Mario is a character from my childhood, and not just mine; many people enjoyed playing this game on the Dendy console. After watching the new animated movie, I felt inspired and decided to merge two images. I used shapes and features from my own characters as a base, adding the recognizable cap with the letter “M”—which here has a double meaning: Mario and Mushroom. I also included gloves, boots, a mustache, and shorts 😄. Everything is done in classic colors for better recognition of the character.

When creating my figurines, I try to avoid the generic pose—legs together, arms at the sides. I want the toy’s pose to feel more dynamic and expressive. Mushroom Mario stands with his legs wide apart and his arms raised. He’s either a winner or has just reached a new level.