After a pair of previous one-off releases (
here and
here, though the latter was actually a later version of the show) whetted everyone's appetite, demand was strong for a "proper" release of
The Super Mario Brothers Super Show, complete with the as-aired live action sequences by wrestler "Captain" Lou Albano, depicted in-character as Mario (a more natural fit than anyone would have guessed!).
The powers-that-be have listened.
The Super Mario Brothers Super Show returns to DVD this July, in the first of what are hoped to be a long series of releases. Included will be the companion series
The Legend of Zelda, which is proper per the original broadcasts. The first release will include five episodes, in order of when they originally aired, which are:
- "The Bird! The Bird!"
- "King Mario of Cramalot"
- "Butch Mario & the Luigi Kid"
- "Mario's Magic Carpet"
- (Legend of Zelda): "The Ringer"
Each episode will include the live-action with Lou Albano and also a bonus interview with Executive Producer (and DiC Chairman/CEO) Andy Heyward. This should include the
questions submitted by fans from TVShowsOnDVD and other participating websites. DiC and UAVCO, who are releasing this disc together, say that additional bonus features may be added later.
The official release date will be July 6, 2004. The DVDs will have a list price of $14.99, and the studio expects them to sell for about $10 in most stores. If these releases prove successful, they will continue to release
Super Mario Brothers Super Show episodes in the as-aired order, with the possibility of a half/full season box set later on.
Cover art wasn't made available just yet, but we'll have that for you as soon as we can, so stay tuned.
