Nintendo May Do Anime

Thanks to GameSpy for the news that former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi is planning to present a plan to the Board detailing Nintendo made anime series. The move is intended to provide diversification and increase earnings by linking their characters more closely with the anime market. The company also pleased investors by adjusting higher their profit forecast by almost 20 percent for the year. Nintendo now expects to report almost US$758.9 million for the year.

Comments

Mario

[lexarius]

What, the Mario cartoons don't count as anime? As I recall there were also Zelda and Kirby cartoons. And who can forget Captain Nintendo? That stuff had to be made in Japan, right? Or is it that they are going to do it in-house instead of licensing it out?

Re:Mario

[Andy_R]

I believe that a little known game called 'pokemon' might have been made into a TV series and some movies too?

Re:Mario

[kisielk]

I believe the Pokemon TV series spawned the games, and not vice versa.

Re:Mario

[Joe the Lesser]

Ok, listen up.

Made in Japan != Anime.

Anime is a style. Not region based.

Re:Mario

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, all animation is anime to the Japanese. Ask many older Japanese what their favorite "anime" is, and you will VERY often hear "Tom & Jerry" as the response. It was broadcast in Japan after the war, and was enormously popular.

To non-Japanese, "anime" normally means Japanese anime. If you refer to Korean animation or things like Kaena or Adam Warren stuff or MegaTokyo as "anime" to non-Japanese anime fans, they will correct you.

I'm not sure how this all happened, but there you go.

Also of note is that "manga" is the word that Japanese use for comics and comic-style art. In the U.S., you can refer to something being drawn in comic style or in realistic style. The Japanese have the same distinction, not because comic-style art can't be realistic, but because there are obvious differences regardless of where you grew up. They just use the term "manga" instead of "comic-style." And just to confuse the issue, most Westerners are in the habit of referring to "Japanese comic-style" art as "anime-style." That's the point where I give up on trying to understand those of my countrymen who would misundersand simple things that they're presumably so enthusiastic about.

- AC

Re:Mario

[Anonymous Coward]

your belief is wrong.

Re:Mario

[Anonymous Coward]

Nintendo, like many other game companies, has partnered with animation companies to produce weekly TV shows, movies, videos, etc. Yamauchi wants to pull all of that in-house and reap 100% of the benefits.

I honestly don't remember the Mario and Captain N cartoons very much. Blasphemy, sure, but there you are. They were from my childhood, and I remember them sucking pretty much.

Zelda was made in the U.S. If you think anyone in Kyoto had anything to do with "Well excuuuuuuuse me, princess!" you're as mistaken as the guys who blame Nintendo for the crappy CD-I Zelda games.

Kirby's Japanese produced, that's for sure. It's not something I enjoy watching now, so I can't really comment on it. However, I've seen it, and the production value seems infinitely better than the old cartoons must have been.

Re:Mario

[Joe the Lesser]

That's interesting.

But I think professional cartoonists are able to distinguish, even if the common word in America is 'Cartoon' and the common word in Japan is 'Anime', I think most fans of animation should understand that Kenshin is quite different from Jackie Chan Adventures in content and artwork, and that isn't necessarily based upon the creator's locale.

Re:Mario

[CodeWanker]

The nice thing about this is we might finally get to see all the pron titles: Konkey Dong, Mario and the Princesspool. You know, quality stuff.

Re:Mario

[Anonymous Coward]

The petulant use of "anime" by westerners goes hand in hand with the insistence that "anime" is mature and for grown ups, and really has NOTHING in common with kiddie cartoons, except that they both happen to be animated.

Extra bonus funny that the Japanese themselves think anime is for kids or otaku (NOT a compliment). Except for Miyazaki of course!

Re:Mario

[BIGmog]

You can watch some streaming episodes of the Super Mario Bros Super Show as well as Zelda here.

Re:Mario

[Anonymous Coward]

Also of note is that "manga" is the word that Japanese use for comics and comic-style art.

Except that US comics are called "amecomi" (short for "american comics") and a lot of people makes a distinction between manga ("for kids" such as "Naruto"), comics ("older kids and adults" such as "Sanctuary"), gekiga, etc...

Re:mario

[geminidomino]

You forgot one:

Cartoon start:
We're the Mario Brothers, and pluming's our game. Found a secret warp zone while workin' on the drain. Lend the princess a hand in the mushroom land, drummin' action with the plumbers you'll be hooked on the brothers. Uh! Now, Evil Koopa and his troopas are up to misbehavin, they kidnapped the princess, Mushroom Land needs' savin'. [Beat some confusion] and everybody discovers, you can't [cut the bus] to be hooked on the brothers! Uh!

Garbled lyrics enclosed in square brackets. It is [dancing]!!

Re:Mario

[Ayaress]

Pokemon was not originally one of Nintendo's projects like Mario, Metroid, or Zelda, but an independent game. However, it did prove to be the best selling series on the Game Boy, and pretty quickly became one of their flagship products. So much so that Pikachu is probably more identified with the Gameboy consoles than any of Nintendo's traditional characters are.

Hehehe

[Moo Moo Cow of Death]

What? Nintendo is doing anime? So we're going to see Mario with 10 tentacle penis fingers and the Princess as a age old Sex Ninja that must fornicate with the evil Goombas and King Bowser in order to save the world from evil?

(I would've linked this little bit right up but I'm at work and can't remember them offhand :D)

Re:Hehehe

[johannesg]

It scares me to think what else might be in your bookmarks at home...

Re:Hehehe

[MasterRyu]

The type of animation you are referring to is "hentai" anime, hentai of course being the Japanese word for pervert, which is a whole different breed. Contrary to popular belief, anime and hentai are NOT synonymous.

Re:Hehehe

[Anonymous Coward]

So you watched Ninja Scroll and Overfiend...2 of the most watched by noobs who think all anime is that and nothing more.

Didn't they already try this?

[gzsfrk]

I remember waking up on the Saturday morning that "Captain N--The Game Master" was to premiere. I recall even as a kid being appalled at how bad the animation was, how poorly written the characters were, and feeling almost insulted that this crap was expected to cause me to go out in feverish anticipation to buy the crudely represented stalwarts of Nintendo's game lines.

As I recall, the primary characters were from the Metroid (Mother Brain), Castlevania (Belmont), Punch-out (King Hippo), Kid Icarus (same), Megaman (same), and ... Zelda (Princess--?) games. I know there's a couple other regulars on the show that I'm forgetting. Donkey Kong was one, wasn't he?

Same song, different generational beat... =)

Re:Didn't they already try this?

[rubberbando]

As I recall, the primary characters were from the Metroid (Mother Brain), Castlevania (Belmont), Punch-out (King Hippo), Kid Icarus (same), Megaman (same), and ... Zelda (Princess--?) games. I know there's a couple other regulars on the show that I'm forgetting. Donkey Kong was one, wasn't he?

I don't recall Donkey Kong being a regular on the show. I do remember there being a short lived Donkey Kong cartoon though.

As for other regulars, there was the Eggplant wizard from Kid Icarus who always hung out with King Hippo. Also, the second season they introduced that horrible 'Gameboy' character.

Oh and btw, the princess' name was Lana. She was princess of all of videoland.

Re:Didn't they already try this?

[geminidomino]

Oh and btw, the princess' name was Lana. She was princess of all of videoland.

And probably the only original character BESIDES Kevin (Cap'n N)

Re:my only hope...

[Moo Moo Cow of Death]

I wouldn't mind seeing a good card game come out of this deal either, Metroid or otherwise.

Makes sense.

[Anonymous Coward]

In the past year, Nintendo had recently been on-again in their off-again, on-again talks to acquire majority control of family-run entertainment conglomerate Bandai. Bandai is the sole owner of so many properties with worldwide appeal that it's no wonder.

Yamauchi isn't just talking about anime, either. If Nintendo follows his advice (which is all it really is, at this point, since he's no longer really running the show), they would be branching off into full-blown film, video, and toy production and distribution as well. Bandai, the number 2 toy maker in the U.S. alone (not to mention Asian region), would have instant competition and Nintendo would likely be rolling in gold.

On another note, it's important for us level-headed folk to recognize that the reason Nintendo has increased their profit forecast so impressively is because of foreign exchange rates. All those doom & gloom Nintendo detractors that predicted their end due solely on their one recent unprofitable quarter should remember this. Nintendo holds considerable American investments, so a strong dollar is actually far better for them than a strong yen. Now that the yen has weakened again, they are seeing the benefits. Basically, they rise and fall on the power of the dollar, not that of the yen. Sony, who is in the same predicament, also saw a bad quarter along with Nintendo, whereas now navi should fare better along with Nintendo as well.

Re:Makes sense.

[Zangief]

Yeah, there have been periods where the strong yen has put ninty on the red, and many idiots start saying OMG N1ntendo is teh dead!

Now, that Yen is weak, and all those euros and dollars count a lot, and Nintendo has proved themselves with the ds, it woudl be a wise move to diverify.

Nintendo has also made anime before. The pokemon anime is a great success, and has helped the game outside japan.

Super Mario Bros Super Show?

[Prien715]

Does anyone else remember that show? I remember watching it in the mid 80's. (Sorry, I was little.)

Re:Super Mario Bros Super Show?

[NanoGator]

"Does anyone else remember that show? I remember watching it in the mid 80's. (Sorry, I was little.)"

Swing your arms... from side to side.. come on it's time to GO do the Mario!

>:I If I get fired for humming that one too many times at work I'll come get you.

Re:Super Mario Bros Super Show?

[antdude]

I remember it! It was in 1989.

Go here for details. Yahooligans has the episodes online. Sheesh!

Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[Dixie_Flatline]

Where're all the people that come around to say that Nintendo is irrelevant and going out of business? Almost a billion dollars in revenue? I guess they just barely staved off death for one more year.

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[Anonymous Coward]

Profit, not revenue.

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[Anonymous Coward]

omg wtf that's even better lol!!! bbq too, btw!!!

Seriously, Nintendo's doing awesome this quarter. With things going this smoothly, I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo goes all-out on the DS release. I can't wait.

My friends and I have been on a Nintendo high since E3, so their sound financial status bodes well that the DS release will be a spectacle worth participating in. We're even all set up to hold a DS pictochat and games party on launch night at my house, because I've got multiple 802.11b APs that we can play around and test with.

Anyhow, that was off-topic. But it's never bad to hear that your favorite gaming company is financially prepared to roll out your most anticipated games and hardware.

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[tktk]

Nintendo's the Apple Computer of console gaming. Or least it's become that in the last few years.

And before you flame, I have one of each: GC, Xbox, PS2, MacOS X, Win XP, Linux.

And no, I don't have time to use any of them.

I'm currently awaiting a wife and kids so I can look back at how relaxing this period of my life is.

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[ZosX]

I'm currently awaiting a wife and kids so I can look back at how relaxing this period of my life is.

Well if you read slashdot you'll be waiting for a long, long time. Might as well just give up on the idea, eh?

zosX

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[wed128]

AP's? i was under the impression that DS networking would be ad-hoc...am i wrong? enlighten me.

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[Anonymous Coward]

We're going to see everything that we can do with it, including same-room, globally, etc.

One local wireless communication is a proprietary protocol. The rumor as I've heard it is that it'll also have 802.11b ad hoc networking. But what's already been confirmed (if you saw the E3 pre-show announcement) is internet gaming, which implies that you can stick it on your network and give it an IP addy if you have an AP.

I'm still waiting to see if our buddy in Chicago is going to wait up while we in California get ours on midnight. He gets his 3 hours early, dammit. Anyway, we want to do a pictochat or game test between us and him, but he'll have to get an AP to stick on his network between now and launch. :)

Basically, we want to see what wireless combinations will work. Like, I'll be upstairs in the same room with someone else and one AP, plus we'll see if our other friends downstairs in the far end of the house (where the first AP normally doesn't reach.....crappy wireless router) can pick either one of us up using either ad hoc 802.11b or the proprietary protocol. If not, we'll turn on the downstairs AP in that part of the house and see what that's like (LAN gaming). We're also all going to try connecting to Mr. Chicago using any method that works.

About the only thing we won't be trying on launch night is an extended bridged network between California and Illinois. :)

Re:Nintendo's not dying? OMG!!1!

[WWWWolf]

Nintendo's the Apple Computer of console gaming. Or least it's become that in the last few years.

Yeah, Nintendo's consoles and games are quite a well-working brand, they're generally praised for their rather good quality, they have a large group of extremely rabid fans... and just like Apple, Nintendo has been "dying" for quite a while now. =)

Pokemon?

[2nd Post!]

I'm surprised no one is mentioning Pokemon!

Re:Pokemon?

[Bagels]

I'm not. *shudder*

Re:Pokemon?

[Rayonic]

Indeed, Pokemon definitely fits into the category of "anime", both in the "made in Japan" and "interestingly drawn by poorly animated" senses.

MMORPG first!

[dan_bethe]

They need to first create a coherent Internet strategy spearheaded by a Pokemon, Zelda, or Mario based MMORPG at least on par with Final Fantasy and Second Life. Only then shall I permit this fragmentation of attention! This..this... childish insolence!

Re:MMORPG first!

[mrgreen4242]

A Zelda MMORPG, perhaps with Wind Waker-esque cell shaded graphics, coupled with a cartoon drawn in the same style with the same characters/locations as in the game would be an instant hit. As long as the game wasn't TOO kiddy (easy and cheesy), and the cartoon was done so that it appealed to preteen kids, adult swim junkies, and anime fans.

It would be even better if it was on the DS... since it has built in wireless networking, voice chat, etc, etc, and would also give it what no other MMORPG has, portability, limiting its competition somewhat.

Gah, now I can't stop thinking about how cool a DS Zelda MMORPG would be. Thanks!

Re:MMORPG first!

[dan_bethe]

Gah, now I can't stop thinking about how cool a DS Zelda MMORPG would be. Thanks!

hahahaaa!! I know!

Yeah hey if it was simply done in Nintendo fashion, I think any of those franchises would just nail it. And that's part of the "problem" -- Nintendo can't do anything without doing it 100000%. It's all or nothing. They have such engaging characters with enriching relationships that you actually care about. Think of Epona in Zelda64, whose life you touch in so many ways. Her song is ingrained in your character's soul, connected to your innate magic, and a necessary part of getting along in the game. You help her and her family, you hang out at her house for days, you find all the secrets underneath it. And she's just an average type of character with no magic or weapons.

I spent a whole weekend playing Final Fantasy XI on Playstation 2 at a friend's house. I am endeared to the altruism that the game promotes, and to the people I met (see my pics of my adventures and friends). And it looks and sounds great with an keyboard controller that's as much of a breakthrough as the N64's controller was. But that's it. For me to be truly immersed in it, I'd have to truly care about the game, the world, the purpose, the characters, and the players. FFXI is a wonderful work of art but has only the players and has a little bit of purpose in the sense of teamwork and nationalism, whereas Nintendo would instantly have all of the above.

But if any of you are in FFXI, tell my weekend friends that dtm said hi!

Re:MMORPG first!

[dan_bethe]

I forgot to mention that FFXI also goes a long way toward promoting nonviolence as an in-game lifestyle and society. They have guilds based on magic, art, and cooking. They even have pseudogames to unite all in-game nationalities that exist for the purpose of celebrating nonviolence and unity. And it'll continue over time.

In the meantime, Second Life is a fully scriptable and physics-enabled virtual world with optional damage-enabled zones, where players can create their own RPG and other lifestyle environments from scratch. They encourage economy in and out of the game. You are encouraged to make real money playing it, while they also provide for all players. Their architecture is based on open standard technology and runs on MacOS and Windows, with a Linux client on the way. The Windows client runs on WineX 3.

Re:MMORPG first!

[mrgreen4242]

Gah, as I sat around having dinner I was thinking about this some more... The Wind Waker game world is perfect for a MMORPG... Link isn't actually in it anywhere, the coming of age ceremony puts you in Link-like cloths, and you start out as a 'kid' who likely grew up hearing tales of how great the Hero Link's adventures were... So you have a world where everyone can basically be Link, but have a valid in-game reason for it.

Add to this the fact that the world is completely made up of smallish islands, and sea-faring is part of the culture. This gives you an easy non-arbitrary way to divide content up among servers, which is always good for technical reasons, ensuring that there aren't silly load screens, and that you keep lag down for players. Plus, there's a whole ocean of explorable 'wilderness' to play with.

The cell chaded graphics style, which I personally liked, but I know many didn't, I think would fit a MMORPG as there's not much out there in that style, so it'd be fairly unique, and also it keeps the large complex textures down to a minimum (making the game run smoother with lots of activity ont he screen) while not looking like crap.

I made a post recently about why a MMO would be a the 'killer app' for the DS, and I can't for the life of me say why Zelda didn't immediately spring to life. Everyone loves Zelda. Would be an easy shoe-in fr game of the year, decade, century, what have you.

Gah! Make it stop, I'll be too disapointed when this game never materializes.

Re:MMORPG first!

[dan_bethe]

The only downside is that it'd only run on Nintendo hardware, and I don't have a Gamecube. But I'd get one just for that! A Zelda appliance!

Re:MMORPG first!

[mrgreen4242]

Well, a GC is only liek $80 or something like that now. I still think this would be perfectly suited to the DS, and would make the DS a must have system... Or, they could do a FF deal and bundle a Zelda MMO w/ a broadband adaptor and some sort of massive special memory card or something...

Which makes me think... if there was to be a DS MMO, you would need something to hold data locally, more than the game's flashcard would probably have available... I wonder if it would be feasable to have DS games come with a blank DS sizd cart for extra data storage... You can get one that's got 32mb (256mbits) for like $75 now, but they aren't being mass produced, so I imagine that they could get that down a ton if it was being sold officially.

Re:MMORPG first!

[Incoherent07]

I've suggested a Pokemon based MMORPG before. Personally I think it'd be a natural choice for a game concept that practically screams MMORPG as it is. And say what you will about the series, the first Pokemon game was extremely innovative and a lot of fun, whatever your age or maturity level.

Re:MMORPG first!

[geminidomino]

Look at it this way... Pretty much by definition, an MMORPG can't have a progressing story line, only a rather static backstory. Otherwise new players would constantly be joining in the middle of storylines, missing all the "fun" because they have to level up while the early players are already spanking Ganon. A "looping" story wouldn't appeal because MMORPG players tend to insist that the worlds persist, and I don't think they have the resources (technical, financial, or creative) the be constantly making new storylines.

Since Zelda and the reason we love it is for the awesome story it tells (WW notwithstanding, IMNSHO), they might as well call the game "Asshats in green hats" since it would have lost most of the draw for Zelda fans...

For the record, I have to disagree with you about the graphics... It wasn't the cell shading I had a problem with so much as the mega-chibi approach, but if ANY Zelda game comes out like that again, I'll put out my eyes with a soldering iron.

Production is the difference

[vhold]

A lot of people here bringing up other nintendo-related cartoons have existed for a long time. This is a business story on how they plan to start producing the anime themselves. That's a very considerable decision.

What it means to me most interestingly is that the two art forms, anime and games will be brought closer together overall through talent working side by side as opposed to through 3rd party proxies. I can't entirely see how this might make games any better. It would seem to increase the likliness of seeing a "Dragon's Lair'esque game though, which I think the current market could definitely fit.

mario

[bludstone]

op:

Hey, paesanos! It's The Super Mario Brothers Super Show! We're the Mario Brothers, and plumbing's our game, we're not like the others who get all the fame. If your sink is in trouble, you can call us on the double, we're faster than the others, you'll be hooked on the Brothers! Uh! You'll be hooked on the Brothers Gimme gimme, gimme gimme! You're in for a treat, so hang on to your seat. Get ready for adventures and remarkable feats. You'll meet Koopas, the Troopas, the Princess, and the others, hangin' with the plumbers, you'll be hooked on the Brothers! To the brink! Uh! Uh! Huh, huh, I said hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooked on the Brothers!

end:

Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side. Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario! Take one step, and then again. Let's do the Mario, all together now! You got it! It's the Mario! Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side. Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario! Take one step, and then again. Let's do the Mario, all together now! Come on now. Just like that!

Re:my only hope...

[mrgreen4242]

How are the other Nintendo (non pokemon) card games? I know I have seen some sort of mario card game out there (based on the mario party games, i think)...

how about....

[Anonymous Coward]

Getting some new games for the Gamecube!!
I haven't got a game since I bought the system and got Godzilla Destroy All Monsters, Rogue Squadron 2, and Metriod Prime. Been waiting for Starcraft: Ghost, and Metriod Prime 2 since I bought the thing like 2 years ago and nothing else has peeked my interest on the system yet.

Re:how about....

[Anonymous Coward]

DONKEY KONGA!!!

Re:how about....

[Anonymous Coward]

Burnout 1 & 2, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy:CC, Bomberman (anything), Prince o' Persia.
Maybe your tastes are differnt but there is a lot of variety. Get a sub to a rental place like gamefly and try out stuff you would not buy, you may find some gems.

Re:my only hope...

[buffer-overflowed]

You all know Nintendo started out as a playing card company, right?

anime?

[Anonymous Coward]

so do we get to see Samus Aran tentacle-raped by Metroids?

Re:anime?

[Anonymous Coward]

Do we get to see you fucked by the "giver"?

I personally liked the Link Cartoons

[mcnut]

I think it would be very cool to do a Legend of Zelda cartoon, even if it was in the styling of Wind Waker.

And in other news...

[EvilAardvark]

In other news Microsoft fires back by releasing soft-porn flicks. Well at least they both know their target audience.

Sounds good, but

[BaltikaTroika]

Is it going to be in black and red 3D?

BaltikaTroika