A bundle of the 64DD unit, software disks, hardware accessories, and the Randnet online service subscription package was released in Japan starting in December 1999.

The user has a variety of brush sizes, textures, and stamps, with which to paint, draw, spray, sketch, and animate.

The stock Nintendo-themed graphics include all 151 Red- and Blue-era Pokémon, Banjo-Kazooie, and Diddy Kong Racing characters.

[3][4] On June 1, 1995, Nintendo of America commissioned the independent UK game studio Software Creations, soliciting a single design concept for "a sequel to Mario Paint in 3D for the N64".

John Pickford initially pitched a 3D "living playground", where the user edits the attributes of premade models such as dinosaurs, playing with their sizes, behaviors, aggression, speed, and texture design.

[12][13] Software Creations reflected on political infighting between Nintendo's two sites: "eventually the Japanese took control and rejected many of the ideas which had been accepted enthusiastically by the Americans, steering the project in a different direction after John left Software Creations to form Zed Two, and throwing away loads of work.

Its working title was Talent Maker[10][13][6] as demonstrated at Nintendo's Space World 1997 trade show in November 1997.

The player can connect an analog video source such as a VCR or camcorder to the Capture Cartridge and record movies on the Nintendo 64.

Other features included contests, and printing services available by online mail order for making custom 3D papercraft and postcards.

"[8][28]: 2 The art form of papercraft was implemented by modeling the characters in Polygon Studio and then using Communication Kit to upload the data to Randnet's online printing service.

[5] IGN collectively described the Mario Artist suite as a layperson's analog to professional quality graphics development software.

Peer Schneider described it as a powerful, affordable, and easy-to-use 2D and 3D content creation tool unmatched by other video game consoles, although minimally comparable to personal computer applications.

[3][4] Rating it at 8.2 ("Great") out of 10, IGN called Talent Studio the 64DD's "killer app" with a graphical interface that is "so easy to use that anyone can figure it out after a few minutes",[7] and featuring "breathtaking motion-captured animation".