Star Fox Anime Discussion (Part 1)
Let's get this out of the way first: The 77th Annual Nintendo Investor Meeting Official Transcript sheds some light on what I previously reported as Miyamoto planning a Star Fox anime. What they were actually saying is that they currently do have a Star Fox anime short (Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins), and that they were "interested in more actively pursuing the development of these kinds of videos" in the future. So, not totally wrong. Yes, they aren't saying they're actively planning a Star Fox anime, but they are also saying they want to continue to create new animations, and distribute existing animations, based on Nintendo IP.
If you look back, you'll find that Nintendo actually has a ton of animated projects beyond commercials and promo footage:
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! - A Mario cartoon with live-action interstitials
- Captain N: The Game Master - A weird animated show in which Kevin Keene is sucked into Videoland to fight the video game villians
- The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 - Another Mario cartoon based on Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario World - ANOTHER Mario cartoon based on Super Mario World
- Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! - A Japanese only Mario anime movie
- Amada Anime Series: Super Mario Bros. - Another Japan-only Mario anime OVA
- The Legend of Zelda - TV series featuring the now-famous "Well! Excuuuuuuse me, Princess!", and also probably the reason why Link never talks anymore
- Kirby: Right Back at Ya! - The Kirby anime that was actually pretty popular across the board, and included scenes that allowed us to discover that Kirby actually has a pocket universe inside his stomach
- Donkey Kong Country - A hilariously weird 3D animated Donkey Kong Country show, complete with really creepy musical numbers
- F-Zero: GP Legend - A proper anime of the F-Zero series, complete with this amazing FALCON PUNCH!!!
- Pokémon - The animated juggernaut with over 1000 animated episodes and over 20 animated movies
- Yoshi Wooly World Animated Shorts - Used to promote the game
- Pikmin Animated Shorts - Used to promote the game
- Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem - Believe it or not, there was an anime OVA for Fire Emblem
- And, of course, Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins - Used to promote the launch of Star Fox Zero
- Did I miss any? I probably did.
Nintendo has had some hits and misses when it comes to animations, but I feel confident in saying they have plenty of experience to make quality animation if they so choose. Star Fox is a little more serious as a story than the likes of Mario (and even Pokémon), but they showed some real promise with The Battle Begins. I think that what they did there was nearly perfect: a serious conflict (Andross tries to kidnap General Pepper!) with some crazy action, all mixed in with a few good jokes and gags.
Another interesting thing about the Star Fox series, as a potential animated IP, is that unlike so much of media today, Star Fox, like other IPs from the 80's and 90's portrays the future optimistically. Not that it's a utopia, but rather, the future is bright and hopeful with protagonists rising to meet new technological challenges at a galactic scale. This is different from a pessimistic view of the future, where everything is post-apocalyptic, or full of zombies, or simply slowly dying for lack of resources. It is also different from what I call the "meh" future, where things are the same as now, with all the same sort of basic problems and issues, but with space ships.
In some ways, Star Fox is a hold-over from an earlier time. The original script for the games wouldn't hold up today at all, and you can be certain it would have been a bit more pessimistic if today's typical game designer had anything to say about it. The games have changed so little in terms of story, that the spirit of the 80's and 90's still holds over into this series' narrative.
What do you guys think about a Star Fox anime? What should it include? What should it avoid? Where should they take it from here? Do you want a different graphical style? If so, what kind?
This is Part 1 of a week-long discussion on Star Fox as an animated IP. The next parts will focus on TV and movie series that capture a bit of the Star Fox spirit in the absence of an actual Star Fox anime. Thanks to Ayano and Mr. Brownstone for pointing out the correct translations of the report.
Comments
I would love to see a Star Fox anime just as much as any one here! Even if they went with a western style or CGI, all it needs is a good director and cast. The 1980’s and 1990’s would be a good place to reference for the Sci-fi style after Star Trek: Next Generation, I think Star Fox Assault drew some inspiration from that show.
If you want a more modern look, you might want to look at the reboot of one of Miyamoto’s favorite childhood shows, THUNDER-BIRDS are GO! The original show is from the 1960’s was with puppets, but the one now on Amazon Prime uses CGI but still takes true to what the original might have been and can modernize it in a good way. (It look’s a lot like Pixar’s, The Incredibles. Here is one of the trailers. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y2hFqgtjLk)
I don’t know a lot about who works on movies these days, but all I want is some one who knows to put story first and still be true to the characters and game lore. I think the problem with past video game cartoons is simply not having good story or writers, if you look at a lot of them they are very cheesy, even cheesier than the 1960’s Batman with Adam West. Now I think there should have some silliness to it so it doesn’t take it’s self too seriously, but like I say it should be about a group of friends that are free lance mercenary star fighters that go on adventures to save their home, not “How many bad jokes can we get in one episode! YEAH-OOH!!!”. If they do go that route, it might end up like the others… But look at all the stupid stuff that’s on TV now that’s mindless entertainment… Like American football… I’m a baseball person but I like it the way it should be, on a 1962 Magnavox transistor radio.
Voices is another big deal, considering there are so many voices that worked on Star Fox. We could see some old cast members or some new talent. Who would you like to see?
Well if we’re talking about dated furry action cartoons, I’m pretty fond of the Swat Cat’s art style in terms of color and animation. The show had a bunch of single episode plots, but something like Star Fox could explore longer plots since it’s working with recognizable IP. I’ve had dreams where there was a Star Fox animated series only to awaken and it realize it not actually existing. As far as i’m concerned, past pokemon there’s not really anything that would make for a good animated series, Zelda would work better as a comic with stunning pictures, Metroid would make an excellent big budget 3d movie, Mario? mario adapts pretty well but I think an animated series would be a tad awkward. animated shorts however I think would do well. Donkey Kong was just weird from what i’ve seen, which is very little. I think considering Starfox’s niche appeal it should work on that and avoid being too childish, exploring andross’s racist theme could make an interesting character. As far as inclusion, it should explore character backstories and attempt to flesh them out, the characters as is are arguably just tropes.
@codym512s
Assault voice cast or riot, everyone from there is who i associate with each characters voice, SSBB fox to smash 4 fox still makes me sad, he sounds badass using Jim Walker’s voice pack, but now he sounds like mandark.
@codym512s
Yes, I’ve been lamenting that since I actually was a kid. I think it comes down to the fact that a lot of kids actually are completely immature, and therefore, the writers wrote down to them. The rare instance of cartoons that didn’t talk down to these kids are the kinds of cartoons that adults like to watch, like the original Sonic the Hedgehog Saturday Morning Cartoon, and more recently, My Little Pony of all things. I think it’s very possible to write stuff that is accessible to a wide range of ages (the original Star Wars trilogy comes to mind), but it takes a lot of work.
@Falemirous
I’ve been thinking for a long time that a Metroid movie could be done as a non-traditional big budget film. Just like how Inception, Momento, or Primer operated with a weird story structure or rules that most movies didn’t follow, I think a Metroid movie can and SHOULD be made in which, apart from grunts, cries, and simple “yes, sir,” and “no, sir” at the very beginning and ending of the film where she has human interaction, Samus wouldn’t speak at all. All of the acting would be done through Samus’ reaction to events and her body language. All the loneliness and desolation of the remote planet she visits would be felt and seen, rather than explained, through the actual method of acting.
@ Falemirous
OK! I’m all down for the Assault cast! Jim Walker for Fox! Maybe just for old times, Mike West can be James? He sounded a bit beater in Zero than SSB4.
An idea for music! Orchestral rock with a hint of SNES sound effects.
@ Mr. Krystal
I’m so lucky to have watched Disney Chanel when they still had good shows on like Fillmore and Kim Possible being some that come to mind. What’s on there to day is sub-Sponge Bob quality. The words “Sponge Bob” and “quality” don’t even belong to together. It’s one of the reasons the only TV I own is a 1986 Zenith 9” color CRT, I don’t need to watch any thing on it be sides Atari games once my system is repaired. I’ve seen two episodes of the Sonic X anime. It’s not to bad all things considered, but I only played the first two games on the Wii VC and had nothing but fun with it! Just I need to advance a bit more in the series to understand the characters and story. Maybe the comics might help? I hope Star Fox can become Nintendo’s response to the Star Wars games.
I gotta see the next episode of this if any of course.
by the way brawl out is coming to the switch according to switch force it may serve as a replacement for smash bros.
it looks interesting and gave me an idea.
Today I’m gonna run some experiments in unity with my krystal mod see if I can replicat the smash control system like the guys who made brawl out did.
If Miyamoto really wants to make Fox more popular, he should definitely consider developing more video content for the franchise. The games alone won’t do. ‘The Battle Begins’ was received very well. It currently has 1.8 million views on YouTube, and that’s much more than the amount of people that actually bought SFZ. It seems like people are still interested in the SF universe. They like seeing this world as well as these characters in action, but they are probably not into the actual games (maybe because they don’t like the genre? Expand the gameplay?). So video content is surely a good way for the series to get some more attention. In terms of a serious story and lore, the SF series has an advantage, compared to Mario and others. There is still lots of stuff that can be unveiled in the story, often times in a darker and more serious way (Cerinia, anyone?). Jokes and gags are possible as well, and that’s a cool contrast. The SF series has all the markings of an epic anime, including action, drama, humor and even a little romance. It can all be done in a serious, and hopefully believable way with a happy ending ofc. It all depends on the writers.
What should the anime include? KRYSTAL! (not the SFC version, though)
What should the anime avoid? It should avoid avoiding Krystal ;D
@Mr. Krystal and codym512s
I’m gonna agree with you two. Cartoons these days treat’s children like idiots. Whenever I see on on the TV or on YouTube, every time they want to see Peppa the pig Marathons, oh my god. I see some “charm” in it but the narrator explains everything we saw like everything happened so fast that our brains didn’t process it. Back in my day we had, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, thundercats, DuckTales and the list goes on…
My arch nemesis is Dora the explorer. I remember loving the show as a kid. Singing songs, aswering the one sided questions, ect. Now, I’m like: WTF I was doing back then.
I’ll rather watch MLP for 24 hours straight than any cartoon of that style (I’m not a fan of that show either, but at least is waaaaayyyy better)
And Disney has the best cartoons, no contest (in comparison with today cartoons)
Back to Starfox. If I want a cartoon/anime, I think that it should be kinda like the Guardians of the Galaxy. Also I want a short intro for every main character, in order to solidify them in the universe, Krystal would benefit from that.
And also a crossover with F-Zero, since both are on the same universe (I think). More Falcon Punch yeah!!!!
I did it I made a playable smash prototype with krystal guided I also made a ruffles CPU in the prossess but I made a basic smash krystal.
heres a link to an image from the test game.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxYf1-N4WVA0dDNDMVM1eXE3Tlk/view?usp=sharing
@Mr. Krystal
reminds me of one of my favorite samurai jack episodes where they experimented with having almost no dialogue, using action and the environment itself to tell a story, I think that would be perfect.
@codym512s
I don’t even remember who voiced him in Assault, and it was for like all of about 8 seconds so that works.
@Mr. Brownstone
WOW! I had no idea Star Fox Zero did so poorly. I thought it sold at least a million. The only sources we have are with actual numbers are unofficial. We do know it was the fifth-best selling game in April, but that’s about it. I guess if Nintendo didn’t talk about it, it must not have done all that well. I mean, even worse than I expected. That’s a shame, though not entirely unexpected. I think they have a chance again with the Switch, now that it’s shaping up to be the next Wii (only this time without third-parties ignoring Nintendo’s advice and making shovelware waggle games). Time will tell.
@N J FOX
Whoa, what is that?
@ Mr. Brownstone
If it got Kirby more popular, it would help big time for Star Fox to get a show! I’m starting to hope I can get it on Amazon or Netflix because I don’t have a TV service. The fact a short film is doing beater than the game it was advertising is a bit sad, but in a way it might be good to encourage Nintendo to continue the series. The characters and world is one of the biggest contributors to what makes Star Fox “cool”. They are dynamic enough to fix in lots of different game play styles and those “64 fan boys I never want to mention again” needs to except the fact that Star Fox needs too grow-up, unlike them. The anime can go very deep into the SF lore and explain a TON about the world and characters we never seen officially explained yet, only in fan-art and fan-fiction. Like James McCloud’s father, Ben and mother, Grace? Is there more to Falco’s story? What dose Vixy look like? Other than the fact she’s a frenic fox with floppier pointed ears. What’s Gen. Pepper’s first name? JEFF?!?!?! What was Cerinia like? (I think Cerinian music might have sounded like this. Link: “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AbLwyc97vo&t=38s”) A dark under tone would be awesome as long as they can keep it “Family Friendly”. A good example is The Legend of SPYRO for PS2. It’s not the best game in terms of story, but how it handles it’s dark undertones and manages to keep a scene of humor with a fun art style is something to follow and improve upon. (Thanks David Spade! For voice acting Sparx!)
@Mr Krystal
Its a image of a small test game I made yesterday it features krystal fighting 3 gold CPU krystals using smashbros mechanics. I also made a stage and added in the krystal amiibo model to give it more flaw.
The image dosen’t show the CPUs cause I defeated them all before the pic was taken.
Also the CPU program was unitentionaly tuff I clearly need more work on it but it was just a test to see if I could put it together.
I need a desktop video recorder.