What Does Super Mario Eat?!

Hello friends it’s Tim here from super mayhem, awoo, and boy howdy do we have some kind of video for you today!

Nintendo is well known for it’s merchandising tactics with anything and everything, as long as it has Super Mario’s face on it. So today I thought we could all have a look at 4 of some classic Mario food stuffs that were officially released onto the market at one point or another and see what kind of highs and lows Mario has sunk to in order to push the Mayhem onto his adoring fans! On with the show!

Up first we have this more recent addition of Super Mario Curry that was released in 2017 as part of a promotion for Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch

• Branding & Packaging: The curry came in a red box featuring Mario, with bright colors and a fun design mimicking Mario’s iconic look.
• Flavor & Appearance: The curry itself was bright red (like Mario’s cap) and was known for its spicy kick — resembling the Fire Flower’s heat! There was also a green curry version themed after Luigi.
• Where Sold: It was mostly available in specialty stores in Japan, Nintendo-related shops, and certain pop-up stores that promoted Nintendo merchandise.
• Popularity: It became a popular collector’s item among Mario fans, both for its quirky design and spicy flavor.

The Super Mario Bros. Christmas Pepsi Commercial is a nostalgic gem that aired in the late 1980s as part of a holiday-themed promotion. While not as widely known as some other Mario ads, it remains a memorable piece of marketing history.

Super Mario Bros. Christmas Pepsi Commercial Details

• Release Period: This commercial was released in 1989 during the height of the NES era, capitalizing on the massive popularity of Super Mario Bros.
• Concept: The ad featured Mario, Luigi, and other Mushroom Kingdom characters enjoying a festive holiday celebration. Santa Claus, dressed in a red Pepsi-branded suit, appeared alongside Mario in some versions.
• Plot: The story followed Mario and Luigi delivering Pepsi to holiday revelers — sometimes overcoming classic Mario obstacles like Goombas, Koopas, and Bowser traps along the way.
• Visual Style: It blended live-action elements with classic NES game graphics, making it feel like a playable level unfolding on-screen.
• Iconic Moment: At one point, Mario is seen sliding down an icy rooftop like a penguin, Pepsi bottle in hand, before landing triumphantly in a cozy Christmas party scene.
• Tagline/Theme: The memorable tagline was something like: “Have a Cool Yule with Pepsi and Super Mario Bros.!”

Cultural Impact

This ad tapped into the magic of both Mario fever and Christmas nostalgia, solidifying Pepsi’s connection with pop culture in a playful way. Fans still reference this commercial for its charming mix of retro gaming vibes and festive cheer.

The Nintendo Cereal System commercial from 1989 is a legendary piece of nostalgic marketing gold — a mix of pure ’80s energy, catchy jingles, and Nintendo charm.

Nintendo Cereal System Commercial Details

• Release Year: 1989
• Concept: The Nintendo Cereal System was a unique dual-cereal box featuring two separate bags inside:
  • Super Mario Bros. Cereal — fruit-flavored, with Mario-themed shapes like Mushrooms, Goombas, and Super Stars.
  • The Legend of Zelda Cereal — berry-flavored, with shapes resembling Link, swords, and shields.
• Tagline: “Nintendo Cereal System — it’s for breakfast, now!” (sung in an unforgettable jingle).
• Commercial Style: The ad combined vibrant cartoon animation with over-the-top ’80s enthusiasm. Kids danced around in colorful outfits, chanting the unforgettable jingle:

? “Nin-TEN-do! It’s a cereal now!
Nin-TEN-do! It’s a breakfast wow!” ?

• Plot: The ad showed kids opening the cereal box to reveal animated Mario and Link jumping out, filling the room with 8-bit chaos — coins bouncing, fireballs flying, and Triforce sparkles lighting up the screen.
• Cereal Boxes as Collectibles: The packaging was iconic, featuring bold red for Mario and blue for Zelda. These boxes are now sought-after collectibles among retro gamers.

Cultural Impact

• The Nintendo Cereal System became a pop-culture icon thanks to its vibrant design, catchy jingle, and memorable commercial. While the cereal itself wasn’t groundbreaking in taste, the experience of eating Mario for breakfast or Link for lunch was undeniably special.
• Despite being discontinued in the early ‘90s, it remains one of the most beloved video game food tie-ins ever.

Fun Fact: Sealed boxes of the Nintendo Cereal System are highly valued among collectors today, often fetching hundreds of dollars online!

The Super Mario Walkers Chips Ad is a memorable and somewhat elusive commercial that ties the iconic Super Mario Bros. franchise with Walkers Crisps (the UK equivalent of Lay’s). Here’s what we know about this quirky crossover:

Super Mario Walkers Chips Ad Details

• Release Period: This commercial aired in the 1990s during the golden era of Super Mario 64 and Nintendo 64’s marketing push.
• Brand Partnership: Walkers Crisps (famous for their witty UK ads, often starring footballer Gary Lineker) teamed up with Nintendo to promote a special Super Mario-themed chip promotion.
• Concept: The ad humorously depicted Gary Lineker in a Mario-inspired scenario. He’d typically try to sneakily steal Walkers Crisps, only to face Mario-style obstacles. In true Lineker fashion, things wouldn’t end well for him.
• Promotion: Special Super Mario-themed packets were available as part of a promotional campaign, with some packs containing prizes like Mario 64-themed collectibles or even Nintendo 64 consoles as major giveaways.
• Visual Style: The ad leaned heavily into Mario’s vibrant, cartoony world, mixing real-life shots with video game elements such as coins, sound effects, and power-up jingles.
• Iconic Moment: In one version, Gary Lineker tries to grab a bag of Walkers only to be stopped by a Koopa Troopa guarding the chips like a bouncer!

Cultural Impact

This ad was part of a broader marketing wave that blended Mario’s popularity with mainstream snack branding. The tie-in appealed to both gamers and families, making Walkers Crisps a fun part of the Mario craze during that time.

Anyway that’s it for today my friends! I do hope you enjoyed taking a look at these old school Mario food and drink related commercials! If you did then be sure to smash that like button, make a comment on your thoughts of them and if you would like to see more classic video game ads and of course be sure to hit that subscribe button and ring the bell for more crazy content just like this! And with all that said, I’ll catch you soon my friends!