This morning, Nintendo ran a short Nintendo Direct ahead of their E3 event (which, the company reiterated, would be focused on games coming out this year and early next.) Today's broadcast comes hot on the heels of a Japanese Nintendo Direct, but it wasn't a one-to-one copy of that video. Japan got updates on Fire Emblem If, Monster Hunter X, Dragon Quest VIII, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, among other things. We did not.

What did we get in today's Nintendo Direct (besides micro Bill Trinen?) Well:

• Chibi-Robo Ziplash takes the endearing (and eco-friendly) little robot out of his normal domestic environs and puts him on an 3DS adventure. I was skeptical at first--I actually really like the strange little household chores that Chibi-Robo normally does--but once I saw how Robo used his plug as a grappling hook to solve puzzles and traverse levels, I have to admit I was interested. Nintendo also announced a Chibi-Robo Amiibo... does this count as being "life-sized"?
• Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure for the 3DS seems like a follow up to 2013's Dr. Luigi, with similar modes and features. It does add "Miracle Cure" super attacks: Fill up a meter to give yourself some bonus or screw over your opponent. Could add a bit of strategy and "oomph" to the multiplayer!
• Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is another entry into the long running series. Hopefully this one adds a bit of complexity that the others have lacked.
• Presumably due by next summer, Mario and Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games offers special games unique to each platform: The 3DS is getting golf and the Wii U version gets Rugby. Also, it looks like there's going to be a version of Strikers-style Soccer in there, so I'm in.
• Art Academy Home Studio is coming to the Wii U eShop on June 25th.
• Bill Trinen teased a Project Treasure video that you can go watch over on Nintendo's YouTube page. It's co-op zombie-slaying and loot-hauling, if that's your thing.
• I AM EXCITED FOR LITTLE BATTLERS EXPERIENCE. LBX is an anime about kids building little, remote controlled mecha models, battling them, and taking on a secret conspiracy because that's how anime works. It's no Gundam Build Fighters, but I'm a big mecha nerd so I'll take what I can get. (Also, man, you can customize your mechs and one of the parts in the trailer is named "Guan Yu," which is a reference to one of the major heroes of the Three Kingdoms period of China and that is so exciting and oh my god I'm going to get fired on the first day of work aren't I?). ... ... LBX is out on August 21st.
• I can't decide if Bravely Second: End Layer is a better or worse name than Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Whichever it is, it's going to come Stateside in 2016.
• Nintendo also announced content for Splatoon (a new weapon and map, plus Ranked mode) and Puzzles & Dragons & Mario (more worlds plus "distributions" of special characters). The Splatoon stuff is out tonight. I'll be jealous of everyone playing it.

I was really holding out hope for an Amiibo of micro-sized Bill Trinen, but I guess that is a thing too beautiful to exist in our dreary world. Check out micro-Bill and the rest of today's Nintendo Direct below.

LBX is an anime about kids building little, remote controlled mecha models, battling them, and taking on a secret conspiracy because that's how anime works.

So it's Pokemon with mechs?

Austin is the one true Anime Editor we've been waiting for.

Wait, Austin likes anime...does this make him the Giant Bomb Official Anime Editor?

I'm liking this Austin guy more and more. Keep up the good work man!

Dang, Austin is already pushing hard for that coveted "Anime Editor" position.

EDIT: "Who's that little robot?" is a Streamfriends reference isn't it?

Two news stories in one day? Write Austin Write!

"It's no Gundam Build Fighters..."

Nothing is, GBF is amazing.

Always appreciate some good written content, keep it coming Austin. :)

Mario/Sonic games usually come out the holiday before their respective Olympics, just fyi, so those games should be out this year.

I had no idea LBX was coming over! Surprised they didn't mention any Yokai Watch stuff, speaking of Level 5.

D-did Austin just take the anime news editor role away from Brad?

Not even GBF2 is GBF. Still makes me upset.

Nintendirect Express?

Brad has some work to do if he doesn't want to lose the Anime Editor position.

It was a fun video, but I really hope we hear about a Western release for Dragon Quest VIII in the foreseeable future.

Brad has some work to do if he doesn't want to lose the Anime Editor position.

It was a fun video, but I really hope we hear about a Western release for Dragon Quest VIII in the foreseeable future.

Dog. Yes. Yes it is.

It's Pokemon + Virtual On/Gundam Ex. Vs., basically. I'm v excited.

Austin unable to hold back his excitement about robots is the kind of content I'm here to see.

Is this the one where they show the chibi-robo amiibo? I need that chibi-robo amiibo... I don't give two squids about amiibos but I need that chibi-robo amiibo.

Brad will fight to the death to keep that title!

Austin, love your coverage style. I'm trying to figure out with End Layer if Square-Enix just lets Tetsuya Nomura name everything these days or it is just a house style at this point, either way they clearly don't run any of these names past a native english speaker.

I never EVER want to see Bill Trinen in that squid hat again. Nightmarish!

*sigh* Giant Bomb just HAD to ruin one of the longest running jokes by hiring an actual anime editor. UGH!

But seriously, I'm starting to like this Austin guy already.

No, it's like Gundam Build Fighters, the very thing Austin mentioned.

Also I'm very glad that this site now has someone who's into Japanese niche shit.

Giant Bomb just covered a Nintendo Direct accurately and concisely. When did Hell freeze over?

Holy shit he brought up Gundam Build Fighters. I like this new guy already.

@austin_walker the "Flying Fairy" in the title is a sort of joke, as I understand it

The screenshots for Project Treasure look great. The actual game in motion? Eeeeeh, not so much. I'm still interested though. There's probably some fun to be had there somewhere.

Also,

Austin, thank you -- this summary is perfect; what I've always wanted from a Nintendo Direct. I usually like to watch them if I know there's something interesting, but this wasn't one of them, so your bullet points helped a lot. Thanks!

Great piece Austin, thanks.

I'm still waiting on that 3DS Dragon Quest VII remake to make it over here :(

Someone on Giang Bomb likes anime now?? :D if not GBF is still a great show to like.

The title "Flying Fairy" is actually a super important plot point to the first game believe it or not. Theres a nice little twist. I'm hoping to see the same with the new one.

I've yet to get into LBX(or GBF) myself, but it's nice to see someone on the Giant Bomb staff get genuinely excited about robots. Normally the most we get is Jeff complaining that Megatron from Transformers doesn't turn into a gun anymore.

anime

God bless you, Austin.

Metabots?! METABOTS!!!!

Lil mechs anime pokemon esque game!!!! Ok that's i teresting

Still no love for the 3DS remakes of Dragon Quest VII or VIII for the US market, sad really. Kinda surprising that VIII is coming out for the old 3DS and not just the new ones.

Chibi-Robo Kawase

Bionic Chibi-Robo

Chibi-Rygar

Gundam Build Fighters is awesome, glad to see it's starting to make it's way into games too.

This Austin dude seems alright.

Austin's killing it.

LBX reminds me of that Custom Robo game, where you could build robots and battle in Virtual-On-style arenas. Hope it's good.

I would rather bandai do remake of first Gundam series then keep making build fighters, They have been promising for year's to remake it.

I have never enjoyed pokemon and Yugioh anime battle arena stuff, I just wish they would make decent Gundam series been a while. And Build fighters just doesn't fill Gundam gap in my life in the same way.

mmm, anime

Yay Austin!

Does this mean we won't get a third-hand, barely interested account of the Nintendo Direct from Brad on the Bombcast :)

Little Battlers looks like a new age Medabots, I am so in.