Did you know that Mario first appeared in a Japanese Donkey Kong arcade game in 1981? Though some say he was originally called "Jumpman," he was actually unnamed in the original Japanese game. Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto didn't expect one of his modest side characters to become so popular, but when the little plumber started gaining a fanbase, Miyamoto decided to call him "Mr. Video." Mario was originally intended to be a sort of recurring background character who would make cameo appearances in other games. But against all odds, Mario became the most iconic protagonist and mascot of Nintendo. Legend has it that Mario was eventually named after the landlord of one of Nintendo's warehouses, a man named Mario Segale who demanded back rent from Nintendo's former president Minoru Arakawa. Mamma mía.
If you're into comically obscure facts about video games, like the exact hex color codes for Mario's shirts throughout the years, then you'll love @MarioBrothBlog, who has a whole website full of weird facts and highly specific observations about all things Mario. We've picked out some of our favorite posts from the account, but be sure to visit the blog—it's a real internet gem.
And here's a wholesome picture of the OG Mario because why not.