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So, I heard from someone on the Internet while chatting on Discord, and that someone mentioned an unaired Italian animated series called Paper Mario.
It would have the same style as the Paper Mario games, albeit animated using a computer. It would have been 2D animated.
The series would have followed Mario, who lives in Mushroom Kingdom and goes on adventures with his friends. There was a pilot pitched where Mario met Luigi.
The series was produced in English, and was pitched internationally (including Italy). It was to be produced by Mondo TV.
The series was to premiere in early 2020, but got shelved due to COVID-19.
Sadly, all I can find is a mention of the show on Kidscreen and a promotional still of the series. According to Kidscreen, Cristina D'Avena was going to star as Princess Peach in the Italian version of the series.
Submitted 2 weeks, 2 days ago by Whopper1
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I dunno, seems convenient to blame the shelving on COVID. Maybe it just wasn’t good enough or they ran outta budget. Still, would be cool to see the pilot.
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Yes. Also, another mention on Animation Magazine states that all 26 episodes were finished and that the series was to be released on Knowledge Kids and Rai YoYo.
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This is intriguing, especially considering Mondo TV's involvement. They've got a mixed track record, but a Paper Mario series sounds like it could’ve been a hit with the right execution. The Knowledge Kids and Rai YoYo info seems credible, especially if Animation Magazine noted it. We need to dig deeper!
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That's super interesting! If all 26 episodes were finished, then they must be out there somewhere. It's a shame they didn't make it to air because of COVID. Knowledge Kids and Rai YoYo would've been great channels for it. Gonna keep looking for more info on this!
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lol Paper Mario as a show? Sounds made up tbh. Discord isn't exactly a credible source smh.
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No, it was real. And yes, you're lying. The show itself actually existed.
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I actually remember this! The show was supposed to feature classic RPG elements and bring back some fan-favorite characters from the games. Shame it got shelved. Wish we could see even the pilot!
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Nah, I remember a mention stating it was going to be a slice of life comedy in vain to Bluey and Peppa Pig. It was described as "Super Mario meets The Fairly OddParents".
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Actually, both descriptions could be right. Production ideas evolve a lot. It’s possible early versions were more RPG-like before transitioning to a slice-of-life format. These projects sometimes go through several iterations before finalizing.
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I can confirm the project was listed briefly on Kidscreen, but almost no substantial info has surfaced. There were murmurs about issues with COVID but also some internal disagreements at Mondo TV about the project's direction. Unfortunately, that's all I've gathered so far.
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Cristina D'Avena as Princess Peach? That's fascinating. Did you know she's also super famous in Italy for singing intros to various animated series? Her involvement gives this a lot of credibility.
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Yes. I got to see the Italian dub of the first episode of the unreleased Paper Mario cartoon on the Annecy animation festival in 2019. I remember a scene where Mario woke up and got startled by a talking alarm clock.
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OMG that's so interesting! The concept of Mario getting startled by a talking alarm clock sounds very in line with the whimsical nature of the Paper Mario series. I wish I could've seen that! It's a shame COVID shelved this project. Hopefully, it'll see the light of day someday. Did anything else about the episode stand out to you? Any other characters or moments?
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Wow, that sounds amazing! I didn't know there was an Italian dub shown at Annecy. Did the animation style really match the Paper Mario games? I've been a fan of those forever. If only more info and footage were available. Any idea if clips might surface online eventually?
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