The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1990

42%

WISE Score

IMDb

1990s Mario cartoon that's perfectly safe but so dated and formulaic that even your nostalgia might not save it from the 'skip' pile.

7/10

→

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3

show

TV-Y7, 1990

42%

WISE Score

IMDb

1990s Mario cartoon that's perfectly safe but so dated and formulaic that even your nostalgia might not save it from the 'skip' pile.

Jump to

Also rated on

7/10

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Let's be honest: this show is a relic. The IMDb 7.0 rating is pure millennial nostalgia, not a reflection of actual quality. The animation is stiff, the voice acting is grating, the plots are copy-paste, and the humor is more annoying than funny.

It's perfectly safe—no content concerns whatsoever—but it's also perfectly boring for modern kids who've grown up with Bluey, Avatar, and the gorgeous 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie. Even die-hard Mario fans will likely bail after a few episodes.

If your kid is begging for Mario content, show them the 2023 movie or let them play the games. This cartoon is best left in 1990 where it belongs, preserved in amber for the occasional nostalgic YouTube clip when you want to show your kids what Saturday mornings used to look like before streaming saved us all.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 7+, which is about right for kids who can handle the frenetic pacing and won't be bored by repetitive plots. Realistically, this is for kids 5-9 who are already Mario fans, and even then, it's a tough sell against modern animation.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic 1990s Saturday morning cartoon with positive sibling dynamics (Mario and Luigi working together), minimal mean-spiritedness, and straightforward good-vs-evil conflicts. Bowser and the Koopalings are cartoonish villains without real menace. However, the pacing is frenetic and the humor is extremely dated, with lots of slapstick and pratfalls that feel chaotic by modern standards.

Imaginative

Built on the imaginative foundation of Super Mario Bros. 3's power-ups and world themes (desert world, ice world, etc.), with transformations like Frog Suit and Tanooki Suit creating visual variety. However, the show is formulaic episode-to-episode with predictable plots and limited creative storytelling. It's more about executing a licensed property than pushing imaginative boundaries.

Safe

Extremely safe content with cartoon violence only (characters getting bonked, falling, etc. with no consequences). No scary imagery, no mature themes, no content warnings needed. Common Sense Media rates it for age 7, which tracks with its Saturday morning cartoon DNA. Kids Mode available on streaming platforms. The only 'unsafe' element is that it might rot your brain a little from sheer repetitiveness.

Enriching

Minimal enrichment value. Episodes follow rigid formula: Koopa hatches scheme, heroes chase, problem solved in 22 minutes. No meaningful character development, no real problem-solving (just 'use the right power-up'), no lessons beyond surface-level 'teamwork good, stealing bad.' The educational floor is basically zero, and entertainment value is heavily nostalgia-dependent. IMDb 7.0 suggests adult nostalgia more than actual quality.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely harmless content—cartoon violence only, positive sibling teamwork, clear good vs. evil
If your kid is deep into Mario games, they might enjoy seeing the characters in animated form for a few episodes
Widely available across multiple streaming platforms (though that should tell you something about demand)
Power-up transformations and world themes from Super Mario Bros. 3 provide some visual variety

⚠

What to Watch For

The animation quality is rough even by 1990 standards—stiff, repetitive, and visually unimpressive
Every episode follows the exact same formula: Koopa schemes, Mario chases, problem solved with power-up
Humor is extremely dated with constant puns, pratfalls, and references that will land flat with modern kids
Your kid will likely ask to turn it off after 10 minutes unless they're unusually patient or you're bribing them with nostalgia

Conversation Starters

"Which Mario power-up would you want to have in real life?"
"Why do you think Mario and Luigi work so well together as a team?"
"What's the difference between how this old cartoon looks versus the newer animated Mario movie?"

Stills

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 1

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 2

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 3

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 4

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 5

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 6

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 7

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 — still 8

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Related Guides

17 Best Books for Tween Boys (and other reluctant readers)

This post shares our 17 best books for tween boys, as well as tips for encouraging reluctant readers and encouragement that reading easy books is still valuable.

Writing about The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3? Put this WISE score on your site