Nintendo Pictures’ First Shorts: “Close to You” Pikmin Films

Nintendo has confirmed that the two animated “Close to You” Pikmin shorts released in early October are the first short films from Nintendo Pictures (the studio Nintendo acquired in 2022, formerly known as Dynamo Pictures).

The second short is currently available on the Nintendo Today app. Nintendo said Nintendo Pictures will continue to explore new creative possibilities through video content, suggesting the studio may produce more in-house animated work beyond supporting game cinematics.

These shorts highlight Nintendo Pictures’ animation chops — cute visual storytelling with clever choices (one version shows visible Pikmin, the other keeps them mostly hidden). The move follows Nintendo’s broader entertainment push, after collaborations with Universal/Illumination on the Mario films and Sony on a live-action Zelda project.

Coverage: Official trailer on YouTube · Nintendo Today app · Engadget coverage

What do you think — should Nintendo Pictures keep making shorts, or aim for feature films next? Leave a comment below.