Mario is a fictional character in the Mario video game franchise by Nintendo, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the eponymous protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation. Though originally only appearing in platform games, starting with Donkey Kong, Mario appears in varied video game genres such as racing, puzzle, party, role-playing, fighting and sports.
Mario is depicted as a short, pudgy, Italian plumber who resides in the Mushroom Kingdom. He repeatedly rescues Princess Peach from the turtle-like villain Bowser and stops his numerous plans to destroy him and take over the kingdom.
In "Lois Comes Out of Her Shell", Stewie Griffin is saved by Mario when he is threatened by Sheldon, a turtle he removed from a pond to make it a pet. As Sheldon is about to stab Stewie, Mario appears and jumps on Sheldon, resulting in 100 points. Stewie is surprised by the appearance but Mario points out that jumping on turtles is what he does.
Meg becomes Mario's girlfriend in "Boopa-Dee Bappa-Dee". However, she is put off when he keeps inviting his brother Luigi for a three-way.
When the family finds out that Chris has made a female doll in "Encyclopedia Griffin", Peter considers it even weirder than a secret level in Donkey Kong. As Mario pursues Kong through the level, Mario's then-love interest Pauline is killed. Mario and Kong seal up the body in a barrel and roll it into the ocean, agreeing to make up an alibi and head off to the movies in support of said alibi. Mario asks Donkey Kong if he is any relation to King Kong, but is told that it is simply a common name among apes.
Dr. Hartman suggests that with Carter in a vegetative state in "Regarding Carter", that it is the ideal time to beat him in Mario Kart.
Peter and Lois play what appears to be a parody of Mario Kart, in the intro for the show Lois, in "Disney's The Reboot".
When Lois tells Peter the missing numbers to unlock the keypad on the door at The Escape Room in "Baby Stewie" come from The DaVinci Code, Peter starts saying Italian words, including Mario Cart.
When Quagmire earns approval from all of Lois' former classmates in "The Lois Quagmire", he 'powers up' in the style of Mario.
One of King Joffrey's titles in "HBO-No" is 'High Score in Mario Cart'.
In "Fertilized Megg", during the Halloween portion of the fast-forwarding montage, Stewie and Brian are dressed like Mario and Luigi.
Mario is voiced by Seth MacFarlane.