NINTENDO fanatics can now turn their gaming fantasies into reality thanks to a new theme park opening in Japan. Sneak preview pictures of the Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Osaka have surfaced.
While most of the U.S. was getting ready for bed on June 7, Universal Studios Japan officially began breaking ground on the much-anticipated Super Nintendo World and shared some details that will make fans excited.
The new themed area, which Universal said will cost more than 60 billion yen or $544 million to build, began construction in a ceremony that included Universal Creative's Mark Woodbury, USJ Co. Ltd. CEO J.L. Bonnier, and Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo director and creator of Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox and many more popular titles.
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| All singing and dancing …Mario kicks off the start of work on the Super Nintendo World theme park |
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| An artist impression of what it will look like when finished |
Officially it is launching in 2020, but photos have emerged of scenery at the Universal Studios in Japan.
The parks official Twitter account @LCASTUDIOS_USJ tweeted images, complete with piranha plants, brick blocks and bright green turf.
A video also posted shows that real-life Mario was on hand to help with a special groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday.
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| How the entrance will look when it is completed in |
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| Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Japan is set to launch in 2020 |
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| Mario perfroms during the new attraction ‘Super Nintendo World’ area groundbreaking ceremony |
"Super Nintendo World will be a huge area with a multi-layered structure, recreating the popular characters and themes from Nintendo video games, consisting of Mario Kart, highly unique and the first of its kind in the world ride attractions developed with the latest technologies, shops and restaurants," said a release. The Japan version of the land will open in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and will follow with more Nintendo lands in the U.S.
In addition, the groundbreaking confirmed that a ride based on Mario Kart, Nintendo's marquee kart racing franchise, would be developed. Patents filed by Universal have hinted to the creation of a Mario Kart ride and have had many fans waiting for Nintendo or Universal to confirm.
Here's a statement form Miyamoto:
Breaking ground on the construction of "Super Nintendo World" is an important milestone for Nintendo, Mario and myself. The Nintendo creative team and I are taking a fully collaborative approach towards this project, and the Universal creative team has been a talented and reliable partner in bringing the world of Mario out of video games and into real life. Their love and passion for Mario transcends words and language. I have many plans and ideas that will make you feel like you have set foot into a Nintendo video game, where you will be able to interact with familiar Nintendo characters. So much so that I am anxiously awaiting the day I can experience "Super Nintendo World" myself.
Most intriguing is a YouTube video that gives a conceptual view of the future land with Mario running through it. The video begins with Mario running past a Super Nintendo World sign that appears to have a "Start A" button that most likely will be a favorite picture spot for guests. Mario then runs into a green pipe, also reminiscent of the Super Mario Bros. games with the iconic pipe sound effect, only to come out in what most likely will be the land's Mushroom Kingdom.
The video then leads to Bowser's Castle where Piranha Plants will be a really neat aesthetic to take pictures next to — even better if they are animatronic and move. Bowser's Castle looks like it was taken straight out of Mario games with its metal Bowser head facade and the iconic banners. Chances are this area will house one of the attractions.
Mario then jumps up a hill with rotating coins and question blocks — other signature items in the games — and then to the top on a flag. If the hill is built, it most likely will have those coins and blocks spinning and bouncing, respectively, like they do in the video game series.
While this is far from an official map of the land, it gives us a great look at how Universal and Nintendo plan to design the land that eventually will make its way to Orlando. The question will be how much of a footprint is used in Japan and what kind of space does Universal Orlando Resort have that's comparable.
Either way, Super Nintendo World have the potential to completely upend the theme park race in Orlando, something Universal last saw with the opening of the first Wizarding World of Harry Potter in its Islands of Adventure theme park.
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