Press the Buttons (via Fast Co.) recently got its hands on something very special: a copy of Nintendo’s Style Guide, a 1993 document that sought to formalise all kinds of weird Nintendo-related mascot matters, like what exact colour Mario’s and Samus’ outfits have to be.
It’s as obsessive as it is fascinating.
Mario’s famous overalls, for example, must be Pantone 293, while his iconic red cap has to be Pantone 485.
Note: his colours may have changed in the years since, not enough for you to notice it, but enough for a design nerd to say “IT’S NOW A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SHADE”.
I found the height chart more interesting, though. It breaks down what every character’s size must be in relation to everyone else in the Mushroom Kingdom, and the standard by which all other heights are judged appears to be Peach’s crown. If every game’s story revolves around Peach, then it’s only right that the universe’s size itself is measured against her.
Also amazing: Samus’ colour rules, if only because it’s such a killer illustration.
That last one is pretty cool.
You can read the whole thing here.
Comments
5 responses to “Nintendo’s Official Rules On What Colour Mario Must Be”
Wow. Cool read.. or look?
Is this a definitive stance from Nintendo on the whole head-butt blocks/punch blocks debate?
Ah, a time back when Nintendo remembered and respected the Metroid series.
Bit dramatic?
*Shrug* I dunno, Nintendo haven’t made (or announced) a new Metroid game in 7 years (Approaching the gap between Super and Fusion, where Metroid skipped the 64 entirely), the only game that has come out in that period was a third party that basically turned Samus into a shrieking girl, who was only allowed to help the men if she agrees to follow their commands; and ignored Metroid’s 25th anniversary, despite celebrating Mario and Zelda (and Kirby’s 20th) anniversaries.
A bit dramatic, maybe, but it’s not as dramatic as an anxiety attack (Thanks Team Ninja)
These would make for an excellent colouring book – like one of those colour by numbers, pantone numbers!