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Adventure on the high seas!

#117/128 - Oldschool

2009-01-29T01:14:00.001-05:00

For those who still... remember...

#116/128 - Mushroom Kingdom Hearts

2009-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

#115/128 - Juggem's Cloud

2009-01-27T01:23:00.001-05:00

The tables have turned!

#114/128 - January

2009-01-26T00:23:00.001-05:00

#113/128 - Flying Mario

2009-01-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

#112/128 - Lurking Danger (pt. 3) -- OR -- Hi, I'm Daisy

2009-01-24T00:00:00.003-05:00

The shocking conclusion to this nonsense trilogy I've devised. (Part 1, Part 2)
Mostly just an excuse to draw Princess Daisy messing up some fool with a golf club.

#111/128 - Teenage Meddlin' Koopa Brothers

2009-01-23T01:22:00.002-05:00

#110/128 - Flat Mario

2009-01-22T01:29:00.001-05:00

Didn't have time to draw anything good, so I did this instead. Sorry!

#109/128 - No Donkey Kong Country For Old Men

2009-01-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Donkey Kong is kind of a Mario character, anyways!

#108 - Hammer Mario

2009-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

(Click above to view full size)

#107/128 - Frog Mario II

2009-01-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

I wasn't happy with my first attempt, so I tried again from a different perspective.

#106/128 - Attack of the Koopa Kids!

2009-01-18T00:21:00.005-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
I finally got around to the Koopa Kids!

The earliest memories I have of drawing are of copying illustrations from the Super Mario World instruction manual, and these guys were always my favorite subjects. I had originally planned to dedicate an entire week to depicting duels with each individual Koopaling for 128 Marios, but as I figured such a self-indulgent detour so close to the end would leave people cold, I tried to cram them all into one picture instead. The final product's a bit more rushed and crowded than I'd have liked, but there you are.

...wow, these posts sure are getting text-heavy! I'll try to cut down on the rambling.

#105/128 - Mario the Rapper

2009-01-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

In the rain or in the snow
Draw the draw the Mario

...yeah, though, Parappa the Rapper! Familiarize yourself.

#104/128 - Tanooki Suit

2009-01-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
Another obscure item from the games! There sure are a lot of them, huh?

#103/128 - Spring Mario

2009-01-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I phoned this one in a lil' bit - I have been pretty sick as of late, so that is my excuse!

As an aside, this is probably my least favorite power-up from the Mario series. Yes, it lets you jump higher, but it's so much harder to control! More like a power-down, says I.

#102/128 - Top Secret Area

2009-01-14T00:03:00.002-05:00

Based on an especially useful hidden level from Super Mario World.

#101/128 - Mario Party

2009-01-13T00:12:00.001-05:00

#100/128 - New Life

2009-01-12T00:05:00.005-05:00

This project of mine is nearing completion, but don't count Mario out yet! I daresay he has a bit more... life left in him...? Aha, ahaha.

#99/128 - Mario's Laboratory

2009-01-11T00:47:00.003-05:00

Mario tinkering a bit with F.L.U.D.D.. (Those are lab goggles he's wearing, by the way.)

#98/128 - Samurai Mario

2009-01-10T01:40:00.003-05:00

#97/128 - Marionapped!

2009-01-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

#96/128 - Virtual Fighter

2009-01-08T00:04:00.002-05:00

Based on the eye-straining graphics of the late, great Virtual Boy. (Look it up!)

#95/128 - Sunken Horrors

2009-01-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Based on one of my favorite levels from all of Mario-dom.

#94/128 - Pulp Mushroom

2009-01-06T00:43:00.002-05:00

"You know what they call a Goomba in Japan?"
"They don't call it a Goomba?"
"Nah man, they call it a Kuribo."
"Kuribo!"

#93/128 - Mario Mario: Ace Attorney

2009-01-05T00:56:00.003-05:00

The Phoenix Wright series - it is great! And parodied by this piece.

#92/128 - Mega Mario

2009-01-04T00:24:00.000-05:00

#91/128 - Mini Mario

2009-01-03T02:30:00.001-05:00

#90/128 - Teddy Mario

2009-01-02T00:52:00.001-05:00

#89/128 - The 'Works

2009-01-01T02:15:00.002-05:00

Happy "New-Year"!

#88/128 - Everyone's A Critic

2008-12-31T00:49:00.003-05:00

#88/128 - Frog Mario

2008-12-30T11:57:00.000-05:00

#86/128 - Stained Glass Mario

2008-12-29T00:35:00.000-05:00

#85/128 - Hammer of the Bros.

2008-12-28T00:52:00.002-05:00

#84/128 - Final Smash

2008-12-27T11:13:00.001-05:00

#83/128 - Ice Mario

2008-12-26T01:06:00.002-05:00

It took me less time to complete this Mario than perhaps any other. I don't think it looks half bad, considering.

#82/128 - A Super Mario Christmas

2008-12-25T01:07:00.003-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
Merry Christmas, 128 Marios!

Merry Christmas, movie house!

#81/128 - The Mario Before Christmas

2008-12-24T00:17:00.004-05:00

Up on the housetop - Yoshi paws!

This was originally going to be the Mario posted on Christmas day, but I like the one I drew for Christmas Eve a lot better, so you'll see that one tomorrow instead.

Interesting points to consider: why is the rein-yoshi at the head of Mario's sleigh closer to his destination than he is? Why is Mario pointed towards the edge of the roof instead of the chimney? Perhaps it is a bit of Christmas magic at work. Yes, I believe a Christmas wizard is responsible.

#80/128 - The Ghosts of Christmas

2008-12-23T08:42:00.004-05:00

The Boos of Christmas (left to right): Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future.

#79/128 - Humbug!

2008-12-22T00:17:00.001-05:00

#78/128 - Super Miser Bros.

2008-12-21T01:42:00.003-05:00

On the third day of Christmas, I give to you a reference to an obscure holiday special. Year Without a Santa Claus, kids - make a note of it.

#77/128 - Gingerbread Mario

2008-12-20T01:12:00.001-05:00

#76/128 - A Holly Jolly Mario

2008-12-19T00:08:00.003-05:00

As with Halloween, I plan to spend the week leading up to Christmas drawing Christmas-themed Marios. EXPECT THE FIRST MARIO WHEN THE BELL TOLLS... whenever now is.

On the first day of Christmas, a very snowy Mario offers you a cup of cheer.

#75/128 - A MARIO draws near!

2008-12-18T01:26:00.005-05:00

Another piece based on graphics from an old game, but drawn from scratch.

#74/128 - Mario Trek

2008-12-17T01:19:00.002-05:00

The obvious counterpart to yesterday's installment.

#73/128 - Mario Wars

2008-12-16T00:36:00.004-05:00

(Click above to view full size)

#72/128 - Super Mario Galaxy

2008-12-15T00:35:00.003-05:00

I didn't draw the background - that's another point for the ever-popular Google Image Search.

#71/128 - December

2008-12-14T00:01:00.003-05:00

Snow is falling, penguins are chirping... summer is here!

#70/128 - Lurking Danger (pt. 2)

2008-12-13T00:24:00.003-05:00

The thrilling continuation!

#69 - Movie Mario

2008-12-12T00:59:00.002-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
Based loosely on the characters as depicted in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, which, if you're not familiar with it... be thankful, okay?

#68 - Cavemario

2008-12-11T00:02:00.001-05:00

#67 - Koopa Shell Mario

2008-12-10T00:10:00.001-05:00

#66/128 - Charming As Ever

2008-12-09T00:04:00.000-05:00

#65/128 - Marioryuken

2008-12-08T01:33:00.000-05:00

#64/128 - Wing Cap Mario

2008-12-07T10:56:00.003-05:00

We're halfway through! Stick around - I have a feeling the next 64 Marios will be even Marioer.

(And yes, I did draw an aerial view of that entire level.)

#63/128 - Mario Kart

2008-12-06T09:56:00.001-05:00

You knew this one was coming. I sort of put it off on account of hating to draw go-karts, but...

#62 - Lurking Danger

2008-12-05T00:25:00.002-05:00

Who could that be, I wonder...?

#61 - The Evolution of Mario

2008-12-04T00:35:00.003-05:00

(Click above to view full size)
Featuring a possibly unnecessary pun/cameo.

#60/128 - Mobile Suit MARIO

2008-12-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

Mostly based on Gundam, with a little Megazord and Voltron mixed in there.

#59/128 - Sir Mario

2008-12-02T00:02:00.001-05:00

#58/128 - Kuribo's Shoe

2008-12-01T00:38:00.001-05:00

#57/128 - Ancient Mario

2008-11-30T00:31:00.000-05:00

#56/128 - Metal Mario

2008-11-29T00:46:00.002-05:00

(Click above to view full size)

#55/128 - Game Over Walking

2008-11-28T00:24:00.000-05:00

#54/128 - Balloon Mario!

2008-11-27T00:11:00.005-05:00

A Mario float for Thanksgiving.

#53/128 - Augh!

2008-11-26T00:57:00.003-05:00

Well, it is football season, right?

...no seriously, I'm asking you.

#52/128 - November

2008-11-25T00:00:00.002-05:00

The obvious sequel to #9.

#51/128 - Yer Mario

2008-11-24T00:18:00.002-05:00

(Click above to view full size)

#50/128 - Consultation

2008-11-23T00:08:00.001-05:00

#49/128 - You Shall Not Pasta

2008-11-22T00:48:00.001-05:00

Get it? "Pasta"? He's Italian.

#48/128 - HEY PAIZANOS

2008-11-21T11:33:00.002-05:00

This started as a portrait of "Captain" Lou Albano but quickly degenerated into something far more creepy.

#47/128 - My Kingdom for a Hat

2008-11-20T01:13:00.001-05:00

#46/128 - Golden Axe

2008-11-19T00:54:00.001-05:00

One world down...

#45/128 - Bee Mario

2008-11-18T00:57:00.002-05:00

(Click above to view full size)

#44/128 - Mario & Luigi

2008-11-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

Doin' what they can!

#43/128 - Blue Yoshi

2008-11-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

#42/128 - Yellow Yoshi

2008-11-15T00:20:00.001-05:00

I really like how this one turned out.

#41/128 - Red Yoshi

2008-11-14T00:37:00.001-05:00

#40/128 - Green Yoshi

2008-11-13T00:03:00.004-05:00

The next couple of Marios all feature Yoshis!

This particular piece is pretty awful and hackneyed, but the others are pretty good.

#39/128 - Mariobound

2008-11-12T00:02:00.004-05:00

Mario & co. in the art style of the peerless MOTHER series.

Believe it or not, I didn't modify any existing sprites for this one. I did, however, painstakingly recreate the art style of the games, pixel by pixel - all so that you could think I was being lazy.

#38/128 - Mari-O's (R)

2008-11-11T00:50:00.002-05:00

BOX WEEK! Not really.

#37/128 - Mario's Pizza

2008-11-10T00:26:00.002-05:00

PIZZA PIE

DID ANYONE ORDER A PIZZA-PIE

#36/128 - Against Shadow Mario

2008-11-09T00:09:00.000-05:00