Mario Quiz Cards

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The box the 1995 Mario quiz cards came in. From an ebay listing.
The box in which the cards came

The Mario Quiz Cards are a set of informational quiz cards licensed by Nintendo and published by Atlas Editions and Newfield Publications from 1995 to 1997. They follow a specific format that usually features an illustration of a character from the Super Mario franchise with a word bubble that asks a multiple-choice question. A separate illustration that features some of the characters follows and is related to the question. On the back of each card is the answer to the question, along with a detailed explanation accompanied by either a photograph or an illustration. The cards cover a wide variety of topics, including science, history, astronomy, and geography. Cards were promoted and delivered monthly via mail.

Occasionally, the cards attempt to reveal something about the characters that is not shown in the games of the Super Mario franchise, or depict them performing activities that Nintendo (particularly Nintendo of America) would never allow them to do in the games, which are marketed primarily to children. These cards depict those activities:

  • A card asking who Cyrano de Bergerac was shows a more romantic side to Mario's personality than is shown in games.
  • On a card asking what martial arts are, Mario shows himself to be capable of playing kendo.
  • On a card asking why it is important to know one's blood type, Dr. Mario reveals Princess Peach to be blood type O positive.
  • On two religion-related cards, one shows Mario reading the Quran and praying to Allah (God in Arabic), and the other shows Mario reading a Bible.
  • A card asking what Greenpeace is shows Mario and Luigi protesting against nuclear weapons.
  • Luigi is shown reading a history book on a card that asks when the Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler rose to power.
  • Princess Peach is shown attending an organized rally for the Equal Rights Amendment.
  • A card asking when prohibition was shows Mario chasing a Goomba toting around a bottle of alcohol.
  • One of the cards has Mario listening to the Fab 4, a supposed parody of The Beatles, while Mario himself sports a bowl cut similarly to one of the band members of the Fab 4. The card in question asks what important event happened in Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966, the place and time the Beatles performed their final full public concert.
  • A card asking where a person would find both the Grand Ole Opry and Graceland shows Mario wearing the iconic outfit of Elvis Presley.
  • A card asking what a sweatshop is displays a bear character working in substandard conditions.
  • On a card about Dr. Seuss, Mario wears the Cat in the Hat's trademark headwear, and Luigi holds a plate of green eggs and ham.
  • Mario has a rifle and hunting dog on a question about wildlife regulation.
  • Mario discovers a (presumably) magic oil lamp on a question about The Arabian Nights.
  • Mario and Princess Peach boycott Bowser's "Bowser Bus Lines" business on a question about Rosa Parks.

Some cards use Bowser's "King Koopa" design from the cartoons, recolored to match his game counterpart. Also, one card has Luigi's clothes in Mario's colors. In the user manual, some characters have incorrect or misspelled names: Cheep Cheep is labeled as "Cheap Cheap," Spiny Egg is labeled as "Bob-omb," Koopa Paratroopa is labeled as "Paragoomba," and Toad is labeled as "Toady."[1]

Cards[edit]

This section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it is being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

Arts, Sports & Leisure[edit]

Beliefs & Legends[edit]

By Air & By Sea[edit]

Domestic Animals[edit]

Geography[edit]

History[edit]

Human Body[edit]

Land Transportation[edit]

Medicine[edit]

Meteorology[edit]

Oceans & Seas[edit]

People of the World[edit]

Plants & Trees[edit]

Science & Technology[edit]

Social Life[edit]

The Story of Life[edit]

The Universe[edit]

Wild Animals[edit]

1 - Coincidentally, in the artwork featured on this card, Toad has the same expression as Captain T. Ode, who is also a naval captain, making the characters appear very similar to each other.
2 - Despite the front of this card featuring artwork of a pterodactyl, the correct answer on the back of the card is "None of them"; no dinosaurs could fly, as pterodactyls were pterosaurs, not dinosaurs.
3 - Even though the card's question asks about flutes, the artwork depicts Toad playing a clarinet.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mario Quiz Cards User Manual, pgs. 4, 5.