Mariorocks10 (talk | contribs) (Episode 9 didn't come out 2010, so I erased some imformation, Alvin said that Shadow is not coming, and he is taking a break look at SMB Z Wiki.) |
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| + | [[File:Smbz_poster.jpg|thumb]]'''Super Mario Bros. Z''' was a popular Flash series created by [[Alvin-Earthworm]] that lasted from 2007 to its cancellation in 2008 and eventual revival in 2016. The series is known for its excellent writing, humor, and action sequences as well as the sprite-based nature of its animation. |
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| − | [[File:Smbz_poster.jpg|thumb]]'''Super Mario Bros. Z''' is a popular Flash series based around the Sonic the Hedgehog and [[Mario |Super Mario Bros]]. universes. It was created by [[Alvin-Earthworm]]. It began in 2007 as a simple project, but as time went on, popularity grew. It went on a sixteen-month hiatus due to writers block, then the seventh episode released in late 2008, with the eighth episode following a few short months later. SMBZ has recieved numerous awards such as Weekly User's Choice, Front Page, and Review Crew Pick. It has eight episodes, as of October 2009, which run between ten to thirty-five minutes in length. Each episode has been given a Teen rating. Shortly before the posting of the seventh episode, Alvin-Earthworm posted a "Super Mario Bros. Z Intro", which was an anime-style opening using the theme from the anime Rockman EXE. Axess. It was given an All Ages rating. SMBZ has many parody or similar series inspired by it, such as[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/395925 Nintegaball GT]. |
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| + | == Plot Synopsis == |
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| − | = Episodes = |
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| + | Super Mario Bros. Z takes place in an alternate continuity of the Mushroom Kingdom. Sonic and Shadow join forces with Mario and his friends in order to stop a threat known as Hyper Mecha Sonic, a being formed of Metal Sonic, Mecha Sonic and Silver Sonic with Metal Sonic serving as the brain. Mecha Sonic seaks the Chaos Emeralds, artifacts from Sonic's world that, when gathered together, grant the user immense power. He seaks them out for the sole purpose of killing Sonic and everything he cares about. However, it's not all that simple, as several of the Mario villains are after the Chaos Emeralds as well, meaning Mario, Sonic, Shadow, and Luigi need to gether them before Mecha Sonic, or anyone else, for that matter, manages to get their hands on them. |
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| − | Super Mario Bros Z has had eight full episodes as of December 2009. |
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| + | Following the 2015 reboot of the series, several plot details are altered, but the story remains mostly the same. |
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| − | ==Episode 1: Bowser's Return== |
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| − | [[File:Super_mario_bros_z_ep_1.gif|thumb]]The series began when a Goomba discovered a Chaos Emerald, only to be killed by Mecha Sonic. Meanwhile, Mario and Luigi are kart racing against Wario and Waluigi in the 5th annual Grand Prix. After using a variety of items to try and take the lead, they hit a group of bomb-ombs. The karts are destroyed, and Wario and Waluigi are blown away. Bowser arrives and announces his intentions of defeating Mario and kidnapping Peach. While Luigi cowers in fright, Mario prepares to do battle against Bowser. |
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| + | == Style == |
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| − | ==Episode 2: Warriors from Another Dimension== |
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| + | The series was made with Adobe Flash and utilizes sprites from various Mario and Sonic games, as well as various custom sprites and sprites from outside the main series. While not much has changed, the animation has evolved as the episodes went by, utilizing more Flash assets in the animations, and even adding in 3D space and models in the later episodes. The series is well known for being one of the last successful sprite-based movies, as the medium had begun dwindling a few years before its creation. That being said, fan outcry was still strong enough to promote the series getting a reboot, making it one of the longest running sprite-based action series on the website. |
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| − | [[File:Smbz2.jpg|thumb|left]]At the beginning of this episode, Mecha Sonic stands atop a mountain holding onto the chaos emerald, saying that he plans to find the rest of them. Back at the stadium, Mario and Bowser are locked in combat. They are at a standoff when Bowser uses a Metal Mushroom to become metallic. This makes him virtually invulnerable, and Mario is about to be defeated when a capsule appears out of the sky and hits Bowser. This negates the effects of the Metal Mushroom, and Mario quickly takes the upper hand. However, before he could finish Bowser off, Kamek corners Peach, forcing Mario to stand down. Bowser is about to defeat Mario again when two blurs knock Kamek away, allowing Mario to send Bowser flying away. The two blurs, Sonic and Shadow, then walk up to the Mario Bros, and the episode ends. |
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| + | Also worth noting is that the episodes progressively got more and more complex, in turn causing them to surpass Newgrounds' file cap. One of Alvin's hiatuses was due to him having to work around the limitation by compressing the flash. To avoid this happening again, Newground raised their filecap permanently, making Super Mario Bros. Z a very influencial series overall. |
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| − | == Episode 3: The New Threat == |
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| − | [[File:Smbz3.jpg|thumb]]The movie starts in Peach's Castle. Sonic and Shadow introduce themselves to Peach and the Mario Bros, and explain why they have come; the Chaos Emeralds had been sent to the Mushroom Kingdom, and they had to be found before they could fall into the hands of somebody who would abuse their power. Mario and Luigi agree to help find the Emeralds, and Peach suggests they bring Yoshi with them. Wario and Waluigi overhear this conversation, and plan to find the Emeralds for their financial value. After much searching, Yoshi and Luigi find their first Chaos Emerald. However, Mecha Sonic attacks Yoshi, separating him from Luigi. Yoshi eats the Emerald to keep it out of Mecha Sonic's hands, but is attacked by Mecha Sonic, who defeats Yoshi and obtains the Emerald. Mecha Sonic is about to finish Yoshi off when he notices the other heroes rushing towards the scene. He leaves just before the heroes enter the scene. In an angry conversation with Shadow, Sonic reveals that Shadow had sent the Emeralds to the Mushroom Kingdom to keep them out of Mecha Sonic's hands. The movie closes as Mario and co. bring Yoshi for medical attention. |
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| + | == Cancellation and Revival == |
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| − | == Episode 4: Here Come the Koopa Bros == |
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| + | In 2008, Alvin released Episode 8 following a large hiatus. Episode 8 receive largely positive reviews, with most people praising a new villain, Basilisx. Alvin felt more negatively towards the episode, calling the villain rushed. Following anouther hiatus, Alvin released a portion of the 9th episode, while also explaining that the series was no longer interesting to him, and that it was being cancelled. Despite fan outrage, he remained adamant about the series end, citing writers block, lack of interest, and a dwindling art form as reason behind his decision. |
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| − | The episode begins in Mario's house, where he and Peach are nursing Yoshi back to health. After Mario says that Yoshi will be fine, Yoshi wakes up, but is still too weak to leave bed. At this point, Sonic decides to tell the others more about his and Shadow's story. Sonic and Shadow lived a carefree life with their friends on Mobius until Eggman came. He operated from a space station called the Death Egg, and attempted to enslave the inhabitants of Mobius time and time again. Sonic always defeated him, even when he started making robotic copies of Sonic. One of them, Metal Sonic, got a will of its own, and combined with three other robots to become Mecha Sonic. Mecha Sonic dispatched Eggman and destroyed the Death Egg, which crashed into Mobius and ruined the planet. Mecha Sonic desired more power, and so went on a quest to obtain the Chaos Emeralds. On his way, he killed most of Sonic's friends. Soon, only one Emerald remained out of Mecha Sonic's hands. Sonic tried to defeat him, but was easily defeated. Mecha Sonic was about to use the seven Emeralds to gain ultimate power when Shadow sent them to an alternate dimension using "Chaos Control." Mecha Sonic used the energy he had absorbed to cross into the Mushroom Kingdom, while Shadow and Sonic used the machinery they could salvage from the Death Egg. |
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| + | As years passed, Alvin, in a bout of depression, closed several of his art accounts down. On newgrounds, he stated that he was picking himself back up and was feeling better overall. He eventually reopened his deviantART page and even uploaded a brief scene remake from the first episode of the series, stating that if he would return to the series, he wouldn't continue it, and would instead update it with his better writing and animation skills. |
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| − | [[File:Smbzep4.png|thumb]]At the end of this story, Mario and Luigi agree to help find the Chaos Emeralds despite the dangers involved. Professor E. Gadd enters the house and reveals that he has invented a new device for hunting Chaos Emeralds. He also found a Chaos Emerald, but a moment before he could give it to the Bros, the house goes dark and the Emerald disappears. The heroes follow the signal using the device, and eventually discover that the Koopa Bros have taken it. After a fight between the two parties, the heroes had the upper hand. However, the Koopa Bros used a special attack combined with the Emerald's power to defeat them. The heroes are knocked unconscious, and the Koopa Bros decide to hunt for the Chaos Emeralds themselves using the device the professor made. |
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| + | In January of 2016, he made a surprise upload on Newgrounds and Youtube of a rebooted Episode 1. The quality was substantially improved over the original. Alvin stated that he plans on continuing the series in this new vain of work, but that it will be a passion project for when he has spare time, implying episodes may be sparcely uploaded. Also worth noting is that the reboot combined episodes 1 and 2 of the original series, which suggests a plan to make longer episodes. |
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| − | == Episode 5: Troubles on Yoshi's Island == |
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| − | The episode starts with Sonic dreaming about his showdown with Mecha Sonic, and how he was nearly killed. Upon awakening in Mario's house, he learns that the heroes had been beaten in the previous fight, and Mario had to bring the others to safety. Professor E. Gadd enters the house and gives the heroes a new device to hunt down the Emerald-tracker. They find that the Koopa Bros are on Yoshi's Island, and Gadd brings the party there using his Poltergust. Peach gives Luigi a 1-Up Mushroom just before they leave. |
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| + | == Reception == |
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| − | [[File:Smbz5.jpg|thumb]]On Yoshi's Island, the party encounters a trap with a fake Chaos Emerald. They are ambushed by local yoshis, and are forced to fight them. The yoshis, assisted by the giant Thunderfoot, eventually overpower the team, but before Mario is defeated, Yoshi rushes in to protect him. Their chief questions Yoshi, and soon realizes that his tribe had been attacking Mario, whom he had helped back when he was a baby. He reveals that the island had been conquered by strangers who had discovered a Chaos Emerald. The yoshis were being used to mine for more of them. The heroes agree to help free the Yoshis and fight the invaders. They discover that the invaders are the Axem Rangers X, former enemies of Mario. The Koopa Bros are also present, and they also want to fight the Axem Rangers for their Chaos Emerald. The episode closes just before the three-way battle begins. |
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| + | Super Mario Bros. Z is the most popular series of its type, the sprite-based Action movie, in Newgrounds history. Along with the [[Xiao Xiao]] and [[Madness]] series, it is one of the most popular Action series on Newgrounds. The eight entries in the series, along with the intro movie, each have a total of over a million views, for a combined total of over 19.5 million views. Additionally, the series has won over 20 Daily and Weekly awards, including seven Daily Features, three Review Crew Picks, and various weekly awards. |
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| + | Response to the series' cancellation have been universally negative, with reinforced outcry from many fans. This negativity seemed to have caused dispair and depression in Alvin, whom remained adamant about leaving the series cancelled. |
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| − | == Episode 6: Brawl on a Vanishing Island == |
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| − | [[File:Smbz6.jpg|thumb|left]]This episode begins moments after Episode 5. Wario and Waluigi land on the island while the three groups fight each other. Eventually, Axem Red uses his ship's beam combined with the Emerald's power to attack the heroes, causing major damage to the island. Mecha Sonic reaches the island partway through the battle, and knocks the Koopa Bros out while they're using their special attack. Axem Red tries to use the beam on Mecha Sonic, but the attack is deflected and the beam is destroyed. Using the power of the four Chaos Emeralds, Mecha Sonic destroys all of the Axem Rangers. The heroes try to stop Mecha Sonic, but they fail and Mario is knocked out. Mecha Sonic reveals his plans to destroy Yoshi's Island, and prepares the energy attack to do so. Luigi uses the 1up mushroom Peach gave him to revive Mario, and Mario finds a star in a nearby block. He shares it with Sonic to quickly take the four Chaos Emeralds from Mecha Sonic. However, before Sonic can attack Mecha Sonic directly, the effects wear off. Shadow then uses the Emeralds' power to transport the Heroes, professor, and yoshis off of the island moments before it is destroyed. The episode ends when the yoshis, Professor, and Heroes part ways |
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| + | The series reboot was met with universal acclaim from both fans and Newgrounds staff alike. The premier was so highly anticipated, that Newgrounds included it on their front page for the first few days following the launch. |
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| − | == Episode 8: The Great Doomship Offensive == |
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| − | [[File:Smbz8.jpg|thumb|left]]Bowser has kidnapped Peach, and is holding her in his Omega Doomship. He claims that he will only return her in exchange for the Chaos Emeralds. Everybody agrees that they need to save her except for Shadow, who thinks that this and working with the Mario Bros is a waste of time. Sonic and Shadow get into an argument,and Sonic points out that Shadow has become less compassionate since coming to the Mushroom Kingdom. After remembering how his friend Rogue died, Shadow leaves the group. The remaining Heroes and Stuffwell then go to Professor E. Gadd's laboratory, in order to pick up supplies and Mario's plane, the Sky Pop. When they fly towards the Doomship, Mario and Sonic jump onto the airship while Yoshi and Luigi land the plane. They fight their way past the Koopatrol, but are stopped by Basilisx, a koopa with razor claws and the ability to turn enemies to stone. After petrifying Sonic, Luigi, and Yoshi, Basilisx fights Mario. Mario is able to fend Basilisx off until he starts using the petrified Luigi as a weapon, forcing Mario to hold back. The episode ends with Basilisx in position to kill Mario. At the end Alvin also appears to explain that Bowser's kids will make an appearance in episode 9. |
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| − | ==Episode 9: Unknown Title== |
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| − | Not much has been said about Episode 9 except that on the SMBZ Wiki Alvin-Earthworm stated that Bowser's 7 kids that appear in Super Mario Bros 3 and New Super Mario Bros will be making an appearance in this episode and that Shadow will not return in the episode, but there is still little known about it. |
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| − | The 2011 release date has not been met, but, SMBZ 9 is still supposedly in the works, but Alvin is having life problems, but it doesn't mean SMB Z is gone forever, he is just having a break. |
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| − | = Links = |
+ | == Links == |
[http://www.newgrounds.com/collection/supermariobrosz.html View the Collection Here] |
[http://www.newgrounds.com/collection/supermariobrosz.html View the Collection Here] |
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Revision as of 09:04, 9 July 2016
Super Mario Bros. Z was a popular Flash series created by Alvin-Earthworm that lasted from 2007 to its cancellation in 2008 and eventual revival in 2016. The series is known for its excellent writing, humor, and action sequences as well as the sprite-based nature of its animation.
Plot Synopsis
Super Mario Bros. Z takes place in an alternate continuity of the Mushroom Kingdom. Sonic and Shadow join forces with Mario and his friends in order to stop a threat known as Hyper Mecha Sonic, a being formed of Metal Sonic, Mecha Sonic and Silver Sonic with Metal Sonic serving as the brain. Mecha Sonic seaks the Chaos Emeralds, artifacts from Sonic's world that, when gathered together, grant the user immense power. He seaks them out for the sole purpose of killing Sonic and everything he cares about. However, it's not all that simple, as several of the Mario villains are after the Chaos Emeralds as well, meaning Mario, Sonic, Shadow, and Luigi need to gether them before Mecha Sonic, or anyone else, for that matter, manages to get their hands on them.
Following the 2015 reboot of the series, several plot details are altered, but the story remains mostly the same.
Style
The series was made with Adobe Flash and utilizes sprites from various Mario and Sonic games, as well as various custom sprites and sprites from outside the main series. While not much has changed, the animation has evolved as the episodes went by, utilizing more Flash assets in the animations, and even adding in 3D space and models in the later episodes. The series is well known for being one of the last successful sprite-based movies, as the medium had begun dwindling a few years before its creation. That being said, fan outcry was still strong enough to promote the series getting a reboot, making it one of the longest running sprite-based action series on the website.
Also worth noting is that the episodes progressively got more and more complex, in turn causing them to surpass Newgrounds' file cap. One of Alvin's hiatuses was due to him having to work around the limitation by compressing the flash. To avoid this happening again, Newground raised their filecap permanently, making Super Mario Bros. Z a very influencial series overall.
Cancellation and Revival
In 2008, Alvin released Episode 8 following a large hiatus. Episode 8 receive largely positive reviews, with most people praising a new villain, Basilisx. Alvin felt more negatively towards the episode, calling the villain rushed. Following anouther hiatus, Alvin released a portion of the 9th episode, while also explaining that the series was no longer interesting to him, and that it was being cancelled. Despite fan outrage, he remained adamant about the series end, citing writers block, lack of interest, and a dwindling art form as reason behind his decision.
As years passed, Alvin, in a bout of depression, closed several of his art accounts down. On newgrounds, he stated that he was picking himself back up and was feeling better overall. He eventually reopened his deviantART page and even uploaded a brief scene remake from the first episode of the series, stating that if he would return to the series, he wouldn't continue it, and would instead update it with his better writing and animation skills.
In January of 2016, he made a surprise upload on Newgrounds and Youtube of a rebooted Episode 1. The quality was substantially improved over the original. Alvin stated that he plans on continuing the series in this new vain of work, but that it will be a passion project for when he has spare time, implying episodes may be sparcely uploaded. Also worth noting is that the reboot combined episodes 1 and 2 of the original series, which suggests a plan to make longer episodes.
Reception
Super Mario Bros. Z is the most popular series of its type, the sprite-based Action movie, in Newgrounds history. Along with the Xiao Xiao and Madness series, it is one of the most popular Action series on Newgrounds. The eight entries in the series, along with the intro movie, each have a total of over a million views, for a combined total of over 19.5 million views. Additionally, the series has won over 20 Daily and Weekly awards, including seven Daily Features, three Review Crew Picks, and various weekly awards.
Response to the series' cancellation have been universally negative, with reinforced outcry from many fans. This negativity seemed to have caused dispair and depression in Alvin, whom remained adamant about leaving the series cancelled.
The series reboot was met with universal acclaim from both fans and Newgrounds staff alike. The premier was so highly anticipated, that Newgrounds included it on their front page for the first few days following the launch.