Mario has gone missing from his home on Gungahlin Drive. Can you find him? Photo: Ari Rex.
A perfectly placed and spray-painted cardboard cutout of cult cartoon character Mario has gone missing from Gungahlin Drive.
There have been sightings of the Mario caricature around Canberra, but the search is on to return the much-loved Mario to his home atop a concrete air-pipe that has added plenty of colour to the daily grind on Gungahlin Drive.
“The world would be a much happier place if epic cartoon characters such as Mario are placed around everywhere,” said Canberra photographer Ari Rex, who captured an image of Mario earlier this month.
“Mario is a sweet surprise on the grassy roadside. Make sure he doesn’t send you off the road into the lava if you go past,” said another Mario fan on social media.
Mario is a fictional character in the video game franchise owned by Nintendo and created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. The company’s mascot and protagonist in the Mario and Super Mario games has appeared in more than 200 video games since his creation.
Mario’s brother Luigi on Lonsdale Street in Braddon. Photo: Mitchell Billingsley.
The homage to Mario on Gungahlin Drive first sprung up at the beginning of spring but has now disappeared.
The My Gungahlin page also posted yesterday seeking leads on the where Mario might have been karted.
“Some pollie probably pulled it down in case he got more votes than them,” said one commenter.
“THAT was art in Canberra … not the other so-called ones! Bring him back,” urged another.
“I am so sad that Mario has disappeared. I got such a happy feeling each time I drove past. I am in my 60s and love Mario games,” another comment added.
Gungahlin Lakes Club even reported a sighting, suggesting “he was spotted on a kart around the golf course a few days ago”.
A spokesperson from Transport Canberra and City Services also confirmed their rangers or city presentation crews, who have begun their spring mowing program, were not responsible for taking Mario.
Meanwhile, the requests to return Mario have taken on a quest of their own in Canberra, with some asking ACT Policing to form their own strike force to find Mario.
“Some people are fools. Why can’t they just leave things alone? Put him back whoever took him.”
“My kids were so sad to see he had disappeared.”
Another made the (not-so-serious) suggestion that “a giant gorilla throwing barrels may be involved”.
If you know the whereabouts of Mario’s life-sized cutout, let us know in the comments.
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Every few years someone puts some sort of Mario themed artwork on the pipes and every tome it’s gone in a couple of weeks.
Bowser for sure!
Super Barilaro Bruz ? Just a theory
Assumed it was a copyright issue using a licensed image without permission.
Harmless fun, I thought, though.
Sounds like a promotion of some kind. The search is on.
It was made of cardboard so it wouldn't last forever anyway. The creator may have taken it back for safe keeping.
Is he standing for election?
Get Luigi on the job
Next time make it Princess Peach. If it’s a woman it’ll get much more support, with social movement groups and government departments involved. That way no-one will touch it!
I’m fairly sure Peincess Peach would be blamed if she was taken. After all, why was she out there minding her own business? And what did she think, wearing a dress like that?!
Taken down, was confusing as to which candidate he was
Did anyone think to look in the drain? Maybe he’s collected so many gold coins he can’t jump back up. Poor Mario 😞.
It was probably removed by the government or actew, it is after all an access point to infrastructure. So putting things on the top of the cage is a bit silly. Perhaps put it behind the pipe next time and they might not chuck it out?
He was still there Monday 5pm when I drove passed.
I remember a long time back someone made the piranha plant too
Mario is gone. Game Over.
Pulled down coz it didn't cost tax payers millions to erect fun street art like the rocks on logs and belconnen dick owls!! ...dicks
It comes and goes all the time!!
Oh no not Mario
Found at Lonsdale street. ‘Mama Mia, lets-a go before they steal us too!’
Now this is journalism