On October 7, Nintendo posted a video titled “Close to You” to its Nintendo Today! app and social media. With no context, the video focused on a baby and a pacifier with no tie-ins to existing Nintendo IPs. It got the internet into a frenzy, with speculation ranging from a preview for the Super Mario Galaxy movie with Baby Rosalina to, or even, Samus. Some people on the internet got it right, though, as a second video revealed it was all about Pikmin. Still, the animated shorts didn’t allude to a new Pikmin project.
This isn’t the first time we’ve gotten animated shorts on Pikmin, and it clearly won’t be the last. Today, Nintendo confirmed the “Close to You” videos were the first short films created by Nintendo Pictures. For those who don’t bury themselves in day-to-day gaming news, Nintendo Pictures was formerly Dynamo Pictures, which Nintendo acquired in 2022. Since then, the company has been credited for numerous projects including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and even Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2.
Currently, the second “Close to You” video revealing the Pikmin remains exclusive to the Nintendo Today! app, so you’ll need to use the app to watch it in full. Expect more from Nintendo Pictures, as the company has confirmed it’ll continue to explore new creative possibilities through video content. Given the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the upcoming sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it seems that plenty of people will welcome more animated short films based on Nintendo IPs.
