The Year of Luigi was the 30th-anniversary celebration of the fictional character Luigi. He was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto for the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros. and has appeared frequently as a minor or supporting character in the Mario franchise since. Due to Nintendo's decision to develop Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team at the same time, they declared 2013 the Year of Luigi. According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo staff members also had the urge to develop games focused on Luigi, and considered the character underrepresented compared to Mario. It was announced via Nintendo Direct on February 14, 2013, by Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata and ended on March 18, 2014.
Games released in The Year of Luigi include Dark Moon, Dream Team, New Super Luigi U, and Dr. Luigi, all starring Luigi as the protagonist, and with little or no appearance of Mario. References to Luigi and to the Mario Bros. remix titled Luigi Bros., are in Super Mario 3D World. These games were received generally positively, and critics praised the focus on Luigi.
Nintendo released a wide array of Luigi-themed merchandise via Club Nintendo exclusives across the celebration, such as limited collectible pins, coins, a soundtrack selection, and an exclusive Nintendo 3DS XL in July. The company rebranded a Chicago "L" train and Clark/Lake station with Year of Luigi and New Super Luigi U promotion and released a parkour-themed mockumentary about Luigi, both in August. Canadian actor Danny Wells, who portrayed Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, died that November. In October 2019, Nintendo celebrated the "Month of Luigi" to promote Luigi's Mansion 3.
History
During a February 2013 Nintendo Direct, the CEO of Nintendo Satoru Iwata, wearing Luigi's cap, announced that Nintendo would be observing the Year of Luigi to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the character's inception. In the Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, New Super Luigi U, and information about Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. According to Iwata, Nintendo often used Luigi as a supporting character behind his twin brother Mario, so the celebration would focus on Luigi as the primary character. According to Polygon and GameSpot interviews in March with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo "never really had much in the way of games that have Luigi in the starring role". He cited Luigi's global fan base and that many staff members at Nintendo had wanted to develop games focused exclusively on him because he is more timid than Mario. When they began development for Dark Moon and Dream Team, both of which use Luigi as a primary protagonist, they declared 2013 as the Year of Luigi.
In March 2013, Nintendo made three Miiverse forums—two about the Year of Luigi and one specifically for Dark Moon—for posts and drawings concerning the character. Some Nintendo employees, such as Takashi Tezuka, Yoshihito Ikebata, and Miyamoto, made Miiverse posts to encourage user interaction. This is Miyamoto's first Miiverse post. Later, on August 12, Nintendo partnered with the Chicago Transit Authority to temporarily redesign a Chicago "L" Brown Line train with a green color scheme and Luigi artwork for the celebration; the Brown Line was renamed the "Luigi Line" for the day. A Luigi costumed character was on that train to meet riders through the day. The design also included promotion for New Super Luigi U, and there were kiosks placed at the Clark/Lake station with a playable demonstration. The Luigi-designed train remained in service through September 8. Also in August, Nintendo released the mockumentary Finding Luigi – Legend of Parkour on YouTube, opening with various interviews with parkour athletes who praise Luigi's popularity and skill in the parkour industry, then mysteriously vanish. Two men go on a quest to find and interview Luigi. The mockumentary justifies why Luigi jumps higher than Mario in New Super Luigi U and Super Mario 3D World.
On November 28, 2013, Canadian actor Danny Wells died in Toronto, Ontario at age 72. He voiced and acted in various films and television shows, including as a live-action Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! spanning 52 episodes. His death was mourned by critics.