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- How Many Animated Shows And Movies Has Nintendo Made?
- How Many Live-Action Shows And Movies Has Nintendo Made?
- How Many Shows And Movies Has Nintendo Made In Total?
Over the years, Nintendo has had a very start-and-stop relationship with adaptations of its works. This applies both to movie and show adaptations, but also allowing others to work on their video games properties. From the Phillips-developed Zelda CD-i games to MercurySteam's Metroid, Nintendo has at times been generous, and others incredibly sheltered.
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PostsNintendo's movie and show ambitions are just as unusual. Following the initial fame of Mario, they made shows aplenty, then slowed down come the 2000s. Now, the success of the Mario movie has reignited their adaptation passion. With such an odd attitude over the years, just how many adaptations of Nintendo's works have been made? Let's find out.
How Many Animated Shows And Movies Has Nintendo Made?
All the way back in 1981, Mario first appeared as Jump Man in the Donkey Kong arcade game. In the decades that followed, he became Nintendo's main man, the mascot of their media empire. With his formal debut as Mario in the 1983 Mario Bros. game, he immediately shot to video game stardom.
It only makes sense then that Nintendo's adaptations started with Mario basically overnight. While Nintendo would not produce a movie adaptation of their works until 1986's 'The Great Mission To Rescue Princess Peach', Mario and Donkey Kong both first appeared in the 1983 Saturday Supercade show, of which the legal situation is tenuous at best.
Name
Release Date
Series
Show Or Movie?
Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!
1986
Mario
Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
2023
Mario
Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
1989
Mario/Zelda
Show
Super Mario World (TV series)
1991
Mario
Show
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
1990
Mario
Show
Donkey Kong Country
1997-2000
Donkey Kong
Show
Donkey Kong Country: The Legend Of The Crystal Coconut
1999
Donkey Kong
Movie
The Legend Of Zelda (TV Series)
1989
Zelda
Show
Kirby: Right Back At Ya!
2001-2003
Kirby
Show
Kirby: Fright To The Finish
2005
Kirby
Movie
Fire Emblem Anime
1996
Fire Emblem
Show
F-Zero: GP Legend
2003-2004
F-Zero
Show
Animal Crossing: The Movie
2006
Animal Crossing
Movie
Captain N: The Game Master
1989-1991
Nintendo
Show
From 1986 onwards, Nintendo produced countless new shows and movies of their works, the majority of which were animated. Almost all of these were Mario related, with the Legend of Zelda series broadcast as a greater part of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. After the mid-90s, Nintendo slowed dramatically on Mario, while Donkey Kong, Kirby, and F-Zero got the chance to shine.
From then, Nintendo functionally stopped making adaptationsuntil 2023's Super Mario Bros. animated movie, with the Japan-exclusive Animal Crossing movie the sole exception. As of right now, that gives you a total of 14 animated shows and movies made based on Nintendo's games.
The Fire Emblem anime was dubbed into English shortly after its release, making it the first Fire Emblem property to appear internationally, long before the actual games.
How Many Live-Action Shows And Movies Has Nintendo Made?
In general, Nintendo isn't a company that have often dabbled in realism in its games. The majority feature heavily stylized looks to better fit the hardware limitations of their consoles while also creating a more timeless, stand-out look. By that same system, they have very rarely touched anything live-action in terms of their adaptations either.
Name
Release Date
Series
Super Mario Bros.
1993
Mario
King Koopa's Kool Cartoons
1989
Mario
The Super Mario Challenge
1990-91
Mario
Mario Ice Capades
1989
Mario
The Wizard
1989
Nintendo
In terms of Nintendo's live-action efforts, the most well-known of these is of course the Super Mario Bros. movie of 1993. While it took a decidedly unique approach to the world of Mario, it was undeniably a choice they made with great confidence. Nintendo, clearly, did not feel the same way because they never produced a single live-action work after it.
With the Legend of Zelda live-action movie in production, that would mark Nintendo's return to live-action from an over 30 year hiatus.
Prior to this though, Nintendo helped in the production of a show, The Wizard, in 1989. Facing a delay to Super Mario Bros. 2, Nintendo was approached about including their games in a live-action film. Seeing an opportunity here to get in on an new industry and keep the marketing cycle going for their latest game, they accepted.
Of course, The Wizard ended up feeling like a glorified advertisement, though one that worked in Nintendo's favour. In the years preceding the release of the Super Mario Bros. movie, they licensed a few live-action shows. These were short-lived and primarily game shows rather than full-fledged adaptations.
To that end, Nintendo has truly only produced two live-action adaptations, though you could increase that to five if you counted the game shows.
How Many Shows And Movies Has Nintendo Made In Total?
While Nintendo's hopes of becoming a new leader in video game adaptations is only growing, they are understandably slowly bearing fruit. As such, we are still mostly left to admire the legacy of those that Nintendo has produced in the past. While animated series seem to fit their properties better, only time will tell which route Nintendo itself will take.
In total, Nintendo has been involved in the creation of 16-19 shows across all mediums. At least of those that have released. With how they're currently going though, it would seem as though Nintendo plans to increase that number significantly.
A Star Fox and Zelda series as claymation were previously under production, though these were canceled after their existence was leaked by Netflix.
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