The Mario franchise is massive, with multiple different series of games putting the super-powered plumber in a whole host of adventures from Super Mario 64, to Mario Party, and even Paper Mario. The Paper Mario series, beginning with the original Paper Mario in 2000, has spawned six games and one of its most popular installments just got a remake. Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door is the series second installment, originally released in 2004. It features Mario attempting to rescue Princess Peach from the X-Nauts by securing seven Crystal Stars with his companions. Among these companions is Vivian, a purple ghost-like figure, who starts as one of Mario’s enemies with her sisters before joining Mario later. She’s also a transgender woman.
This news might be shocking to English fans of the original, but Vivian has always been canon trans woman. In the original English translation, all aspects of Vivian’s trans identity were removed. However, in the original Japanese and Italian versions Vivian’s identity is made clear, with the Italian version even having her say she’s proud of her identity, according to IGN. Vivian has been a queer icon since her debut, even ending up on IGN’s 2018 Favorite LGBTQ+ Characters in Video Games List. Now in the new remake, the English version has finally caught up.
Vivian is one of three sisters who oppose Mario during the early chapters of the game. Her older sisters Bedlam and Marilyn often treat her harshly and misgender her. Upon being forced to locate a mission object by her sisters, she is helped by Mario who she doesn’t recognize. Upon finding out Mario’s identity she is initially distraught before joining him as an ally. After this point in the game, Vivian is added to the player’s party and is able to be the assistant for future missions. Vivian’s trans identity is a major part of her story, but it is not the totality of her character. In that same IGN list from earlier Tom Marks says that “Once she escapes her family to fight with Mario, she’s just Vivian,” and is allowed to live how she chooses. A beautiful story from a video game that came out in 2004, and one that English players are finally getting the chance to enjoy.