Sensationally Groundbreaking: Nintendo Gloriously Restores Trans Character’s Identity in Paper Mario Remake –
Vivian’s Trans Identity Restored After 2002 Mistranslation
In a groundbreaking move, Nintendo has confirmed that Vivian, a character from the GameCube classic Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, is transgender. The recently released Nintendo Switch remake restores key dialogue affirming Vivian’s trans identity, which was mistranslated and erased in the 2002 English version.
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“Truth is, it took me a while to realize I was their sister… not their brother. Now their usual bullying feels heavier,” Vivian says to Mario, referring to her Shadow Siren siblings. This pivotal line was present in the original Japanese script but omitted from the initial English translation.
Misgendering and Erasure in the Original Translation
The 2002 English version not only removed Vivian’s revelation about her trans identity but also misgendered her throughout the game. Vivian was repeatedly referred to with male pronouns and labeled as the Shadow Sirens’ “brother” by other characters and even in her in-game description.
“Nintendo’s decision to restore Vivian’s authentic identity in the Paper Mario remake is a remarkable stride towards LGBTQ+ representation in gaming,” says Dr. Sarah Williams, a gaming culture expert at Stanford University. “By correcting a past mistranslation, they’re acknowledging the importance of accurately portraying diverse identities and recognizing the profound impact such erasure can have on marginalized communities.”
A Storied History of LGBTQ+ Representation
Surprisingly, Nintendo has a compelling, if understated, history of LGBTQ+ representation in its games. The recurring boss Birdo from the Super Mario Bros. series has been identified as a transgender character since her debut in 1988. Additionally, many queer fans have embraced Luigi as a trans mascot, though Nintendo has never officially confirmed this.
