On October 7, Nintendo posted a nearly four-minute video on their YouTube channel. Titled ‘Close To You’. It revolves around a cute baby whose pacifier starts to mysteriously float around his room.
The art style had an old-school Pixar vibe. The animation was smooth with soft lighting. The baby’s expressive face added charm to the video since there’s no dialogue. It was wholesome, heart-warming and confusing.
A Showcase, Not a Teaser
Nobody knew what the video was about. Nintendo didn’t immediately give an explanation of why they would post something like that. Some people speculated it was tied to the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, maybe showing Rosalina’s origins. Many Pikmin fans were hoping it was a teaser to an upcoming game, or something that would revive the franchise.
The Pikmin fans would be proven right on October 8. Nintendo uploaded a second version of Close To You that includes the colorful creatures. Unlike the original short, the version where the Pikmin are visible is only available on the Nintendo Today! app.
Nintendo later clarified that Close To You wasn’t a teaser for a new game or film. Instead, it was the first original short from Nintendo Pictures, the animation studio the company acquired in 2022.
The shorts were meant to highlight the studio’s creative range. Nintendo Pictures isn’t just for cutscenes or trailers. It’s a new creative branch capable of producing standalone stories. More short films similar to it will be released in the future.
Timing Is Everything
What this short film actually accomplished was giving Nintendo a much needed distraction. For months, the publisher has been dealing with what seems like an endless stream of controversy.
They’ve been dragged for being particularly aggressive with filing lawsuits over their IP, regardless of whether they’re justified or not. There’s also the slack they’ve gotten for selling their Switch 2 for nearly $500 with an $80 Mario Kart World. The Game Key Cards for the Switch 2 have also been slammed for not having the actual games on them.
A Strategic Move in Disguise
Close To You took the attention off of all the negativity. It reminded people of what they love most about the company. Its ability to blend imagination with emotional storytelling. The short film is warm, it evokes nostalgia. It’s surprisingly sincere.
Beyond distraction, Close To You also hints at Nintendo’s broader ambitions. With the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the company is clearly itching to evolve from a game publisher into a full-fledged entertainment powerhouse.
Close To You showed that Nintendo is still capable of attracting talented creators who can tell stories that connect with people. It’s the perfect PR strategy. Don’t be surprised to see another short film to drop at around the same time Nintendo wants to get the heat off.
That doesn’t mean Nintendo is a consumer friendly company. Never forget that.
