How Super Mario became a global cultural icon(economist.com)

http://www.economist.com/news/christmas-specials/21712064-pudgy-italian-plumber-who-lives-america-was-conceived-japan-and-loved?fsrc=scn%2Ffb%2Fte%2Fbl%2Fed%2Fitsamehowsupermariobecameaglobalculturalicon