Nintendo to Start Making Movies Within 5 Years

Historically, video games and movies just didn't really get along: movies based off video games were bad or uninspired, and games based on movies were rushed and leaned too heavily on the movies they were based on. The poster-boy for the uncomplimentary nature of the two mediums has always been the Super Mario Bros movie, where director Rocky Morton took the most popular name in gaming with the simplest plot in the world and managed to concoct something involving alternate dimensions, magical meteorites, and tiny lizard-headed goombas.

While the experience was unpleasant for everyone, it was especially bad for the big N, who was so scared off by how things transpired that they effectively swore off the movie business, taking part in creating some small movies and mini-series but never anything resembling big blockbusters.

But things have been changing. The Warcraft movie is coming soon, the Assassin's Creed movie isn't far off, and Hollywood has finally figured out that video games deserve a bit more respect than ol' Mario got, back in the past. So it can be little surprise that in a recent interview, Nintendo CEO Tatsumi Kimishima let it be known that Nintendo is going to once again start exploring the world of cinema, saying that we could expect movies headed by Nintendo's famous IP within five years.

While he was extremely vague (or at least, the translation was), he did specify that every movie they make will NOT be live-action--citing the Super Mario Bros movie as the exact reason why. So while they're trying to get over the past, some scars just won't refuse to heal.

Anyway. While this is cool news, I wouldn't say it's surprising. A live-action Pokemon movie was revealed a few months ago, and while Pokemon isn't technically a Nintendo IP the two are basically inseparable. Additionally, during the Sony email hacks, negotiations between Sony and Nintendo were unearthed which exposed plans for an animated Super Mario Bros movie, although the emails were still just plans and negotiations.
 
So the signs were all there: it's only just now Nintendo is being forthright with it. And I, for one, am excited to see where this goes! A Mario movie would be nice, but seeing a Legend of Zelda movie, or a Metroid movie? Man, Nintendo would screw those up so hard... can't wait to see that train wreck!