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This documentary follows the development of Super Smash Bros. Melee; how Masahiro Sakurai and his team at HAL Laboratory came to create--and perfect--the game as we know it today.

You'll find plenty of Melee information in this video. We'll look at beta / unfinished elements of the game, including some of the earliest builds ever made, the backstory behind the game's conception, and the official Nintendo events that followed.

A majority of the information collected has been sourced from webpages, translated publications, and interviews, which can be viewed below.

If you'd like to support me and my work, you can become a patron here:   / davidvkimball  

00:00:00 - Prelude
00:01:09 - Chapter 1: "Conception"
00:03:15 - Chapter 2: "Early Development"
00:10:44 - Characters & Items
00:20:49 - Stages
00:22:22 - Story
00:23:20 - Game Modes & Features
00:25:49 - Chapter 3: "Elevation"
00:28:03 - Music & Sound Team
00:29:39 - Opening Movie
00:31:35 - Stage Music
00:37:49 - Sound Effects & Voice Acting
00:40:49 - Early Menu Designs & Animations
00:44:40 - Unused Sounds & Fanfares
00:46:07 - Chapter 4: "The Reveal"
00:49:32 - E3 Build
00:55:00 - Pre-Release Fan Theories
00:55:36 - Tournament 1: Premium Fight
00:56:30 - Development Crunch Time
00:57:57 - Chapter 5: "Release"
01:00:35 - Final Post
01:02:24 - Post-Release Fan Theories
01:02:55 - Tournament 2: Jump Festa 2002
01:03:47 - Promotional Merchandise
01:05:14 - Tournament 3: Toy Festa 2002
01:06:42 - Emerging Competitive Play
01:08:27 - Sakurai After Melee
01:09:07 - Chapter 6: "Game!"
01:09:55 - Thank You
01:10:45 - Outro

Melee Documentaries by SAMOX:

Smash Brothers Documentary: https://dvdv.kim/3vvLyCW
Metagame Documentary: https://dvdv.kim/32YYTHE

Credits:

EssieLessie for giving me regular, detailed feedback on the video and initial script. Also helped me figure out the BPM for the DK Rap.
PushDustin: for reviewing the final script and giving final feedback.
NOKOLO: for translating the final post from Smash Bros. Fist, from which I paraphrased.
UnclePunch for helping me with modifying my personal copy of the game and providing some helpful Gecko Codes.
Bradimator for the concept artwork and opening movie storyboard recreations.
Turndownforwalt: for being a great consultant on the YouTube-side.
Outro Music Credit: "Resting Place" by Garrett Williamson: https://dvdv.kim/3e3RHAv

Super Smash Brothers Melee and its trademarks are ©2001-2021 Nintendo/HAL Laboratory, Inc. Characters are ©Nintendo/HAL Laboratory, Inc, Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc./APE Inc. INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

Video footage sources:

Galaga Arcade Cabinet: https://dvdv.kim/3xCds20
Nolan Bushnell Interview: https://dvdv.kim/2QGLcuA
Sakurai "Risk and Return" GDC 2004: https://dvdv.kim/3309W3t
Tokyo B-Roll: https://dvdv.kim/3nwJvf6
"Experience Japan" Tokyo B Roll: https://dvdv.kim/2R7Y6la
Sheik's Theme by Amy Turk: https://dvdv.kim/3u57GEb
Render96 renders: https://dvdv.kim/3eERzql
Raccoon Mario trophy discovery by @ChrisPatstone: https://dvdv.kim/3u0RGTs
Smash 2 project: https://dvdv.kim/2SaCtBb
Banjo-Kazooie Orchestrated: https://dvdv.kim/3ucKYK4
Facts About BK Banjo Trophy: https://dvdv.kim/32XfUlM
Tokyo by Train: https://dvdv.kim/3nwJCr2
Nabil Shehata conducting the New Japan Philharmonic: https://dvdv.kim/3u3YjEw
Onett early version: https://dvdv.kim/3gLALAB
Fourside in 3D: https://dvdv.kim/3e3d5G4
Dean Harrington footage: https://dvdv.kim/3eKTk5a
Unused animation "Selected" CSS video: https://dvdv.kim/3gQaMrU
Unfinished "ItemBlind" animations video: https://dvdv.kim/3nzsJwb
Nintendo World Report: https://dvdv.kim/3e5JOKI
Hyper Magazine: https://dvdv.kim/3nBYZie
Smash 2 Omega: https://dvdv.kim/3u6vUhg (J-BoZ https://dvdv.kim/32YZmcS)
SSBM Tutorials: https://dvdv.kim/3tcvJzA
Shinagawa Station - Tokyo - TokyoStreetView: https://dvdv.kim/3gK4CcG
Panning Down Over Busy Tokyo Crossing by Videvo: https://dvdv.kim/3vmzcgy
GRSmash video: https://dvdv.kim/3vuuYmZ
Jigglypuff tutorials: https://dvdv.kim/3u6Qzll
Acryte How fast is Melee?: https://dvdv.kim/2Rb5IDs
imnotemo225 "GameCube obsessed kids": https://dvdv.kim/3e3TlC2
GGBootCamp "Pound 2019 - Melee Top 8 Intro": https://dvdv.kim/2QGsGT7

Research resources:

Source Gaming: https://dvdv.kim/3e4mSvG
The Cutting Room Floor Wiki: https://dvdv.kim/3gPOWVq
SmashWiki: https://dvdv.kim/3e1eiO2
Original Smash 64 website: https://dvdv.kim/3xKH7q2
Original Melee website: https://dvdv.kim/3aPddad
IGN: https://dvdv.kim/3e4mWLW
ChainSwordCS Alt: https://dvdv.kim/2RfnZzK
Every Melee ISO by ConnorRentz: https://dvdv.kim/3t4mPnN
Nintendo World Report: https://dvdv.kim/3t8KXpg
NintendoLife: https://dvdv.kim/2QARFr4

Technical resources:

Melee Gecko Codes by Achilles1515: https://dvdv.kim/3eZHEvN
Blippi.gg: http://blippi.gg
Melee HD Asset Library: http://assets.melee.tv