May 22nd 2024.
After two decades, Vivian's true identity has been finally reinstated in the remake of Nintendo's Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The game is known for its vibrant and diverse cast of characters, and Vivian is no exception. Throughout the game, players team up with various sidekicks, including a clumsy Koopa Troopa and a female Goomba with a passion for archaeology. Vivian, a member of the villainous Shadow Sirens, eventually joins Mario on his quest.
In the original Japanese version of the game released in 2004, Vivian was written as a transgender character. However, this aspect of her character was removed in the English and German versions. But in the recent Nintendo Switch remake, Vivian's trans identity has been restored in all language versions. In the original Japanese version, Vivian's sister Marilyn questions their identity as "the three shadow sisters" and exclaims, "You are a man! A man!" In response, Vivian apologizes and acknowledges her mistake.
According to the University of Perugia's Japanese lecturer, Francesca Di Marco, most European versions of the game changed Vivian's response to portray her as proud of her identity as a trans woman. In the Italian version, Vivian says, "That's true, you are two sisters, but I am a woman too now, and I'm proud to have turned into a woman." This change was celebrated by fans, with one user tweeting, "Oh my goodness gracious, this is not an edit. We won. We won so hard."
Interestingly, Vivian's trans identity was completely removed in the English and German versions, with her sister calling her ugly instead. This was due to the fact that Nintendo rarely creates separate British English versions of their games, and the UK version in 2004 used the US translation.
But in the Switch remake, Vivian's trans identity has been reinstated in the English translation, along with other changes such as removing sexist taunts towards one of the female sidekicks. In one screenshot, Vivian tells Mario, "Truth is, it took me a while to realize I was their sister... not their brother. Now their usual bullying feels heavier."
While it's unfortunate that Vivian's identity was removed in the first place, it's a welcome change in the remake, alongside visual improvements, a revamped soundtrack, and quality-of-life additions. Vivian is not the only transgender character in the Super Mario universe, with Birdo also being identified as trans in her earlier appearances. However, there has been little consistency in the portrayal of this character since then.
Birdo is widely known as the first transgender character in gaming, appearing in the Japanese-only game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic in 1987, which was later transformed into Super Mario Bros. 2 in the West. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will be available on Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024.
In addition to Vivian's identity, the game has also been praised for its diverse and inclusive representation of characters. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions on the game through email, comments, and social media. They can also submit letters and features through the website's dedicated page. Stay updated with all the latest gaming news and releases by signing up for the newsletter.
The gaming community continues to push for more representation and diversity in the industry, and it's heartening to see a major company like Nintendo taking these steps towards inclusivity. As more and more games embrace diverse characters and storylines, the future of the gaming industry looks bright and inclusive.
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