The Many Jobs Of The Super Mario Bros.

The classic Nintendo characters might be gaming icons, but did you know they are also talented tradespeople too?

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was one of the biggest family films of its year and its recent sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is proving itself to be just as much of a blockbuster success. While most people know that when the brothers aren’t saving the Nintendo universe they actually work as plumbers, it's not the only job that the two have taken on. In fact, Mario alone has had well over 100 careers across video games, TV shows and spinoff material. 

From a golfing legend to a doctor, from a high-speed kart racer to a chef, it seems that there are no jobs too big or too small for this hero. However, what people might not know is that aside from plumbing, Mario and Luigi have spent a lot of time in the construction industry. These are some of the familiar jobs that the brothers have taken on. 

Carpentry 

Back in 1981, Mario made his debut. Or at least, a version of him did. Nintendo developed and released Donkey Kong, a video game title that would change the company’s history forever. The arcade experience featured the famous gorilla throwing barrels down on Jumpman, an early iteration of Mario.

At the time, Jumpman was working as a carpenter on a construction site, when the kidnapping of damsel-in-distress Pauline meant that he had to drop his work and make a save. Although the job explains Mario’s toolkit, it doesn’t really clarify why there were so many barrels on that site. 

Plumbing 

It was in 1983 that Mario and Luigi first properly appeared together in Mario Bros. The arcade game served as a precursor to the duo’s many adventures and is perhaps one of the most important titles in Nintendo's history.

It is here that the brothers first went into business as plumbers, to match the sewer scenery of the city backdrop. With the duo moving through those famous green pipes, this would become their most returned-to career path. 

Cement 

The 1983 game Mario’s Cement Factory might not quite be the standout release of the franchise but it nonetheless presented Mario with yet another role.

This time he worked in a cement factory, where he was responsible for ensuring the safe travel of the cement without the construction material crushing his colleagues! 

Demolitions 

Mario seemingly took on a new path in 1984, in the spinoff title Wrecking Crew. Released on platforms like the NES and ported to the Game Boy Advance, the title saw players controlling both Mario and Luigi as they broke down walls and pipes, serving as demolition workers.

The game also featured the first appearance of Mario’s classic golden hammer, which has since appeared in tie-in titles and the recent movies. 

It turns out that Mario would be pretty comfortable on any construction site and is probably one of the most versatile characters in video game history.