Nintendo’s Super Mario anime has been remastered in 4K to confuse a new generation

You probably didn't get to see Nintendo's first movie in Japan in 1986 but you now have the chance to see it at a high quality. Femboy Films has released a 4K remaster of The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach on both YouTube and the Internet Archive. You can expect clean, color-corrected visuals based on a rare 16mm print, as well as new English subtitles and a two-channel audio capture from the VHS release.

The story is not revolutionary, but it is an interesting peek at the Super Mario Bros. franchise at a time when the canon was far from settled. The Mushroom Kingdom is where Mario and Luigi travel from the real world to rescue Princess Peach after briefly escaping into their realm. You can expect a lot of references to the original Super Mario Bros. game, but you will also find unusual deviations from the premise. Mario and Luigi work at a grocery store, and they have to save Peach because of a Dumpling Dog character. Did we mention that Luigi drinks sake?

This is a significant film preservation project, whatever you think of the plot. Great Mission was only released in Japan, and there was only one run of VHS tapes. The restoration may have saved the anime from being lost to modern audiences. Younger players should have a glimpse of early Super Mario culture beyond emulated games and the American movie from 1993.