Mario from the Super Mario Bros. has never looked as aggressive as he does in these Sebastian von Buchwald illustrations. Not only does the Brooklyn, New York-based artist amp up the veins, wrinkles, scars and muscles in his versions of the playable Italian plumber, but von Buchwald actually has everyone's favorite princess-saver pummeling the protagonists of other video game franchises. I have no doubt in my mind that when this Mario utters the words, "It's a me, Mario!" he follows it up with a diminutive obscenity to intimidate his foes.
A few of the characters Sebastian von Buchwald has Mario locked in mortal combat with include Earth Worm Jim, Big Daddy, Angry Birds, Sackboy, Bomberman and Master Chief. Even with such an impressive roster of heroes, Mario looks the most badass of the bunch.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Video Game Crossover Art
- Artists are creating crossover art of video game characters pummeling each other, creating an opportunity for new merchandise and collectibles.
- Edgy Character Design
- Designers are creating edgy versions of beloved characters to appeal to a mature audience, resulting in an opportunity to expand the target demographic.
- Mashup Culture
- Mashup culture is becoming more popular in art and entertainment, creating opportunities for new collaborations and partnerships.
Where This Applies
- Gaming Industry
- The gaming industry can capitalize on the popularity of crossover art by creating new merchandise, cross-promotions, and even games based on these mashup characters.
- Art Industry
- Artists can tap into the growing trend of edgy character design by creating their own versions of beloved characters, thus expanding their target audience.
- Entertainment Industry
- The trend of mashup culture can provide opportunities for movie and TV studios to combine popular franchises and characters in unique and exciting ways, creating new blockbuster hits.
