We may never know what Nintendo will pull out of their sleeve next. The Big N is acquiring the Tokyo-based Dynamo Pictures and will rename it Nintendo Pictures Co Ltd. This subdivision is to “focus on development of visual content utilizing Nintendo IP” and on the “planning and production of visual content including CG animation.” According to a public regulatory filing document, the buyout deal will close later this year on October 3, 2022.
Like most of Nintendo’s buyouts, Dynamo Pictures has been a close partner with the iconic company since its founding in 2011. The Japanese studio worked on official Nintendo projects for animations and games alike, including Metroid: Other M, a spin-off Pikmin animated series, and Persona 5. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s Super Mario movie starring Chris Pratt is still on track in its production cycle. That movie is already being handled by Illumination Studios, the company responsible for the wildly popular Minion movies. With no official title yet, the Mario movie is projected to release in Spring 2023.
The surprise move comes in a revival wake of video game-inspired TV shows and feature films. Nintendo had already co-produced a slew of successful Pokemon anime productions with The Pokemon Company. They released a live-action Detective Pikachu film with Warner Bros. for the first time in 2019. One of the most historic milestones in video game-based movies, however, goes to Sonic the Hedgehog produced by Paramount Pictures in 2020. The blockbuster hit starring Jim Carrey won over thousands of moviegoers and proved that video games could transition gracefully onto the silver screen. Now a flurry of other companies are racing to produce the next biggest hit. Sony recently released an Uncharted-based movie, and has a TV series of The Last of Us is in the works for HBO.
Nintendo’s curveball buyout could signify an exciting opportunity for full-scale film adaptations of their iconic games. With so many beloved characters from franchises like Zelda and Kirby at their disposal, they’re in a prime spot for becoming the next biggest hit in high-caliber family films. (And for redeeming themselves from a few costly mistakes.)
