Nintendo Releases Both Versions of 'Close to You' Pikmin Short on YouTube

Nintendo Expands Pikmin Franchise Presence with 'Close to You' Short Film Release on YouTube Nintendo continues to engage fans of the Pikmin franchise with new creative content, following the recent upload of both versions of its highly discussed 'Close to You' animated short film directly to YouTube.

This move underscores Nintendo’s commitment to broadening the accessibility of its video content while further highlighting its ongoing investment in its acclaimed Pikmin series, which remains a prominent title on the Nintendo Switch platform. 'Close to You', an original short film depicting the whimsical interactions between a child and seemingly self-moving objects, first appeared without prior announcement.

The short’s instantly recognizable background music led many avid Nintendo fans and industry observers to suspect a Pikmin connection.

Shortly after its mysterious debut, Nintendo confirmed the short’s connection to the beloved franchise by releasing a second version within the Nintendo Today! app.

This edition revealed that the playful activities were orchestrated by legions of familiar Pikmin creatures. Initially, both versions of the 'Close to You' film were exclusively accessible through the Nintendo Today! app, limiting reach even as fan speculation flourished.

Now, Nintendo has responded to community demand by making both the Pikmin and invisible Pikmin versions available to a global audience via a consolidated eight-minute video on YouTube—for the first time, viewers can experience both narratives without platform restrictions. Industry observers quickly recognized the project as the first official release under the newly rebranded Nintendo Pictures label, formerly known as Dynamo Pictures.

Nintendo Pictures, which previously created several well-received Pikmin shorts in the mid-2010s, now serves as the company's in-house video production studio tasked with further expanding the storytelling potential of Nintendo’s beloved intellectual properties. This increase in multimedia activity arrives during an exciting period for Pikmin fans.

Nintendo has confirmed that Pikmin 4, launched for Nintendo Switch in July 2023, is set to receive a free content update.

The update will introduce new Pikmin designs, an expanded photo mode, and additional features designed to keep the Pikmin community engaged.

Pikmin 4 bolstered franchise sales, quickly surpassing one million units sold in Japan within its first few months and contributing to the franchise's resurgence on the Switch. By making both versions of the 'Close to You' short film easily accessible and adding fresh content to Pikmin 4 through free updates on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo demonstrates a continued dedication to nurturing and growing the Pikmin universe across both game and multimedia experiences.

Fans can now immerse themselves in the world of Pikmin via Nintendo’s official YouTube channel or jump back into Pikmin 4 to enjoy the latest features on the Switch eShop.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch YouTube Pikmin Nintendo Pictures Close to You Dynamo Pictures Nintendo Today Pikmin 4