As you may well know, Nintendo is currently working alongside Minions studio Illumination to release a brand new Super Mario movie. Nintendo's very own Shigeru Miyamoto is acting as a producer on the film and in a recent Q+A shared by the company, he's explained that it was actually the Virtual Console that made him realise it was worth doing.
We've shared his statement on the topic below (with translation provided by Siliconera); he notes that seeing classic software be rereleased on new hardware over the years helped him to see the potential of bringing the Mario IP to a new medium:
Shigeru Miyamoto: "...Regarding IP development into movies, I was originally against Nintendo expanding into video-making, but am currently involved personally in using our company’s IP in film production; and the background behind this change is because Nintendo has re-released many games via Virtual Console.
Our assets are our software, and even 30 years on, they are still active. However, unfortunately, when the original hardware compatible with the software is gone, we have no choice but to port it onto new hardware. After experiencing this process of bringing older software onto new hardware many times, I began to consider that our content business would be able to develop even further if we were able to combine our long-beloved software with that of video assets, and utilize them together for extended periods.
Basically, it’s not that ‘I want to make a Mario movie’, but that I began to consider that ‘we should bring more Nintendo content into the field of video-making’. With films, the amount of people who would contact our IP would widen, and increase the amount of people engaging with our IP. Then, we’d be able to further increase the spread of our media via video."
It was recently revealed that the film is "moving along smoothly", with a 2022 release date serving as the current target.
Here's hoping this one turns out to be better than the 1993 release. Let's face it, how can it not be?
[source siliconera.com, via gonintendo.com]
Comments (58)
Hoo boy, can't wait to see this comment section
Just imagine what a GameCube Virtual Console could convince him to do.
Well, if Pokémon can do it, and sonic can do it (maybe), surely mario can do something.
It’s a shame having a Virtual Console didn’t convince them to.............. have a Virtual Console
with “Ready Player One. At the back of my mind, I think they could create something really special.
Trust the fungus...
So does this mean their VC didn't sell as well as they'd hoped and now they're trying to "increase the amount of people engaging with" their ip?
I still don't get how the VC helped him if not in the above way.
Too bad they killed the virtual console and killed off giving us N64 games when it was finally possible for a portable console to handle them (GameCube too).
So it wasn't the money they got offered then?
Has it convinced him to put N64 and Gamecube games on Switch? Maybe even just Donkey Kong Country and Earthbound on the online service
I understand his initial reluctance to bring Mario to the big screen if some other video game adaptations are anything to go by. With Miyamoto acting as producer, I think this movie will be more hit than miss. We'll see.
This reminds me that I need to hunt down the 1993 movie as I've never seen it. I've heard the campiness is legendary.
I hope the film does well enough and is also GOOD enough to warrant the production of more Nintendo movies
a Metroid movie would truly be a sight to behold
The logic offered here is quite frustrating. Surely "we’d be able to further increase the spread of our media" could be done much easier by just continuing with the Virtual Console?
Mr. Miyamoto, please bring back the V.C. On Switch!
Fix-It Felix = Mario
Wreck-It Ralph = Donkey Kong
The movie was already made, it even had Mario Kart in it (and Bowser too).
Well this is slightly disappointing , lets hope for new emulators for NSO ,N64 this year would be awesome despite not "owning it"
@Kalmaro the sonic movie looks like the writing will be extremely cheesy. I'm just uninterested and I would say I'm a moderate sonic fan (I'm really just a fan of good games). I was hyped for detective pikachu and I'm not even a pokemon fan!
@Hagemaru I could be wrong but I thought nintendo said they are getting rid of the virtual console banner
Pokémon, Mario, Sonic and Mega Man all getting movies. I guess it had to happen sometime, but I always figured it would have happened in the 90's. Surprised to see all that going on in 2020.
@PickledKong64 Sonic IS cheesy so that sounds about right. That's part of the appeal imo.
Virtual Console is going to make a comeback in 2020!
Honestly? I can completely understand his point of view, considering how modern Nintendo hates bringing their IP to movies and whatever
I don't always agree with Mr Miyamoto's opinions, but from where they stand, his logic is on point
It’s 2020, a CG movie is really no big deal. Talking food gets a CG movie. It’s like Nintendo talking about internet features that were standard in 2009. But Nintendo loves coming from behind with something sure to have polish (except for maybe their net design not sure they ever get the polish right: Switch app)
"After observing the Amiibo series of figures, we decided to expand into selling toasters and to set up a Nintendo store on Mars, because why the f*** not" - Miyamoto
I think I understand. Actually I don’t
Miyamoto's reasoning for making the Mario film is fine. What isn't fine is the fact that he chose Illumination for the job.
Their output ranges from passable to atrocious. These guys produce films on the lowest budget imaginable on the professional level and they spend more money on marketing than making actual movies.
Their strategy of advertising cute characters for mediocre films works yes, but that just makes this creative cynicism even more depressing.
Honestly for what could of been...
https://youtu.be/y2ByZRJ-oQQ
& what we have now:
https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/nes/
I’m glad for what we have today in 2020.
snickers I don't blame them for being leery of how Hollywood treats vg movies, especially the Mario Bros movie disaster. Very few of them are actually good regardless. I'd say Pokemon is the only one with a long track record of decent movies, if they weren't as formulaic as their cartoons.
@Gerald I definitely agree.
@Tyranexx Street Fighter is legendary for its campiness.
The Mario Bros movie is legendary for being a big, confusing,awful mess.
@Rob3008 It is a confusing logical leap to make.
@Tempestryke Thanks for reminding me that I also need to track down the Street Fighter movie as well.
Maybe "campy" wasn't the right word to use up there. "So bad it's good" might've been a better descriptor.
@Tyranexx Lol. I wouldn't say that its so bad its good either. Although you may enjoy it. Definitely go track em down. Ooh and don't forget the Mortal Kombat and Double Dragon films.
I hope it's animated and not live-action.
@Tempestryke I sense a video game movie night approaching!
@Kalmaro meh. I dont find the appeal in its cheesiness (dont know if that's a word). Something like The Sam Raimi Spiderman movies are so cheesy their good. Sonic definently doesn't fall into that category. But I will wait for the movie to actually to come out till I make my final decision
@DrDaisy Ryan Reynolds as Mario
Or
Mel Gibson as Mario
Yeah I'm really curious to see how much is CG animation - fully animated, or partially animated like Detective Pikachu.
@Elvie While that's true, I'd say Illumination is capable of making a good film. The first Despicable Me is unironically great, but I guess once they made a good first impression they knew they could stop trying. It shows they have some talent though, and hopefully Miyamoto's input can help bring out some of that talent.
Nice to see Ninty recignise the worth of classic games but makes it more baffling they don't add them more often.
I've tweeted Nintendo UK to register my disappointment at no additions to the NSO library in January.
The outcome of this movie interest me for one reason. Nintendo and Illumination have never been big on strong stories. There have been some exceptions, but for the most...NAH!!!
@outsider83 I really wouldn't expect any more depth than what we got in Super Mario Odyssey. Between the original movie, the crash in the depth between SMG1 and SMG2, and the kinds of disasters of stories we've gotten from select RPG's, it might be wise to only have a basic story.
What virtual console?
I don't know why I'm so concerned anyway. I hate Mario's voice so much, I can't imagine sitting through over an hour of hearing it. I put up with his voice in the games because a lot of them are still fun to play and the sound can be turned off.
@Gerald I think Miyamoto still hasn't upgraded from his Wii console.
@sikthvash I actually laughed out loud reading that 😂 thank you for the laugh 😄
@angelus ha ha, nothing wrong with that I guess, I still use it play games like IK+
On another note, Doom 64 has appeared on the eShop for 30th March, that will be my 3rd N64 VC game on the Switch
@sikthvash Is that before of after Nintendo starts making PCs? 😉
I shall be watching this with intense interest...
@GetShulked but ofc we'll probably be waiting until 2021 for gamecube
@clvr Glad I could be of service tips Mario cap
@Alpha-2002 Afterwards of course, because that takes a priority over the third Nintendo store in the universe ^_^
@DrDaisy I hope so too.
@Tyranexx Sounds like good times.
@DrDaisy Hooray! I'm not the only one who finds Martinet's Mario annoying!
So when can we expect switch to have a virtual console so I can buy games that aren't with switch online?
I'm so afraid.... I'm afraid they will give Mario a personality, when that is done, it actually affects different viewers in different ways, no two people see Mario the same way as Mario's personality is vague on purpose. This allows our imagination to fill the the gaps and fill out the character. This is also used with Link. I'm afraid if they have voice acted dialog and a concrete story, it may disappoint many, as people have "known" who Mario is thru individual experiences and individual gameplay. I think it's really dangerous to limit Mario with a concrete personality.
-Nothing- is better than the 1993 film. Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper must be rolling in their graves!!
A 30 year old plumber dreams of a life beyond saving princesses from their tendencies to try one more date with large turtles. The mushroom kingdom is too predictable - bop a goomba, waddle from a boo...Was any of it worth it?
Joined by his brother and pursued by a princess whose interest grows as Mario's wanes, the prodigal plumber goes on a quest for personal fame and fulfillment as a professional athlete - without knowing which sport he wants to play. While he doesn't ultimately find success, he discovers himself and earns something even greater in the end.
A family-friendly romantic comedy that ultimately concludes with a message on the importance of relationships over the pursuit of fame and fortune, which critics are hailing as 'unexpectedly charming.'
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