This week, the remake of the Nintendo GameCube classic, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, was released on the Switch, officially confirming that the character Vivian is trans.
In the original Japanese version and some European translations, Vivian was always depicted as trans or gender non-conforming. Her sisters in the Shadow Sirens bullied her for being different, which eventually led to her teaming up with Mario later in the game. However, in the English GameCube localization, this aspect of Vivian’s identity was censored. Instead of referencing her being trans, the English version had her sisters bully her for being ugly.
In the updated English localization for the new Switch remake, Vivian’s identity as a trans character is now officially recognized. The Japanese version has also been slightly revised to emphasize her trans identity, using more modern terminology.
In the remake’s English script, Vivian says, “Truth is, it took me a while to realize I was their sister… not their brother. Now their usual bullying feels heavier.” Outside of The Thousand-Year Door, Vivian has only made brief appearances in Super Paper Mario and Super Smash Bros.
Vivian isn’t the only transgender video game character to appear on consoles recently. In February 2023, the Harry Potter game “Hogwarts Legacy” introduced the first trans character in the HP universe: Sirona Ryan, the barkeep at the Three Broomsticks tavern in Hogsmeade village.
With the inclusion of characters like Vivian and Sirona Ryan, it’s encouraging to see more diverse and authentic representation in video games, paving the way for greater inclusivity in the gaming industry.
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