Nintendo has announced the new voice of Super Mario Sunshine after actor Charles Martinet’s retirement from dubbing the video game character.
The 67-year-old has voiced the iconic Italian plumber for 29 years, as well as other legends of the series, including Luigi and Wario.
But he stepped back in August, with Nintendo announcing he would take on an ambassador role for the video game giant.
In his place will be Kevin Afghani, whose first assignment has been to get behind the microphone for Super Mario Bros. Wonder — a new game which will be released on Friday, October 20, on Nintendo Switch.
Who is Kevin Afghani?
The 26-year-old US actor has previously provided his voice for Dragon Ball R&R and Anime Penguin: Red Snow — both internet role-play games.
Until now, his video game experience has only consisted of 2020’s Genshin Impact but the Mario job is a big break.
Afghani’s voice is set to feature on the game but also resulting advertisements and spin-offs in the multi-platform entity.
The news was announced on October 13.
Incredibly proud to have voiced Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Thanks to Nintendo for inviting me into the Flower Kingdom!
— Kevin Afghani (@KevinAfghani) October 13, 2023
Afghani wrote on Twitter: “Incredibly proud to have voiced Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Thanks to Nintendo for inviting me into the Flower Kingdom!”.
He added: “I cannot begin to express how wonderful all of your reactions have been. I truly wish I could respond to each and every one of you, but I might explode if I tried.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”.
Who previously voiced Super Mario?
Charles Martinet is a legend within Nintendo, having taken the microphone in 1994 when he crashed an audition to play the role. Although he was the first official person to voice Mario, he has actually been a voice actor for Nintendo since 1981.
Mario been voiced by an assortment of people over the years. In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Chris Pratt was the voice of Mario and Charlie Day was Luigi, with Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach.
