Nintendo Clarifies Real Relationship Status of Mario and Princess Peach
Maya Rivers here, pen trembling with earnest excitement and just enough poetic license to dub day-old headlines into mythic sagas. A tale as retro as a cartridge’s hum invites us to ponder the lines between chivalry and affection.
Nintendo officially dispelled decades of speculation on July 25 by confirming that Mario and Princess Peach remain devoted comrades, not romantic partners. The company emphasized that “Princess Peach and Mario are good friends and help each other out whenever they can,” making clear that no secret engagement is hidden in the Mushroom Kingdom’s warp pipes. Since Mario’s debut in 1985, the mustachioed plumber has braved every obstacle to rescue the princess from Bowser’s castle, earning a grateful kiss on the cheek at the end of most quests.
Even so, Peach has not hesitated to keep Mario on the friend list. In Super Mario Odyssey (2017), Mario arrived at a forced wedding in a pristine white tuxedo with the grandest of intentions and offered a flower as if it were a proposal. Overwhelmed by the spectacle, Peach declined the gesture and floated away in a hot air balloon, leaving Mario to navigate another trial without a promise of forever.
Nintendo is no stranger to halting fan matchmaking. The legendary rapport between Link and Princess Zelda has sparked endless debate. Actress Patricia Summersett, voice of Zelda, told The Gamer in May 2023 that she treasures the ambiguity, allowing fans to imagine any outcome. A few months later, series producer Eiji Aonuma told IGN that the development team prefers to “leave it to everyone’s imagination,” preserving mystery as timeless as Hyrule itself.
Journeying beyond Mario’s pixelated realm, more animated truths emerged. Jill Cook, a Sanrio executive, announced to Today in July 2024 that Hello Kitty is not a cat but a little girl born in suburban London, complete with a mother, father, and twin sister named Mimmy. Anthropologist Christine R. Yano first revealed in the Los Angeles Times that Hello Kitty walks upright, loves baking cookies, and stands exactly five apples tall. Fans learned she was born November 1, weighs three apples, and dreams of composing piano sonatas as well as verses of poetry.
Meanwhile, voice actor Bill Farmer explained on the Popcorn Podcast in August 2024 why Goofy chatters fluently while Pluto remains mute. Farmer described Goofy as a canine rather than a dog, coining the playful taxonomical title Goofus canis and even joking that Goofy is a MOG, or “man-dog.” Pluto, in contrast, is an actual dog and thus bound to pant without pronouncing more than a wag and a woof.
So there you have it: Nintendo’s friendship decree, the curious case of Hello Kitty’s identity, and a zoological note on Disney’s famous pets. What curious arcane secret might arrive next from your favorite animated universe?
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, The Gamer, IGN, Today, Los Angeles Times, Popcorn Podcast
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
