Nintendo's Pikmin shorts were about showing off its animation studio's chops

Nintendo has revealed that the two animated Pikmin shorts released this week were the first productions from its newly acquired studio, Nintendo Pictures. The company says these shorts are intended to showcase the creative capabilities of its animation division. The shorts are currently only available on the Nintendo Today! app, and Nintendo has not announced plans to release them more widely. The company suggests these shorts are not directly tied to the upcoming Pikmin 4 game, but rather are an opportunity for Nintendo Pictures to explore new creative avenues. Nintendo Pictures has traditionally supported the company's game development, handling animation, art, and cinematics. However, the article suggests Nintendo may be considering expanding its in-house movie production capabilities, as it has partnered with Universal Pictures and Illumination for the upcoming Super Mario movie, and with Sony Pictures for a live-action Legend of Zelda film.