Samantha Kamman : “Paper Mario Remake Introduces Trans Character”

The latest remake of the popular Nintendo game “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” has sparked discussions after the inclusion of a trans-identifying character in the game. Originally released for the GameCube in 2004, Nintendo recently launched a revamped version for the Nintendo Switch console. In this updated release, Vivian, a purple ghost character with a striped hat, engages in a dialogue with Mario about his self-declared gender identity.

Vivian, who initially serves as a villain alongside his sisters Marilyn and Bedlam, eventually joins forces with Mario’s team due to the kindness shown by the Italian plumber, contrasting with the bullying behavior of his siblings.

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A recent review of the game by Nintendo Life highlighted that Vivian was originally portrayed as a trans-identifying character in the Japanese version of the game intended for the Nintendo GameCube. However, the 2004 U.S. release of the game omitted the lines discussing Vivian’s gender identity. The remake has now reinstated this dialogue, providing a more inclusive representation.

“Truth is, it took me a while to realize I was their sister, not their brother. Now their usual bullying feels heavier,” Vivian tells Mario in the 2024 version, as shared in a post last week by the X account No Context Super Mario.

Vivian bros we won pic.twitter.com/gxL9QT7RkF— No Context Super Mario (@SuperMarioOOC85) May 21, 2024

Despite the positive reception, the remake of the Paper Mario game has faced some controversy. In a recent post, Libs of TikTok accused Nintendo of being “woke” for including a transgender character in a children’s game. However, others have defended the decision, arguing that it aligns with the original script and promotes diversity and representation.

Ari Drennen, a trans-identified writer, praised Nintendo’s move in a post on X, expressing support for the inclusion of transgender characters in gaming. “Vivian was originally portrayed as transgender in the 2004 Japanese version of this game,” Drennen wrote. “This was censored in the United States, but the remake has restored this important aspect.”

Nintendo has not yet responded to requests for comment from The Christian Post regarding the controversy surrounding the game.

This is not the first instance of a game aimed at younger audiences featuring a trans-identifying character. In a previous update of “The Sims 4,” players were given the option to customize characters with features such as breast binders and top surgery scars, reflecting a diverse range of identities.

Chloe Cole, a young woman who underwent a double mastectomy and later detransitioned, has spoken out against such features in games, highlighting the potential impact on impressionable audiences. Cole’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of responsible representation in media and entertainment.