Mario Is Heading To The Silver Screen, With Help From The Studio Behind Minions

It can't possibly be worse than their first attempt.

Could work I suppose....

Many did not have the optimism when Konami and "Frederator Studios" were developing the Castlevania series for Netflix and we really saw the "Excellent" final result.
Then, for me, I don't lose the optimism for waiting a great Super Mario Animation Movie.

Nintendo is doing great at making sure the new generation of kids know who Mario and Nintendo are.

Since its being made by Illumination, I'm assuming it will be completely animated. I'll see it day one!

I'm still under the impression that Illumination is still the worst choice Nintendo ever worked with. Could they just bring it to Dreamworks, since Universal owns them now? They did Captain Underpants and How to Train Your Dragon so well, but missed opportunities.

Oh good God almighty please no live action!

I have to push past the deep seething hatred I have of the minions... but in doing so I can say that I think a Mario kids movie made by these people could work. They certainly know how to do marketing.

@SakuraHaruka But with Castlevania, it at least had reliable people, like Warren Ellis (who is a fantastic comic book writer). But with this, it is the coin toss in video game adaptation history

give me red overalls or give me death if this is based on smb1

So this is really happening...this is real life now!

With Miyamoto at the helm, I'm not too worried about Illumination. The first Despicable Me is one of my favorite animated movies, so I know the company is capable of good things, even if recent years haven't been favorable.

@BalloonFighter You're probably right--and I hope you are--but I'm fairly certain they were the studio behind Hop, which was live action with CG.

UGHHHHHH SOOO EXCITED

I don’t expect much.

"Nintendo and Illumination are partnering on a movie"

I'm havin' a bad, bad day...

Finally we get to see the conclusion to the cliff-hanger ending we got in the last one.

Well, at least it'll look good and accurate to the games. But then again, so did The Emoji Movie ...

Despite my feelings for the Despicable Me/Minions movies, i think their style is a good fit for Nintendo and are a marketing genius. Hey it could be produced by Sony Animation who all but ruined their rep

@Malcrash
But Miyamoto is involved in this case, so, still, I do not lose my optimism to see a great result.

That movie is an entertaining movie but an awful mario movie.

Illumination has put out a steady stream of garbage movies in the past few years. I have zero hope this will be any good.

Animation only. Please for the love of Miyamoto, animation only.

Well this could work... With Miyamoto co-producing he can crack the whip and probably either get and actually great (or at least decent) film out or the studio will crumble under the pressure. Despicable Me was actually pretty great, the second one was alright and all their other films I've seen are mediocre more then anything. Illumination is a lazy studio but can make good things they just need to not add any crappy Minion humor to it and make sure the characters are consistent with their games portrayals.

@thesilverbrick Nintendo's fanboys Labo warcry applies here: this isn't for you. My kids LOVE those flicks as they are targeted at them directly.

I don't know that they are garbage, but certainly not what I would call good. They just kind of exist.

The sacrifices you make as a Dad. shudders

@MailOrderNinja Pixar is living proof that movies targeted at children can be compelling for all audiences. Illumination’s movies are cheap, lifeless cash grabs full of fart jokes to get kids laughing.

Minions was awful, so hopefully Illumination steps up their game for this one.

Done right, this could be a good movie. Illumination, however, is kind of hit or miss for me. I liked the first Despicable Me, but the later films were kinda meh. As for Minions? I know those things are popular, but I just find them annoying.

@MailOrderNinja Personally I don't see why this COULDN'T be for us as much as for the kids. Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks and quite a few other studios can make animated films that appeal to everyone they just need to have a decent plot, humor that isn't LOL SO RANDOM, a little fan service here and there and good voice actors. Also a plot that ISN'T 90 minutes of save the Princess

I wonder if the Minions will show up , that would be awesome , LoL. Joking aside I think its very possible to get a great animated Mario film made I would love to see a Zelda feature film though or even a Metroid film live action sci fi would be awesome if done right .

@thesilverbrick Right, I'm aware a kids movie can be for adults too, but they don't all have to be Pixar. In fact, I would say the vast influx are closer to Despicable Me. Lots of slapstick and fart jokes, because kids LOVE that.

That being said I can't imagine Miyamoto letting that happen.

At least it can’t be worse than their last try... right? Even though illumination is far from the best, there has to be SOME sort of quality control.

@ImprobableToast Right, certainly animated movies can be for both kids and adults. Illumination doesn't make those though, they make purely kid movies. Slapstick and farts.

Can't imagine Miyamoto allowing that so we will see. I hope it's wonderful.

I’m actually pretty excited about this.

@MailOrderNinja And that is kind of the issue. Having fart jokes and slapstick with nothing else to appease the lowest common denominator is a problem, especially with some animated movies. There are both animated movies and movies aimed at kids that don't have to be pandering, that don't have to rely too much on lowbrow humor and is actually done with care and attention, hence the latter movies being more so great for both kids and adults are more well remembered.

Hey, @arlo, you seeing this?
Looks like WSJ was right.

@Romeo-75

You mentioned Zelda, and it reminded me of that Zelda demo from the studio that made TMNT and Astro Boy. It must be floating around on YouTube.

...i'll wait for the reviews. thank you

@MailOrderNinja
+1
The entertainment is for everyone, and if it is focused "primarily" for children, it will be something that children enjoy, even if we, the"" adults"" may not be a total pleasure.
Yes, as some say, pixar do great jobs that entertain all ages, but, Why do "some people" want "everyone" to do the same job?;
variety is good, and if you do not like it, well yes, it's a shame, but if someone else enjoys it, Super Great!, is not it?
Now, because the humor is not good?, remember that humor is different for all, and sometimes, well, umm, likewise, we do not all have the same humor;
But I hope that will be very good for all, for the "good"

While I think some day someone with the right vision could do a live action Mario movie, Illumination would probably serve themselves and Mario best sticking to full on animation.

As for the opinion on Illumination themselves, I've enjoyed much of what they put out. We love Despicable Me 1&2. Secret Life of Pets is fun. Sing is decent. Despicable Me 3 is okay. I think it has the best villain of the series. Minions was a mixed bag. They aren't Pixar or Disney. But they don't need to be.

And I'd hardly call the humor in their movies lowbrow. Maybe Minions over did it. But the others have a joke or two, which isn't that egregious for an animated movie

I kinda don't like the idea that Miyamoto is taking part in this. I know he should because he created him and all but, he doesn't seem fit to direct a movie IMHO. He likes to swerve away from anything risky or anything that would make Mario have a compelling story. And his humor doesn't seem like the best thing for a critic to critique.

I just hope Miyamoto puts his foot down if they try to suggest something dumb to do to his baby....

Please be better than "Angry Birds".

Hopefully Mario is able to speak freely and properly, unlike the Minions, and not reduced to a few catchphrases blurted once in a while.

He should play Mario:

Where's the Zelda movie? Plot-wise It's easier to do a Zelda than a Mario movie.

Fully animated please!
when mario rabbids, it gave me that feeling for a good animated mario movie.
place donkeykong, luigi, yoshi, wario waluigi (full cast) in it with them it will never fail.
Give mario some strength/power aka smashbros and some funny jokes.

Arceus no, not that studio!

Minion : Banana ! Banana !

After added with Super Mario....

Minion : Amanita ! Amanita !

I wonder what the Storyline will be about? I'll bet Peach gets kidnapped by that pesky Bowser

Ooh I hope it's post-apocalyptic!

I don't know... Super Mario Odyssey was such a great cinematic experience in-between levels. I don't really know what a movie could possibly do to retell that "Bowser kidnapped the princess" story any better.

@KayFiOS it will have to be horribly post-modern. It will probably just be 2 hours of fan service, irony and shmaltz, so nobody notices the wafer-thin story behind it. Then again, in a blanket reversal of my previous assertions, it could be a super fun, film of the year, life-affirming, masterpiece ! See, I can review films! Gimme Moneeze!

I can see the Minion in the Illumination title screen being stomped by a hammer bros. before getting its announcement out.

I don't know if I could take 90 minutes of Mario's post-16-bit voice. I tolerated Charles Martinet (barely) in Super Mario 64 because I loved most of the gameplay, but by the time Super Mario Galaxy rolled around, I pretty much decided I'd had enough.

I doubt they can reach the level of the original movie, now that was a classic.

Cya
Raziel-chan

I'm excited to see an animated Mario movie, but why does it have to be by Illumination Entertainment?
The only movie they made that I like is the first Despicable Me.

I wonder if Wreck it Ralf will make a cameo.

@JHDK But if it IS worse than their first attempt then I think that's also something to be proud of.

If it gets any of the success of the Minions/Despicable Me, this will be golden for Nintendo. Their top movies hit the billion mark. Their worst movie is Hop and I didn't even think it was that bad honestly. I hope this will be good.

Really hope Mario speaks properly in this one, and Charles Martinet gets to voice him again!

Well, I think Illumination is a good choice. Despicable Me was really good in my opinion.

@KoopaTheGamer Same here. The first Despicable Me is one of my favorite animated movies, and the sequels weren't bad either (not even Pixar is that good with sequels).

I'm really looking forward to this movie. I got goosebumps just from hearing it's official!

Big fan of Despicable Me (the original), which was clever and had a heart along with the silly humor. Miyamoto really seems to like Rabbids/Minions which makes me a little nervous... but this is Mario. I'm hoping the Illumination movies that have been disappointing is mostly from sequelitis. I would hope that a franchise like Mario would bring the best talent they have to the project. So, I'm overall hopeful.

However... I hope there's a very smart angle to this, because let's face it, Mario is silly and whimsical with smiling clouds and angry suns and happily crushing creatures "woohoo!" It doesn't lend itself very well to narrative immersion. Galaxy I think came the closest with a tone and setting that could be cinematic, but I don't know if I'd choose that anyway. So many potential pitfalls, here.

I really liked the first 2 Despicable me movies, haven't seen the third one yet. Nor the Minions movie.

I think it could work.

As long as Charles Martinet is voicing Mario, I'm in

I'm scared. Yet cautiously intrigued.

@Malcrash Right, but again, that isn't Illumination's MO. Time shall tell.

@SakuraHaruka I think you are agreeing with me without intending to? In my very first post I stated just that, animated movies don't have to be for everyone, and this one likely won't be considering Illuminations past.

And that's ok.

This will probably fail because they chose a horrible company to work with. Or even worse it will be horrible and they will make horrible sequels because it's a popular company.

The only really solid production by Illumination I feel was Despicable Me (The first one). Even it had its flaws. If they go for the generic Mario traverses the world and fights Bowser to save Peach, then it'll more than likely be dull. Maybe they should pull a Super Mario Galaxy and include more involving story elements. Then again, to see the more comedic side of Bowser fleshed out, would make it worth it.

They better not screw it up like the SMB movie.