The last Nintendo movie – 1993’s Super Mario Bros. – embarrassingly flopped, causing the video game maestros to shy away from film.
Advertisement
During an interview made by Fortune to Miyamoto during the E3 convention, he explained the differences between videogames and movies, and why it is so challenging to create movies entirely based on the videogame’s story, “Because games and movies seem like similar mediums, people’s natural expectation is we want to take our games and turn them into movies”. That sentiment has been echoed again now, as a close look at Nintendo’s upcoming plans reveals a vague idea for “visual content production”. Over the past few years the company’s stance on has softened as they dipped their toes into the water by allowing some of their characters to appeared in Wreck-It Ralph (Bowser, Princess Daisy) and Pixels (Donkey Kong, Mario and the dog from Duck Hunt).
However, this might change as Nintendo branches out and partners with companies like Universal Studios.
Nintendo formally announced their interest in expanding IP-development via a subtle, but significant statement of intent buried in the June Earnings.
“I’ve always felt video games, being an interactive medium, and movies, being a passive medium, mean the two are quite different”, he said, although he admits the company is open to discussions in today’s broadening entertainment atmosphere. However, recent events indicate that Nintendo is keen to have another go in Hollywood, with whispers and rumors (that were quickly squashed, mind you) earlier this year of an original live-action series for Netflix based on The Legend of Zelda.
Advertisement
In an interview with Fortune, Miyamoto-who has been the key creative behind Nintendo classics since 1979, including Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, and the Legend of Zelda, among dozens more-the designer said the relationship between video games and cinema is often mistakenly linked. The company has also strengthened its standing as one of the best video game companies in the world with the release of their Ninetendo Family Computer, the first home gaming console, and the Nintendo Entertainment System. Sound off in the comments.
