Stillshot from Mario Kart (2008) featuring Rémi Gaillard
About
Real Life Mario Kart videos are live-action parodies mimicing Nintendo’s popular racing game Mario Kart in real world. The idea was pioneered by French humorist and prankster Rémi Gaillard in his 2007 video Remi Cart and spread virally throughout video-sharing hubsites like YouTube. More recently in February 2011, two video skits depicting live-action sequence of Mario Kart were uploaded onto YouTube, a sequel by Gaillard and an original production by Freddie Wong.
Background
Nintendo’s Mario Kart series is probably one of the most well-known video game titles within the Mario franchise. Its first SNES release, Super Mario Kart (1992), sold over 8 million copies worldwide, becoming the third best selling SNES game of all time, as well as paving the way for sequel titles like Mario Kart 64 (1996), Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003) or Mario Kart Wii (2008).
Origin
Early Parodies
Due to worldwide commercial success enjoyed by Mario Kart series, fan parodies of Mario Kart’s “bumper car” like gameplay have been in YouTube circulation as early as 2006 and elsewhere in prior. Here’s a campus parody of the game titled “Mario Kart” uploaded via YouTube on April 29th, 2006:
For more examples uploaded prior to the following viral instances, check out Notable section below.
Rémi Cart (2008)
One of the first notable instances of live-action parody was created by French humorist / prank artist Rémi Gaillard and uploaded via YouTube on December 3rd, 2008. Remi’s video sprad throughout blogosophere on December 5th, 2008. For more on Gaillard’s IRL videogame shorts, please read entry on Remi Gaillard.
Remi’s sequel to live action Mario Kart was uploaded via his YouTube channel on February 11th, 2011:
Freddie Wong’s IRL Mario Kart
YouTuber Freddie Wong, video artist behind the hilarious two boots remix of Standing Cat, uploaded his own version on February 17th, 2011:
Search Trends
Google search trends for “Real Life Mario Kart” yields a spike in December 2008, reflecting the popularity of Remi’s parody video and the highest peak to date in February 2011, which may be a result of compound interest in Remi’s recently uploaded sequel and Freddie Wong’s iteration of IRL Mario Kart videos.
Notable YouTube Parodies
IdiOlympics Season 1 Finale: Real Life Mario Kart by PandaSmashTV on March 6th, 2007:
Mario Kart the Movie by Omega267 on July 28th, 2007:
Animation class Final Project by Stackstinga on November 7th, 2007, :
Mario Kart The Movie (Trailer) by DrCoolSex on August 23rd, 2009:
Mario kart Real Session by cosanim on April 28th, 2010: