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List of Mario franchise characters
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<p>The <a href="/facts/Mario_(franchise)/2Y2me64x"><i>Mario</i> franchise</a> is a <a href="/facts/Media_franchise/IBzGhQjA">media franchise</a> created by <a href="/facts/Nintendo/dMrLpaHu">Nintendo</a>. Nintendo is usually the <a href="/facts/Video_game_developer/6gbHyvDu">developer</a> and publisher of the franchise's games, but various games are developed by third-party companies such as <a href="/facts/Intelligent_Systems/SEqF4qtt">Intelligent Systems</a> and <a href="/facts/Nintendo_Cube/WSS7RTL5">Nintendo Cube</a>. Games in the <i>Mario</i> franchise primarily revolve around the main protagonist <a href="/facts/Mario/r7to5SPn">Mario</a> and often involve the trope of <a href="/facts/Bowser/Q1ByUtrm">Bowser</a> as the main antagonist kidnapping <a href="/facts/Princess_Peach/zkhztkDq">Princess Peach</a>, with Mario then rescuing her. Many characters have goals or plot arcs that vary between series; for example, the <i><a href="/facts/Luigi%2527s_Mansion/Qh2Hxpnx">Luigi's Mansion</a></i> games focus on <a href="/facts/Luigi/ARUJ3tbF">Luigi</a> ridding a haunted building of ghost-like creatures known as Boos, and <a href="/facts/Wario/zBX9SrNg">Wario</a> stars in <a href="/facts/Wario_(series)/9AodBspI">games</a> that center around his greed and desire for money and treasure. </p><p>The franchise began with <i><a href="/facts/Donkey_Kong_(arcade_game)/C6LxVrLl">Donkey Kong</a></i> in 1981, where <a href="/facts/Mario/r7to5SPn">Mario</a>, <a href="/facts/Donkey_Kong_(character)/NCovDkY4">Donkey Kong</a>, and <a href="/facts/Pauline_(Nintendo)/dUj49glu">Pauline</a> originated. Japanese video game designer <a href="/facts/Shigeru_Miyamoto/xYoBgNnb">Shigeru Miyamoto</a> built them off the base of characters from <i><a href="/facts/Popeye/CFL71y6V">Popeye</a></i>. Unable to <a href="/facts/License/xaP3U6ga">license</a> the characters, Miyamoto made later changes to their appearances and personalities, such as a more lighthearted tone. Due to the breakthrough critical and commercial success of <i>Donkey Kong</i>, Mario reappeared in <i><a href="/facts/Mario_Bros./sBGmD3xh">Mario Bros.</a></i> in 1983, which introduced Mario's <a href="/facts/Fraternal_twin/9QSssff4">twin brother</a> Luigi, and <i><a href="/facts/Super_Mario_Bros./ryoTeTg7">Super Mario Bros.</a></i> in 1985, which introduced <a href="/facts/Toad_(Nintendo)/uSsa77vF">Toad</a> alongside numerous enemies, with Bowser and Princess Peach replacing Donkey Kong and Pauline, respectively. </p><p>Each series has introduced numerous characters, many of them recurring. Some have starred in their own games or in supporting roles. The games all typically share common enemies. </p>