Our challenge was to create 3D graphics that would enhance the unique charm of the Mario & Luigi series and set it apart from other Mario games. I hate to say it, but we weren’t aware of this when development started, which caused us to take a huge detour. In our search for a up-to-date style of Mario and Luigi, at one point we ended up trying to present a bolder, more tough Mario instead… (laughter) We then received feedback from Nintendo that we should strive to allow fans to identify the art direction as belonging to the Mario & Luigi series. We were then able to narrow our focus to the possibility of combining two things: the appeal of illustrations with solid outlines and bold black eyes, for example, and the appeal of pixel animations of two characters moving comically in all directions. I think that’s when we finally started to develop an art style that is unique to this game.
Mario was supposed to look damaged in Brotherhood, but Nintendo said he wasn’t
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