Topic: Nintendo going into the Movie Business

While it's been known for some time that Nintendo is thinking about ways they can expand their IP, including films such as the future Wreck-It Ralph 2 from Disney, Tatsumi Kimishima has hinted with website Asahi that Nintendo may be entering the movie business. They are thinking about a production system in which "we can do as much as we can ourselves" according to Kimishima.

He said that Nintendo could make their first movie within the next 2-3 years and franchises like Mario among others are being considered.

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASJ4Z0R76J4YPLFA002.html
https://twitter.com/FarmboyinJapan

What do you think about this? If the movies are good, this will be fantastic! Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins may be a sign of things to come.

All I can say is this: Stay as FAR AWAY from live-action as humanly possible! We don't want another Super Mario Bros., and really, the only ones I can see doing well in that department are Metroid, and MAYBE something like Zelda or Fire Emblem. I just think that Nintendo's properties would be better suited for animation, given their cartoony nature (which is why I don't exactly have high hopes for that rumored live-action Pokemon film, assuming it's real). Also, don't change things to the point where the film is almost nothing like the source material. That might also be important. As for what I'd like to see, I'd expect Mario to be first up on the list, basically as a cartoony adventure film(I swear to God, if Wario and Waluigi aren't in it, I will actually be mad. I need my big-screen WAH! NEEEEED IT!), and after that, I'd imagine Zelda as a fantasy film akin to something like Lord of the Rings. As for later down the line, I'm thinking something like Metroid (think of something like Aliens) or Kirby, and if those shorts are anything to go by, Pikmin and Starfox should, at the very least, get their own TV series...oh, and also, if they can make it work, Smash Bros.

imagines a live action Kirby movie, lol

Fixed that for you.

It would be hilarious if we eventually got a Metroid film inspired by Alien. We'd come full circle. But yeah, most franchises seem better suited for a series adaptation. A couple of ideas:

-Eternal Darkness movie
-Fast n' Furious-styled F-Zero film
-Golden Sun anime
-Geist TV series
-Mach Rider movie (think Mad Max)

Nintendo should just allow Pixar to work on their IPs. Instant gold.
I'd love to see a Smash Bros. animated movie. I need to see that sometime during my lifetime.

I'm going to keep saying this until it happens; a Metroid TV series done in a similar manner to Farscape would be awesome.

There is something that I'm wondering about a potential Smash Brothers movie: who would actually appear in it? Would it only be characters from games that already have a film, or just anyone? And would any of the third-party characters make an appearance?

No…. no… no. Keep Hollywood the hell away from Nintendo.

I will only watch a Nintendo-themed/based movie if it is made in Japan. I absolutely despise Hollywood animation with their grotesque anthropomorphism and hideous stunt-casting (I absolutely can't stand Dreamworks' animated efforts). Disney's films aren't quite so bad, but I don't care for their 3D animated efforts either. Sure, its impressive on a solely superficial level, but it looks soulless otherwise.

I wouldn't mind seeing a traditionally animated film though, however, I insist that it is produced, written and animated in Japan. Otherwise, I'm not interested. Not one iota. I'm probably in the minority here, and these multi-billion dollar behemoths certainly aren't going to allow social/cultural duty or artistic integrity stand in the way of a profit, so it's very unlikely that I will end up seeing any of these films, if they are to be made.

@NintendoFan64 I'm guessing most (if not all) characters who've been in at least one Smash game would appear in the film. That includes third party characters as well(let's just pray Nintendo wouldn't go through hell trying to get a license for them).
I'm not sure myself how this would be possible, but if they manage to give all the characters — yeah, all of the characters — that appear in the film adequate screen time and personality, and the film has a compelling story and non-cheesy humor to boot, then a Smash Bros. movie would be the best movie of all time for me.
@NintyFan Yeah, Nintendo and Disney already have some kind of relationship, Nintendo just needs to bank on that relationship and BAM. Again, instant gold.

@Vee_Flames Unfortunately, I don't see how they could be able to pull that off, seeing as how there's been 65 characters in total throughout the series...granted, even if it turns out to be a complete mess, I would be willing to forgive it just to see a falcon punch on the big screen.

Studio Ghibli and Nintendo would be a good mix, I feel, although I don't know what Ghibli has been up to since it started restructuring back in mid 2014. They've been quiet.

@sillygostly Did you really just claim Pixar films look soulless?

Jennifer Lawrence as Samus Aran
Jesse Eisenberg as Link
Kristen Bell as Peach
Robert Downey Jr as Luigi

It is a pretty good idea, for example, Pokemon (at least in South America) became so popular due to the anime, and in Christmas kids pestered their parents for GBC's and the game.

If they manage to do it right, they could reposition their IPs in the general public, so kids and adults are interested in them again. As sad as it sounds, Mario isn't as relevant as it was 10 years ago.
But please, no live action movies. In my opinion, Nintendo's IPs do not translate well to that kind of movie, stick with animated ones (either hand drawn or 3d).

Welp, looks like the films will have a non-existent story(Sorry, but I had to).

Haha, that's why I said the film might only have most of the characters (ok, that doesn't help things that much, either) in the Smash games. I'm very well aware that creating a decent film with around 65 character is almost impossible... but I know Nintendo is capable of making a great Smash Bros. film, regardless of the characters that make it in.

Welp, looks like the films will have a non-existent story(Sorry, but I had to).

Well... look at Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins. Look how that turned out. Sorry, I just had to.

There is one thing I have to note, however. Judging by what Kimishima has said so far, Nintendo hasn't even begin working on the films yet. I think we should all just calm down a little bit and then hype when the actual trailer for the movie(s) comes along.

Studio Ghibli would have been a perfect partner for something like Zelda.

They do not necessarily need to partner up with Studio Ghibli (though I wouldn't object to it!), but as long as they do not surrender to Hollywood's warm and fuzzy brand of cultural imperialism and maintain their own identity, then I would welcome a Nintendo film. Otherwise, I will simply ignore it as if it never existed (like that dreaded DOOM movie, despite being a huge DOOM fan).

I wasn't referring specifically to Pixar (more Dreamworks), but… I daresay yes. It's hard to take any of these films seriously when they resort to shameless stunt-casting and imperialistic tropes to perpetuate whatever inane ideals that they want the generations of today and tomorrow to carry with them. A few well-animated pouts accompanied with a sentimental orchestral score does not a soul make. Besides, the "soul" is a metaphysical (and in turn, eschatological) concept that can only really be discussed in a theological context (as theology is the basis for the existence and/or belief in a soul), and last I checked, there was little to no theological/eschatological content in any Hollywood animated feature film that I've seen of late. So yes, I would argue that they literally have no soul. After all, the "soul" is incompatible with contemporary secular/anti-theist thinking (and Hollywood animated films are, for the most part, non-theist). Now, please understand that I'm not saying any of this to be provocative, but this is my basis for not being able to perceive any "soul" in these films, because it literally isn't there. I identify as a spiritual person and I struggle to identify with narratives where the spirit is nonexistent, and where only the manifest is king. It's interesting that you ask whether I think it "looks" soulless. You cannot "see" the soul with your eyes, yet these films exist only to satiate the senses, and the soul cannot be perceived by our physical senses alone. Call it "heartwarming", call it "sentimental", these terms I cannot contest, but these films are not "soulful".

If your heart goes butternuts over a celebrity-voiced anthropomorphic toy/fish/mode-of-transport that exists solely to generate a profit, then all the power to you. I simply do not identify with Hollywood films generally because Hollywood as an institution limits itself to a rigid set of tropes in accordance with what they consider to be socially acceptable (or what they hope to render socially acceptable) in the time in which these films are conceived, rather than what is socially (and morally) beneficial.

I prefer foreign films as I can gain a broader perspective of the world around us (in terms of linguistics, cultural/religious practices, differences in morality and how these moralities have come into being), rather than the same-old action/romcom/anthropomorphic-things-gone-wild animation/comedy films that are virtually indistinguishable from one another in terms of deeper philosophical value. I value art for its social/cultural/historical value, not its visual finesse (though I do appreciate a well shot film) or ability to turn a profit, and among the best films that I've ever seen are those that haven't smashed box office records, because Hollywood panders only to the lowest common denominator in order to achieve maximum profitability. And I reiterate, that this is why I believe that these animated films have no soul.

Now, I say this not to start an argument, nor am I trying to persuade or compel you. I have simply justified my opinion after much reflection and I stand by it. I can't always be expected to write an essay to express precisely how I feel about something, so I would be grateful if we could just end this on that note.

You'll get Michael Cera and you'll like it.