Legendary Nintendo developer Shigeru Miyamoto recently shared insights into the Mario titles that left the most significant impact on his career. In a conversation with the Japanese publication Casa Brutus, Miyamoto highlighted Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo and Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 as the two games that defined his creative trajectory.
Mastering the Two-Dimensional World
For Miyamoto, Super Mario World represented the culmination of his work in 2D space. He noted that upon finishing the title, he felt he had reached a level of mastery regarding the two-dimensional Mario world. This sense of completion marked a transition point in his design philosophy, moving away from the manga-drawing style that informed his earlier projects.
The Influence of Puppet Theater
The development of Super Mario 64 provided a stark contrast to his previous work. According to Miyamoto, the shift into 3D environments triggered a connection to his childhood interests—specifically his desire to become a puppet maker. He recalled spending his grade school years watching NHK puppet shows like Hyokkori Hyotan Island and creating his own "monster dioramas" to photograph.
"Two-dimensional Mario felt like drawing manga, while 3D brought me back to puppet theater… It’s somehow all connected, you know?"
Miyamoto explained that this background in puppetry heavily influenced his approach to 3D space, viewing the game's visuals and movement through the lens of a stage-based performance. This perspective allowed him to conceptualize the movement and interaction within Super Mario 64 in a way that felt distinct from his previous 2D output.