Nintendo has recently released a new short film called “Close to You,” which could be a teaser for Pikmin 5. While not as popular as Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda, Pikmin is still a successful franchise for Nintendo, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Pikmin 5 released in the coming years.
The latest mainline entry in the popular franchise is Pikmin 4, which was released in 2023, roughly a decade after Pikmin 3. Critics had very positive impressions of Pikmin 4, praising how the game refined the classic formula while introducing new elements, and the title was generally considered a success.
Nintendo's 'Close to You' Short Film Could Be a Pikmin 5 Teaser
Nintendo has just released a mysterious dialogue-free short film called “Close to You,” which caught the eye of Pikmin fans. “Close to You” is a somewhat weird film, as it depicts a toddler whose pacifier is picked up by an invisible force while their mother is not around, but it does not bear any surface-level resemblance to any of Nintendo’s franchises. Pikmin fans may perceive that, while no Pikmin are actually seen in the film, several musical cues from the series are played as the pacifier is carried away. The connection makes even more sense considering that Pikmin games generally have settings like home gardens, so the short film could be a teaser for Pikmin 5 or another game in the series. Pikmin 4 was a big hit, selling over three million units, and Nintendo will likely want to continue the franchise due to its success.
Another theory is that the film could be related to the upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is set to debut on April 3, 2026. In this case, the toddler would be space princess Rosalina, whose parents are unknown. This could potentially be a scene from the film, although it does not look exactly like the same art style.
Obviously, it’s still too early to know for sure what franchise the short film is referencing, so hopefully Nintendo will explain the teaser or share more information with players soon. Recent rumors have indicated that Pikmin 4 could receive a Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade soon, so it would not be entirely surprising to see the announcement of a new entry in the franchise together with that. While some elements strongly point to a Pikmin-related announcement, it’s always better to take these theories with a grain of salt before getting too excited.