The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1989

42%

WISE Score

6.3

IMDb

The 1989 Mario cartoon that's way more nostalgia than actually watchable—your kids will wonder why you loved this.

6.3/10

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The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

show

TV-Y7, 1989

42%

WISE Score

6.3

IMDb

The 1989 Mario cartoon that's way more nostalgia than actually watchable—your kids will wonder why you loved this.

6.3

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this show is rough. The animation is clunky, the plots are repetitive, the humor is dated, and the live-action segments with Lou Albano in a fake mustache are... a lot. It was a cash-grab based on Nintendo's hottest property, pumped out quickly to sell toys and games.

The IMDB rating of 6.3 tells the story—even accounting for nostalgia inflation, people know this wasn't great. If you're a millennial parent who remembers watching this after school, you might want to revisit it for a hit of 1989. But your kids? They've seen the gorgeous 2023 Mario movie, played Odyssey and Mario Kart 8, and their standards are just different.

It's perfectly safe and harmless, but 'safe and harmless' doesn't make something worth watching when there are literally thousands of better options available on the same free platforms. Save this for a 'look how weird the 80s were' family history lesson, not regular viewing rotation.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 7+, which is technically accurate for content safety, but realistically this is for nostalgic parents (ages 35-45) who want to share their childhood with kids who will tolerate maybe one episode before asking to watch literally anything else.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic 80s Saturday-morning-cartoon wholesomeness with Mario and Luigi as good-natured heroes helping Princess Toadstool against King Koopa. The live-action segments feature the brothers running a plumbing business with slapstick humor. No real meanness or cynicism, though the humor is dated and sometimes relies on stereotypes typical of 1989. Models basic cooperation and problem-solving, but the frenetic pacing and repetitive plots feel more chaotic than thoughtful by modern standards.

Imaginative

Based on a beloved video game franchise, the show takes Mario and Luigi through various themed worlds in the Mushroom Kingdom, which offers some visual variety. However, the execution is extremely formulaic—same chase-and-rescue plot every episode with minimal creativity or world-building. The live-action segments feature celebrity guest stars in costume scenarios that were more gimmicky than imaginative. It's more derivative than original, recycling the game's IP without adding much depth or inviting genuine creative thinking.

Safe

Extremely safe content with no violence beyond cartoon pratfalls, no scary imagery, no inappropriate language, and no concerning themes. Common Sense Media rates it for age 7, and that tracks—it's pure kid-friendly fare with no surprises. King Koopa is a bumbling villain who never poses real threat. The live-action segments are silly but harmless. Kids Mode is available on streaming platforms. No concerning content whatsoever for the target demographic.

Enriching

Minimal enrichment value. Episodes follow rigid formulas with little character development, moral complexity, or meaningful lessons. The show was designed as a 65-episode toy commercial to capitalize on Nintendo's popularity. There's no real problem-solving (just chase scenes), no emotional depth, and no skills being modeled beyond 'keep trying.' The celebrity cameos in live-action segments were pop-culture references that haven't aged well. It's pure entertainment without substance, and even the entertainment value has degraded significantly over 35+ years.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely safe content with zero concerns—pure Saturday morning cartoon innocence
If you're a millennial parent, watching Mario and Luigi in their Brooklyn plumbing shop might hit your nostalgia button hard
Available free on multiple platforms (Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel) so you're not paying for this experiment
The celebrity cameos (Magic Johnson, Cyndi Lauper) are hilariously bizarre time capsules of 1989 pop culture

⚠

What to Watch For

The animation quality is rough even by 1989 standards—expect your kids to ask why it looks 'so old and weird'
Every episode follows the exact same formula: Koopa captures Princess, Mario and Luigi chase, repeat
Some dated stereotypes and humor that didn't age well (Italian accents played for laughs, gender dynamics from 1989)
Your 7-year-old who loves the Mario movie or modern games will likely be bored within 5 minutes

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Mario and Luigi look so different in this old show compared to the new movie?"
"What do you think kids in 1989 thought was funny? Is it still funny now?"
"If you could make a Mario show today, what would you do differently?"

Stills

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! — still 1

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! — still 2

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! — still 3

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