Mario

Mario (Japanese: マリオ Hepburn: Mario,  pronounced  [ma.ɾi.o];  English:  /ˈmɑːrioʊ, ˈmær-/;  Italian:  [ˈmaːrjo]) is a fictional character in the Mario video game franchise, owned by Nintendo and created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as the company's mascot and the eponymous protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation. Depicted as a short, pudgy, Italian plumber who resides in the Mushroom Kingdom, his adventures generally center upon rescuing Princess Peach from the Koopa villain Bowser. His younger brother and sidekick is Luigi.