In the 30-odd years since his debut, Nintendo's Mario went from a pixelated man - with dots for eyes, a bar for a mustache and a square nose - to an expressive 3D character. Video game designer Takashi Tezuka has helped guide him through most of the iterations.
Modernising Mario has required upgrading graphics for a clearer, sharper image, while also consciously cultivating a secret inner life. He remains a man of few words: Each generation of players can use its imagination to decide the character's personality.
