The revelation that a character in a popular Nintendo video game is a transgender has been criticised for being a subtle attempt to normalise gender fluidity among younger individuals.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, was released last week for the Switch platform, and is a remake of the popular GameCube edition of the same name from 2004.
In the original Japanese version of the game, there is some ambiguity around the gender of a purple-coloured witch character named Vivian, who is teased for looking like a man, while the English version does not allude to this at all.
However, in the 2024 English language remake, Vivian, one of three sisters, is revealed to be a male-to-female trans.
In stills from the game which have been widely shared online, Vivian can be seen describing how happy she is to be called a “sister,” with the character’s sisters depicted as bullying her over her identity.
Vivian also talks about how it took her a while to realise she was a “sister” and not a “brother.”
Careful Indoctrination: Women’s Group
Women’s Forum Australia CEO Rachael Wong said she had concerns about young children playing the game which seemed to push a certain culture on players.“The game is said to be suitable for children, but it is entirely inappropriate to include a character normalising an ideology that is causing kids grave harm,” she told The Epoch Times.
“Men cannot be women and when a popular video game—as well as the entertainment industry more broadly—pretends that they can be, it is not harmless fun, it is insidious indoctrination.
“Given the international push back against gender ideology and the medical transitioning of children, it is highly irresponsible for Nintendo to include a trans identified character in this updated version of the game.”
The newly released game currently retails for around $69 (US$46).
Vivian is not the first Nintendo character to have crossed gender norms.
Super Mario 2 character Birdo has been perceived as an icon by the trans community for being a male to female trans.
Introducing Children to Trans Concepts
Psychologist Jillian Spencer specialises in adolescent mental health and says that while the game is likely trying to normalise gender diversity for some, it could be confusing for others.“The Nintendo game appears to be introducing children to the concept of having a gender identity that is different from biological sex,” Ms. Spencer told The Epoch Times.
“The game developers are likely trying to normalise gender diversity for all children due to a belief that it will assist a small group of children who are naturally gender non-conforming.
“However, the game developers are likely not considering that they are potentially harming children playing their game by introducing identity confusion to them.”
Ms. Spencer said seeing a trans character in a game could lead children to developing a trans identity.
“Children can be highly suggestable, especially when absorbed in playing games,” she said.
“Having a prominent trans character in the game may inspire some children to proclaim a trans identity themselves related to complex individual reasons.
“In the current climate of ‘affirmation only’ care, this may put children at risk of being placed on a medical pathway that has very serious long-term consequences such as infertility, impairment in sexual functioning, long-term physical health problems, and the risk of regret.”
Ms. Spencer said the approach did not improve children’s mental health nor did it reduce suicide risk.
“Children are naturally alert to social information about how to be to be accepted and valued,” she said.
“The game’s demonising of Vivian’s sisters for not ‘accepting’ her gender identity appears to be Nintendo telling children that people must not question the validity of gender identity as a concept and must always affirm people’s claimed gender identity.”
The Epoch Times contacted Nintendo Australia, Equality Australia, and the Greens spokesman for the LGBT community for comment.
