Luigi (Japanese: ルイージ; /luˈiːdʒi/) is a character from the Mario franchise. He is a kind-hearted, cowardly Italian plumber, and the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario. Like his brother, Luigi's distinctive characteristics include his large nose and mustache, overalls, green hat, and high-pitched, exaggerated Italian accent.
Luigi was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for Mario Bros. which since then, Luigi has since appeared in multiple games and other media throughout the Mario franchise, in which developed a personality and style of his own. As his role in the Mario franchise progressed, Luigi evolved into a physically distinct character, and become the main protagonist of Mario is Missing! and the Luigi's Mansion series.
From March 2013 to March 2014, Nintendo called the period the Year of Luigi to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the character's existence.
Concept and characteristics
editLuigi is the taller, younger brother of Mario, whose usually seen dressed in a green shirt, dark blue overalls, and a green hat with a green "L" insignia, and although he is a plumber like Mario.[1] During the development of Mario Bros., lead designer Shigeru Miyamoto took further inspiration from Joust which he would created Luigi by swapping Mario's color palette.[2] It is currently unconfirmed how Luigi received his name, although there are many theories. New Straits Times noted that Miyamoto observed the Japanese word ruiji means "similar", thus explaining the similarities of Luigi to Mario.[3] Rus McLaughlin of IGN wrote that theories from a rhyme on the Japanese word for "analogous" and a pizza parlor near Minoru Arakawa's office called Mario & Luigi's were considered.[4]
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels marked the beginning of Luigi's development toward becoming a more distinguished character, with his higher and farther jump.[2] His appearance in Luigi's Mansion help developed Luigi's cautious and timid personality as he was known however, according to the manual for Mario Party, he's smarter than his older brother Mario.[5] Being the younger twin of Mario, Luigi is presumed to be in his early 20s at most and raises the possibility that he's a teenager.[6] While it has not been made official, Daisy has been rumored to be Luigi's romantic interest. In Mario Kart Wii they are seen in statue dancing together. She was his caddy in NES Open Tournament Golf,[7] as Peach was to Mario. Also on Daisy's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, it says that she is possibly Luigi's answer to Mario's Peach.[8] Nintendo did not initially give Luigi a surname. The first notable use of "Luigi Mario" was in the 1993 live-action film adaptation. In September 2015, at the Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary festival, Miyamoto stated that Mario's full name was Mario Mario. As a result, this indirectly confirms Luigi's full name to be Luigi Mario.[9]
Actor portrayal
editAppearances
edithttps://www.polygon.com/2018/6/25/17501170/mario-tennis-aces-luigi-story-mode
https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2019/10/28/20932918/luigis-mansion-3-review-nintendo-switch
Promotion and merchandise
editLuigi has appeared in a variety of merchandise offered by different companies. The Lego Group produced a Lego Super Mario set that featured him and other Mario characters.[10]
https://www.polygon.com/22544278/lego-super-mario-luigi-set-release-date-impressions
On February 14, 2013, Nintendo began the Year of Luigi, a 30th-anniversary celebration for him which included games featuring him as the main protagonist such as Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Dr. Luigi, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, and New Super Luigi U. On March 19, 2014, Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto announced that the Year of Luigi ended.[11] On October 4, 2019, Nintendo declared that the entire month of October would be the Month of Luigi, which only celebrate Luigi's Mansion 3, released on October 31, 2019. The Month of Luigi ended on November 1, 2019.[12]
Critical reception
editLuigi was well received
Brian Gilbert of Polygon discuss that Luigi has been described as a joke from his characterization and lack of importance.[13]
Ennuigi
editLuigi's characterization in the fan game Ennuigi has also been discussed by multiple reviewers.
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/16/ennuigi-existential-game/
Luigi's death stare
edit"Luigi's death stare" is an internet meme based on an facial expression of Luigi from the 2014 video game Mario Kart 8. Usually, playable characters in the game have expressionless faces however, Luigi was showed with a disturbing malevolence face while slowly rotates. It was discovered after the game's release by a gamer who would uploaded a YouTube video titled Waluigi vs. Luigi 1 in which showed a slow-motion clip of Luigi passes Waluigi and then glares at him with the 2005 song Ridin' by Chamillionaire playing on the background. The video would gained in millions of views,[14] and the meme gained spread popularity with users sharing screenshots, videos and gifs of their encounters, and becoming a staple of internet culture.[15]
Writers has commented their opinion about Luigi's expression in the meme. James Walsh of The Guardian praised the meme and indicates as a "ice-cold reaction" and the end-of-race highlights.[16] Eurogamer writer Jeffrey Matulef wrote that the meme was liked Luigi revealing a sinister dark side behind the wheel and it was the ominous internet meme.[17] Polygon writer Alexa Ray Corriea noted that his stare was enough to stop players in their tracks on his own. Being unsure of why he is irritable after holds his opponents to down them with his bonus items.[18] Slate writer Lily Hay Newman discussed that the meme supports a meme theory omitting the fact that "It’s always funny when someone looks back over [their] shoulder at you."[19]
Shorty after the video, Nintendo released a Japanese commercial for the game and critics indicates that the company is embracing the meme in the commercial.[20][21] VentureBeat writer Jeffrey Grubb was impressed that the company acknowledged its fan culture without taking it away, and made that choice in an effort to reward its customers. Nintendo of America senior director of communications Charlie Scibetta states, "It was a late addition, and we thought that we could pay homage to the fans".[22] Nintendo Life writer Damien McFerran wrote that the meme has gone viral and featured in mainstream media as evidenced by a clip on Fox News in North America.[23]
References
edit- ^ "Luigi Biography". IGN. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
- ^ a b McLaughlin, Rus (November 8, 2007). "IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Super Mario: The New Craze in Japan". New Straits Times. August 10, 1986. p. 10. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ^ McLaughlin, Rus (November 8, 2007). "IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (July 3, 2017). "When did Luigi become such a scaredy cat?". Polygon. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ Mendelsohn, Tom (September 30, 2016). "Mario is only 24 years old, according to creator Shigeru Miyamoto". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ "IGN: Princess Daisy Biography". IGN. July 7, 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
- ^ 2002. Nintendo. "Trophy Gallery" on Super Smash Bros. Melee game disc.
- ^ 【衝撃事実】ついに任天堂公式のマリオの本名が判明！任天堂の代表取締役・宮本茂氏が明かす [[Impact] fact finally found real name of Nintendo official of Mario! Reveal the representative director, Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo] (in Japanese). September 14, 2015. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (April 20, 2021). "Luigi is getting his own Lego Super Mario set". Polygon. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Gaston, Martin (February 18, 2014). "Miyamoto puts an official end to the Year of Luigi". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ Craddock, Ryan (October 4, 2019). "October 2019 Is Officially The Month Of Luigi". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Gilbert, Brian (2018-08-14). "When did Luigi become a joke?". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
- ^ Herold, Charles (December 17, 2019). "Luigi Death Stare: The Internet Meme Inspired by a Hostile Glance". Lifewire. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Lynch, Matthew (2023-06-10). "Luigi Death Stare: The Internet Meme Inspired by a Hostile Glance". The Tech Edvocate. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Walsh, James (2014-06-09). "Luigi's death stare: are you enjoying Mario Kart 8?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (2014-07-22). "Mario Kart 8 Japanese ad embraces Luigi's death stare". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (2014-06-02). "Luigi isn't playing games with his 'death stare' in Mario Kart 8". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ Newman, Lily Hay (2014-07-22). "Luigi's Death Stare Joins the Canon of Classic Memes". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (2014-07-22). "Nintendo turns Luigi's death stare into a 'Mario Kart' commercial". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (2014-07-22). "Nintendo has officially adopted the Luigi Death Stare". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Grubb, Jeffrey (June 12, 2014). "How Nintendo used the Luigi Death Stare without ruining fans' fun". VentureBeat. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ McFerran, Damien (June 4, 2014). "Weirdness: Luigi's Mario Kart 8 'Death Stare' Is Deemed Noteworthy By Fox News". Nintendo Life. Retrieved November 1, 2024.