Nintendo’s Enigmatic ‘Close to You’ Short Has Fans Torn Between Pikmin 5 and Mario Galaxy Theories

Nintendo has once again managed to ignite a firestorm of curiosity with its latest surprise release – a four-minute animated short titled “Close to You.” The video, quietly uploaded without a word of context or announcement, shows a blonde toddler taking its first steps as its pacifier floats mysteriously into the air, carried by an unseen force. What should have been a simple, tender animation has instead sparked one of the most intense fan debates in recent memory: is this a teaser for the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, or a secret hint about Pikmin 5?

The short is entirely silent, but the background score immediately caught the attention of sharp-eared Nintendo fans – its motifs bear unmistakable resemblance to the Pikmin series’ music.

The pacifier’s subtle movements feel almost too deliberate, as if carried by a group of invisible creatures working in unison – exactly how Pikmin behave when hauling objects in their games. Fans have been quick to point out that Pikmin 4 already introduced the idea of humans living in environments that Pikmin quietly inhabit, even venturing inside human houses for the first time. The possibility that Pikmin are invisible to human eyes – and that this short confirms it – has become one of the most intriguing theories so far.

But others see something else entirely. The child’s appearance – her blonde hair, the light blue clothing, the faint sparkle in the atmosphere – instantly reminded fans of Rosalina, the cosmic guardian from the Super Mario Galaxy universe. Could this be an early look at her backstory, or even her first steps before her celestial transformation? With the Super Mario Galaxy Movie confirmed for next year, it wouldn’t be shocking if Nintendo dropped a subtle prologue disguised as an independent short. Yet, the animation style doesn’t match Illumination’s, the studio behind the Super Mario Bros. Movie, leading others to suspect that Nintendo might be building an internal animation division to produce its own shorts and test ideas in-house.

Interestingly, Close to You might also serve as an allegory about Nintendo itself – a creative experiment reflecting how the company views its bond with players. The child, fascinated and comforted by invisible helpers, could symbolize how Nintendo designs experiences that shape us, often in ways we don’t consciously see. And with Pikmin’s 25th anniversary just around the corner, the timing feels far too deliberate to ignore. Could we be seeing the first seed of Pikmin 5 – or even a Pikmin animated series? For now, Nintendo remains silent, leaving fans to interpret every frame like archaeologists decoding ancient runes. Whatever this is, one thing’s for sure: Nintendo has once again proven that mystery, more than marketing, remains its greatest superpower.