"The Super Mario Bros. Movie," an animation film that has been a major hit in the United States and around the world, marks the first animated film adaptation nearly 38 years after the release of the "Super Mario Brothers" game. What led to the decision to create a movie at this time? Shigeru Miyamoto, the "father of Mario" and a Representative Director Fellow at Nintendo, along with Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of the animation production company Illumination, shed light on the circumstances that led to the film's production.

The two met for the first time in 2014. Meledandri recalls, "Immediately after founding Illumination 16 years ago, I wanted to meet with Japanese producers and creators, so I came to Japan. I had always wanted to collaborate with people from Japan. When I heard I could meet Mr. Miyamoto in 2014, I jumped at the chance."

At that time, Nintendo was considering how to introduce its characters to people in countries where home gaming consoles were not widely available. Miyamoto explains, "Discussions with President Satoru Iwata (at the time) and others about valuing our IP and expanding into mobile and films were already underway. We've always adhered to the idea that 'Mario = Game' and avoided defining Mario's favorite food or family structure for movies, as it could restrict game development. However, we were thinking of actively pursuing film adaptations, and that's when I met Chris."

Their meeting seemed destined. "When I talked to Chris, we were excited to find similarities in the way we make games and animations. We thought it would be interesting to make a movie together, and that's how the project started. And, there has never been a disagreement between us!" says Miyamoto. Their shared philosophy of putting "customers first" resonated between them.

Miyamoto felt a strong sense of customer-first thinking from the staff at Illumination, not just trying to please the top, but always considering what would make the audience happy. Meledandri also expressed, "We've focused on how to entertain our audience and what kind of relationship they would have with the characters after leaving the theater. Despite the differences between games and movies, we've managed to find organic connections. Working together has been truly fulfilling and enjoyable for us."

Originally, Mario was created as a blue-collar character, an Italian immigrant living in Brooklyn. As they began concrete steps towards animating the movie, Miyamoto stated, "We just decided to solidify the characters of Mario and his companions." Meledandri added, "In discussions with Mr. Miyamoto and the Nintendo team, we fleshed out Mario as a character who, no matter how many times he's knocked down, always gets up and moves forward with perseverance. Fortunately, directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, screenwriter Matthew Fogel, and the rest of the creative team, who all love Mario games, came up with various ideas. We carefully considered each one with Mr. Miyamoto, trying them out and deciding what to include."

Thus, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" blossomed into a "masterpiece."

Miyamoto shared, "Mario evolved from 8-bit to 3D on the NINTENDO 64, but he always felt somewhat like a doll. Now, with this animation, he has finally become human! We've managed to pack the movie with elements that won't betray game lovers while also entertaining those unfamiliar with the game, creating a truly enjoyable entertainment experience."