Questions about Mario games (character creation, art)?

I am doing an art piece that we have to look at a piece of art and then draw something new with the elements and principles of design from the art piece into your piece. Well I chose mario and I just wanted to know afew things. Like why is mario fighting turtles and those little brown things? Was there any reason why Shigeru Miyamoto used turtles instead of another creature? What makes Mario art Mario?Questions about Mario games (character creation, art)?
Why did Miyamoto use turtles and mushrooms? (Yes, Goombas are little brown mushrooms, which is weird because Toad's are mushrooms, Mario eats mushrooms, and some levels are giant mushrooms.) Perhaps Miyamoto was high? I kid, I believe he's very respectful, but really, there was not any reason other than he chose to. The original game instructions said the turtles kidnapped the Toads and turned them into bricks, and Mario had to save their princess because only she could turn them back to Toads. Though it makes you wonder about all those bricks Mario smashed on the way. Nonetheless, it was simply a design choice. Turtles and mushrooms everywhere. Why did Miyamoto say a raccoon suit makes Mario fly? Because he's the Mario god and what he says goes. Really, in all I've read about him, he doesn't give a reason.



I CAN tell you why he chose Mario, though. When Miyamoto was choosing what to name Jumpman from the original Donkey Kong arcade, the warehouse owner came in demanding their rent. The warehouse owner's name was Mario Segale. The rest is history.Questions about Mario games (character creation, art)?
Nintendo.