Well it's true in a sense, in Japan Sega co-produced an anime called Red Photon Zillion, in it three teens welided special weapons called Zillions that later became the Light Phaser for the Sega Master System(in real life) and two platformers based on the anime were made for the Master System, with one of them playing just like Metroid.

Red Photon Zillion wikipedia article

1st Opening Fansubbed

Note at what happens to the enemies that get hit by the Zillion in the opening, remind us of anyone? That's right Captain N.

DIC used the same concept as Zillion with Captain N: The Game Master when they gave him the Nintendo Zapper to use as a weapon.

PS: Also note Opa-Opa of Phantasy Zone fame in the image on Wikipedia, he also played a minor role in the series.

Yeah, I remember Opa-Opa, I had a version of Fantasy Zone on my Game Gear when I was young... MAN I feel old!