Nov 3, 2013

Nintendo Video Expands Animated Programming with Five New Series

In 2011, Nintendo launched Nintendo Video, a free application that provides exclusive video content for owners of the Nintendo 3DS handheld video game console. Over the past few years, Nintendo has experimented with different types of short-form content, including anime. Last Thursday, Nintendo announced five new anime series, one of its most ambitious attempts to date in programming the Nintendo Video app.

The five new series include a couple based on Nintendo game franchises and a couple produced by Frederator Studios' online channel Cartoon Hangover:

The Nintendo Video application Those who download the application will automatically receive four new short films each week. Unlike typical Internet videos, the Nintendo application does not archive content, so regular viewing is encouraged.

According to Nintendo officials, the app has hundreds of thousands of users each week, and since the app only has a handful of videos at any given time, each video receives widespread exposure. Needless to say, the app has an engaging and savvy audience that is likely to embrace the new characters and story concepts. If Nintendo pushes in this direction, it could become a promising new platform for developing and presenting animation.