Where the run starts
Amada released two Super Mario card series in 1992 — sticker-card hybrids sold in 5-card foil packs at Japanese convenience stores. The 'PP' designation stands for prism plus, referring to the holographic foil treatment on the rarer cards.
What makes the era special
Amada cards are a hair smaller than standard TCG stock (~57mm × 89mm versus 63mm × 88mm). Sleeving them requires Japanese-cut perfects, not standard penny-sleeves. The art is hand-painted in a style closer to Showa-era arcade flyers than the polished Nintendo licensing style of the late 90s. They feel old in your hand.
What we look for when sourcing
Unpunched perforations between the card and the sticker backing — many Amada cards were peeled and applied as bedroom-wall stickers, which destroys collector value. An intact original backing card is worth a 2–3× premium over a peeled example.
- 1992Amada Series 1 + 2Two parallel 60-card runs. Star Cape Mario is the line's signature.
Amada Mario cards are smaller than standard stock — handle and sleeve accordingly.