So there is a lot to say here so I will just start from the beginning:

Back in August of 2019, I rediscovered Super Mario Bros Z and watched it through again and began thinking to myself, what would have happened after episode 9? The original got cancelled plus the reboot was on hiatus so I was left to draw my own conclusion. Eventually, I discovered a fandom page for the series and it had a ton of information and what Mark had planned for the series and I thought to myself “I should continue this.” Also, around this time, Mark deactivated his original twitter account because he wanted the world to forget him.

As I didn’t have the Hardware to make it yet I was left to plan on my own and I still remember what I had planned for episodes 9-12, had a rough idea for 13-18 and had some ideas floating around my head for the smithy saga, I don’t think I was entirely correct for any of these episodes on what was supposed to happen but for 9-12 at least, I thought I was pretty accurate.

On Christmas Day 2019, I was having a awful time and I searched up something like Super Mario Bros Z or Mark Haynes on Twitter and to my surprise, Mark was back. I was happy because I thought he might have caused harm to himself but it was great to know that he was okay.

Around Late January 2020, after preparing himself, he began reproduction on the reboot. This was good for me because there were several things I wasn’t completely sure about and I hoped I would get into contact with Mark now that he wasn’t silent on SMBZ anymore.

Mid February 2020, I made an impulsive decision to buy a dodgy low price point computer as I was desperate to get started. I began learning to animate with Flash and I was never going to get to Mark’s level anytime soon at that point but I was gradually learning.

Around late March of 2020, I began the animating the video you just saw. All was going well despite me being sick for all of April but I was making good progress.

Early May of 2020, I sent of the video you just saw via dm to Mark and despite my best efforts and after months and months, Mark never saw it. Also I sent the dm then instead of January because I was almost at a point where I needed to know something and wanted to have something to show for it.

Also, back to the computer itself, it began crashing consistently and the flash files kept corrupting but luckily the .fla files never did so I put them through a flash conversion thingy to get them back but the audio was always lost so I had to keep on adding the audio back and it got tiring. Without a response from Mark and the consistent file corruption, I called it quits.

Now for the present, I don’t think I will ever continue this despite my original huge aspirations. Also, if Mark did see my message, I don’t think he would have approved as two of his recent tweets said:

“I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating.

I just cannot go back to watch my old SMBZ episodes. They just make me feel embarrassed now.”

And:

“Some people still ask me why I don't just pass the SMBZ torch to someone else.

I can think of one good reason.

(Link to some Spanish continuation)”

To be fair, I can’t fault his decision.

A few extra notes:

-I know this animation wasn’t great, but there were several issues here that I fixed in a later versions which I’m 99% sure are long gone. Also, there were a few more seconds in those older probably lost versions.

-Will you ever release what you had planned in some form of way? Eh, probably not. I know the reboot and the original are/will be different in many ways but there were a few things I was 100% sure I got right and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

To Mark if you ever see this:

Thank you,

Thank you for creating Super Mario Bros Z.

I don’t think you have come to terms with the amount of people who you have inspired with your series. You probably don’t give yourself enough credit.

I remember over 5 years ago I heard that episode 2 of the reboot was being targeted for April 22nd 2016 (My 11th birthday at that time and I was unaware that I shared a birthday with Super Mario Bros Z and Nintendo took down your patreon page.) and though I remember being really sad before I went to sleep that it wasn’t out, 5 years later is better than never.

Well done for getting episode 2 done also, it must have been so hard getting struck by quarantine, losing your job because of it and being unable to claim furlough leave because you got laid off, shitty politics stressing you out and going through depression. I’m really proud that you got it done.

With that being said, I wish you nothing but the best in the future for you as you really deserve it. I’m disappointed by the fact that you never got my dm but it doesn’t matter anymore to be honest.

Final words:

I typed so much that I nearly met the character limit! (4995/5000)

Lastly, I will check on this video occasionally to read comments or answer any questions but I won’t give away any spoilers.

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