Mario's 'dad' Shigeru Miyamoto on 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' and watching his creation grow beyond him

LOS ANGELES — For nearly four decades, a plump plumber in red overalls named Mario has been a universal mascot for video games.

But just who is Mario? Over the years he's been the savior of the surreal Mushroom Kingdom, a kart racer, a tennis player, a golfer, a brawler and more. He's transformed into a cat and a raccoon-like critter, and can become possessed with the power to shoot fireballs, all thanks to various plants or edibles.

Since the release of the game "Super Mario Bros." in 1985, Mario has been a star — he's also consumed stars to turn into a glowing, impenetrable figure. Mario is the brainchild of Shigeru Miyamoto, the game design master who, in addition to "Super Mario Bros.," has shaped "Donkey Kong" and "The Legend of Zelda," among many other pivotal games. Mario says little, having spoken for most of his gaming life in catchphrases — "Let's-a-go!" or "Mario time!" Asked once what was Mario's secret, Miyamoto told the L.A. Times, "It was the big nose and the mustache."

But those are character attributes rather than character