This is not about characters!
I’m writing a script for my ideal SSB4 opening. It comes in two versions; one “normal” version that plays if the player has not unlocked every collectible in the game (that includes characters, stages, music, trophies, stickers, etc.), and a “full” version that only plays once all collectibles have been unlocked.
The following songs are cued throughout this script.
Melee Opening (Smashing… Live! Version)
Brawl Theme
Super Smash Bros. Opening
The reason all three songs are used is because the ideal cinematic I have for SSB4 would include a merge of the Melee and Brawl themes, with elements of the original SSB overture at points. This would be done with, of course, a newly-composed song for SSB4. It would be composed so that the parts of all these songs merge together in a beautiful and coherent manner.
Below is an incomplete script for the “full” version of the opening cinematic.
[COLLAPSE=SSB4 Opening Cinematic Script]
Melee Opening – 0:00 – 0:20 (alternatively, SSB Opening 0:00 – 0:15)
The screen dimly lights up (in a dark blue hue) and reveals a trophy display case. The case is empty but for one trophy – Mario.
Master Hand moves out in front of the screen from behind. He grabs the Mario trophy and takes it out, closing the case behind him.
The camera pans to the right as Master Hand moves towards a dimly-lit row of trophies in the distance. The trophies in order from left to right are:
Luigi, Marth, Captain Falcon, Yoshi, Samus, Kirby, (empty space), Link, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, Fox, Ness, Jigglypuff
The camera focuses in on Master Hand with the Mario trophy as Master Hand moves towards an empty space between Kirby and Link. Gently, Master Hand positions Mario in the empty space. He tilts him slightly forward and flies backwards out behind the camera. The camera zooms out to reveal the entire row of trophies. In the background, one can see silhouettes of what appear to be additional trophies, but the background is hazy and dark so nothing can really be made out.
The camera darkens to a black screen. The Nintendo and Sora Ltd. logos pop up – Nintendo on top, Sora at bottom. Between the logos and below, the words “and” and “present…” appear respectively in basic white font.
The logos and words fade out.
Melee Opening – 0:21 – 0:26
The camera lights up and is positioned far behind the first row of trophies at slightly above ground level. Light enters the room from a distant sunrise rising over mountain peaks. The light shines over the trophies, revealing they are located on a rock island in a sea of water with the mountains and sun in the distance. (Think the setting of the first few seconds of the Brawl opening)
As the room lights up it reveals two more rows of trophies behind the first row. You see these trophies from the backside as with the first row.
Melee Opening – 0:26 – 0:29
The camera changes to a view in front of the trophies from roughly half the height of the distant mountain peaks and sunrise. From the front, the light now reveals the faces of the trophies in the back rows.
Melee Opening – 0:29
The camera suddenly zooms in on the Mario trophy as it emits a blue, firey aura around itself. (Think of the similar sequence in the Melee opening)
Melee Opening – 0:30
The screen turns black. Writing in the bottom-left corner; “Nintendo’s All-Stars In”
Melee Opening – 0:31 – 0:33
Mario transforms as in the Melee opening. The camera is still focused on Mario, but is zoomed in on him than in the Melee opening. In the background and far sides, you can see the other characters transforming as well.
Melee Opening – 0:33 – 0:37
Mario is completely transformed from a trophy into a living being. The camera changes to a more zoomed-out position from a left angle to show both Mario and the six closest trophies in his row (Yoshi, Samus, Kirby, Link, Pikachu, Donkey Kong) as they enter cool battle poses (imagine them as whatever you like).
Melee Opening – 0:37
A clawed foot stomps on the ground in front of the screen. Mario and his row of trophies are completely in battle poses now.
Melee Opening – 0:38 – 0:40
The camera turns around to a right angle onto Bowser and a separate group of characters having transformed from trophies into living beings. This group of trophies contains all of the villain characters in SSB4, although it’s not just villains (Lucas, for example, is in this group). Visible in front of the camera showing off their battle poses are Bowser, Ganondorf, Ridley, King Dedede, King K. Rool, and Zoroark. This sequence is in slight slow-motion.
Melee Opening – 0:41 – 0:43
Camera changes angle to the space in-between the two groups of characters from the right side of the original trophy row. Now the characters from each side dash to the opposing side and charge up their attacks. For example, Mario jumps out with a fireball in the palm of his hand (similar to his forward smash) while Bowser prepares to swipe his claws at Mario. As they prepare to attack, the camera enters slow-motion (as in the Melee opening battle between Mario, Link, Kirby, and Pikachu).
Brawl Theme – 0:05 – 0:06
Audi famam…
The character are still about to attack and still moving in slow-motion, but a flash of light from the distance between the characters begins to flood the camera until all that can be seen is bright golden light.
Brawl Theme – 0:06 – 0:31
… illius.
Solus in hostes ruit
et patriam servavit.
Audi famam illius.
Cucurrit quaeque
tetigit destruens.
This part of the cinematic would recycle Adventure Mode cutscenes. (I know some people didn’t like that in Brawl’s opening, but it saves the developers time and money. And don’t fear – it is only at given parts that Adventure Mode cinematics are recycled. The rest of the cinematic would use original footage as I describe it.)
Melee Opening – 0:44 – 0:57
(Under construction)
Musical Note – The song will transition from the Brawl vocal part into the second segment of Melee’s theme.
Melee Opening – 0:58 – 1:12
Brawl Theme – 0:32 – 0:44 (Vocals Only)
Audi famam illius
Audi famam illius
(Under construction)
Musical Note – This section of the cinematic merges the second segment of the Melee opening theme with vocals from the Brawl theme. Parts might have to be changed to allow this; the main french horn part in this part of the Melee theme would probably be removed to emphasize the vocals, as well as the transition-bringing woodwinds.
Brawl Theme – 0:44 – 1:09
Spes omnibus, mihi quoque.
Terror omnibus, mihi quoque.
Ille
iuxta me.
(Under construction)[/COLLAPSE]
That's all for now. I'll see if I can finish this by the end of this week.
