Plumber. Italy. Moustache. Overalls.

I could toss dozens of nouns around, and my description of Mario would be no less vague. Easily the most identifiable character in the industry, Mario is essentially synonymous with the term "video game." Because we're all familiar with Mario's 8-bit and 3D incarnations, many artists enjoy recreating the iconic character in their own unique styles. They love ejecting the two brothers from their cozy, peaceful home in the Mushroom Kingdom and into the world of Photoshop and graphic tablets.

Some of these art pieces have obvious inspirations, while others seem to be the result of drug-induced fanboy fantasies. From the comedic to the creepy, the imaginations of these painters and animators should keep you occupied for quite a while. Click here to view the art that Shigeru Miyamoto's imagination produced.