The sound of the Mushroom Kingdom is about to change.

Charles Martinet, who as the official voice of Nintendo’s character Mario became instantly recognizable to a generation of gamers with phrases like “C’est moi, Mario” and the inescapable “woo-hoo”, is stepping down from its role, the company says.

Instead, Martinet will take on the role of “Mario Ambassador,” Nintendo said in a statement. statementwho added that he would continue to travel the world and interact with fans.

“It was an honor to work with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years,” the company said.

“My new adventure begins! You are all Numba One in my heart! #woohoo!!!!!!!” Swift wrote on social media.

Martinet has been the voice of the cheerful Italian plumber since Super Mario 64 was released in 1996, the company said. He also voiced Luigi, Mario’s brother and sidekick, and Wario, Mario’s great rival.

Super Mario 64 moved the series into three dimensions and took much of the video game industry with it. In the game, released for Nintendo 64, players see Mario from behind as he runs in front. The game has since achieved near cult status, and Martinet would lend his voice to dozens of other games.

A new game, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” is slated for release in October, which Swift doesn’t appear to have a role in, according to his IMDB profile, where he isn’t listed as the character’s voice.

Martinet did not voice Mario in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” released this yearceding the role to Chris Pratt, but he had a small role in the film as the voice of Mario and Luigi’s father.

The New York Times review of the film mentions that Pratt — “who doesn’t look like the Mario of the games” — invoked Martinet’s catchphrases, including “it’s me” and “let’s go.”

In an interview with CNN in 2017Martinet said he had done theater and television roles, but knew nothing about video games when he ‘failed an audition’ in 1990 and was asked to do the voice. of the character, “an Italian plumber from Brooklyn”.

“The character for me brings out the best in me,” Martinet said in the interview.