Super Mario movie shows Universal playing chess

[sethschroeder]

Its really interesting to see kids go crazy over the movie (it is a good movie) while putting in references for the parents who grew up with NES and SNES.

Its really laying the ground work for the Mario land both in CA as well as FL pulling in people to try Universal for the first time.

Unlike Harry Potter that is first generation IP with Mario its really a second generation IP at this point somewhat like the Disney animation resurgence in the late 80s early 90s.

We will see if Disney actually responds with more than a "new land" in MK which is cool but based on the leaks is only a major draw honestly for big time WDW fans.

 

[mom2rtk]

Its really interesting to see kids go crazy over the movie (it is a good movie) while putting in references for the parents who grew up with NES and SNES.

Its really laying the ground work for the Mario land both in CA as well as FL pulling in people to try Universal for the first time.

Unlike Harry Potter that is first generation IP with Mario its really a second generation IP at this point somewhat like the Disney animation resurgence in the late 80s early 90s.

We will see if Disney actually responds with more than a "new land" in MK which is cool but based on the leaks is only a major draw honestly for big time WDW fans.

I expect nothing of the sort from Disney.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Loved the movie, just as good as Sonic

 

[DLgal]

Disney underestimated this IP.

And, TBH, I have kids 17 and 18. Nintendo has never NOT been immensely popular. My boys were Mario and Luigi for Halloween in 2010. They have grown up playing Nintendo. It's been relevant for 40+ years. They play all the classic NES games on the Switch in the online mode. My oldest son's favorite games are Tetris and Dr Mario. He still uses my husband's old Game Boy Color to play Tetris in bed.

Disney has no response to Epic Universe at all. They dropped the ball there. Not sure how much business Universal Hollywood is pulling from Disneyland, but the 2 times we have visited since the land opened, it's been PACKED. It never used to be like that. And we bought Silver annual passes for $179 each. That's much more accessible than Disney's annual pass prices.

 

[sethschroeder]

Disney underestimated this IP.

I did too until the movie translated it to a medium that can drive more eyeballs.

Its like the Looney Toons that HBO owns now and never did anything with but now did new cartoons and even little kids cartoons to really expand the IP reach.

Universal though I think would benefit from now expanding to a TV show and hiring some of the team that pulls Paw Patrol stuff together to target a younger demographic.

 

[sethschroeder]

I expect nothing of the sort from Disney.

Well there is very credible rumors regarding the expansion beyond frontier land and rethemeing in portion the Frontier Land area connecting around possibly over by Haunted Mansion.

So it has legs and is not just something made up but could still always completely change or be scrapped. Additionally Josh D'Amaro had hinted at it as well.

 

[AaronB]

I'm more interested in how Nintendo themselves proceeds. The IP that ends up in Disney parks tends to be something they own from top to bottom, Star Wars, Marvel, etc. Nintendo still has the final call on all their IP, and they can be very quizzical when it comes to their properties. You would think given the success of the Mario movie a sequel would be out in short order, but would not shock me in the slightest to see Nintendo slow things up or back-burner Mario and focus on Zelda, Donkey Kong, or some other of their IP. Just ask any gamer about Metroid or Star Fox games to see how deliberate they can get with their properties. As a gamer, as much as I love Nintendo for Zelda, Kirby, Donkey Kong, etc., I always expect the unexpected from how Nintendo operates.

 

[DLgal]

I'm more interested in how Nintendo themselves proceeds. The IP that ends up in Disney parks tends to be something they own from top to bottom, Star Wars, Marvel, etc. Nintendo still has the final call on all their IP, and they can be very quizzical when it comes to their properties. You would think given the success of the Mario movie a sequel would be out in short order, but would not shock me in the slightest to see Nintendo slow things up or back-burner Mario and focus on Zelda, Donkey Kong, or some other of their IP. Just ask any gamer about Metroid or Star Fox games to see how deliberate they can get with their properties. As a gamer, as much as I love Nintendo for Zelda, Kirby, Donkey Kong, etc., I always expect the unexpected from how Nintendo operates.

I totally agree that Nintendo will greenlight more movies based on other popular characters/games. They'd be fools not to.

I don't ever see Nintendo selling their IP altogether, like Star Wars and Pixar. Licensing deals are the best way to manage things like theme parks and Universal is clearly more willing to go to great lengths to recreate magical worlds based on IP, while still allowing some creative control to the IP holder.

Disney was never really that company. That is why Star Wars land is such a flop. It could have been done so much better, but Disney leaned into the wrong thing and thought they knew better than fans what those fans wanted. It was a massive miscalculation.

 

[BrianL]

I'm more interested in how Nintendo themselves proceeds. The IP that ends up in Disney parks tends to be something they own from top to bottom, Star Wars, Marvel, etc. Nintendo still has the final call on all their IP, and they can be very quizzical when it comes to their properties. You would think given the success of the Mario movie a sequel would be out in short order, but would not shock me in the slightest to see Nintendo slow things up or back-burner Mario and focus on Zelda, Donkey Kong, or some other of their IP. Just ask any gamer about Metroid or Star Fox games to see how deliberate they can get with their properties. As a gamer, as much as I love Nintendo for Zelda, Kirby, Donkey Kong, etc., I always expect the unexpected from how Nintendo operates.

Nintendo is a company that marches to it's own drummer. They are also highly protective of their IP. The partnership with Universal is almost unprecidented, but they also retained a ton of control. Miyamoto doesn't want to get burned again liek he did int eh early days with questionable licensing of the IPs. The Super Mario Bros. Movie turned out pretty good for sure, so that's a good sign, but you're right - Nintendo will make a hard-pivot, even when something is popular. It was once said that Nintendo doesn't give gamers what they want - Nintendo gives them what they need.

 

[Smugpugmug]

It was so funny seeing people doubt the success of not only Universal partnering with Nintendo for a Mario themed land, but the Mario movie in general. Now the Mario movie is the second highest grossing animated film of all time. Not just this year. I saw the Mario movie opening night and there were about 3 families in my showing. Everyone else was an adult (20s-30s age range) without children. Everyone was having a blast the entire time. Nintendo is just as nostalgic or even more nostalgic to some people than Disney is. My sister and I grew up playing Nintendo games before we could even write or recite our ABCs. So did all of our friends. Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc. are franchises that both kids and millennial + Gen Z adults love. Epic Universe with the Mario land + the Donkey Kong coaster is going to be huge.

It will be very interesting to see how or if Disney responds. I'm REALLY hoping Zootopia doesn't come to AK as it doesn't fit at all but that's a discussion for another thread.

 

[Mysterian]

You’ve got to be shrewd in this business. Which is why I’m setting up Atari Land!

• An abandoned Arby’s parking lot is home to PONG-Palooza!
• Out back is a ditch filled with water and some papier-mâché gators, just below a rope tied to a tree limb: that’s right, it’s Pitfall Mania!
• The adjacent highway will settle for my Frogger Frolic Frenzy!
• And not really Atari but some folks will agree to dress up as Tetris blocks and pose for photos with the kids.
• Costs $3.86 for admission.

Mario, who?? Nice try, Universal, why don’t you sit this one out!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I think it is a fun idea, I would love to see it happen.

 

[RoseGold]

We will see if Disney actually responds with more than a "new land" in MK which is cool but based on the leaks is only a major draw honestly for big time WDW fans.

They can't even fill in Dinoland and just now got Belle staffed up from Covid. There's no "new land" anytime soon.