Nintendo has solved one of the biggest mysteries since Arthur Conan Doyle’s final Sherlock Holmes story by revealing the meaning behind the two animated shorts it released this week. These films mark the debut productions from Nintendo Pictures, the studio Nintendo acquired in 2022 (formerly known as Dynamo Pictures).
In a recent post on X, Nintendo announced, “We hope you enjoyed the two ‘Close to You’ videos released on October 7 and 8. The second video is available on Nintendo Today!, a free app for your smart device. These are the first short films created by Nintendo Pictures Co., Ltd. Moving forward, Nintendo Pictures will continue to explore new creative possibilities through video content.”
Nintendo’s message suggests that, for now, the second short will remain exclusive to the Nintendo Today! app. Interestingly, the company hasn’t positioned these shorts as promotions for a new Pikmin game — although a follow-up is likely, given that Pikmin 4 recently became the best-selling entry in the series.
Both shorts are delightful and cleverly designed. Nintendo created one version where Pikmin characters are visible, and another where they remain mostly invisible, save for a glimpse of one scurrying under a toddler’s crib in the background.
Until now, Nintendo Pictures primarily served as a support division for Nintendo’s game projects, contributing to animation, art, design, and cinematics. The studio has also collaborated with external partners, such as providing motion capture work for Death Stranding 2.
Nintendo has multiple collaborations in the film industry, including partnerships with Universal Pictures and Illumination for the Mario movies (and a potential Donkey Kong spinoff), as well as working with Sony Pictures on the live-action The Legend of Zelda film. This latest effort demonstrates that Nintendo Pictures has the creative capability to produce films largely in-house — a promising step towards expanding Nintendo’s presence in entertainment beyond gaming.
