The Super Mario Brothers Movie is majorly cleaning up at box offices worldwide. It's been the number one movie for three weeks in a row and has quickly become one of the biggest animated movies of all time. But this isn't the first time Mario has appeared in animated form. Far from it! His first animated appearance was 40 years ago!
Saturday Supercade was a Saturday morning cartoon show that appeared on CBS from the fall of 1983 to the spring of 1985. The program consisted of several animated shorts featuring various popular video game characters. Donkey Kong led off each hour, and like the video game, featured the gorilla Donkey Kong racing off with Mario's girlfriend Pauline, with Mario himself in hot pursuit.
In honor of the new movie, I present the OG animated Mario for historical purposes. Please note that these cartoons weren't actually good, but I feature it today anyway just to show how far Mario has come.
Welcome to Week 2 of my salute to the 30th anniversary of Batman Returns! I'm getting a later start this week than originally planned, so I think I'm going to expand my celebration of the movie beyond my intended two-week window. That just means more Bat action for everyone!
Today I feature a 20-minute playthrough of the Batman Returns home video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment system (or at least an emulator of it). I didn't have this game nor did I have the Super Nintendo, so I'm afraid I have no experience with this game, but if you do, I'd love to read your comments below.
I have a genuine Atari 2600 video game system that I've been wanting to hook up in my living room for the longest time, and I'm hoping this is the month! As inspiration to myself, and for your entertainment, here are a few classic TV commercials for the system and select games, a few of which promote Pac-Man (including a "live action" Ms. Pac-Man). Both JC Penney and Target feature in this collection, as they both offer special deals on the system. The commercial for MegaForce features future Emmy winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)!
Finally, I've posted the Spider-Man commercial several times before, but I can't help posting it again. I love it!
Months after it was announced, the Nintendo NES Classic Edition will finally be available this Friday, November 11th. It is a small replica of the original Nintendo Entertainment System pre-loaded with 30 classic Nintendo games such as Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Kirby's Adventure, and Castlevania, among others. With this momentous occasion almost upon us, I thought it appropriate to take a look at Nintendo's most iconic character, Mario.
Debuting in 1981 as the protagonist in the classic game Donkey Kong, Mario has evolved in ways no one could have imagined back then. When a property as popular as Mario is hugely successful, it's only natural to see him appear in multiple forms of media. Here are just a few.
Here is Mario in his original glory in the 1981 version of Donkey Kong!
Here is Mario in his first ever animated version with the CBS Saturday Morning animated series Saturday Supercade. I ate this up as a kid, but I have to say, it has not aged well.
This is the first live action appearance of Mario's brother Luigi in a commercial for the Atari 2600 version of the first Mario Brothers game. They didn't start out Super; that game would come later (and wipe out everyone's memory of the Super-less Mario Brothers game that preceded it).
Here is a playthrough of the home version of Super Mario Brothers that came with every unit of the first Nintendo Video Game System that was introduced in 1985; i wouldn't get it until 1987. I couldn't wait to play this every day after school when I was in 8th grade! This video is over a half hour long, so I don't expect you to watch the whole thing, but it does bring back memories.
Here is a commercial for Hostess Snack Cakes and a Nintendo-related promotion they were running. Here, an animated Mario teams up with the Hostess Munchies characters (of whom I have no recollection whatsoever) bringing news of the contest to viewers.
Here is the intro for the beloved late-80s series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. The series featured former professional wrestler Captain Lou Albano as Mario in the live action intro and interstitial segments that were interspersed with cartoon versions of the characters, for which Albano voiced Mario. This show never appealed to me--I was getting older and was in high school during this show's debut--but many people on the 'Net have touted their love for it!
And then, of course, there is the live action theatrical movie starring the late Bob Hoskins as Mario, with John Leguizamo as Luigi. Yeah, I know. *sigh*
Finally, here is a commercial from just a couple of years ago for Mercedes Benz, featuring both the video game version and a jacked live action version of Mario enjoying a sweet Mercedes ride. Of course, even a jacked Mario has to look out for evil mushrooms!
Get in line at the electronics retailer of your choice now, or place your order online!
This is the last weekend of July, so the summer of 2016 is getting grayer at the temples. Enjoy the summer sizzle with these links!
Did you know that back in 1963, before they hit worldwide acclaim, the Rolling Stones wrote and recorded a jingle for Rick Krispies to air in the UK? Now you do!
1990s nostalgia is underrepresented at my blog, so here's a step in correcting that oversight. Here are ten 1990s cartoons you may not remember. See if they give your memory a jog!
Nintendo is making a mini version of their classic home video game system with 60 games built into the system. Want!
Hi everyone! I don't have much time, or links, today, so I'll make this short and sweet.
As you can see from the graphic above, this Saturday is Free Comic Book Day! I may not be able to make it this year because reasons, but you be sure to head on out to your local comic shop and pick up this year's crop of great free comics! And be sure to buy something while you're there and keep your comic shop afloat! Find the shop nearest you here!
A man named Billy Mitchell claims to be the "Neil Armstrong of Pac-Man" because he was the first person to win a perfect score. He also famously won a perfect score in Donkey Kong. To say the man is proud of his accomplishments is quite the understatement!
In 1978, Ringo Starr had his own TV variety special. It is, according to Ultimate Classic Rock, everything you'd expect from a late '70s TV variety special starring Ringo Starr. Check it out, if you have the stomach for it!
Football! Super Bowl! Halftime show! Deflation! Commercials! It's Super Bowl Weekend!
Eh, I don't watch football.
But I do follow the Internet, and here are some fun things I found whilst doing so!
My former employer, TV GUIDE magazine, has an awesome part of their Web site dedicated to all of the amazing covers they've published in their 50+ years of existence. Get lost in them here!
With all the buzz surrounding the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot, it's a good time to check out this rad Pinewood Derby car made to look like the Ecto-1 car from the first movie. Fantastic!
Next Tuesday, January 20th at 3pm Eastern time, Marvel Comics is going to make a major announcement about this year's upcoming Secret Wars event, which, unlike every other event from the major comics publishers, is actually supposed to change the Marvel Universe forever for real. Bookmark this link to follow along with the announcement and see what all the hubbub is about! The link won't be live until the actual event, so proceed with caution.
Long before TGI Fridays became the default place for potato skins and Jack Daniels riblets, it's first location was quite the swanky place. Learn this and more about the restaurant chain's surprisingly colorful past here!
Finally, I've professed my love for Adventure Time before, but for a twist on the popular animated series, check out this--let's not call it a rip-off, let's just say it's apparently inspired by AT. From a young group of independent animators in China comes "Legend of Lucky Pie." It's weird, it's trippy, it's mathematical!
Have a great weekend! If you're serving your community this Monday, thank you!
For the first time in a long time, I'm posting a List O' Links to round out the week. I hope you find these links as entertaining as I do!
Sticking with the Back to School theme this week, the retro 70s site Plaid Stallions showcases a sampling of back to school attire from the polyester decade. As bad as 70s fashion often looks, I kind of wish people still dressed like this!
If you're a fan of animation like I am, you've no doubt heard of the legendary Don Bluth, the former Disney animator who broke out on his own. Learn more about his story here thanks to the Onion AV Club.
Now that it's September, General Mills is once again offering its Monster Cereals for the adoring public. This year, Frankenberry, Chocula, and Booberry get redesigns from top DC Comics artists Jim Lee, Terry and Rachel Dobson, and Dave Johnson. Take a look!
One of my favorite video games growing up in the 80s was the Activision classic Kaboom! Thanks to modern technology, I can play it again online (even though I have two Atari 2600s at home). You can play too!
Finally, this link is almost a good year old, but still worth checking out: amazing Jaws-themed alternative art. As is the shark movie Jaws. Not artwork about human jaws. Because unless you're a dentist, that would be boring. And even if you are a dentist, that might be boring.
I was on the Internet this week. I found some links. Let's see them now, shall we?
Marvel and Netflix made a huge announcement yesterday, stating that Marvel will produce four separate but interweaving series for Netflix, one of which will star Daredevil, which will lead to a Defenders miniseries. This follows the model of Marvel's Avengers movies. I guess I'll have to get myself a Netflix subscription!
If you prefer your comics characters on the, well, comic side, you may enjoy DC Comics' Inferior Five; particularly, stereotypical dumb blonde character Dumb Bunny. It's as low-concept as you think it is.
The Fall TV season officially kicks off this upcoming Monday (the Fox network and most syndicated programs have already started this week). It will be interesting to see what new shows won't make it to a second season. You know what else is interesting? Eleven ill-conceived TV spin-offs that almost made it to air. A M*A*S*H spin-off starring Radar, anyone?
If I have my way, I may need to take advantage of this article. How to play your Atari 2600 on a modern television. I have two Ataris, and I hope to get one of them up and running in the coming weeks.
I'm happy to say that reruns of Gilligan's Island are now playing on retro TV network Me TV! This begs the age-old question: Ginger or Mary Ann? The correct answer is Mary Ann, by the way.
Finally, watching Adventure Time is the most fun thing you can do these days, but did you know it can also make you a better person? Really, it can. Give it a try!
I recently paid a visit to a local vintage toy store, The House of Fun in Oaklyn, New Jersey, with my 6-year-old son. The store had a huge assortment of toys from the 70s and 80s, from Star Wars to Masters of the Universe to you name it. One small section had a collection of used video games; among them, games for my first video game system, the Atari 2600.
Chances are the Atari 2600 was the first game system anyone whose a member of Generation X owned. It was affordable and had a nearly endless supply of games. Of course, the graphics are Neanderthal compared to the X-Boxes and Playstations of today, but back then, the Atari 2600 was totally rad. See just how rad in the following commercials!
Have you played Atari today?
Even in the earliest days of video games, they were addictive!
Even celebrities got into the act. Pete Rose, Don Knotts, and Pele to name a few.
Jack Black!
Did I mention that a lot of games and accessories were made for the 2600?
I have an Atari 2600 in my attic. I think it's time to blow the dust off of it and give it a try!
Just like that, the first month of the new year is over already, and we begin the shortest month of the year. We'll be singing "Auld Lang Syne" all over again before you know it. At least I have some fun links to pass the time until we get there.
Here are the 50 most essential science fiction novels according to this guy.
The Video Game Critic is a great site of extensive video game reviews. Not only do they review the latest and greatest games, they also review classic games--even for the Atari 2600!
If you're a fan of classic oldies music of the 50s and 60s like I am, there's a fine radio station in northern New Jersey that plays a great selection that you almost never find on terrestrial radio anymore--WMTR 1250 AM.
As you can tell the last few months, I haven't been nearly as prolific a blogger as in the past. But that doesn't mean I'm not on the Web--quite the contrary. I'm always coming across cool and interesting stuff, so much so that I'd like to start a new feature at the blog that showcases some of the things I find. I hope to do this weekly, but we'll see how it works out. Here we go!
At ComicBooked.com, writer The Ronyn explains why Michael Bay isn't to blame for desecrating the Transformers--Hasbro is.
Pac-Man is still a video game icon, even after 30 years. But you know who doesn't get credit--the Ghost Monsters. D.S. Cohen at About.com remedies that here.
Finally, Tuesday's Forgotten Film/TV has been one of the most important features sustaining the blog the last year or so, but that's not the only way to experience overlooked art. You should also check out the Monthly Underappreciated Music at Todd Mason's blog and Friday's Forgotten Books at Patti Abbott's blog.
Today's feautre has Halloween, 80s, and video games all rolled into one. It's a Crackle Minisode version of the 80s Saturday cartoon series Q-Bert, based on the classic video game. One of Q-Bert's friends turns into a Frankenstein monster (happens all the time), and Q-Bert's enemies try to capitalize on it. Enjoy!
Holy crap, I had no idea until a half hour ago! But thanks to Google, now I know (and knowing is half the battle). If you're a longtime reader of this blog, you know there's no way I can let this occasion go unrecognized.
It's been awhile since I've featured a Pac-Man related post, so here's something I just came across last week. Similar in vein to the animation by artist PES I featured long ago, here is the short film "Chomp Chomp." Enjoy!
Way back in my beloved decade known as the 80s, there was a tendency by TV networks to give any pop culture phenomenon possible an animated series, no matter how weird. Video games were no exception. This led to such things as cartoon versions of Pac-Man, Pole Position, and others.
This is related to Thanskgiving, so stay with me for a second.
One of these programs was Saturday Supercade, an hourlong multi-story show featuring Donkey Kong, his son Junior, Frogger, and Pitfall. As bad an idea as this seems, I watched every week. My favorite segment was Q*Bert. For those youngsters out there who aren't familiar with him, here is what the game looked like:
How to turn this character into a cartoon star? Make him a high school student dressed in late 50s garb along with his friends and enemies, of course! For whatever reason, I enjoyed this cartoon quite a bit. One episode that vaguely stayed in my memory all these years is the Thanksgiving episode.
Told ya I'd bring it back to Thanksgiving!
In this presentation by the Minisode Network, Q*Bert and his pals learn about the first Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
Hallelujah! I've finally found a clip I've been looking for forever. Or more accurately, someone else found what I've been looking for. The folks at the Spider-Man fan site Spider-Man Crawl Space posted an old commercial from the 80s for Parker Brothers' Spider-Man video game for the Atari 2600. The graphics are laughable by today's standards, but it was one of my favorites as a kid. But that's not the reason I love this commercial.
It's because the production is pretty damned good, especially the costume of the Green Goblin. As the Spider-Man site suggests, this is what the movie Goblin should have looked like!
Following up on the Beatles theme, here straight from this week's E3 gaming convention is the trailer for the upcoming Rock Band: The Beatles game. Looks pretty damn good!
