The Friends He Made Along the Way

Happy MAR10 Day! I wanted to create a piece that put not just Mario, but all of the memorable partners and friends that joined him on his adventures throughout the years. Nearly 30 hours went into this work, having representation of nearly every major game (and some outside media) in the Mario franchise.

It was quite tough to add everyone, finding space and keeping things consistent in terms of shading and coloring. But I loved experimenting with different styles from the game of origin for certain characters, like Dreambert. There are too many details to list here, so you go find your favorite ones.

I wanted this piece to be as playful and alive as possible, with characters interacting with each other in ways we wouldn’t see otherwise. This franchise means so much to me, and is a big part of who I am. It deserves every ounce of love.