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

[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]

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

[BIGmog]

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

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)

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: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: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!

Pokemon?

[2nd Post!]

I'm surprised no one is mentioning Pokemon!

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!