The recent “Close to You” short film, unveiled by Nintendo, has finally had its mystery unraveled, much to the satisfaction of eagle-eyed fans. Theories abounded, and as it turns out, the animated piece is indeed connected to the world of Pikmin.
This Wednesday, Nintendo presented an updated version of the “Close to You” animation. In the initial release, viewers saw unseen forces playfully interacting with a baby’s toys. Now, the updated version reveals that it was actually a multitude of Pikmin causing the charming chaos. Red, yellow, and blue Pikmin are now clearly visible, scurrying around the nursery, shifting objects, and playfully vying for the baby’s soother.
Essentially, Pikmin enthusiasts were spot on. When Nintendo first shared “Close to You” via the Nintendo Today app and across various social platforms on Tuesday, sharp-eared Pikmin aficionados recognized familiar musical motifs from the game series within the video. Some even claimed to have detected faint Pikmin shapes blurred within the scenery.
“Close to You” lends further support to the idea that Pikmin exist beyond human perception. (The Pikmin Bloom official website explicitly states this.) Could babies be the exception? The mother in “Close to You” seems entirely oblivious, and unconcerned, to the Pikmin infestation taking place in her child’s room.
One intriguing question lingers: What motivated Nintendo to create two distinct versions of this Pikmin video? The answer remains elusive. Speculation suggests a potential upcoming Pikmin title – or perhaps even a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Pikmin 4, enriched with baby-centric shenanigans. The revised edition of “Close to You” concludes without any formal announcement or tantalizing preview of a future project.
As previously mentioned, these animated shorts might simply be another example of Nintendo’s penchant for creative expression. “Close to You” could just be another installment in the existing collection of Pikmin animated shorts and comics that Nintendo has crafted for the franchise, which is approaching its 25th anniversary milestone next year.
Currently, Nintendo has not provided any commentary regarding the origins and meaning behind “Close to You.” Should the company offer insights, we will update this article with fresh information.