Super Smash Bros. N64 Opening Movie Storyboards Discovered: A Glimpse into Nintendo’s Iconic Platform Fighter

In a remarkable discovery sure to excite fans of classic Nintendo fighting games, original storyboard documents for Super Smash Bros.

on the Nintendo 64 have been found online.

These hand-drawn panels, created by series director Masahiro Sakurai, provide an unprecedented look into the early creative process behind one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises.

The storyboards were unearthed by marketing director and content creator David V.

Kimball, known for his in-depth Super Smash Bros.

Melee coverage.

While conducting research for his next project, Kimball utilized the Wayback Machine to explore archived pages of HAL Laboratory’s website.

Rather than actively searching for lost concept art, Kimball serendipitously stumbled upon detailed design documents that chronicle the development of Super Smash Bros.'s iconic opening sequence. Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999, Super Smash Bros.

broke new ground as a crossover fighting game, featuring fan-favorite characters like Mario, Link, Pikachu, and Donkey Kong.

The game has achieved remarkable commercial success, surpassing 5 million units sold worldwide, and establishing the groundwork for future installments, including Super Smash Bros.

Melee and, most recently, Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate for Nintendo Switch.

According to a translated statement from the original HAL Laboratory website, the company shared: "We have selected a scene from the Nintendo 64 software 'Super Smash Bros.', a smash hit that has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and remains popular to this day.

We are revealing the storyboard for the opening screen, hand-drawn by the game planner.

You can compare the storyboard to the final version in the 'Finished Movie' section." The unearthed panels capture many instantly recognizable moments, such as Mario perched on a desk before all the iconic fighters leap onto the stage together—a sequence seared into the memories of longtime fans.

Although some links to images are broken, most of the panels remain accessible through the Wayback Machine.

Both Kimball and other researchers noted that not every storyboard could be recovered at this time. The discovery comes as Masahiro Sakurai concludes an era with the completion of updates for Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate, the best-selling entry in the franchise and a staple of the Nintendo Switch library.

Sakurai has, in recent months, focused on producing content for his YouTube channel, sharing insights such as footage from "Dragon King," the prototype that eventually evolved into Super Smash Bros. The release of these storyboards not only provides a fascinating window into the artistry and planning that shaped Nintendo’s platform fighter, but also underscores the enduring legacy of Masahiro Sakurai and HAL Laboratory within the gaming industry.

For those interested in exploring the storyboards firsthand, many panels are viewable through the Wayback Machine’s archive of the original HAL Laboratory website. As Super Smash Bros.

celebrates over two decades of influence, this archival discovery offers fans and game developers alike a rare opportunity to witness the genesis of one of Nintendo’s greatest achievements.

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Masahiro Sakurai Smash Bros Nintendo 64 HAL Laboratory N64 Sakurai