The origin of Mario’s iconic jump sound

Thomas Game Docs May 28, 2025
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Thomas Game Docs

@thomasgamedocs

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Hi there, it's Thomas! Every week I cover a different aspect of video game history, from Animal Crossing's sound design to why Link from Zelda is so hot!

Video Description

Mario's jump sound is iconic - from Super Mario Bros on the NES to Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Switch, the noise that plays when Mario leaps into the air has long been a Mario staple. In this video, I'll explore how Nintendo composer Koji Kondo created this sound, I'll discuss some of the music theory behind the sound effect, and we'll talk about how the jump sound has changed and evolved over the past 35 years! PATREON - https://patreon.com/ThomasGameDocs BLUESKY - https://bsky.app/profile/thomasgamedocs.bsky.social SOURCES - https://shmuplations.com/nintendogamemusic/ Interview with Koji Kondo and Kazumi Totaka - https://shmuplations.com/kojikondo/ Interview with Koji Kondo - https://games.kikizo.com/features/koji_kondo_iv_p1.asp Interview with Koji Kondo - https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wii/super-mario-all-stars/0/4/ Interview with Koji Kondo and Mahito Yokota - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7J5GlE3YLQ Interview with Hip Tanaka - https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-11-super-mario-bros-wonder-part-2/ Interview with staff of Super Mario Bros Wonder. - https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/koji-kondo-interview.pdf Interview with Koji Kondo about Super Mario Bros. - https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/10/a-music-trivia-tour-with-nintendos-koji-kondo Discussion of Nintendo’s early sound engineers CREDITS - Pan flute audio clip via CarlosCarty - Charles Martinet photo via Gage Skidmore MUSIC All music written and arranged by me. Drum loop performed by mpointon, used with permission. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:53 Miyamoto's request 2:30 The arcade era 3:30 Koji Kondo's sound 5:06 The evolution of the sound 8:04 The N64 problem 10:33 Wonder and the ukulele 12:59 Outro

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