interviewnintendoculture

Kevin Afghani on Taking the Plumber's Hat: What a New Mario Voice Means for Nintendo Fans

UUnknown

2026-02-26

9 min read

Kevin Afghani’s Mario is more than a new voice — it’s a test of franchise continuity, fan trust, and how creators handle iconic roles in 2026.

Why Mario’s Voice Change Should Matter to Every Gamer

Fans have a short memory for gameplay, but a long memory for the voice that defined a childhood. If you’ve ever hesitated to buy a new entry in a beloved franchise because “it just didn’t sound like the one I grew up with,” you’re not alone. Platform fragmentation, flooding social feeds with hot takes, and fast-moving opinion cycles make it hard to separate genuine concerns from noise — especially when an iconic character like Mario gets a new speaking voice.

In early 2026, Kevin Afghani — who began voicing Mario in Super Mario Bros. Wonder — stepped fully into the spotlight. That transition isn’t just casting news. It’s a test for Nintendo’s brand stewardship, a moment for fans to reassess expectations, and a case study for developers (especially indies) on how to manage voice continuity without alienating audiences.

The headline: Kevin Afghani, Mario, and what changed

Kevin Afghani’s appointment as the current voice of Mario marks a significant handoff in one of gaming’s most recognizable roles. Having voiced Mario in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Afghani has discussed the pressure and humility he feels stepping into shoes many consider sacred.

"If I wasn’t nervous, then I’m the wrong guy." — Kevin Afghani (interview excerpt, Kotaku, Jan 16, 2026)

What this means in plain terms: Nintendo chose a voice actor who can preserve character essence while adapting to modern production values and cross-media demands (games, shorts, merch tie-ins, theme parks, and more). For fans, it’s a change you’ll hear; for the industry, it’s a blueprint for balancing legacy with forward motion.

The legacy in the room: Charles Martinet and the weight of decades

No profile of Mario’s voice is complete without acknowledging Charles Martinet. For decades, Martinet’s vocalizations — the “It’s-a me!” and countless joyful exclamations — became synonymous with Mario’s personality. That long-term association builds enormous goodwill and also creates a benchmark any successor will be judged against.

Legacy voices do two things: they establish the baseline identity of a character, and they create an emotional shorthand for millions of players. Replacing or supplementing that voice creates immediate questions about character continuity, brand identity, and fan trust.

How changes in voice acting actually affect franchises

Voice changes can be superficial or seismic depending on three variables: role prominence, media reach, and how the transition is handled publicly.

Role prominence: Leads like Mario carry more brand weight than a one-off villain. Every nuance matters.
Media reach: If the character appears across games, TV series, and theme parks, continuity becomes a legal and creative priority.
Transition handling: Transparent, respectful messaging softens community reaction. Silence or secrecy amplifies suspicion.

When done well, a new voice can revitalize a franchise. When mishandled, it becomes a persistent PR story that distracts from the product. Look at other industry examples — long-running characters whose voices shifted across reboots or media — and you’ll see a consistent pattern: clear communication + high-quality performance = acceptance; rushed casting + patchy in-game integration = backlash.

Concrete impacts

Sales & Conversion: Early previews and voice samples now influence pre-orders for narrative-heavy titles. Players expect to sample the new voice before deciding.
Brand Licensing: A consistent voice simplifies licensing for toys, adverts, and attractions. Divergence adds negotiation friction.
Longevity: A successful transition can extend the franchise’s relevance to a new generation while retaining legacy fans.

Kevin Afghani’s approach and the fan response in 2026

Afghani’s public comments emphasize humility and respect for Mario’s history. That openness matters in a 2026 landscape defined by social media scrutiny and fan-driven lore. Fans reacted across X and Reddit with a mix of skepticism, curiosity, and support — a predictable but useful range of sentiment.

The important takeaway: early, sincere communication + visible craftsmanship (in-game demos, developer diaries, live Q&As) tends to calm the industry. Nintendo’s rollout for Super Mario Bros. Wonder — with playable demos and interview access — gave players a chance to judge the performance in context rather than a sound-bite vacuum.

Practical advice for fans: How to evaluate a new voice without echo chambers

If the change has you hesitant, use this checklist to decide whether it actually affects your purchase choice.

Listen in context: Prioritize in-game footage or playable demos over isolated clips. Voice acting often lands best amid music, effects, and animation.
Check multiple sources: Sample developer diaries, critic playthroughs, and community impressions — not just one viral clip.
Weight performance over novelty: Is the voice actor serving the character and script, or merely imitating a past performance?
Respect the artist: Follow the actor’s verified channels for behind-the-scenes context. A well-directed talent can grow on you fast.
Delay knee-jerk refunds: Give a day or two of playtime before deciding a role change ruins the experience; sometimes the writing or gameplay compensates.

Advice for developers and indie studios: Lessons from the Mario handoff

Indie devs don’t have Nintendo’s budget, but they can still take professional, community-friendly steps when recasting or casting for an established IP.

Before casting

Document the character voice: Create a voice bible with references, emotional beats, and localization notes so any actor can match the essence.
Budget for direction: Remote sessions save cost, but professional direction and a small sample cut ensure consistency.
Plan for accessibility: Include ADR, subtitles, and alternate takes for localization and players with auditory differences.

During casting & recording

Hire with legal foresight: Include clear clauses about reuse, AI synthesis, and future media extensions in contracts. The legal landscape matured rapidly in 2025–2026.
Test in-engine: Integrate lines early to check lip sync, timing, and sound mixing. The end result is rarely the same as a raw audio clip.
Engage players early: Consider controlled community demos and A/B testing for major character cues.

After launch

Be transparent: Explain the creative choice in dev notes or a behind-the-scenes clip. Fans reward honesty.
Create content for fans: Release raw takes, interviews, and bloopers. Humanizing the actor short-circuits negative fandom narratives.
Monitor and adapt: Use player feedback to inform patches or additional lines; iterative audio updates are common now in 2026.

Storefronts, curators, and publishers: How to present voice changes

Digital storefronts and gaming curators play a crucial role in discovery and expectation setting. Here are practical, SEO-friendly ways to present titles with new voices.

Include audio snippets: Add short, in-page audio clips labeled “Sample dialogue” so browsers can preview the voice quickly.
Use metadata tags: Tag pages with terms like "new voice", "voice actor", and specific names (Kevin Afghani, Charles Martinet) to help search and help buyers find the info they care about.
Curator notes: Editorial slots or highlight boxes that explain why a recast happened (e.g., creative revamp, actor unavailability) build trust.
Link dev content: Surface a short developer diary or interview near the trailer so users can get context without hunting for it on social platforms.

2026 trends shaping voice acting and character continuity

Voice acting wasn’t isolated from other tech and legal currents. Here are the 2026 trends every gamer and developer should know:

AI-assisted provisional takes: Studios use AI to generate temporary dialogue during development faster than ever, but most high-profile projects still use human actors for final performance.
Stronger contract language: After high-profile disputes in 2024–2025, many actors and unions pushed for explicit AI-use and reuse clauses. This affects how franchises can re-create historic voices.
Dynamic and adaptive voices: With more runtime systems, games now swap intonations and syllable timings depending on player action, making voice continuity a technical challenge as much as an artistic one.
Cross-media continuity pressure: IP owners increasingly strive to keep voices consistent across games, shows, and live attractions for brand cohesion — which is why casting choices for Mario are scrutinized so intensely.

Ethics, IP, and the future of “iconic” voices

The debate over whether old voices should be cloned or replaced is intensifying. Many stakeholders argue that cloning a deceased or retired actor’s performance is a preservation tool; others see it as a misuse of likeness. The compromise we’re seeing in 2026 is more nuanced: clear consent, transparent labeling, and revenue-sharing mechanisms when legacy voice assets are used.

For fans, that means any future use of Charles Martinet’s or other legacy assets will likely be handled with more clarity and legal oversight than in prior decades.

Final takeaways: What Kevin Afghani’s appointment teaches players and creators

Performance matters more than mimicry: A voice that serves the script and animation usually wins fans over time.
Transparency reduces noise: When studios and actors explain choices, communities respond more constructively.
Indies can and should be professional: Small teams that invest in a voice bible, proper contracts, and early demos earn trust.
AI is a tool, not a shortcut: In 2026, AI can speed workflows, but human-led performances remain the standard for iconic roles.

Actionable checklist — what you can do right now

Watch 2–3 in-context clips of Mario in Super Mario Bros. Wonder to hear Afghani’s performance where it matters.
If you’re an indie dev, draft a one-page voice bible and an AI/rights clause for your next actor contract.
For storefronts or curators: add a 15–30 second audio sample field for character-driven titles in your product templates.
Join or start a respectful discussion thread if you have concerns — include timestamps and examples rather than hot takes.

Where this goes next

Kevin Afghani’s early days as Mario are a microcosm of the larger era: global releases, integrated marketing, and a legal/technical environment that forces clarity. As franchises continue to straddle nostalgia and innovation, how developers manage voice continuity will increasingly affect discovery, sales, and long-term brand equity.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.