Nintendo Pictures Co. Ltd. Debuts with Pikmin Animated Short 'Close to You'

Nintendo’s commitment to expanding its creative reach took a significant leap forward this week with the official debut of its first animated project under the newly rebranded Nintendo Pictures Co.

Ltd.

The short film, titled 'Close to You,' features the beloved Pikmin franchise and was released in two parts on October 7 and 8, 2025.

The second installment of the film is currently available via the Nintendo Today! app, bringing the iconic sentient plants to fans’ smart devices worldwide. Nintendo Pictures Co.

Ltd., formerly known as Dynamo Pictures, was acquired by Nintendo in 2022 and subsequently rebranded in October of the same year.

The move emphasized Nintendo’s intent to strengthen its own visual content production capabilities, both for promotional materials and broader entertainment projects.

Prior to this milestone, the Tokyo-based studio contributed to well-known titles such as Super Mario Bros.

Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and the Hatsune Miku Expo 2023 through motion capture and CG work.

However, 'Close to You' represents Nintendo Pictures’ first independent, non-game-related production specifically crafted for Nintendo's growing audience of animation enthusiasts. In an official post shared to their corporate Twitter/X account on October 9, Nintendo addressed the excitement surrounding the release: “We hope you enjoyed the two ‘Close to You’ videos released on October 7 and 8.

The second video is available on Nintendo Today!, a free app for your smart device.

These are the first short films created by Nintendo Pictures Co., Ltd.

Nintendo Pictures will continue to produce more animated content in the future.” The announcement put to rest several days of online speculation regarding the mysterious short's origins.

Some fans initially believed the film hinted at a new title, such as Pikmin 5, or a possible Switch 2 upgrade for Pikmin 4.

Others drew parallels to music and visuals from the Pikmin series, fueling discussions across social media about potential tie-ins with upcoming hardware or film projects.

In the end, Nintendo confirmed that 'Close to You' was created to showcase the studio’s creative talent and to serve as a fresh celebration of the Pikmin world, not as a teaser for future game releases. Nintendo Pictures’ origins mark a strategic shift in Nintendo’s approach to multimedia production.

With the studio’s experience dating back to influential collaborations and creative work in titles like Super Mario RPG, the company is now well-positioned to deliver high-quality visual content beyond traditional gaming boundaries.

As the reach of Nintendo Switch and the wider Nintendo ecosystem grows, fans can anticipate more original shorts and digital projects from Nintendo Pictures, likely involving other classic franchises as the company builds on the positive reception to its initial Pikmin foray. For those eager to view the latest animated works, 'Close to You' and future Nintendo Pictures shorts will continue to be accessible on the Nintendo Today! app, reinforcing Nintendo’s commitment to accessibility and innovation across its platforms.

Nintendo Pikmin Ltd Nintendo Pictures Close to You Nintendo Switch Nintendo Today app Dynamo Pictures Super Mario Bros. Wonder Super Mario RPG Hatsune Miku Expo 2023