Super Mario 64, released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, gave Mario a full voice for the first time in a mainline game, with Charles Martinet providing his cheerful shouts, jumps and exclamations. Short clips like this hoo were ripped from gameplay and shared on soundboards, forums and video sites, where editors reused them far beyond the original game. It remains popular because it is instantly recognisable, very short and easy to drop into edits, and because Mario himself remains one of gaming's most familiar characters.
About this sound
The cheerful hoo sound from Super Mario 64 is a short, playful vocal clip used in gameplay videos and memes to mark a jump, a win or a funny moment.
This is Mario's bright, bouncy 'hoo' from Super Mario 64, lasting less than a second but instantly recognisable to anyone who grew up with the Nintendo 64 classic. Delivered in Mario's high, cartoonish voice, it rises quickly with a burst of energy, like a happy shout as he leaps into the air. It sounds playful rather than dramatic, which is why it works so well as a punctuation mark in a video: it adds lightness, excitement and a knowing wink to the audience. Heard on its own, it instantly brings back the feeling of jumping through colourful 3D worlds, collecting coins and chasing stars.
