Rise of the Mushroom Kingdom - Parts I & II || VGDC HD LEGACY REMASTER

This video is a Full HD render of the first half of the Rise of the Mushroom Kingdom Flash movie series by Randy Solem, originally uploaded to Newgrounds as two separate parts in 08/06/2003 and 09/20/2003, and now seamlessly combined into one video.

The original Newgrounds uploads can be found here:

And there's also a posthumous, video-converted "Disc 1" submission from 2013, which now hosts this remaster instead:

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Although others would go on to take this style to new levels before it faded from popularity, the release of Rise of the Mushroom Kingdom in 2003 positioned Randy Solem as the undisputed king of sprite Flash, setting a new bar for quality with its sleek presentation, smooth animation, innovative shot composition, and dramatic story, as well as earning Solem a place among the Newgrounds pantheon of its most recognized Flash animators. Over the next couple years, he went on to release three more parts, each more ambitious than the last.

Randy Solem died suddenly on March 16, 2012, survived by his girlfriend, daughter, and mother, and mourned by his legions of VGDC forum members, as well as artists in the Newgrounds spheres, and many fans who remember his animations fondly.

His legacy remains through his original website domain, his Newgrounds profile, a Facebook memorial group, and an active Discord run by veteran members of the old forums, as well as this YouTube channel.

VGDC Website:
VGDC Discord:

This remaster was carried out by VGDC Forums veteran Neo Link as part of the VGDC Community Legacy Project, with the goal of converting and remastering all of Randy Solem's VGDC Flash movies to HD video for viewing on YouTube.

The original .SWFs were rendered into HD videos with Swivel and put together in HitFilm Express. Neo Link also sequenced and produced the new "VGDC Presents" intro music, based on the original.

Swivel:
Newgrounds:

[princessyoshi]

I remember back in the day watching this and Smbz, Really nostalgic and i hope randy is doing good in heaven. He will be missed and may be rest in peace :(

[Maicol_WK]

In memory of Randy Solem (1975-2012). You were an important part of our childhood ;-;

[jordanmccann]

This series seriously deserves more love because it is still a substantial love letter to Mario like how Randy wanted it.

[TehSkullKid]

How we remember it looking way back then on those old monitors. This is wonderful, thanks so much for this restoration.

[JasonDogman]

I said this on the original upload and I will say it again. This is my favorite Mario Sprite Animation of all time. The most memorable one from childhoid as well. And this HD remaster looks so good.
It's a shame Randy passed away in 2012. He was talented individual and one of the great pioneers of flash animation. But luckly, his legacy will never die :)
Btw, are you guys planning to make new animations on the future? That would be sick!

[ntkn]

This is something you had to have been there for back in 2003/2004 to really appreciate. The age of newgrounds and flash parodies like this were EXTREMELY popular and people craved more of it like crack. But parodies were mostly pretty short or had no real storyline. Rise of the mushroom king was a first because not only was it long for a flash parody at that time, but it was also a series with a story line. Newer generation of today wont understand how truly amazing this was back in the early 2000s because of how common it is now, and one of the reason it is so common now is because of the popularity of this series.

[JeffyCottontail]

VGDC was part of my childhood from 2004-5. I remembered about ROTMK randomly today, I'm so glad I'm able to watch it. Randy's work will live on. Flash is in my heart forever

[IamAJoe]

Man it's been 10 years since Randy passed but I am glad his work will live on forever.

[Soniccool]

I like Randy Solem’s work and he did everything that paved the way for Sprite animation, I like the Mario Vs Sonic series because I liked the third one both in sprite animation and the animated one by Razoric (Rob Foor). Now that flash is gone we can still enjoy Randy Solem’s work on this YouTube channel run by the members of the VGDC form. Randy Solem’s legacy will live on.

[armageddon]

Rest in Peace Randy, i always come back to watch the dopest flash created!! Gone too soon....

[puntero]

I will say the same thing I said on the original upload.

My childhood was all of these amazing flash animations, seeing this reuploaded shines my mood a lot. I felt bad to this when I was young, and knowing years later that the animator died devastated me.
I love seeing that people still love this and I hope that they still hang on for many years 💕

[Nathanieltan]

As an elementary student kid back in 2008, SMBZ and ROTMK introduced me to Mario sprite animations in Newgrounds. I searched this animation by random and I have no idea how violent this animation was. When I see bodies split in half especially Luigi in the third part of ROTMK, I was traumatized. Yes, it shocks me! D:
When I find out that Randy Solem has passed away in 2012, I was deeply saddened. That was 10 years ago. I can't believe it!
I don't know much about Randy but I did watched his old animations and I was obsessed to it back then. He was very talented at making Flash animations in Newgrounds. It's a good thing that his legacy will always be remembered and also inspires many new animators. Rest in peace, Randy. Thank you for your incredible animations! I hope you'll be smiling in heaven.

I'm so glad I got to remember this series back in 2008 until now. Now I'm still watching this series anytime I like, forever and ever.

[Jackson-hprt]

Even now, in 2022, this is still among one of the most well crafted Mario animations ever.

[breadmann]

I remember watching this back when I was in elementary. This was pretty much my introduction to online videos and youtube.

[pokemontrainerelio]

I remember seeing this in 2007 and I loved it!

[suzoanimation]

<<< MUSIC LIST >>>

Part 1

“Opening Fanfare” – Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, David Wise
“Peach’s Message” - Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Inside Peach Castle” MIDI Version - Super Mario 64 (Cover source unknown)
“Power Star” - Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Stage Boss” - Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave” – Titanic, James Horner

Part 2

“Ultimate Bowser” / “Ultimate King Koopa” - Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Hummell Gets The Rockets” – The Rock, Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, Nick Glennie-Smith
“Road to Bowser” / “Road to King Koopa” – Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Rock Solid” – Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Robin Beanland
“Death of Titanic” – Titanic, James Horner
“The Sinking” – Titanic, James Horner
“Haunted House” / “Big Boo’s Haunt” – Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Bowser’s Theme” / “Koopa’s Theme” – Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo
“Name of the Game” – The Crystal Method, Tweekend
“Bowser Clear” / “Koopa Clear”
“Ultimate Bowser Clear” / “Ultimate Koopa Clear”
“Flower Garden” - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, Koji Kondo
“Psycho” - Disc Jockey Traditionals, Vol. 7 (originally composed by Bernard Herrmann)
“Hard to Starboard” – Titanic, James Horner
“Bowser’s Message” / “Koopa’s Message” - Super Mario 64, Koji Kondo


This has driven me bananas for 13 years so I did my research, used a lot of Shazam and have found every music source in the series.

This was a major influence that led me to the animation industry today, and wanted to give something back – especially in honour of Randy.

I haven’t timecoded anything or said when they play so the comment isn’t so long, but they are in order of appearance and usually only use a sample (I’ve also left out repeats of the same music used more than once in the list). Feel free to message me if you need any of it clarifying.

This same comment is on Parts 3 and 4 but obviously with the track list for those parts.

[ili]

i don’t know why but i just remembered all these mario vids i watched when i was younger and it feels so nostalgic-

[KitteauK]

I can't believe flash is officially dying this year. I went about rewatching flash movies from my childhood for old time sake. Sucks what happened to Randy, I only just heard lately. T_T

[Weskers_GF]

The first video I've ever watched on yt back in the days. I was so obsessed with it, rewatching it every Saturday with my cousin. Thank you so much.

[ForceMaximus]

This will never not be great.
RIP Randy Solem and Thank You for giving us this years ago.