Pikmin (game)
Pikmin 2
Pikmin 3
Pikmin 4
Hey! Pikmin
Pikmin Bloom
Pikmin Adventure

Pikmin family: Difference between revisions

From Pikipedia, the Pikmin wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Reverted edits by 104.129.194.60 (talk) to last revision by Results May Vary)
Tag: Rollback
m (→‎Decor Pikmin: Updated file name.)
 
(457 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{game icons|pikmin=y|pikmin2=y|pikmin3=y|hp=y|pa=y}}
{{game icons|pikmin=y|pikmin2=y|pikmin3=y|p4=y|hp=y|pa=y|pb=y|}}
[[File:Pikmin types - Flower.png|thumb|300px|All main types of Pikmin at the flower stage, from ''Pikmin 3''.]]
[[File:P3DX Prerelease Pikmin Family.jpg|thumb|250px|From left to right, groups of [[Rock Pikmin]], [[Yellow Pikmin]], [[Red Pikmin]], [[Winged Pikmin]], and [[Blue Pikmin]].]]
'''Pikmin''' ({{j|ピクミン|Pikumin}}) are a [[plant]]-animal life-form first encountered by [[Captain Olimar]] when his ship crash-lands on an [[PNF-404|uncharted planet]] in ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]''. The Pikmin are loyal to their [[leader]]s, although their criteria for deciding a leader is unclear. They come in a number of different types, each indicating a unique set of attributes that better suit them to different environments and tasks. Most Pikmin are {{tt|1.2cm|0.47inch}}, from the top of the head to the feet, and have a vaguely humanoid shape, allowing them to walk, run, [[carry]] and fight. Different types can have different shapes or sizes. Atop any Pikmin's head is a stem, topped with a leaf, bud, or flower, depending on their [[maturity]].
{{TOC right}}
{{split}}
'''Pikmin''' ({{j|ピクミン|Pikumin}}) are plant-animal hybrid creatures that are found on [[PNF-404]] and the [[Hey! Pikmin planet|planet in ''Hey! Pikmin'']]. As the titular creatures of the {{ps}}, they are the main feature of gameplay in all games in the series.


Captain Olimar was noted in ''Pikmin'' to wonder, a bit uneasily, why the Pikmin don't attack him, and he speculated that they might see him as a "parental figure"{{cite quote|When I see the Pikmin engaged in fierce battle with other creatures of this world, I often grow uneasy wondering why they never attack me... Could it be that they actually view me as a parental figure? A strange, disturbing thought...|Captain Olimar|his [[Olimar's voyage log|voyage log]]}}. However, the [[Antenna Beetle]] being able to control Pikmin with its sound might prove that it is in fact the [[whistle]] that makes Pikmin non-aggressive.
In the main games, Pikmin are created by [[Onion]]s, which produce them as seeds, which in turn fall to the ground and become sprouts. A [[leader]] then may [[pluck]] one of these sprouts. Once plucked, Pikmin follow a leader around the [[area]] or [[cave]] in their [[squad]], and the leader can [[throw]] them at objects, as well as [[dismiss]], [[swarm]], and [[charge]] them. When out of a leader's squad, they can be [[whistle]]d back into it. Through these basic actions, Pikmin can be ordered to [[carry]] items or [[Combat|fight]] enemies, among other abilities.


== Biology ==
Pikmin come in several [[#Types|types]], each with certain unique abilities (such as resistance to a specific [[hazard]]). Most are {{tt|1.2cm|0.47 inches}} tall head to toe (around {{tt|3cm|1.2 inches}} if the stem and top are included), and have a generally humanoid shape. On top of a Pikmin's head is either a leaf, bud, or flower, representing its [[maturity]].
[[File:Pikmin skeleton.jpg|thumb|90px|The skeletal structure of a Pikmin seen during its electrocution in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''.]]
Although each species has different characteristics, all Pikmin have the same general appearance: a roughly humanoid body shape, two round eyes, two arms and two legs, two hands and two feet – each with three digits – and a tall stem on which a single leaf, bud, or [[Chaenostoma cordatum|five-petaled flower]] grows. Their limbs also serve as roots when buried in the ground. In fact, Olimar refers to their entire bodies, save the stems, as ambulatory root structures.{{cite quote|{{Notes:Creeping Chrysanthemum/olimar}}|Captain Olimar|[[Olimar's notes|his notes]] for the [[Creeping Chrysanthemum]]}}


The internal structures of Pikmin are a mystery, but certain things about them can be speculated. Since Pikmin never seem to eat anything, save [[nectar]], they probably have a very simple digestive system, if any. As such, it is likely that Pikmin get a majority of their nutrients from food the [[Onion]]s break down. Since the Onions are the center of Pikmin reproduction as well, it seems likely that Pikmin are incapable of sexual reproduction. However, in ''Pikmin'' flowering Pikmin will sometimes drop seeds when slain in battle, suggesting that they may be able to reproduce asexually, but also that they do not have defined sexes and are hermaphrodites like many plants. Pikmin also have a skeletal system, as seen when [[electricity|electrocuted]]. Pikmin probably don't have any sort of lungs (however, the [[Blue Pikmin]] are observed to have gill structures), but their leaves, buds, and flowers appear to serve as their main means of respiration, since poison gas or water droplets collecting around them suffocates the Pikmin; inversely, walking in shallow water in which their leaf/bud/flower does not touch (as seen in the [[Shower Room]]) is fine. When killed, Pikmin disappear and a [[Spirit|ghost]] flies into the air, sometimes after releasing a liquid of the same color as the Pikmin, possibly the Pikmin equivalent to hemolymph or blood – this is best seen when the [[Cloaking Burrow-nit]] attacks.
On its own, a Pikmin is not particularly strong, but in large groups (usually [[Pikmin limit|up to 100]]), they are capable of doing many things. However, Pikmin can be lost to [[Enemy|enemies]] and hazards. Losing all Pikmin of a type is known as a [[Pikmin extinction]]. However, Pikmin can be grown easily by carrying defeated enemies or [[pellet]]s to the Onion. In addition, [[Candypop Bud]]s can convert Pikmin from one type to another.


Pikmin start off as seeds ejected from the Onion, which, after landing on the ground, transform into sprouts. A [[leader]] must [[pluck]] a sprout so that the Pikmin may come out. While idle, the Pikmin's leaves and flowers glow that Pikmin's respective color; that, coupled with a [[cutscene]] at the end of ''Pikmin 2'', would suggest that Pikmin are somehow bioluminescent, though what causes this and what function it might serve in the wild has never been explained.
==Types==
[[File:Pikmin 4 Main Pikmin.png|300px|thumb|left|The nine main types of Pikmin standing in the order they were first introduced throughout the series.]]
Pikmin come in several different types, each with unique physical attributes and abilities. The differences between Pikmin types is often utilized in puzzles. As the player progresses through a game's [[Story Mode|story]], more types are unlocked, which over time allow the player to access more sections of [[area]]s. While the Pikmin types available in each game are different, every game features the original trio of Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, and Blue Pikmin.


Regular Pikmin are able to [[Carrying|carry]] (at least) ten times their own weight, as evidenced by the ability of [[Blue Pikmin]] to lift and toss heavy [[Purple Pikmin]] when they are drowning in water. Pikmin are also capable of basic speech and can even be heard saying English phrases like "Ok!" and "Yahoo!" after being [[pluck]]ed from the ground. When in a group they will sometimes [[Easter eggs|sing]] parts of ''[[Ai no Uta]]'' in ''Pikmin 2''. If left idle for a long time, Pikmin will moan at each other. From what is heard, it can be assumed that Pikmin language is very simple and primitive.
{{clear|left}}


=== Stages ===
===Red Pikmin===
[[File:Pikmin Stages.jpg|thumb|left|The three stages of Pikmin: leaf, bud, and flower.]]
[[File:Red Pikmin1.png|200px|left|thumb|The three stages of a Red Pikmin.]]
{{main|Maturity}}
{{main|Red Pikmin}}
Pikmin can be divided into three stages. In the first of these, the Pikmin will have a leaf on their stem, which changes to a bud and then a flower as the stage increases. Leaf Pikmin are the slowest and least efficient at performing tasks, but as the stage goes up the movement speed and task efficiency increases.
 
Pikmin can go up in stage in several ways. The most common way is by being fed [[nectar]]. Alternately, they may be left underground before being [[pluck]]ed, where they will gradually mature with time, or, in ''Pikmin 3'', they can be [[ultra-spicy spray|sprayed]]. When knocked to the ground in battle in ''Pikmin'' or ''Pikmin 2'', Pikmin have a chance of losing their maturity and decreaseing in stage. They will never go down in stage in ''Pikmin 3''.
 
In ''Pikmin'', if a flower Pikmin is shaken off, it will revert to a bud, and the bud will revert to a leaf in the same scenario. In ''Pikmin 2'', however, flower Pikmin revert to leaf Pikmin immediately. Like flower Pikmin, buds can be received when leaf Pikmin are allowed to stay in the ground for a certain amount of time.


{{clear}}
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae rubrus''


==Known types==
'''Red Pikmin''' have pointy noses and white flowers, and are present in all ''Pikmin'' games. They are resistant to [[fire]] and have a stronger attack strength than other types, making them good at [[combat]] dealing 1.5x damage more than other Pikmin types. They are the first type discovered in all ''Pikmin'' games (Although [[Yellow Pikmin]] are the first type seen in ''[[Pikmin 3]]'', the Red Pikmin are the first to be properly introduced).
These are the types of Pikmin encountered so far in the ''Pikmin'' games.


===Red Pikmin===
{{clear|left}}
[[File:Red Pikmin1.png|250px|right|thumb|Three [[Red Pikmin]].]]
{{main|Red Pikmin}}
'''Red Pikmin''' were the first species of Pikmin discovered. Their unique physical feature is their thorn-like noses. These Pikmin are fireproof and are among the types with the strongest attack power in the games they appear in.
 
{{clear}}


===Yellow Pikmin===
===Yellow Pikmin===
[[File:Yellow Pikmin1.png|250px|left|thumb|Three [[Yellow Pikmin]].]]
[[File:Yellow Pikmin1.png|250px|thumb|The three stages of a Yellow Pikmin.]]
{{main|Yellow Pikmin}}
{{main|Yellow Pikmin}}
'''Yellow Pikmin''' have large ears. Their ears seem to catch wind currents, so they soar much higher when [[throw]]n, and they were discovered in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' to be shockproof. According to Brittany's notes, Yellow Pikmin have a lower body density and weight compared to the other Pikmin.


As electrical hazards were not present during the development of ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', Yellow Pikmin were found to be somewhat lacking in usefulness, as the ability to be thrown high was not that important in general. As a result, Yellow Pikmin became the only Pikmin capable of carrying [[bomb-rock]]s, an ability [[Unused content in Pikmin|originally designed for all Pikmin types]]. With carriable bomb-rocks absent in ''Pikmin 2'', the electrical resistance was added, and for ''Pikmin 3'', all types of Pikmin types became able to carry bomb-rocks.
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae auribus''
 
'''Yellow Pikmin''' have large ears and white flowers, and are present in all ''Pikmin'' games. They can be [[throw]]n higher than other types, but their other unique abilities vary by game. In ''Pikmin'', they are the only type that can carry [[bomb rock]]s. In ''Pikmin 2'', ''Pikmin 3'', ''Pikmin 4'' and ''Hey! Pikmin'', they are resistant to [[electricity]] (they can also conduct electricity in ''Pikmin 3'' and ''Hey! Pikmin''). In ''Pikmin 3'' and ''Pikmin 4'', they can [[dig]] faster than most other Pikmin types. Additionally, in ''Pikmin 3'', they are the first type to be seen, although they are only used for a short tutorial.


{{clear}}
{{clear}}


===Blue Pikmin===
===Blue Pikmin===
[[File:Blue Pikmin all types.png|250px|thumb|Three [[Blue Pikmin]].]]
[[File:Blue Pikmin all types.png|250px|left|thumb|The three stages of a Blue Pikmin.]]
{{main|Blue Pikmin}}
{{main|Blue Pikmin}}
'''Blue Pikmin''' have what appear to be mouths. They also have gills on their cheeks, however, they are never seen in-game. These Pikmin, unlike the others, can survive in water and are resistant to water-based attacks. In ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'', if [[throw]]n into water or standing idle, they will save any nearby drowning Pikmin by throwing them back to land.


Scientific name: ''Pikminidae caerula''
'''Blue Pikmin''' have mouthlike gills and white flowers, and are present in all ''Pikmin'' games. They are resistant to [[water]], making them the only type able to access submerged portions of areas where other Pikmin would drown. They are the last type discovered in most games with a linear discovery order, the exceptions being ''Hey! Pikmin'', ''Pikmin Bloom'' and ''Pikmin 4''.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


===Purple Pikmin===
===Purple Pikmin===
[[File:HD purple pikmin.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Three [[Purple Pikmin]].]]
[[File:HD purple pikmin.jpg|250px|thumb|The three stages of a Purple Pikmin.]]
{{main|Purple Pikmin}}
{{main|Purple Pikmin}}
'''Purple Pikmin''' are one of the subterranean species of Pikmin discovered in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' and are bulkier and larger than normal Pikmin. They have six wiry hairs growing out of their heads. These Pikmin can cause damage simply by being tossed on enemies (which may also stun the foes), and will actually scoot their bodies in the air to try and land on the enemy if not tossed directly above it. They can also pick up and weigh down objects with the force of 10 Pikmin, but move more slowly, even at the flower stage. In ''Pikmin 3'', their only characteristics are their slow speed and 10-Pikmin carrying strength. Purple Pikmin have magenta flowers, and do not have an [[Onion]].
 
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae yokozunum''
 
'''Purple Pikmin''' have short hairs, magenta flowers, and are bulkier than other Pikmin types. They are present in ''Pikmin 2'', ''Pikmin 4'' and ''Pikmin Bloom'', as well as the alternative game modes of ''Pikmin 3''. They weigh 10 times as much as other Pikmin types, are slower than other types, can [[carry]] 10 times the weight of other types, and can attack with a strong [[Combat#Purple Pikmin pound|pound]] capable of stunning enemies. In all games except ''Pikmin 4'', they do not have an Onion and must be gained by using [[Candypop Bud]]s.


{{clear}}
{{clear}}
===White Pikmin===
===White Pikmin===
[[File:HD White pikmin.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Three [[White Pikmin]].]]
[[File:HD White pikmin.jpg|250px|left|thumb|The three stages of a White Pikmin.]]
{{main|White Pikmin}}
{{main|White Pikmin}}
'''White Pikmin''' are another subterranean species of Pikmin discovered in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' which are smaller than normal Pikmin and have red eyes. These Pikmin are resistant to poison, and they seem to also be naturally poisonous, as enemies take heavy damage when they ingest White Pikmin. Their eyes seem to make it possible for them to detect things buried underground and begin to [[dig]] them up. These Pikmin are also the fastest, and carry objects much quicker than other Pikmin. In ''Pikmin 3'', their only special traits are their faster speed and ability to poison enemies by being ingested. Like Purple Pikmin, White Pikmin have magenta flowers and lack an [[Onion]].
 
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae venalbius''
 
'''White Pikmin''' have red eyes, magenta flowers, and small, thin bodies. They are present in ''Pikmin 2'', ''Pikmin 4'' and ''Pikmin Bloom'', as well as the alternative game modes of ''Pikmin 3''. They are resistant to [[poison]], are faster than other Pikmin types, can poison enemies upon being eaten, and in ''Pikmin 2'' can [[dig]] out [[treasure]]s completely buried in the ground that other types cannot see. In all games except ''Pikmin 4'', they do not have an Onion, and must be gained by using Candypop Buds.
 
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


===Rock Pikmin===
===Rock Pikmin===
[[File:Rock Pikmin P3 stages.png|250px|left|thumb|Three [[Rock Pikmin]].]]
[[File: Rock Pikmin P3 stages.png|250px|thumb|The three stages of a Rock Pikmin.]]
{{main|Rock Pikmin}}
{{main|Rock Pikmin}}
'''Rock Pikmin''' first appear in ''[[Pikmin 3]]''. Unlike most Pikmin types, they do not have a humanoid appearance, but rather are shaped like an irregular hunk of rock. They have indigo flowers. Rock Pikmin are capable of causing damage to certain types of hard obstacles and enemies that cannot be damaged by other Pikmin. They are immune to being [[Blunt force|crushed or skewered]]. Rock Pikmin do the highest damage to an enemy if thrown, but cannot latch onto enemies and deal less damage when regularly attacking.
 
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae habisaxum''
 
'''Rock Pikmin''' are parasitic Pikmin inhabiting rocks and have lavender-purple flowers. They are present in ''Pikmin 3'', ''Pikmin 4'', ''Hey! Pikmin'', and ''Pikmin Bloom''. Their hardness allows them to destroy [[crystal]] obstacles, attack enemies through a powerful [[Combat#Rock Pikmin|direct impact]], and be resistant to being [[crush]]ed or [[stab]]bed.


{{clear}}
{{clear}}


===Winged Pikmin===
===Winged Pikmin===
[[File:Winged Pikmin.png|250px|right|thumb|Three [[Winged Pikmin]].]]
[[File:Winged Pikmin.png|250px|left|thumb|The three stages of a Winged Pikmin.]]
{{main|Winged Pikmin}}
{{main|Winged Pikmin}}
'''Winged Pikmin''' first appear in ''Pikmin 3'' alongside [[Rock Pikmin]]. They are pink with large blue eyes, which are similar to those of [[White Pikmin]], and have indigo flowers like Rock Pikmin. They possess insect-like wings, and have the ability to hover over obstacles and carry objects over water. Their attack is slightly weaker than other Pikmin and they will fly upwards when [[throw]]n; however, can only reach higher places if ordered to charge, reaching the same height as Red Pikmin when thrown normally. Winged Pikmin are immune to most ground-based attacks and enemies. However, if knocked onto the ground and stunned, they become vulnerable to said attacks.
 
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae volarosa''
 
'''Winged Pikmin''' are pink and have wings, large blue eyes, and lavender-purple flowers. They are present in ''Pikmin 3'', ''Pikmin 4'', ''Hey! Pikmin'', and ''Pikmin Bloom''. They can fly over [[water]] and low barriers, allowing them to take shortcuts when [[carry]]ing, as well as making it harder for enemies to attack them, but their attack strength is lower than other Pikmin types.


{{clear}}
{{clear}}
===Ice Pikmin===
[[File:P4 Leaf Ice Pikmin Artwork.png|150px|thumb|An Ice Pikmin in its leaf stage.]]
{{main|Ice Pikmin}}
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae habiglacius''
'''Ice Pikmin''' are light blue with icy bodies similar to Rock Pikmin, albeit with a distinct head, and yellow flowers. They are only present in ''Pikmin 4''. Ice Pikmin are immune to being frozen and can freeze [[Enemy|enemies]] by filling up a meter around the enemy's [[health wheel]] by attacking or by being eaten. The bodies of frozen enemies shatter upon death, leaving a droplet of [[nectar]] behind in a manner similar to how [[ultra-bitter spray]] functions. They can also be tossed into [[water]] to freeze it, freezing any enemies and treasure inside until the water unfreezes, and allowing leaders and other Pikmin to walk across its surface.
{{clear}}
{{clear|left}}
===Glow Pikmin===
[[File:Glow Pikmin.png|150px|thumb|left|A Glow Pikmin.]]
{{main|Glow Pikmin}}
Scientific name: ''Pikminidae supravelum''
''Official family unknown''
'''Glow Pikmin''' are a special species of Pikmin with green bioluminescent ghost-like bodies and yellow star-like flowers, and are present in ''Pikmin 4'' only. They are resistant to every elemental hazard, as well as not slowing in [[mud]], being unable to be [[control|controlled]], not being able to be buried, and warping back to safe ground if they fall into an [[abyss]]. They will teleport to the active leader if they are not fighting or working on a task. They are the only type available in [[night expedition]]s, and can be summoned inside caves with [[Pack|Glow Seed]]s. They are also able to perform a group attack known as a Glowmob, which stuns enemies it hits. Additionally, they have no Onion or Candypop Bud color, and are propagated by bringing [[Glow Pellet]]s to a [[Lumiknoll]].
{{clear}}
===Bulbmin===
===Bulbmin===
[[File:Bulbmin2.jpg|100px|thumb|left|thumb|A [[Bulbmin]].]]
[[File: Bulbmin2.jpg|100px|thumb|A Bulbmin.]]
{{main|Bulbmin}}
{{main|Bulbmin}}
'''Bulbmin''' are the third species of subterranean Pikmin found exclusively in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' and are a combination of a parasitic Pikmin and a juvenile [[Bulborb]]. They are immune to all natural hazards thanks to the Bulborb's anatomy. Although they can carry objects and flower as normal Pikmin do, they are unable to leave the caves in which they are found. The actual appearance of the parasitic Pikmin alone is unknown. These Pikmin do not make a re-appearance in ''Pikmin 3''.
 
Scientific name: ''Parasiticus pikminicus''
 
'''Bulbmin''' are a special species of Pikmin shaped like a minuscule [[Bulborb]] with a stem, white flowers, and are present in ''Pikmin 2'' only. They are always found following a larger Bulbmin which must be defeated to be able to command them. They are resistant to [[fire]], [[water]], [[electricity]], and [[poison]], but cannot be taken out of [[cave]]s, which are the only places they are found in. They are actually a parasite that takes over a juvenile [[Bulborb]]; the appearance of the parasite on its own is not known.


{{clear}}
{{clear}}
===Mushroom Pikmin===
 
[[File:Mushroom Pikmin P1.png|100px|thumb|right|A [[Mushroom Pikmin]].]]
===Additional types===
The following types are not proper Pikmin types, as they are not distinguished by the games and cannot be controlled by leaders, but are related to Pikmin.
 
====Mushroom Pikmin====
[[File:Mushroom Pikmin P1.png|100px|thumb|A Mushroom Pikmin.]]
{{main|Mushroom Pikmin}}
{{main|Mushroom Pikmin}}
Mushroom Pikmin, or "Puffmin", are not a separate species, but rather the result of allowing Pikmin to be exposed to the spore cloud attack from a [[Puffstool]]. Pikmin affected by the cloud turn purple, grow mushrooms on their heads, and turn against Olimar and other unaffected Pikmin. Mushroom Pikmin can be cured by shaking them off Olimar, attacking one with an unaffected Pikmin, defeating the Puffstool, or simply waiting for the effect to wear off. Both Mushroom Pikmin and the Puffstool are exclusive to ''Pikmin''.
'''Mushroom Pikmin''' are a special state of Pikmin, created when the [[Puffstool]] attacks Pikmin with its gas. They are purple and have a mushroom instead of a leaf/bud/flower, and are present in ''Pikmin'' only. They will attack Captain Olimar, and can be attacked by unaffected Pikmin, even though they will not fight back.
 
====Pikpik carrots====
[[File: Pikpik Carrots.png|100px|thumb|left|A group of Pikpik carrots.]]
{{main|Pikpik carrot}}
'''Pikpik carrots''' are plants from the planet of [[Hocotate]] that Pikmin are named after. While they do not appear in gameplay, they can be thrown at enemies in ''Pikmin 2''{{'s}} [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 2)|Piklopedia]] and ''Pikmin 4''{{'s}} [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 4)|Piklopedia]]. Pikpik carrots exist in the files of ''Pikmin 2'' and ''Pikmin 3'' as a type of Pikmin, but it is not possible to obtain them in gameplay. In ''Pikmin 4'', Pikpik carrots are items used as bait and cause paralysis when ingested by enemies.


Mushroom Pikmin can sometimes [[Glitches in Pikmin#Rebel Mushroom Pikmin|turn against the Puffstool]] due to a certain [[Glitches|glitch]], and can sometimes even [[Glitches in Pikmin#Controlling Mushroom Pikmin|be controlled by Olimar]], depending on exactly how the glitch is carried out.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


===Olimar as a Pikmin===
====Other types====
{{spoiler section|
{{spoiler section|
[[File:Olimar Pikmin.png|300px|thumb|right|Olimar as "Pikmar".]]
[[File:Pikmin Secret Onions.png|300px|thumb|left|Various color of Onions.]]
{{main|Captain Olimar#As a Pikmin}}
{{main|Onion#Other types}}
[[Captain Olimar]] becomes a Pikmin hybrid in the bad "alternative" ending of {{p1}}, where the [[S.S. Dolphin]] fails to take off and crashes on the planet again; Olimar is then carried to the red Onion by some Pikmin and ejected as a seed consisting of only his head and a small stem with leaf. Judging by the sounds and visual effects, he appears to flourish to his former size similar to the way Pikmin first grow.
In the best ending of ''Pikmin'', there is a scene where a group of fourteen different colored Onions fly above the atmosphere of [[PNF-404]].
|the ending of ''Pikmin''|collapsed=y
|the best ending of ''Pikmin''|collapsed=y
}}
}}


===Undiscovered species===
==Biology==
{{spoiler section|
Pikmin have a generally humanoid body shape. All types have a head with two round eyes, two arms and hands. With the exception of [[Glow Pikmin]], Pikmin also have two legs and two feet. Each hand and foot has three digits. Pikmin heads have a tall stem on which a single leaf, bud, or [[Chaenostoma cordatum|five-petaled flower]], also with the exception of Glow Pikmin, which have a different flower. There are differences between Pikmin types in ways other than color – Red Pikmin have a nose, Yellow Pikmin have ears, Blue Pikmin have a mouth, Purple Pikmin are wider and have 6 hairs, White Pikmin are smaller and have red eyes, Rock Pikmin are shaped like rocks, Winged Pikmin have wings and blue eyes, Ice Pikmin have cyan and angular shaped icy bodies, and Glow Pikmin have ghostly tails and unevenly sized blue eyes.
[[File:Pikmin Secret Onions.png|300px|thumb|right|Five pink Onions, four black, two light blue, an orange, a green, and a purple. They appear during the "happy" end in ''Pikmin''.]]
If the player gathers every ship part in the first ''Pikmin'' game, they will see several different colors of Onions on the ending [[cutscene]]. These include purple, orange, black, pink, green, and cyan. Although Purple Pikmin are discovered in ''Pikmin 2'', they were introduced without an Onion. Winged Pikmin are later discovered in ''Pikmin 3'', accompanied by a pink Onion. Rock Onions are also discovered in ''Pikmin 3'', but are a bit more dark gray than black. Therefore, it is currently unknown whether the rest of these colors will appear in future games, or if they exist solely to add aesthetic value to the ending cinematic.
|the ending of ''Pikmin''|collapsed=y
}}


==Extinction==
[[File:Pikmin_sizes_in_Bloom.jpg|thumb|200px|4 Pikmin with different sizes in ''Pikmin Bloom''.]]
{{main|Pikmin extinction}}
Pikmin extinction occurs when every last Pikmin of a type is lost. Depending on the number of Pikmin, the game, and the location, the day can ends straight away, and on the following day the affected Onions each produce a single seed, the [[cave]] can be exited immediately, or the Onions can produce seeds right after the last Pikmin is gone.


In ''Pikmin'', the following is Olimar's journal entry on the first day extinction occurs:
Their proportions, with a large head and very narrow limbs, make them look a bit like carrots, and this resemblance also exists in the way that Pikmin grow in the ground and can be pulled out of it. While buried in the ground, their limbs serve as roots; Olimar refers to their entire bodies, save the stems, as ambulatory root structures.{{cite quote|{{Notes:Creeping Chrysanthemum/olimar}}|Captain Olimar|[[Olimar's notes|his notes]] for the [[Creeping Chrysanthemum]]}} While all Pikmin of a type are the same size in most games, in {{pb}}, individual Pikmin can vary in size.
''The Pikmin have all perished because of my own carelessness. I am an utter disgrace as a leader... How can I continue to collect parts without them? Still the Onions join me in low orbit, as if this Pikmin extinction had never happened. I shan't sleep tonight...''


==Habits==
Pikmin start their lives as seeds ejected from the [[Onion]], which, after landing in the ground, transform into sprouts. A [[leader]] must [[pluck]] a sprout so that the Pikmin may come out. While [[idle]], the Pikmin's leaves and flowers glow that Pikmin's respective color; that, coupled with a [[cutscene]] at the end of ''Pikmin 2'', would suggest that Pikmin are somehow bioluminescent, though what causes this and what function it might serve in the wild has never been explained.
[[File:Idle Red Pikmin P1.png|thumb|90px|An idle Red Pikmin.]]
Pikmin following [[leader]]s are prone to stumbling every now and then, and occasionally fall over completely, in the first two [[Pikmin games|''Pikmin'' games]]. This happens much more frequently in ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', and, further complicated by a mass of 100 Pikmin walking together, can sometimes pose a serious problem, reducing general maneuverability. In ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', Pikmin trip much less frequently, but still stumble often. During a retreat from a [[Enemy|beast]], a Pikmin that trips is likely to be eaten or squashed by the creature; this is especially aggravating during [[zero-death run]]s. Sometimes, it may be hard to notice if a Pikmin trips, leading to lone Pikmin becoming separated from the group.


Pikmin can be seen interacting with each other when idle. These actions include grooming each other, communicating in high pitched whimpers, waving, and playing abstract games. In ''Pikmin 2'', if 20 of each type Pikmin is called into one group, they will hum a portion of the song ''[[Ai no Uta]]''. This suggests that they have a highly developed and friendly social structure. Pikmin will also watch leaders move around when stationary, indicating that they are very curious creatures, and can be seen to mimic the idle motions of those leaders. All idle Pikmin have a natural tendency to perform nearby tasks, such as, for Blue Pikmin, running into water to save drowning Pikmin even if it is infested with enemies.
[[File:Pikmin skeleton.jpg|thumb|left|90px|The skeletal structure of a Pikmin as seen during its electrocution in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''.]]


In ''Pikmin'', if Pikmin are told to go in an [[Onion]], they will follow a path to go there if they cannot make it in a straight line.{{cite youtube|ZCpTrUeE9SU|showing the Pikmin following a path in order to enter the Onion}} This behavior is rarely seen, given that the [[area]] layouts seldom allow Pikmin to be unable to enter the Onion from a straight walk while also being under the control of a leader that is close enough to the Onion's beam. It is currently unknown if Pikmin exhibit this behavior in ''Pikmin 2'' or ''Pikmin 3''.
The internal structures of Pikmin are a mystery, but certain things about them can be speculated. Since Pikmin never seem to eat anything, save [[nectar]], they probably have a very simple digestive system, if any. As such, it is likely that Pikmin get a majority of their nutrients from food the [[Onion]]s break down. Since the Onions are the center of Pikmin reproduction as well, it seems likely that Pikmin are incapable of sexual reproduction. However, in ''Pikmin'', flower Pikmin will sometimes drop seeds when slain in battle, suggesting that they may be able to reproduce asexually, but also that they do not have defined sexes and are hermaphrodites like many plants. Pikmin also have a skeletal system, as seen when [[electricity|electrocuted]]. Pikmin probably don't have any sort of lungs (however, the [[Blue Pikmin]] are observed to have gill structures), but their leaves, buds, and flowers appear to serve as their main means of respiration, since poison gas or water droplets collecting around them suffocates the Pikmin; inversely, walking in shallow water in which their leaf/bud/flower does not touch (as seen in the [[Shower Room]]) is fine. When killed, Pikmin disappear and a [[soul]] flies into the air, sometimes after releasing a liquid of the same color as the Pikmin, possibly the Pikmin equivalent to hemolymph or blood – this is best seen when the [[Cloaking Burrow-nit]] attacks.


In ''Pikmin 3'', having a group of sixty six or less Pikmin of any type and moving the cursor around the Pikmin or around the group will make some Pikmin look at the cursor, although this may just be aesthetic. For Winged Pikmin, this only works if they are walking. Interestingly, leaders do not display this behavior.
[[Bulbmin]], [[Rock Pikmin]] and [[Ice Pikmin]] lack independent bodies and compensate by controlling another living creature or an inanimate object, making them parasitic in the former case. Such types are collectively called '''Hermikmin'''.


== Likeliness to die ==
{{clear}}
In {{p1}} and {{p2}}, some Pikmin are more likely to die than others, due to engine limitations. It boils down to how the games check which Pikmin should die for any given attack.{{cite youtube|-t_3nXsIhrA|explaining what Pikmin are more likely to die in ''Pikmin''}}{{cite youtube|e8Jw5UoeO4g|explaining what Pikmin are more likely to die in ''Pikmin 2''}} In ''Pikmin 3'' and ''Hey! Pikmin'', although it isn't clear, it seems that the Pikmin closest to the center of the attack are the ones that get hit by it.


The general idea is that each game keeps a list of loaded Pikmin in memory. This list can fit 100 entries, and normally, it starts off empty. When a Pikmin is loaded into memory, it fills in the next vacant slot. In the case of an empty list, this is slot 0. The second Pikmin to be called out fills slot 1, and so on. When an enemy attacks to eat, the game checks every loaded Pikmin to see if it is colliding with the mouth's hitbox, and starts checking slot 0, then slot 1, etc.
===Stages===
[[File:Pikmin Stages.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The three stages of Pikmin: leaf, bud, and flower.]]
{{main|Maturity}}
There are 3 stages of life that a Pikmin can be in: leaf, bud, and flower. A Pikmin's maturity controls its walking and carrying speed. Leaf Pikmin are the slowest, flower Pikmin are the fastest, and bud Pikmin are in between. A Pikmin's maturity is not connected to its type.


=== General case ===
When an Onion or Candypop Bud sends out a seed, it will always be in the leaf stage. If left in the ground, the leaf will grow into a bud, and then into a flower. Thus, the longer the player waits before plucking the Pikmin, the faster it will be. Pikmin can go instantly to the flower stage by drinking [[nectar]], or being powered up by an [[ultra-spicy spray]] in ''Pikmin 3''. They can also decrease in stage in ''Pikmin'', ''Pikmin 2'', and ''Pikmin 4'' through certain enemy attacks. Glow Pikmin naturally mature to a flower over time, but will revert back to a leaf after using the glowmob ability.
Suppose that a day starts, 100 Pikmin are taken out from Onions, and they are all bundled together within reach of a [[Red Bulborb]]'s bite hitbox, which is an attack that will only chomp 5 Pikmin. The game will check the Pikmin in slot 0, confirm that it is within reach, and add it to the list of eating victims. It would then check slot 1, confirm that that one is as well, and add it. It would check slot 2, confirm that as well, and add it. It would do the same for slots 3 and 4. At this point, since it already added 5 Pikmin to the list of eating victims, it would stop checking, and would let the Bulborb's attack finish with those 5 Pikmin captured in its mouth. In this case, the five Pikmin that fell victim to the attack were the first five ones that got pulled out of the Onions. This means that, when starting a day normally, the first Pikmin that left the Onion are more likely to get eaten.


=== Cases with no "first" Pikmin ===
In {{pb}}, there are several varieties of flowers that Pikmin can have, and [[petal]]s can also be collected from Pikmin flowers.
Above is what happens in the most plain cases, but there are times when the player enters an [[area]] or [[cave]] with a lot of Pikmin, and the player doesn't control the order in which Pikmin load.


In ''Pikmin'', if the player lands on an area with buried Pikmin, those Pikmin are actually not a part of the list of Pikmin, but rather, a list of seeds. A Pikmin is only created and added to the list when it is [[pluck]]ed.
{{clear}}


In the case of ''Pikmin 2'', this scenario happens when a cave sublevel is entered, when the player exits a cave and lands on an overworld area along with the Pikmin that escaped, or when the player enters an area that already has buried Pikmin. The Pikmin here are all truly loaded outside of the player's control. The game does however follow an algorithm to decide how to place Pikmin in the area and to fill in the Pikmin list slots:
===Decor Pikmin===
[[File:Decor Rock Banana.png|thumb|A Rock Pikmin wearing a banana peel.]]
{{main|Decor Pikmin}}
Decor Pikmin are a special status of Pikmin in {{pb}}. They differ from regular Pikmin in that they wear some decoration. These decorations are generally made from objects like flower heads, acorns, or cupcakes, but there are some Decor Pikmin that have more elaborate costumes. Different types of Decor Pikmin are collected by finding Pikmin [[seedling]]s in specific types of real-world locations. There are over 30 sets of costumes, and over 200 types of Decor Pikmin.
{{clear}}


# Gather information about what Pikmin should be loaded when the area/cave loads. It does not matter how it is sorted.
==Habits==
# For every type of Pikmin declared in the game:
[[File:Idle Red Pikmin P1.png|thumb|150px|An [[idle]] Red Pikmin from ''Pikmin''.]]
## Check the compiled information to see how many Pikmin of this type must be spawned.
When a Pikmin is in a [[leader]]'s [[squad]], it will follow that leader in a large group with other Pikmin, waiting still when the leader stands still, and running after the leader when the leader runs, going around small obstructions if possible. They can [[trip]] or stumble, however, and this can lead them to be separated from the group. The probability of tripping and stumbling varies by game.
## Spawn that number of Pikmin.
 
In combat, a Pikmin latches onto the enemy and repeatedly pummels it using its stalk. The sole exception to this is the Rock Pikmin, which is normally unable to latch onto enemies and instead repeatedly charges at the enemy.
 
When a Pikmin is not in a leader's squad and is not doing a task, it is [[idle]]. Idle Pikmin have various animations they do, such as sitting down and standing up, grooming each other, communicating in high pitched whimpers, waving, and playing abstract games.  In ''Pikmin 2'', if 20 of each type of Pikmin is called into one group, they will hum a portion of the song ''[[Ai no Uta]]''. This suggests that they have a highly developed and friendly social structure. Pikmin will also watch leaders move around when stationary, indicating that they are very curious creatures, and can be seen to mimic the idle motions of those leaders. If there is a task nearby that an idle Pikmin can do, such as attacking an enemy, it will run to the task and do it.


Internally, Pikmin types are declared with Blue Pikmin first. Then comes Red, Yellow, Purple, White, Bulbmin, and [[Pikpik carrot]]. The reasons for this seemingly random order are not known. So, in scenarios where the game has to load multiple Pikmin of different types "at once", Blue Pikmin will be loaded first, meaning they will fill in the first Pikmin slots. If players find themselves in one of these scenarios then Blue Pikmin will be more likely to be eaten, since hitboxes that catch multiple Pikmin will pick the Blue Pikmin first.
In ''Pikmin'', if Pikmin are told to go in an [[Onion]], they will follow a path to go there if they cannot make it in a straight line.{{cite youtube|ZCpTrUeE9SU|showing the Pikmin following a path in order to enter the Onion}} This behavior is rarely seen, given that the [[area]] layouts seldom allow Pikmin to be unable to enter the Onion from a straight walk while also being under the control of a leader that is close enough to the Onion's beam. This does not happen in later games, as Pikmin will always run in a straight line towards the Onion when directed to return inside.


As a matter of fact, some players have noticed that, in ''Pikmin 2'', Blue Pikmin seem more likely to die than other types.{{cite web|http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/why-do-blue-pikmin-get-eaten-the-most.172402083/|Why do blue pikmin get eaten the most???|IGN Boards|published={{date|18|October|2008}}|retrieved={{date|15|August|2017}}}}{{cite web|https://www.pikminwiki.com/Forum:Blue_pikmin_get_eaten...alot|Blue pikmin get eaten...alot|Pikipedia|published={{date|9|February|2008}}|retrieved={{date|15|August|2017}}}} This is exactly why.
In ''Pikmin 3'', having a group of 66 or less Pikmin of any type and moving the cursor around the Pikmin or around the group will make some Pikmin look at the cursor, although this may just be aesthetic. For Winged Pikmin, this only works if they are walking. Interestingly, leaders do not display this behavior.
 
In ''Pikmin 3 Deluxe'', Pikmin that are told to deliver something to the Onion memorize which player ordered them. If the same player is near the Onion when they finish delivery, they will return to that player's group. If that player isn't nearby, but the other player is, the Pikmin will ignore them and go idle.


==Naming==
==Naming==
Captain Olimar named these creatures "Pikmin" because of their resemblance to a vegetable he eats in [[Hocotate]], the [[pikpik carrot]]s. The word "Pikmin" is never written with a lowercase "P", and the plural is still written as "Pikmin". Interestingly, some parts of some games do not capitalize the word that defines the type of Pikmin, but capitalize the word "Pikmin" itself, whereas others might capitalize both words. For instance, Olimar's voyage log may write "red Pikmin",{{cite quote|Fire should be a natural enemy of the Pikmin, but on closer examination, I've found {{color|red Pikmin|red}} to be impervious to it. It is fascinating. The reds continue {{color|through the flames|red}}, completely oblivious to any Pikmin burning around them...|Captain Olimar|his [[Olimar's voyage log|voyage log]] for the [[fire]] [[hazard]]}} while [[Alph]] and [[Brittany]]'s dialogues might have the text "Red Pikmin".{{cite quote|Come to think of it, Alph, you've been with the Red Pikmin since crash-landing here, right?|[[Brittany]]|a dialog with [[Alph]] about [[Red Pikmin]], in the European [[version|region]] of ''[[Pikmin 3]]''}}.
During the development of ''Pikmin'', Pikmin were referred to as "Piki" ({{j|ピキ|Piki}}), and later "Picky" ({{j|ピッキー|Pikkī}}), due to a programmer mishearing the word {{j|一匹|ippiki|one small animal|f=tp}}. The final name was chosen for its similarity to the words "pick me".{{cite web|https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-10-pikmin-4-part-1|Ask the Developer Vol. 10, Pikmin 4—Part 1|Nintendo Official Site|retrieved={{date|20|July|2023}}}}{{cite web|https://www.nintendo.co.jp/interview/ampya/index.html|Ask the Developer: Pikmin 4|Nintendo of Japan|retrieved={{date|20|July|2023}}}}


The game was named after the Pikmin. Sometimes, Pikmin are also referred to as "piki", especially internally inside a game's files, as proven by the [[Honeywisp]]'s Japanese name being {{j|ピキマキ|Piki Maki|Piki Maki (Pikmin Fuel)|f=tp}}, the term "piki park" in [[animtest]], and the folder <code>/dataDir/pikis</code> in ''Pikmin'''s file structure. Likewise, they are sometimes referred to as "pikumin" or "piku", like in ''Hey! Pikmin''{{'s}} internal names for the Coppeller that carries Pikmin (<code>enemy_carry_piku</code>). In [[Pikmin prerelease information|earlier versions]] of the game, a Pikmin would be referred to as a "pikmin", with a lowercase "p", and the plural would be several "pikmins".<ref>[[Pikmin prerelease information#E3 2001 Tech Demo Show Off|E3 2001 Tech Demo Show Off]]</ref>
The early name "Piki" is still used as part of the [[Honeywisp]]'s common name of {{j|ピキマキ|Piki Maki|Pikmin Aphid|f=tp}}, as well as sometimes being used inside the game's files, such as the term "piki park" in [[animtest]], and the folder <code>/dataDir/pikis</code> in ''Pikmin'''s file structure. Likewise, they are sometimes referred to as "pikumin" or "piku", like in ''Hey! Pikmin''{{'s}} internal names for the Coppeller that carries Pikmin (<code>enemy_carry_piku</code>).


The in-universe reason for the name is that [[Captain Olimar]] named the Pikmin after a type of vegetable from [[Hocotate]], the [[pikpik carrot]]. The plural of Pikmin is also "Pikmin", and the word is typically never written with a lowercase "P", except for the US Spanish localizations of ''Pikmin 3'', ''Hey! Pikmin'', and ''Pikmin 3 Deluxe'', as well as in unused pieces of text in ''Pikmin'', and all Spanish localizations of ''Pikmin 2'' and ''New Play Control! Pikmin 2''.
Interestingly, some parts of some games do not capitalize the word that defines the type of Pikmin, but capitalize the word "Pikmin" itself, whereas others might capitalize both words. For instance, Olimar's voyage log may write "red Pikmin",{{cite quote|Fire should be a natural enemy of the Pikmin, but on closer examination, I've found {{color|red Pikmin|red}} to be impervious to it. It is fascinating. The reds continue {{color|through the flames|red}}, completely oblivious to any Pikmin burning around them...|Captain Olimar|his [[Olimar's voyage log|voyage log]] for the [[fire]] [[hazard]]}} while [[Alph]] and [[Brittany]]'s dialogues might have the text "Red Pikmin".{{cite quote|Come to think of it, Alph, you've been with the Red Pikmin since crash-landing here, right?|[[Brittany]]|a dialog with [[Alph]] about [[Red Pikmin]], in the European [[version|region]] of ''[[Pikmin 3]]''}} In [[Pikmin prerelease information|earlier versions]] of ''Pikmin'', a Pikmin would be referred to as a "pikmin", with a lowercase "p", and the plural would be several "pikmins".<ref>[[Pikmin prerelease information#E3 2001 Tech Demo Show Off|E3 2001 Tech Demo Show Off]]</ref>
The scientific names for Pikmin ([[Bulbmin#Naming|aside from Bulbmin]]) went unspecified until the [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 4)|Piklopedia]] from {{p4}}, where they were all classified under the genus ''Pikminidae'', a very straight-forward reference to the family itself. Pikmin 4's Piklopedia also reveals that Pikmin belong to the class Ambuloradicis, which in Latin roughly translates to "walking root".
===Names in other languages===
===Names in other languages===
{{foreignname
{{foreignname
|Jap=ピクミン
|JapR=Pikumin
|JapM=Pikmin
|ChiTrad=皮克敏
|ChiTradR=Píkèmǐn
|ChiTradM=Pikmin
|ChiSimp=皮克敏
|ChiSimpR=Píkèmǐn
|ChiSimpM=Pikmin
|Dut=Pikmin
|Dut=Pikmin
|DutM=-
|Fra=Pikmin
|Fra=Pikmin
|FraM=-
|Ger=Pikmin
|Ger=Pikmin
|GerM=-
|Ita=Pikmin
|Ita=Pikmin
|Por=Pikmin
|ItaM=-
|Kor=피크민
|Kor=피크민
|KorR=pikeumin
|KorR=pikeumin
|KorM=Pikmin
|KorM=Pikmin
|Spa=Pikmin
|Spa=Pikmin
|Chi=皮克敏 / 皮克敏
|SpaM=-
|ChiR=
|Por=Pikmin
|ChiM=Pikmin
|PorM=-
|ChiN=Names taken from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' website. Note that the fighter is called 皮克敏&歐利瑪 / 皮克敏&欧力马 ''Pikmin & Olimar'' just like in Japanese
|Rus=Пикмин
|Rus=Пикмин ''Pikmin''
|RusR=Pikmin
|RusM=Transcription of English name
|RusM=Pikmin
|RusN=In sentences it's always spelled in lower case and is inflected in its proper grammar case and plural
|Heb=פיקמין
|HebR=pikmin
|HebM=Pikmin
|HebN=Used in official media
|Swe=Pikmin
|SweM=-
|SweN=Used in official media
|notes=y
|notes=y
|ItaI=Pikmin (specie)
}}
}}


==In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''==
==In the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==
The Pikmin appear as a trophy in ''[[smashwiki:Super Smash Bros. Melee|Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.
[[File:Olimar and Pikmin Smash pic 9.jpg|thumb|200px|Pikmin following Olimar in {{ssb4}}.]]
Pikmin form a part of [[Olimar]]'s moveset in all [[Super Smash Bros. series|''Super Smash Bros.'' games]] Olimar appears in as a playable character. Olimar can pluck Pikmin from the ground and throw them at opponents, which the Pikmin then attack. [[Red Pikmin]], [[Yellow Pikmin]], [[Blue Pikmin]], [[Purple Pikmin]], and [[White Pikmin]] are all usable in this way, with slightly different attributes based on their abilities in the ''Pikmin'' games. [[Winged Pikmin]] are also used in Olimar's up special move in {{ssb4}} and {{ssbu}}. There are also trophies, stickers, and spirits based on Pikmin.


In ''[[smashwiki:Super Smash Bros. Melee|Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Olimar is not a playable character, but Pikmin appear as a trophy.
{{smash trophy
{{smash trophy
|image  = Pikmin SSBM trophy.png
|image  = Pikmin SSBM trophy.png
Line 184: Line 252:


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===''Pikmin''===
;''Pikmin''
<gallery>
<gallery>
3 Pikmin.png|The three types of Pikmin from ''Pikmin''.
3 Pikmin.png|The three types of Pikmin from ''Pikmin''.
Olimar and many Pikmin P1 art.png|Artwork of Olimar and his army of Pikmin.
Olimar and many Pikmin P1 art.png|Artwork of Olimar and his army of Pikmin.
Olimar and many Pikmin P1 alt artwork.jpg|Another artwork of Olimar and his Pikmin.
Olimar and many Pikmin P1 alt artwork.jpg|Another artwork of Olimar and his army of Pikmin.
P1 Nice to Meet You art.png|Artwork of Captain Olimar and a few Pikmin. The message reads "Nice to meet you!"
P1 Nice to Meet You art.png|Artwork of Captain Olimar and one Pikmin of each type from ''Pikmin''. The message reads "Nice to meet you!"
P1 Nice to Meet You alt artwork.png|Alternate "Nice to meet you!" artwork.
P1 Nice to Meet You alt artwork.png|Alternate "Nice to meet you!" artwork.
See you later!.jpg|Similar artwork from ''New Play Control! Pikmin''.
See you later!.jpg|Similar artwork from ''New Play Control! Pikmin''.
Pikmin fight Red Bulborb P1 art.png|Pikmin fighting a [[Red Bulborb]].
Pikmin fight Red Bulborb P1 art.png|Pikmin fighting a [[Bulborb|Spotty Bulborb]].
Pikmin drowning P1 group art.jpg|Artwork of Pikmin near some water, some of whom are drowning.
Pikmin drowning P1 group art.jpg|Artwork of Pikmin near some water, some of whom are drowning.
Pikmin family P1 art.jpg|Some Pikmin and Olimar on plant leaves.
Pikmin family P1 art.jpg|Some Pikmin and Olimar on the leaves of a plant.
Pikmin flower dance.jpg|Pikmin and Olimar circling a small patch of daisies.
Pikmin flower dance.jpg|Pikmin and Olimar circling a small patch of daisies.
Pikmin and Olimar sunset P1 group art.png|Pikmin follow Olimar (with a red Pellet) during sunset.
Pikmin and Olimar sunset P1 group art.png|Pikmin follow Olimar and carry a red pellet during sunset.
Horsetail Pikmin.jpg|Pikmin climbing on some [[horsetail]]s.
Horsetail Pikmin.jpg|Pikmin climbing on some [[horsetail]]s.
Pikmin follow Olimar P1 group art.jpg|Group artwork of Pikmin following Olimar.
Pikmin follow Olimar P1 group art.jpg|Group artwork of Pikmin following Olimar.
Line 202: Line 270:
</gallery>
</gallery>


===''Pikmin 2''===
;''Pikmin 2''
<gallery>
<gallery>
Pikmin variants P2 artwork.png|Artwork of the five types of Pikmin from ''Pikmin 2''.
Pikmin variants P2 artwork.png|Artwork of the five types of Pikmin from ''Pikmin 2''.
Pikmin family P2 group.png|A group artwork of the Pikmin family on a tree branch and leaves.
Pikmin family P2 group.png|A group artwork of the Pikmin family on a tree branch and leaves.
Pikmin family P2 on branch.jpg|Artwork of the Pikmin family, used for the European cover art.
Pikmin family P2 on branch.jpg|Artwork of the Pikmin family, used for the Canadian cover art.
Pikmin 2 promo lily pad.jpeg|Wallpaper of a Pikmin of each type on a lily pad.
P2 Lily Pad Promotional Artwork.jpg|Wallpaper of a Pikmin of each type on a lily pad.
Raised From Seed.jpg|Similar image, titled "Raised from Seed", describing the Pikmin's capability of sprouting from the ground.
Raised From Seed.jpg|Similar image, titled "Raised from Seed", describing the Pikmin's capability of sprouting from the ground.
Pikmin greet.png|Pikmin greet the player when they turn on ''Pikmin 2''.
Raised From Seed 2.jpg|An image with the same caption as the previous one.
Pikmin2varietyofPikmin.jpg|Artwork of a large group of Pikmin, made up of the five main types seen in ''Pikmin 2''.
Pikmin greet.png|Pikmin greeting the player in the ''Pikmin 2'' [[loading screen]].
Pikmin Sprouts.png|A patch of Pikmin sprouts.
Pikmin Sprouts.png|A patch of Pikmin sprouts.
Pikmin Growth.png|The picture used for the Pikmin growth of the daily report in ''Pikmin 2''.
Pikmin Growth.png|The picture used for the Pikmin growth of the daily report in ''Pikmin 2''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


===''Pikmin 3''===
;''Pikmin 3''
<gallery>
<gallery>
Pikmin family P3 art.png|Artwork of a some Pikmin for ''Pikmin 3''.
Pikmin family P3 art.png|Artwork of some Pikmin for ''Pikmin 3''.
Pikmin3Promo1.png|All of the kinds of Pikmin in ''Pikmin 3''.
Pikmin3Promo1.png|All of the kinds of Pikmin in ''Pikmin 3''.
Original three Pikmin P3 group art.jpg|Promotional art of the three original Pikmin types.
Original three Pikmin P3 group art.jpg|Promotional art of the three original Pikmin types.
Pikmin3Promo4.png|[[Alph]] leading the Pikmin away from a Red Bulborb.
Pikmin 3 Artwork 06.jpg|Promotional art of [[Alph]] leading the Pikmin away from a Bulborb.
Idle Pikmin P3 early screenshot.png|Close-up of some Pikmin from ''Pikmin 3''.
Idle Pikmin P3 early screenshot.png|Close-up of some Pikmin from ''Pikmin 3''.
Pikmin in P3 end cutscene.png|Pikmin in the ending cutscene of ''Pikmin 3''.
Pikmin in P3 end cutscene.png|Pikmin in the ending cutscene of ''Pikmin 3''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
;''Pikmin 4''
<gallery>
Pikmin 4 Main Pikmin.png|The nine main types of Pikmin.
</gallery>
 
;''Hey! Pikmin''
<gallery>
Hey! Pikmin front profiles.jpg|The 5 types of Pikmin in ''Hey! Pikmin''.
Hey! Pikmin everyone artwork.png|Pikmin posing with Olimar.
HP Pikmin Following Olimar.png|Pikmin following Olimar.
</gallery>
 
;''Super Smash Bros.'' '''series'''
<gallery>
<gallery>
WiiU screenshot TV 01450.jpg|Olimar, Alph and every Pikmin variety (excluding Rock) in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''.
WiiU screenshot TV 01450.jpg|Olimar, Alph, and every Pikmin variety (excluding Rock Pikmin) in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{see more|Category:Pikmin images|t1=Pikmin images category}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Winged Pikmin have dark stripes on their bodies which make them resemble bees. This color pattern makes their bodies non-monochromatic, a trait uncommon in most Pikmin types. White Pikmin also seem to have this trait to a certain extent, as they exhibit a purplish tint at the ends of their limbs.
*Winged Pikmin have dark stripes on their bodies which make them resemble bees. This color pattern makes their bodies non-monochromatic, a trait uncommon in most Pikmin types. White Pikmin also seem to have this trait to a certain extent, as they exhibit a purplish tint at the ends of their limbs.
*Originally, Red Pikmin and Blue Pikmin were able to hold bomb-rocks along with the Yellow Pikmin. [[Nintendo EAD]] eventually scrapped the idea (most likely due to Yellow Pikmin not having use of their high throw ability often); however, it resurfaces in the third game.
*In early versions of {{p1}}, Red Pikmin and Blue Pikmin were able to hold bomb-rocks along with Yellow Pikmin. This idea was later scrapped, most likely due to Yellow Pikmin not having use of their high throw ability often, but it was later made a feature of {{p3}}.
*The first five members of the Pikmin family (from ''Pikmin'' to ''Pikmin 2'', not including Mushroom Pikmin or Bulbmin) appear in the Wii to Wii U data transfer app, in which they "carry" the software from the Wii SD card to the Wii U console.
*The first five members of the Pikmin family (from ''Pikmin'' to ''Pikmin 2'', not including Bulbmin) appear in the [[Wii]] to [[Wii U]] and [[wikipedia:Nintendo DSi|DSi]]/[[3DS]] to 3DS data transfer apps, in which they "carry" the software and save data.
*Pikmin resemble a legend about the mandrake plant, a plant whose roots can sometimes resemble a human body. The legend says that if one uproots a mandrake plant, it will be their servant. However, it is also said that if picked, it will emit a scream powerful enough to kill its picker, so it was recommended to form a strategy for picking it, like tying it to a dog.
*Pikmin resemble a legend about the mandrake plant, a plant whose roots can sometimes resemble a human body. The legend says that if one uproots a mandrake plant, it will be their servant. However, it is also said that if picked, it will emit a scream powerful enough to kill its picker, so it was recommended to form a strategy for picking it, like tying it to a dog.
*Each of the first 5 Pikmin in ''Pikmin 2'' represent the 5 common senses:
*In ''Pikmin 3'', Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, and Yellow Pikmin have their own voice, different from the other types of Pikmin. In ''Pikmin 2'', Purple and White Pikmin have their own voice during their introduction cutscene. However, they have the same voice as other Pikmin types during normal gameplay. In ''Pikmin 4'', Yellow Pikmin, White Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, Ice Pikmin, and Glow Pikmin all have unique voices throughout both cutscenes and gameplay.
**'''Smell:''' [[Red Pikmin]] have prominent noses.
**In the {{psm}}, Purple Pikmin have a deeper voice than the other types, as seen in the ''[[Treasure in a Bottle]]'' scene where three Blue Pikmin and one Purple Pikmin chase after a butterfly.
**'''Taste:''' [[Blue Pikmin]] have visible mouths, unlike the others.
*Despite their flowers being indigo in-game, the flowers of Winged Pikmin and Rock Pikmin are blue in some [[Pikmin 3 prerelease information|early]] concept art.
**'''Hearing:''' [[Yellow Pikmin]] have prominent ears.
**'''Touch:''' [[Purple Pikmin]] have feeler-like hairs atop their head.
**'''Sight:''' [[White Pikmin]] have absurdly large eyes.
*In addition to this, the [[Onion]]-owning Pikmin seem to correspond with the {{w|Classical Elements|Elements of Nature}}:
**'''Red:''' Fire
**'''Blue: '''Water
**'''Rock:''' Earth
**'''Winged:''' Air
**'''Yellow:''' Aether
*In ''Pikmin 3'', Rock, Winged, and Yellow Pikmin have their own voice, different from the other types of Pikmin. In ''Pikmin 2'', Purple and White Pikmin have their own voice during their introduction cutscene. However, they have the same voice as other Pikmin types during normal gameplay.
**In the ''Pikmin Short Movies'', Purple Pikmin have a deeper voice than the other types, as seen in the ''[[Treasure in a Bottle]]'' scene where three Blue Pikmin and one Purple Pikmin chase after a butterfly.
*Despite their flowers being indigo in-game, the flowers of Winged and Rock Pikmin are blue in some [[Pikmin 3 prerelease information|early]] concept art.
*The Pikmin appear in some games and media outside of the franchise as [[Pikmin in other media|cameos]].
*The Pikmin appear in some games and media outside of the franchise as [[Pikmin in other media|cameos]].
*For an unknown reason, in ''Pikmin 2'', it is impossible to have 100 Pikmin buried in the same area or sublevel, if the Pikmin in question were buried by an enemy. The last Pikmin will simply get knocked back (in the case of a [[Mamuta]]){{cite youtube|klaIcvk5P_U|showing it is impossible for a Mamuta to bury more than 99 Pikmin}} or stay idle (in the case of a [[Swooping Snitchbug]]){{cite youtube|VWSCfO4aUCU|showing it is impossible for a Swooping Snitchbug to bury more than 99 Pikmin}}. Attempting to get 100 seeds via delivering items to an Onion is possible, though.
*For an unknown reason, in ''Pikmin 2'', it is impossible to have 100 Pikmin buried in the same area or sublevel, if the Pikmin in question were buried by an enemy. The last Pikmin will simply get knocked back (in the case of a [[Mamuta]]){{cite youtube|klaIcvk5P_U|showing it is impossible for a Mamuta to bury more than 99 Pikmin}} or stay idle (in the case of a [[Swooping Snitchbug]]){{cite youtube|VWSCfO4aUCU|showing it is impossible for a Swooping Snitchbug to bury more than 99 Pikmin}}. Attempting to get 100 seeds via delivering items to an Onion is possible, though.
*The Pikmin types that are better in combat are always found before any other types. In ''Pikmin'', these are the Red Pikmin, in ''Pikmin 2'', Red Pikmin and Purple Pikmin, and in ''Pikmin 3'', Red Pikmin and Rock Pikmin.
*Pikmin noises are created by recording a human making a sound, speeding it up, and raising the pitch+formant values. Most types of Pikmin are voiced by Hajime Wakai.{{cite web|https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0405/1_2/index.html|''Pikmin 2'' developer interview|Nintendo of Japan|retrieved={{date|6|April|2018}}}}{{cite web|http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Hajime-Wakai/|Hajime Wakai|Behind the Voice Actors|retrieved={{date|6|April|2018}}}}
*The Pikmin are voiced by Hajime Wakai.{{cite web|https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0405/1_2/index.html|''Pikmin 2'' developer interview|Nintendo of Japan|retrieved={{date|6|April|2018}}}}{{cite web|http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Hajime-Wakai/|Hajime Wakai|Behind the Voice Actors|retrieved={{date|6|April|2018}}}}
*If a leader bumps against a Pikmin that is bringing something solo in ''Pikmin 3'', it will make some noise.
*In {{hp}}, it's implied by the [[S.S. Dolphin II]] that the Pikmin appear in several planets.{{cite quote|They responded to your whistle! Interesting that their behavior is universal across different planets.|[[S.S. Dolphin II]]|a remark about the Pikmin}}
*In [[Pikmin Reunion]], the first day of [[Olimar's Comeback]], each plucked Pikmin is valued at {{pokos|10|y}}.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Onion]]
*[[Onion]]
*[[Enemy]]
*[[Enemy]]
*[[Pikpik carrot]]
*[[Pikmin (game)|''Pikmin'' (game)]]
*[[Leafling]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 16:31, December 17, 2024

Rock Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Red Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, and Blue Pikmin sitting in the Garden of Hope. From https://youtu.be/WNuVrbUCeqM?t=191
From left to right, groups of Rock Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Red Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, and Blue Pikmin.
It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple pages.
Discuss your opinion on the talk page.

Pikmin (ピクミン?) are plant-animal hybrid creatures that are found on PNF-404 and the planet in Hey! Pikmin. As the titular creatures of the Pikmin series, they are the main feature of gameplay in all games in the series.

In the main games, Pikmin are created by Onions, which produce them as seeds, which in turn fall to the ground and become sprouts. A leader then may pluck one of these sprouts. Once plucked, Pikmin follow a leader around the area or cave in their squad, and the leader can throw them at objects, as well as dismiss, swarm, and charge them. When out of a leader's squad, they can be whistled back into it. Through these basic actions, Pikmin can be ordered to carry items or fight enemies, among other abilities.

Pikmin come in several types, each with certain unique abilities (such as resistance to a specific hazard). Most are 1.2cm tall head to toe (around 3cm if the stem and top are included), and have a generally humanoid shape. On top of a Pikmin's head is either a leaf, bud, or flower, representing its maturity.

On its own, a Pikmin is not particularly strong, but in large groups (usually up to 100), they are capable of doing many things. However, Pikmin can be lost to enemies and hazards. Losing all Pikmin of a type is known as a Pikmin extinction. However, Pikmin can be grown easily by carrying defeated enemies or pellets to the Onion. In addition, Candypop Buds can convert Pikmin from one type to another.

Types[edit]

An unofficial edit of an official piece of artwork (File:Pikmin 4 Pikmin types and Oatchi.png and File:Glow Pikmin.png), depicting the nine main types of Pikmin standing in the order they were first introduced to the series.
The nine main types of Pikmin standing in the order they were first introduced throughout the series.

Pikmin come in several different types, each with unique physical attributes and abilities. The differences between Pikmin types is often utilized in puzzles. As the player progresses through a game's story, more types are unlocked, which over time allow the player to access more sections of areas. While the Pikmin types available in each game are different, every game features the original trio of Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, and Blue Pikmin.

Red Pikmin[edit]

Artwork of Red Pikmin in Pikmin 3.
The three stages of a Red Pikmin.
Main article: Red Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae rubrus

Red Pikmin have pointy noses and white flowers, and are present in all Pikmin games. They are resistant to fire and have a stronger attack strength than other types, making them good at combat dealing 1.5x damage more than other Pikmin types. They are the first type discovered in all Pikmin games (Although Yellow Pikmin are the first type seen in Pikmin 3, the Red Pikmin are the first to be properly introduced).

Yellow Pikmin[edit]

The three maturity stages of a Yellow Pikmin.
The three stages of a Yellow Pikmin.
Main article: Yellow Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae auribus

Yellow Pikmin have large ears and white flowers, and are present in all Pikmin games. They can be thrown higher than other types, but their other unique abilities vary by game. In Pikmin, they are the only type that can carry bomb rocks. In Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4 and Hey! Pikmin, they are resistant to electricity (they can also conduct electricity in Pikmin 3 and Hey! Pikmin). In Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4, they can dig faster than most other Pikmin types. Additionally, in Pikmin 3, they are the first type to be seen, although they are only used for a short tutorial.

Blue Pikmin[edit]

The 3 stages of Blue Pikmin in Pikmin 3.
The three stages of a Blue Pikmin.
Main article: Blue Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae caerula

Blue Pikmin have mouthlike gills and white flowers, and are present in all Pikmin games. They are resistant to water, making them the only type able to access submerged portions of areas where other Pikmin would drown. They are the last type discovered in most games with a linear discovery order, the exceptions being Hey! Pikmin, Pikmin Bloom and Pikmin 4.

Purple Pikmin[edit]

Three Purple Pikmin in Pikmin 3.
The three stages of a Purple Pikmin.
Main article: Purple Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae yokozunum

Purple Pikmin have short hairs, magenta flowers, and are bulkier than other Pikmin types. They are present in Pikmin 2, Pikmin 4 and Pikmin Bloom, as well as the alternative game modes of Pikmin 3. They weigh 10 times as much as other Pikmin types, are slower than other types, can carry 10 times the weight of other types, and can attack with a strong pound capable of stunning enemies. In all games except Pikmin 4, they do not have an Onion and must be gained by using Candypop Buds.

White Pikmin[edit]

Artwork of White Pikmin in different maturity levels.
The three stages of a White Pikmin.
Main article: White Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae venalbius

White Pikmin have red eyes, magenta flowers, and small, thin bodies. They are present in Pikmin 2, Pikmin 4 and Pikmin Bloom, as well as the alternative game modes of Pikmin 3. They are resistant to poison, are faster than other Pikmin types, can poison enemies upon being eaten, and in Pikmin 2 can dig out treasures completely buried in the ground that other types cannot see. In all games except Pikmin 4, they do not have an Onion, and must be gained by using Candypop Buds.

Rock Pikmin[edit]

The three stages of a Rock Pikmin.
The three stages of a Rock Pikmin.
Main article: Rock Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae habisaxum

Rock Pikmin are parasitic Pikmin inhabiting rocks and have lavender-purple flowers. They are present in Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4, Hey! Pikmin, and Pikmin Bloom. Their hardness allows them to destroy crystal obstacles, attack enemies through a powerful direct impact, and be resistant to being crushed or stabbed.

Winged Pikmin[edit]

The three maturity stages of a Winged Pikmin.
The three stages of a Winged Pikmin.
Main article: Winged Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae volarosa

Winged Pikmin are pink and have wings, large blue eyes, and lavender-purple flowers. They are present in Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4, Hey! Pikmin, and Pikmin Bloom. They can fly over water and low barriers, allowing them to take shortcuts when carrying, as well as making it harder for enemies to attack them, but their attack strength is lower than other Pikmin types.

Ice Pikmin[edit]

Render of an Ice Pikmin.
An Ice Pikmin in its leaf stage.
Main article: Ice Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae habiglacius

Ice Pikmin are light blue with icy bodies similar to Rock Pikmin, albeit with a distinct head, and yellow flowers. They are only present in Pikmin 4. Ice Pikmin are immune to being frozen and can freeze enemies by filling up a meter around the enemy's health wheel by attacking or by being eaten. The bodies of frozen enemies shatter upon death, leaving a droplet of nectar behind in a manner similar to how ultra-bitter spray functions. They can also be tossed into water to freeze it, freezing any enemies and treasure inside until the water unfreezes, and allowing leaders and other Pikmin to walk across its surface.

Glow Pikmin[edit]

Artwork of a Glow Pikmin from Pikmin 4.
A Glow Pikmin.
Main article: Glow Pikmin.

Scientific name: Pikminidae supravelum

Official family unknown

Glow Pikmin are a special species of Pikmin with green bioluminescent ghost-like bodies and yellow star-like flowers, and are present in Pikmin 4 only. They are resistant to every elemental hazard, as well as not slowing in mud, being unable to be controlled, not being able to be buried, and warping back to safe ground if they fall into an abyss. They will teleport to the active leader if they are not fighting or working on a task. They are the only type available in night expeditions, and can be summoned inside caves with Glow Seeds. They are also able to perform a group attack known as a Glowmob, which stuns enemies it hits. Additionally, they have no Onion or Candypop Bud color, and are propagated by bringing Glow Pellets to a Lumiknoll.

Bulbmin[edit]

Clay artwork of a Bulbmin.
A Bulbmin.
Main article: Bulbmin.

Scientific name: Parasiticus pikminicus

Bulbmin are a special species of Pikmin shaped like a minuscule Bulborb with a stem, white flowers, and are present in Pikmin 2 only. They are always found following a larger Bulbmin which must be defeated to be able to command them. They are resistant to fire, water, electricity, and poison, but cannot be taken out of caves, which are the only places they are found in. They are actually a parasite that takes over a juvenile Bulborb; the appearance of the parasite on its own is not known.

Additional types[edit]

The following types are not proper Pikmin types, as they are not distinguished by the games and cannot be controlled by leaders, but are related to Pikmin.

Mushroom Pikmin[edit]

A Mushroom Pikmin from Pikmin.
A Mushroom Pikmin.
Main article: Mushroom Pikmin.

Mushroom Pikmin are a special state of Pikmin, created when the Puffstool attacks Pikmin with its gas. They are purple and have a mushroom instead of a leaf/bud/flower, and are present in Pikmin only. They will attack Captain Olimar, and can be attacked by unaffected Pikmin, even though they will not fight back.

Pikpik carrots[edit]

A group of Pikpik carrots.
Main article: Pikpik carrot.

Pikpik carrots are plants from the planet of Hocotate that Pikmin are named after. While they do not appear in gameplay, they can be thrown at enemies in Pikmin 2's Piklopedia and Pikmin 4's Piklopedia. Pikpik carrots exist in the files of Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3 as a type of Pikmin, but it is not possible to obtain them in gameplay. In Pikmin 4, Pikpik carrots are items used as bait and cause paralysis when ingested by enemies.

Other types[edit]

Warning: the following text contains major spoilers about the best ending of Pikmin.
Fourteen other Onions in the best ending.
Various color of Onions.
Main article: Onion#Other types.

In the best ending of Pikmin, there is a scene where a group of fourteen different colored Onions fly above the atmosphere of PNF-404.

Biology[edit]

Pikmin have a generally humanoid body shape. All types have a head with two round eyes, two arms and hands. With the exception of Glow Pikmin, Pikmin also have two legs and two feet. Each hand and foot has three digits. Pikmin heads have a tall stem on which a single leaf, bud, or five-petaled flower, also with the exception of Glow Pikmin, which have a different flower. There are differences between Pikmin types in ways other than color – Red Pikmin have a nose, Yellow Pikmin have ears, Blue Pikmin have a mouth, Purple Pikmin are wider and have 6 hairs, White Pikmin are smaller and have red eyes, Rock Pikmin are shaped like rocks, Winged Pikmin have wings and blue eyes, Ice Pikmin have cyan and angular shaped icy bodies, and Glow Pikmin have ghostly tails and unevenly sized blue eyes.

4 different sizes of Winged Pikmin wearing Clover decor.
4 Pikmin with different sizes in Pikmin Bloom.

Their proportions, with a large head and very narrow limbs, make them look a bit like carrots, and this resemblance also exists in the way that Pikmin grow in the ground and can be pulled out of it. While buried in the ground, their limbs serve as roots; Olimar refers to their entire bodies, save the stems, as ambulatory root structures.[1] While all Pikmin of a type are the same size in most games, in Pikmin Bloom, individual Pikmin can vary in size.

Pikmin start their lives as seeds ejected from the Onion, which, after landing in the ground, transform into sprouts. A leader must pluck a sprout so that the Pikmin may come out. While idle, the Pikmin's leaves and flowers glow that Pikmin's respective color; that, coupled with a cutscene at the end of Pikmin 2, would suggest that Pikmin are somehow bioluminescent, though what causes this and what function it might serve in the wild has never been explained.

The skeletal structure of a Pikmin as seen during its electrocution in Pikmin 2.

The internal structures of Pikmin are a mystery, but certain things about them can be speculated. Since Pikmin never seem to eat anything, save nectar, they probably have a very simple digestive system, if any. As such, it is likely that Pikmin get a majority of their nutrients from food the Onions break down. Since the Onions are the center of Pikmin reproduction as well, it seems likely that Pikmin are incapable of sexual reproduction. However, in Pikmin, flower Pikmin will sometimes drop seeds when slain in battle, suggesting that they may be able to reproduce asexually, but also that they do not have defined sexes and are hermaphrodites like many plants. Pikmin also have a skeletal system, as seen when electrocuted. Pikmin probably don't have any sort of lungs (however, the Blue Pikmin are observed to have gill structures), but their leaves, buds, and flowers appear to serve as their main means of respiration, since poison gas or water droplets collecting around them suffocates the Pikmin; inversely, walking in shallow water in which their leaf/bud/flower does not touch (as seen in the Shower Room) is fine. When killed, Pikmin disappear and a soul flies into the air, sometimes after releasing a liquid of the same color as the Pikmin, possibly the Pikmin equivalent to hemolymph or blood – this is best seen when the Cloaking Burrow-nit attacks.

Bulbmin, Rock Pikmin and Ice Pikmin lack independent bodies and compensate by controlling another living creature or an inanimate object, making them parasitic in the former case. Such types are collectively called Hermikmin.

Stages[edit]

A screenshot showing the three stages of a Red Pikmin's maturity.
The three stages of Pikmin: leaf, bud, and flower.
Main article: Maturity.

There are 3 stages of life that a Pikmin can be in: leaf, bud, and flower. A Pikmin's maturity controls its walking and carrying speed. Leaf Pikmin are the slowest, flower Pikmin are the fastest, and bud Pikmin are in between. A Pikmin's maturity is not connected to its type.

When an Onion or Candypop Bud sends out a seed, it will always be in the leaf stage. If left in the ground, the leaf will grow into a bud, and then into a flower. Thus, the longer the player waits before plucking the Pikmin, the faster it will be. Pikmin can go instantly to the flower stage by drinking nectar, or being powered up by an ultra-spicy spray in Pikmin 3. They can also decrease in stage in Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Pikmin 4 through certain enemy attacks. Glow Pikmin naturally mature to a flower over time, but will revert back to a leaf after using the glowmob ability.

In Pikmin Bloom, there are several varieties of flowers that Pikmin can have, and petals can also be collected from Pikmin flowers.

Decor Pikmin[edit]

A Rock Supermarket Decor Pikmin with Banana decor from Pikmin Bloom.
A Rock Pikmin wearing a banana peel.
Main article: Decor Pikmin.

Decor Pikmin are a special status of Pikmin in Pikmin Bloom. They differ from regular Pikmin in that they wear some decoration. These decorations are generally made from objects like flower heads, acorns, or cupcakes, but there are some Decor Pikmin that have more elaborate costumes. Different types of Decor Pikmin are collected by finding Pikmin seedlings in specific types of real-world locations. There are over 30 sets of costumes, and over 200 types of Decor Pikmin.

Habits[edit]

An idle Red Pikmin from Pikmin.
An idle Red Pikmin from Pikmin.

When a Pikmin is in a leader's squad, it will follow that leader in a large group with other Pikmin, waiting still when the leader stands still, and running after the leader when the leader runs, going around small obstructions if possible. They can trip or stumble, however, and this can lead them to be separated from the group. The probability of tripping and stumbling varies by game.

In combat, a Pikmin latches onto the enemy and repeatedly pummels it using its stalk. The sole exception to this is the Rock Pikmin, which is normally unable to latch onto enemies and instead repeatedly charges at the enemy.

When a Pikmin is not in a leader's squad and is not doing a task, it is idle. Idle Pikmin have various animations they do, such as sitting down and standing up, grooming each other, communicating in high pitched whimpers, waving, and playing abstract games. In Pikmin 2, if 20 of each type of Pikmin is called into one group, they will hum a portion of the song Ai no Uta. This suggests that they have a highly developed and friendly social structure. Pikmin will also watch leaders move around when stationary, indicating that they are very curious creatures, and can be seen to mimic the idle motions of those leaders. If there is a task nearby that an idle Pikmin can do, such as attacking an enemy, it will run to the task and do it.

In Pikmin, if Pikmin are told to go in an Onion, they will follow a path to go there if they cannot make it in a straight line.[2] This behavior is rarely seen, given that the area layouts seldom allow Pikmin to be unable to enter the Onion from a straight walk while also being under the control of a leader that is close enough to the Onion's beam. This does not happen in later games, as Pikmin will always run in a straight line towards the Onion when directed to return inside.

In Pikmin 3, having a group of 66 or less Pikmin of any type and moving the cursor around the Pikmin or around the group will make some Pikmin look at the cursor, although this may just be aesthetic. For Winged Pikmin, this only works if they are walking. Interestingly, leaders do not display this behavior.

In Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Pikmin that are told to deliver something to the Onion memorize which player ordered them. If the same player is near the Onion when they finish delivery, they will return to that player's group. If that player isn't nearby, but the other player is, the Pikmin will ignore them and go idle.

Naming[edit]

During the development of Pikmin, Pikmin were referred to as "Piki" (ピキ?), and later "Picky" (ピッキー?), due to a programmer mishearing the word 一匹? (lit.: "one small animal"). The final name was chosen for its similarity to the words "pick me".[3][4]

The early name "Piki" is still used as part of the Honeywisp's common name of ピキマキ? (lit.: "Pikmin Aphid"), as well as sometimes being used inside the game's files, such as the term "piki park" in animtest, and the folder /dataDir/pikis in Pikmin's file structure. Likewise, they are sometimes referred to as "pikumin" or "piku", like in Hey! Pikmin's internal names for the Coppeller that carries Pikmin (enemy_carry_piku).

The in-universe reason for the name is that Captain Olimar named the Pikmin after a type of vegetable from Hocotate, the pikpik carrot. The plural of Pikmin is also "Pikmin", and the word is typically never written with a lowercase "P", except for the US Spanish localizations of Pikmin 3, Hey! Pikmin, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe, as well as in unused pieces of text in Pikmin, and all Spanish localizations of Pikmin 2 and New Play Control! Pikmin 2.

Interestingly, some parts of some games do not capitalize the word that defines the type of Pikmin, but capitalize the word "Pikmin" itself, whereas others might capitalize both words. For instance, Olimar's voyage log may write "red Pikmin",[5] while Alph and Brittany's dialogues might have the text "Red Pikmin".[6] In earlier versions of Pikmin, a Pikmin would be referred to as a "pikmin", with a lowercase "p", and the plural would be several "pikmins".[7]

The scientific names for Pikmin (aside from Bulbmin) went unspecified until the Piklopedia from Pikmin 4, where they were all classified under the genus Pikminidae, a very straight-forward reference to the family itself. Pikmin 4's Piklopedia also reveals that Pikmin belong to the class Ambuloradicis, which in Latin roughly translates to "walking root".

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Flag of Japan Japanese ピクミン?
Pikumin
Pikmin
Flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Chinese
(traditional)
皮克敏
Píkèmǐn
Pikmin
Flag of China Chinese
(simplified)
皮克敏
Píkèmǐn
Pikmin
Flag of the Netherlands Dutch Pikmin -
Flag of France French Pikmin -
Flag of Germany German Pikmin -
Flag of Italy Italian Pikmin -
Flag of South Korea Korean 피크민
pikeumin
Pikmin
Flag of Brazil Portuguese Pikmin -
Flag of Spain Spanish Pikmin -
Flag of Russia Russian Пикмин
Pikmin
Pikmin
Flag of Israel Hebrew פיקמין
pikmin
Pikmin Used in official media
Flag of Sweden Swedish Pikmin - Used in official media

In the Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Pikmin form a part of Olimar's moveset in all Super Smash Bros. games Olimar appears in as a playable character. Olimar can pluck Pikmin from the ground and throw them at opponents, which the Pikmin then attack. Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, and White Pikmin are all usable in this way, with slightly different attributes based on their abilities in the Pikmin games. Winged Pikmin are also used in Olimar's up special move in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. There are also trophies, stickers, and spirits based on Pikmin.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Olimar is not a playable character, but Pikmin appear as a trophy.

A trophy of Red, Yellow, and Blue Pikmin from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Description:

These strange beings are part plant, part animal. They spend most of their time buried in the earth, but they will befriend whoever plucks them, as evidenced by their devotion to Captain Olimar. Each Pikmin has a leaf on its head that grows into a bud and finally a flower. Like a flower, the life of a Pikmin is both fragile and beautiful.

Pikmin
12/01
How to obtain: Random appearance. Type: Other

Gallery[edit]

Pikmin
Pikmin 2
Pikmin 3
Pikmin 4
Hey! Pikmin
Super Smash Bros. series
See more: Pikmin images category.

Trivia[edit]

  • Winged Pikmin have dark stripes on their bodies which make them resemble bees. This color pattern makes their bodies non-monochromatic, a trait uncommon in most Pikmin types. White Pikmin also seem to have this trait to a certain extent, as they exhibit a purplish tint at the ends of their limbs.
  • In early versions of Pikmin, Red Pikmin and Blue Pikmin were able to hold bomb-rocks along with Yellow Pikmin. This idea was later scrapped, most likely due to Yellow Pikmin not having use of their high throw ability often, but it was later made a feature of Pikmin 3.
  • The first five members of the Pikmin family (from Pikmin to Pikmin 2, not including Bulbmin) appear in the Wii to Wii U and DSi/3DS to 3DS data transfer apps, in which they "carry" the software and save data.
  • Pikmin resemble a legend about the mandrake plant, a plant whose roots can sometimes resemble a human body. The legend says that if one uproots a mandrake plant, it will be their servant. However, it is also said that if picked, it will emit a scream powerful enough to kill its picker, so it was recommended to form a strategy for picking it, like tying it to a dog.
  • In Pikmin 3, Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, and Yellow Pikmin have their own voice, different from the other types of Pikmin. In Pikmin 2, Purple and White Pikmin have their own voice during their introduction cutscene. However, they have the same voice as other Pikmin types during normal gameplay. In Pikmin 4, Yellow Pikmin, White Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, Ice Pikmin, and Glow Pikmin all have unique voices throughout both cutscenes and gameplay.
    • In the Pikmin Short Movies, Purple Pikmin have a deeper voice than the other types, as seen in the Treasure in a Bottle scene where three Blue Pikmin and one Purple Pikmin chase after a butterfly.
  • Despite their flowers being indigo in-game, the flowers of Winged Pikmin and Rock Pikmin are blue in some early concept art.
  • The Pikmin appear in some games and media outside of the franchise as cameos.
  • For an unknown reason, in Pikmin 2, it is impossible to have 100 Pikmin buried in the same area or sublevel, if the Pikmin in question were buried by an enemy. The last Pikmin will simply get knocked back (in the case of a Mamuta)[8] or stay idle (in the case of a Swooping Snitchbug)[9]. Attempting to get 100 seeds via delivering items to an Onion is possible, though.
  • Pikmin noises are created by recording a human making a sound, speeding it up, and raising the pitch+formant values. Most types of Pikmin are voiced by Hajime Wakai.[10][11]
  • If a leader bumps against a Pikmin that is bringing something solo in Pikmin 3, it will make some noise.
  • In Pikmin Reunion, the first day of Olimar's Comeback, each plucked Pikmin is valued at Poko × 10.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Like Pikmin, the creeping chrysanthemum is a member of a group of creatures with ambulatory root structures. This creature is known as a "mimic," but because it is actually a form of plant, this label is not entirely accurate. For unknown reasons, the creeping chrysanthemum's mimicry does not fool Pikmin, perhaps because they share a similar heritage. It relies on preying upon other creatures to provide sustenance, so it has no need of leaves for photosynthesis. Generally speaking, the role of plants within an ecosystem is as a producer species, and thus plants are generally found at the bottom of the food pyramid. However, on this strange planet the line between producer plants and consumer plants is blurred. – Captain Olimar in his notes for the Creeping Chrysanthemum
  2. ^ YouTube video showing the Pikmin following a path in order to enter the Onion
  3. ^ Ask the Developer Vol. 10, Pikmin 4—Part 1 on Nintendo Official Site, retrieved on July 20th, 2023
  4. ^ Ask the Developer: Pikmin 4 on Nintendo of Japan, retrieved on July 20th, 2023
  5. ^ Fire should be a natural enemy of the Pikmin, but on closer examination, I've found red Pikmin to be impervious to it. It is fascinating. The reds continue through the flames, completely oblivious to any Pikmin burning around them... – Captain Olimar in his voyage log for the fire hazard
  6. ^ Come to think of it, Alph, you've been with the Red Pikmin since crash-landing here, right?Brittany in a dialog with Alph about Red Pikmin, in the European region of Pikmin 3
  7. ^ E3 2001 Tech Demo Show Off
  8. ^ YouTube video showing it is impossible for a Mamuta to bury more than 99 Pikmin
  9. ^ YouTube video showing it is impossible for a Swooping Snitchbug to bury more than 99 Pikmin
  10. ^ Pikmin 2 developer interview on Nintendo of Japan, retrieved on April 6th, 2018
  11. ^ Hajime Wakai on Behind the Voice Actors, retrieved on April 6th, 2018


Icon of a white flower in the Challenge Mode of Pikmin 2. It represents a course that is beaten, but with Pikmin who were lost.

This article was a featured article from October 1st, 2018 to December 1st, 2018.

Icon of a white flower in the Challenge Mode of Pikmin 2. It represents a course that is beaten, but with Pikmin who were lost.