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Mario shows up at Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony

Platy

Member
Mario, Hello Kitty, Pacman and Doraemon makes perfect sense.

Captain Tsubasa was weird ... looks like they choose as a Brazilian fanservice. Was Saint Seiya unavailable?
 

Oersted

Member
That was really cool. Great move from Nintendo since they made Mario look like the official mascot of Japan, lol.

Mario is pretty much in the Top 10 of most well known mascots alongside Ronald McDonald, Mickey Mouse, Colonel Sanders, Spongebob, Hello Kitty and Pikachu.

And he is the only one from Japan that talks lol

Source my ass but I got a good feeling about my estimate.
 

Disxo

Member
Mario, Hello Kitty, Pacman and Doraemon makes perfect sense.

Captain Tsubasa was weird ... looks like they choose as a Brazilian fanservice. Was Saint Seiya unavailable?
THAT WAS THE MOST POPULAR ANIME HERE!
In all south america
 

Delio

Member
Why are people thinking Nintendo paid for this and were not simply asked by the Japanese Olympic committee to use one of the most famous mascots in the world for their presentation?

Yeah seems like they would just be asked seeing as there were other iconic Japanese videogame stars there. People just want to be negative.
 

Codeblue

Member
Nintendo surely paid, as did Shueisha. The Olympics is less about athletes and more about an elaborate exercise in bribery and co-branding. The International Olympic Committee isn't stupid, they aren't going to give Nintendo a world stage and global coverage for free, money changed hands to make this cameo possible. A pity then Nintendo doesn't have any new products to promote at the moment.

Yo, I think you're insane.
 
If Nintendo characters are going to be the 2020's olypmpics mascots then Nintendo just scored a great gig. Also this is going to be the time around where Universal opens the Mario section of their park in Osaka.

...see this has me actually wondering now.

On the one hand, its arguable that having it be Mario and co would be too preferential, and the IOC aren't the sort who'd like to pay royalties on merchandise if they can help it.

On the other hand, I'm almost certain official Nintendo Olympic merchandise would sell way more than any random mascot made up for the games would. Same basic logic behind why the traditional Olympic video games have been dropped in favour of Mario and Sonic's. Tourists especially would just eat that up.
 

Ivan 3414

Member
Nintendo surely paid, as did Shueisha. The Olympics is less about athletes and more about an elaborate exercise in bribery and co-branding. The International Olympic Committee isn't stupid, they aren't going to give Nintendo a world stage and global coverage for free, money changed hands to make this cameo possible. A pity then Nintendo doesn't have any new products to promote at the moment.

Hahahahaha.
 
Mario, Hello Kitty, Pacman and Doraemon makes perfect sense.

Captain Tsubasa was weird ... looks like they choose as a Brazilian fanservice. Was Saint Seiya unavailable?

Captain Tsubasa is HUGE in Latin countries.

H7oym73.jpg
 
Yo that was fantastic! Tokyo Olympics already surpassed Brazil. I legit teared up a bit with Captain Tsubasa, the whole thing gave me a big smile. I want to the see the whole thing since I've only seen bits and pieces on Twitter.

Captain Tsubasa is HUGE in Latin countries.

H7oym73.jpg

I 100% confirm this, it was so huge in Mexico that good goalkeepers are still nicknamed Benji!
 

SalvaPot

Member
...see this has me actually wondering now.

On the one hand, its arguable that having it be Mario and co would be too preferential, and the IOC aren't the sort who'd like to pay royalties on merchandise if they can help it.

On the other hand, I'm almost certain official Nintendo Olympic merchandise would sell way more than any random mascot made up for the games would. Same basic logic behind why the traditional Olympic video games have been dropped in favour of Mario and Sonic's. Tourists especially would just eat that up.

You can bet they are getting tons of cross-promotional merchandise, Japan alone eats that up, same will the world.
 

Plum

Member
I'm saying I think that the Rio closing ceremony was a waste of money on Nintendo's part. Especially since Nintendo has been heavily criticised for basically operating on radio silence for the past year. I mean, the money spent at Rio could have sent Nintendo to E3 or ensured the production of a dozen Nintendo directs.

Even if they had to pay out the nose for it Nintendo was still right in choosing the Olympics. They were at E3 and did quite well (in fact they did better in terms of overall attention than a lot of other big names) with Zelda and they have nothing except Pokemon to show in Directs. Getting the brand out there before the NX goes into full marketing mode is a good way of assuring attention. You're reaching really hard to paint this as a negative.
 
Well, I guess we know where Nintendo's global marketing budget disappeared to. Can't have been cheap to get Mario in the Rio closing ceremony, or to make Abe sacrifice is dignity like that.

Still, I can't help but think this was money wasted on Nintendo's part. Since Nintendo doesn't have any products to promote at this point. Four years is a long time, should the NX fail there might not even be a Nintendo left to boast by the time of the opening ceremony in Tokyo.
This guy deserves his own show he made me laugh hysterically
 

SalvaPot

Member
Mario, Hello Kitty, Pacman and Doraemon makes perfect sense.

Captain Tsubasa was weird ... looks like they choose as a Brazilian fanservice. Was Saint Seiya unavailable?

I can say without Irony that Captain Tsubasa is huge on Latin America, I'll say in the level of Dragon Ball, Pokémon and Saint Seiya.

I remember when I was a kid I tried to do the shots and injuring myself. Fun times:
hermanos_korioto.jpg
 

AdanVC

Member
Holy shitttttttttttt I loved this! Fuck I've missed it live :( I would had gone crazy excited if I had seen this live. Tokyo 2020 Olympics starting off great already! :D

Well, I guess we know where Nintendo's global marketing budget disappeared to. Can't have been cheap to get Mario in the Rio closing ceremony, or to make Abe sacrifice is dignity like that.

Still, I can't help but think this was money wasted on Nintendo's part. Since Nintendo doesn't have any products to promote at this point. Four years is a long time, should the NX fail there might not even be a Nintendo left to boast by the time of the opening ceremony in Tokyo.

Just chill, come on. This is not to promote their products, Mario is Mario. He is just as recognizable as Mickey Mouse and since he was created in Japan it was just perfect for this segment.
 
It strikes me that this whole thing is the Japanese equivalent of the Queen jumping out of the helicopter with James Bond in the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.
 
Nintendo surely paid, as did Shueisha. The Olympics is less about athletes and more about an elaborate exercise in bribery and co-branding. The International Olympic Committee isn't stupid, they aren't going to give Nintendo a world stage and global coverage for free, money changed hands to make this cameo possible. A pity then Nintendo doesn't have any new products to promote at the moment.

giphy.gif
 

I-hate-u

Member
I'm saying I think that the Rio closing ceremony was a waste of money on Nintendo's part. Especially since Nintendo has been heavily criticised for basically operating on radio silence for the past year. I mean, the money spent at Rio could have sent Nintendo to E3 or ensured the production of a dozen Nintendo directs.

Maybe I am really dumb, but I think it's the other way around. Nintendo was paid to have the Japanese Olympic committee use their IPs.
 

Toad.T

Banned
Sucks that Captain Tsubasa is so unknown in NA. Even Doraemon has some permanence over here now.

I know it'd be extremley impossible, and would cause a gargantuan fuckload of controversy, but imagine if Nintendo revealed the NX here (Or had a announcment of the date). That would probably cement the NX as the winner of this gen in most folk's eyes.
 

Kintor

Banned
Maybe I am really dumb, but I think it's the other way around. Nintendo was paid to have the Japanese Olympic committee use their IPs.
Nah, one way or another the International Olympic Committee always gets its cut. The know that the Olympics itself is the major brand; everything else is a co-sponsor and has to pay for the privilege of being associated with the games. So there shouldn't be any doubt Nintendo spent a lot of money to make this little marketing exercise possible. My only argument is that such resources would have been better spent elsewhere, in light of Nintendo's diminished global presence this past year.
 

aBarreras

Member
Mario, Hello Kitty, Pacman and Doraemon makes perfect sense.

Captain Tsubasa was weird ... looks like they choose as a Brazilian fanservice. Was Saint Seiya unavailable?

if irc captain tsubasa was created as a tie in for the world cup when japan was host, so i think it kinda make sense to show him for the olympics

also, fuck yeah Mario,
 
Nah, one way or another the International Olympic Committee always gets its cut. The know that the Olympics itself is the major brand; everything else is a co-sponsor and has to pay for the privilege of being associated with the games. So there shouldn't be any doubt Nintendo spent a lot of money to make this little marketing exercise possible. My only argument is that such resources would have been better spent elsewhere, in light of Nintendo's diminished global presence this past year.
This guy is on fire!
 
Nah, one way or another the International Olympic Committee always gets its cut. The know that the Olympics itself is the major brand; everything else is a co-sponsor and has to pay for the privilege of being associated with the games. So there shouldn't be any doubt Nintendo spent a lot of money to make this little marketing exercise possible. My only argument is that such resources would have been better spent elsewhere, in light of Nintendo's diminished global presence this past year.

Are you fishing for a tag?
 

SalvaPot

Member
Now that I remember Captain Tsubasa was heavily promoted by the soccer association in Japan since it was vital in the popularity of the sport. I wonder if something similar is happening now, since I am sure Captain Tsubasa is incredibly relevant in a nostalgia kind of way.

Also the manga is still ongoing.

if irc captain tsubasa was created as a tie in for the world cup when japan was host, so i think it kinda make sense to show him for the olympics

also, fuck yeah Mario,

The manga started in the 80's. They did make the 2002 anime to help promote it.
 

aBarreras

Member
Nah, one way or another the International Olympic Committee always gets its cut. The know that the Olympics itself is the major brand; everything else is a co-sponsor and has to pay for the privilege of being associated with the games. So there shouldn't be any doubt Nintendo spent a lot of money to make this little marketing exercise possible. My only argument is that such resources would have been better spent elsewhere, in light of Nintendo's diminished global presence this past year.

i hope your post is a joke
 

HardRojo

Member
I can say without Irony that Captain Tsubasa is huge on Latin America, I'll say in the level of Dragon Ball, Pokémon and Saint Seiya.

I remember when I was a kid I tried to do the shots and injuring myself. Fun times:
hermanos_korioto.jpg
These fuckers were responsible for a lot of weird maneuvers back in school when playing with friends.
150243.jpg
 

Disxo

Member
Iniesta? I thought that latin countries can include spanish speaking ones, sorry :))
I mean, Brazil is Latin-American, but it doesnt have a heritage in spanish, cos It used to be a Portuguese colony.
However.
Latin countries are all using languages that come from latin, that includes italy, france, portugal, spain, etc.

The term is pretty broad.
 
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