New Animated Pikmin Short Showcased on Nintendo Today App: Nintendo Expands Pikmin Brand

Nintendo Surprises Fans with Animated Pikmin Short on Nintendo Today App Nintendo has once again delighted its fanbase by releasing a brand-new version of the mysterious “Close to You” short through the Nintendo Today app.

The latest iteration finally confirms the subject of speculation: it is indeed an animated Pikmin short.

While the overall structure of the trailer closely mirrors its earlier release, this version puts the spotlight squarely on the beloved colorful Pikmin characters, immediately recognizable to Nintendo fans worldwide. The nature of the short raises questions about visibility and the interaction between humans and Pikmin.

In the video, viewers see a baby and mother who appear either unaware of or unable to see the Pikmin surrounding them.

This detail ties in closely with lore established in Pikmin Bloom, Nintendo’s mobile game developed in collaboration with Niantic.

"According to the game, Pikmin are ordinarily invisible to the naked human eye, with your smartphone serving as the window to their hidden world,” summarizes the official reasoning behind this concept.

This creative idea may serve as a thematic bridge between the short film and the Pikmin Bloom app, offering a unique, augmented reality experience to users and providing further cohesion between Nintendo’s platforms and storytelling efforts. This new animated short also highlights Nintendo's active interest in expanding its Pikmin intellectual property beyond traditional video game releases.

While the company has worked with external animation studios such as Illumination Studios for projects like The Super Mario Bros.

Movie, it’s notable that this Pikmin short appears to be produced internally.

This signals a growing investment by Nintendo in developing multimedia content designed to engage both existing fans and newcomers to the franchise. Legendary Nintendo creator Shigeru Miyamoto has previously discussed his hopes for Pikmin’s global reach.

In an interview with IGN following the opening of Universal Studios Florida’s Epic Universe park, Miyamoto emphasized, "Pikmin offers broad appeal for both younger and older audiences, not only in Japan but around the world.

My hope is to continue expanding Pikmin’s presence globally," he affirmed.

Miyamoto’s comments hint at a larger strategy behind recent promotions and the potential for further cross-platform or cross-media initiatives. Since its debut in 2001 on Nintendo GameCube, the Pikmin series has become a unique staple in Nintendo’s portfolio, culminating most recently in the release of Pikmin 4 for Nintendo Switch in July 2023.

While there are no announced plans for Pikmin 5, and with Pikmin 4 still fresh to audiences, this new animated short suggests that Pikmin remains a priority for Nintendo.

Future projects could include more animated features, additional Nintendo Switch content, or enhanced versions compatible with forthcoming Nintendo hardware. In related news, Nintendo recently filed new trademarks for IPs like Animal Crossing, Pikmin, and Super Smash Bros., reiterating its strategy of brand expansion into areas such as themed food, drink, and hospitality.

The development team behind Pikmin has also offered insights into the creative origins of the series, attributing its continued success to innovation and cross-generational appeal. For fans eager to see what’s next, this new Pikmin animated short represents another exciting step in Nintendo’s ongoing journey to bring its imaginative worlds to life across multiple platforms and mediums.

Nintendo Nintendo Today app Nintendo Today Pikmin Nintendo Today App developer Close to You Pikmin Bloom Nintendo Switch Shigeru Miyamoto Illumination Studios IGN Universal Studios Florida Epic Universe