Mario and the Sand Bird

This is the first Fan Art I've submitted in a long time, but I figured if I was going to do it I was going to depict my favorite part of my favorite game. I don't know why Super Mario Sunshine makes me feel so good; I know it's not as spectacular as Galaxy or as groundbreaking as Super Mario 64. Still, I've always had an affinity for tropical settings and I love Mario, so when you combine the two... awesome.

This particular part of the game really sticks out to me, for some reason. I just think that the combination of flying, surrounded by nothing but clouds, on top of a creature made of sand bricks really makes the moment feel dreamlike. Oh, and the music really helps too--so soft and serene. I know there are multiple sky challenges in the game, but the Sand Bird challenge is the only one that really makes you feel like you are flying.

Mario and related material © Nintendo