Finally, we have an answer to one of life’s biggest questions. Is Mario a human?

Super Mario Odyssey took the big stage at E3 last week with new video footage and hands-on gameplay for those in attendance. When the upcoming Mario adventure was first revealed earlier this year, fans got a glimpse of Mario in a real-world-looking environment that saw Mario running through a city that looked similar to New York City. Catching the eye of many was Mario dashing by and interacting with what looked to be real-world people, who were noticeably taller than our beloved Italian-plumber-turned-princess-saver.

This begged the question. If Mario is in a real world type of environment with what looks to be actual human beings, what exactly does that make Mario?

Aside from the obvious answer of “a fictional hero in a fictional world,” the answer most have assumed over the years was “human.” But now, after all these years, Nintendo has officially confirmed that Mario is, in fact, a human.

In an interview with Waypoint, Super Mario Odyssey director Kenta Motokura was asked this pressing question among others related to the game itself. Motokura had a pretty good politically correct response to it as well.

Waypoint: For the first time Mario evolves in a world where there are humans, and we see that Mario is really different from other people in New Donk City for example, is Mario human?

Motokura: Mario is human.

Waypoint: Really? Why is he so different?

Motokura: In the world, there are many different types of people, you know.

This is the first time Mario will interact with other humans. But seeing the short portly mustached plumber running alongside figures of a more traditional human figure leaves me to one conclusion. Mario has been roaming around the Mushroom Kingdom for quite some time, so I wonder if the physics of the world have led to Mario being permanently reshaped from his human form for good. After all, we have seen Mario in human form before. Some have been more beloved than others…

Super Mario Odyssey is set to launch on October 27 on the Nintendo Switch. And it looks to be a whole ton of fun.

[Waypoint]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.