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'''Leaders''' ({{j|リーダー|Rīdā}}, lit.: "Leader"), unofficially also called '''captains''', are the characters the player controls in the {{pg}}. Leaders have the ability to lead a [[squad]] of [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]], and can command the squad through [[throw]]ing, [[whistle|whistling]], and other actions. Each of the 11 leaders in the series is an alien explorer with some role in the mission, with the exception of [[Oatchi]] and [[Moss]] who are space dogs. Some games have multiple leaders which can be switched between, allowing multiple squads to be managed at a time.
The Pikmin '''Leaders''', often also called '''Captains''', are the characters of whom the player has control. In [[Pikmin 1|the first game]], there is only [[Olimar]], an employee of [[Hocotate Freight]] who crash-landed on the [[Planet of the Pikmin]]. In ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', [[Louie]] is added as a second character, also controlled by the player; it is possible to switch between the two playable leaders by pressing the "Y" button. In ''[[Pikmin 3]]'' there are three new leaders: the engineer [[Alph]], the botanist [[Brittany]], and the crew's captain, [[Charlie]].


The leader is followed by Pikmin he has called out of the [[Onion]] or plucked, and by lone Pikmin he touches or whistles at. The leader can throw Pikmin for various purposes, or attack monsters himself when no Pikmin are nearby. [[Puffstool]]s, mature [[Bulbmin]] and [[Antenna Beetle]]s act as naturally occurring enemy leaders, in each of the two ''Pikmin'' games, stealing the player's Pikmin or scouting with their own, respectively.
In {{p1}}, there is only one leader, [[Olimar]], an employee of [[Hocotate Freight]] who crash-landed on [[PNF-404]]. In {{p2}}, [[Louie]] is added as a second character, also controlled by the player; it is possible to switch between the two playable leaders by pressing {{button|gc|y|wii|-|switch|y}}. Louie is replaced by [[The President]] after the debt is cleared. In {{p3}} there are three new leaders: the engineer [[Alph]], the botanist [[Brittany]], and the crew's captain, [[Charlie]]. {{button|wiiu|y|wii|-|wiiu|pcy}} is used to switch in the original ''Pikmin 3'' and the [[action menu]] left and right is used to switch in {{p3d}}. {{p4}} has several playable leaders across its game modes. {{hp}} again features only Olimar as a playable character.


The inactive leader is controlled by a simple artificial intelligence in both Pikmin 2 and 3. If the inactive leader is with the active leader's group, he will follow the active leader very closely. He will also attack an enemy if the active captain is attacking the enemy through punching. However, he can only throw about one punch per second; far less than the player is capable of. The [[Brute Knuckles|Rocket Fist]] will also not activate for the inactive leader.
[[Puffstool]]s, [[Antenna Beetle]]s, mature [[Bulbmin]], the [[Scornet Maestro]], and Moss act as naturally occurring enemy leaders, in each of the four main ''Pikmin'' games, stealing the player's Pikmin or scouting with their own type of underlings.


If the inactive leader is not in the player's group, he will stand idle similar to the way Pikmin do when dismissed or thrown. However, he can not call idle Pikmin to him by touching them. He will also not attack enemies. Instead, he will generally try to avoid them, which can be used to the player's advantage against certain creatures, such as the [[Ranging Bloyster]]. Pikmin in the inactive group are likely to be killed in these situations nonetheless, as the leader's reactions are rather sloppy and aim to protect the leader, not his Pikmin.
==Inactive leader==
When the player is not playing as the other leader(s), they are considered inactive. The inactive leader is controlled by a simple artificial intelligence system in both ''Pikmin 2'' and ''Pikmin 3''. If the inactive leader is with the active leader's group, they will follow the active leader very closely. They will also attack an enemy if the active leader is attacking the enemy through [[punch]]ing. However, they can only throw about one punch per second; far less than the player is capable of. The [[Rocket Fist]] will also not activate for the inactive leader. In ''Pikmin 3'', they will not punch alongside the leader, as leaders can now be thrown.


== Olimar ==
If an inactive leader is not in the player's group, they will stand idle similar to the way Pikmin do when dismissed or thrown. However, they can not call idle Pikmin to their side by touching them. They will also not attack enemies; instead choosing to walk away from them, which can be used to the player's advantage against certain creatures, such as the [[Ranging Bloyster]]. Pikmin in the inactive group are likely to be killed in these situations nonetheless, as the leader's reactions are rather sloppy and aim to protect the leader, not their Pikmin squad. In ''Pikmin 3'', whenever a leader is near an enemy, they will run in circles around it, while alerting the active leader by saying something. For example, Charlie can say "Things aren't looking good!" if he is near an enemy.
 
==Playable leaders==
===Olimar===
[[File:Captain Olimar P2 clay art.png|thumb|100px|Captain Olimar's clay artwork from ''Pikmin 2''.]]
{{main|Captain Olimar}}
{{main|Captain Olimar}}
[[File:Olimar.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Captain Olimar's "clay" artwork from ''Pikmin 2''.]]
'''Captain Olimar''', often simply called '''Olimar''', is the main character of the [[Pikmin series|''Pikmin'' series]]. He is the Hocotate Freight employee who discovered [[PNF-404]] and the [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]]. He is the captain of his personal ship, the [[S.S. Dolphin]], until it is sold to repay some of the debt at the start of ''Pikmin 2''. In ''Pikmin 3'', Captain Olimar is a non-playable character that appears later in the story. However, he is playable in [[Bingo Battle]] and certain [[Mission Mode]] stages. Olimar is also playable in the [[Side Story]] missions in {{p3d}}. In {{p4}}, he once again remains unplayable in the main story apart from a brief prologue, but is playable in [[Olimar's Shipwreck Tale]] and [[Dandori Battle#Dandori Battle mode|Dandori Battle mode]] (the latter only by the second player). He is the only playable character in {{hp}}.
'''Captain Olimar''', often simply called '''Olimar''', is the main character of the [[Pikmin series|''Pikmin'' series]]. He is the Hocotate Freight employee who discovered the Planet of the Pikmin. He is the captain of his personal ship, the [[S.S. Dolphin]], until it is sold to repay some of the debt at the start of ''Pikmin 2''. His [[Olimar's Family|family]] consists of [[Olimar's Wife|his wife]], [[Olimar's Son|his son]] and [[Olimar's Daughter|his daughter]], who live on [[Hocotate]] and remain there throughout the two games in the series.


== Louie ==
===Louie===
[[File:P2 Louie Front View Clay Artwork.png|left|thumb|90px|Louie.]]
{{main|Louie}}
{{main|Louie}}
[[File:NI_Pikmin2DuoNews.jpg|left|frame|Louie standing on a barbed wire.]]
'''Louie''' first appears in ''Pikmin 2'' and serves as a partner to Olimar, commanding Pikmin as his sidekick. He is relatively new to the shipping business and has a ravenous appetite. He was raised by his [[Louie's grandmother|grandmother]], who made him play with bugs and eat them, from where it is assumed that his great affinity for cooking beasts in ''Pikmin 2'' comes. After gaining 10,000 [[Poko]]s, Louie is replaced by the [[President]]. In ''Pikmin 3'', Louie is salvaged a few times by the [[Koppai]] explorers. He is only a playable leader in a few [[Mission Mode]] stages, and when playing with two leaders per team in [[Bingo Battle]]. In {{p3d}}, Louie is also playable in the [[Side Story]] missions. As with Olimar, the second player can choose to play as Louie in Dandori Battle mode in ''Pikmin 4''.
'''Louie''' first appears in ''Pikmin 2'' and serves as a partner to Olimar, commanding Pikmin as his sidekick. He is relatively new to the shipping business and has a ravenous appetite. He was raised by his [[Louie's Family|grandmother]] who made him play with bugs and eat them, from where it is assumed that his great affinity for cooking beasts in ''Pikmin 2'' comes.
 
{{spoiler}}
After gaining 10,000 [[Poko]]s, Louie is replaced by the [[President]]. This is because Olimar accidentally leaves him behind on the planet on his return to Hocotate and only realizes this, shown in a cut-scene, as the ship begins to speed away. The actual reason, however, is never stated. It is unlikely that he jumped out after having taken off on purpose, as he is in a rather shocked and frightened state (noticeable in the credits [[cutscenes|cutscene]], though that may be due to having been left behind).


While he wanders around the [[Planet of the Pikmin|Pikmin planet]], he comes in contact with a colossal [[Titan Dweevil]]. Whatever his intents are with the creature, he is later discovered sitting on top of the great mass, where he remains during the battle with the beast. It is questionable as to whether he is controlling it or not as [[Hocotate Ship|the ship]] claims, as there are few reasons why he should attack the aiding Pikmin and the other leaders, who don't seem to show any negative feelings to Louie.
Recently, Louie's signature color has been changed from blue to yellow, as seen in the side stories of ''Pikmin 3 Deluxe'' and the updates to the Nintendo Switch version of ''Pikmin 2''. The reason for this is unclear, but likely has to do with giving all of the pre-''Pikmin 4'' leaders their own unique color.


In the end, it becomes apparent that Louie is actually the one responsible for the debt Hocotate Freight suffers, and not a "ravenous space bunny" as he lead the President to believe at the start; it was truly he who ate the load of [[Golden Pikpik carrot]]s. This is revealed in a cutscene unlocked by getting a pink flower for all 30 of the [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode]] levels.
{{clear}}


== President ==
===The President===
{{main|President of Hocotate Freight}}
[[File:President P2 art.png|thumb|135px|left|The President.]]
[[File:President2.jpg|thumb|135px|The president.]]
{{main|The President}}
'''The President''' is the owner of Hocotate Freight, and is a playable character in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''. He is called 'Shacho' in the Japanese version, which is Japanese for President, and is often called by that name because he says it when the player switches to his character (although it's commonly mistaken as 'Schyaco', 'Syecho', etc.).
'''The President''' is the owner of [[Hocotate Freight]], and is a playable character in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''. He is called "Shacho" in the Japanese [[Region|version]], which is Japanese for "President". After returning back to Hocotate after clearing the debt, the President becomes the replacement for Louie for the rest of ''Pikmin 2''{{'s}} duration. He is mentioned frequently throughout ''Pikmin 3'' and ''Pikmin 4'', such as in [[Olimar's Log (Exploration Notes)|Olimar's Log]] and [[Pikmin 4 voyage log|the voyage logs written by Olimar and Louie]]. There is a snow sculpture of him in the [[Distant Tundra]], and the Lucky Marble in Bingo Battle resembles his head. However, he is not a playable character in either game.


He runs into financial trouble after the [[Pikpik carrot]] cargo is gone. The President took out a large loan to reimburse the loss of the carrots, and has no way of repaying the enormous debt. He sold off the only company asset, the [[S.S. Dolphin]], in Olimar's absence, but it only made a small dent in the enormous loan, as 10,100 Pokos are still owed by the time Olimar has returned. This, occurring after the events of ''Pikmin'', shocks Captain Olimar. He is so surprised by the news, in fact, that he drops a souvenir that he brought back from his "vacation" for his son. The souvenir, a bottle cap, worth 100 Pokos, is collected by the [[The Ship|ship]], which then evaluates the item as a treasure, reducing the debt to an even 10,000.
{{clear}}


The President will be the main source of mail in ''Pikmin 2'' before the player erases the debt, his news getting worse as he finds out that the loan agent he actually came to was the All-Devouring Black Hole Loan Sharks, as opposed to Happy Hocotate Savings and Loan, and goes into hiding.
===Alph===
{{endspoiler}}
[[File:Pikmin3Captains.png|thumb|200px|Alph, Brittany, and Charlie.]]
== Alph ==
{{main|Alph}}
{{main|Alph}}
[[File:Pikmin3Captains.png|thumb|200px|right|Alph, Brittany, and Charlie]]
Alph is the mechanic of the [[S.S. Drake]]. He is kind, gentle, very interested in technological devices, and is a very capable engineer that configures objects found on the Pikmin Planet for the crew to use on their quest for food. He has a cerulean blue tuft of hair and wears a spacesuit with cerulean blue accents. Like the other two members of his team, he is from [[Koppai]].
Alph is the mechanic of the [[S.S. Drake]]. He is very interested in technological devices and is a very capable engineer that configures objects found on the Pikmin Planet for the crew to use on their quest for food. He has a blue tuft of hair and wears a spacesuit with blue highlights. Like the other two members of his team, he is from [[Koppai]].


== Brittany ==
===Brittany===
{{main|Brittany}}
{{main|Brittany}}
Brittany is a botanist who is responsible of keeping track of the fruit found on the planet and juices produced by the crew. She is a bit dishonest and seems to care about her own safety far more than that of others, as she tends to take slightly more than her share of juice and isn't concerned at all when Charlie is lost in the wild. Brittany is also a bit of a glutton, though not quite as much as Louie.
Brittany is a botanist who is responsible of keeping track of the [[fruit]] found on the planet and juices produced by the crew. She is a bit dishonest and seems to care about her own safety far more than that of others, as she tends to take slightly more than her share of juice and is not concerned at all when Charlie is lost in the wild. Brittany is also a bit of a glutton, though not quite as much as Louie.
She has shoulder-length pink hair and a spacesuit with pink highlights.
She has shoulder-length pink hair and a spacesuit with pink accents.


== Charlie ==
===Charlie===
{{main|Charlie}}
{{main|Charlie}}
Charlie is the captain of the Koppaite trio. He is brawny with dark-brown hair in a buzz-cut. Though acting tough, he is caught quite off-guard by the Pikmin on the foreign planet. He tries his best to appear as a good leader, but nonetheless the crew members all have equal say in decision-making. His suit has green highlights and also bears a five-point star, which presumably denotes his superior rank.
Charlie is the captain of the Koppaite trio. Though acting tough, he is caught quite off-guard by the Pikmin on the foreign planet. He also tries his best to appear as a good leader, but nonetheless the crew members all have equal say in decision-making. Aside from these traits, his personality differs noticeably between the European and American versions of ''Pikmin 3''. In the former, he appears to be very fond of Brittany, but in the latter, he is instead portrayed as being very egotistical. His hair is styled in a flattop pattern, but unlike Alph and Brittany, Charlie's hair does not match his suit's color scheme. Instead, his hair and mustache are dark brown, whereas his suit has green accents. By extension, his suit bears a five-point star, which presumably denotes his superior rank. Humorously, Charlie also owns a rubber ducky that he is very fond of.
 
===Rookie Rescue Officer===
[[File:Oatchi You and Pikmin.png|thumb|200px|The default character design and Oatchi.]]
{{main|Rookie Rescue Officer}}
The rookie Rescue Officer is the main leader in ''Pikmin 4'', and they are a customizable character, referred to in promotional material and in the game's introduction as "You". Their name and appearance can be customized in a character creator. They are the newest recruit to the [[Rescue Corps]], sent to rescue them from a crash landing after trying to rescue [[Captain Olimar]] for the same reason.
 
The default design of this character (shown in trailers and promotional art) has a full head of unkempt red hair, one long eyelash atop each eye, rosy cheeks, a small spherical nose, a small circular open mouth, an orange antenna light, as well as a full red [[spacesuit]] with white gloves and boots. Their ID card states they are from the planet Karut.
 
===Oatchi===
{{main|Oatchi}}
The space dog Oatchi is the second playable character in ''Pikmin 4''. Unlike the Rescue Officer, he cannot be customized, but his collar color will match the [[Rescue Corps]] suit color. He can be taught skills such as increasing his strength, allowing him to use the [[Go Here!]] function, or unlocking the ability to pluck. Just like the Rescue Officer, he can call back Pikmin, but he uses a bark instead of a [[whistle]]. He can also throw Pikmin using his mouth. Instead of being able to [[charge]] or [[swarm]] Pikmin, he can dash forward in a "Rush", which damages and stuns enemies on impact while launching any Pikmin he is carrying at them.
 
===Moss===
[[File:Moss NSO Render.png|thumb|left|Moss.]]
{{main|Moss}}
A space dog named Moss fills Oatchi's role in [[Olimar's Shipwreck Tale]], being one Olimar encountered in the [[Blossoming Arcadia]] on PNF-404. Like Oatchi, she can be taught skills that increase her damage and speed, as well as function like a secondary leader. However, she learns her skills as [[ship part]]s are recovered rather than by exchanging [[Pup Drive]].
 
===Collin===
[[File:Collin.png|thumb|right|100px|Collin.]]
{{main|Collin}}
Collin is the communications operator of the [[Rescue Corps]]. Although he is not playable in ''Pikmin 4''{{'s}} Story Mode, the first player can choose to play as him in Dandori Battle mode.


== Antenna Beetle ==
===Shepherd===
The [[Antenna Beetle]]s found in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' are comparable to the [[Hocotate|Hocotatian]] leaders in that they can control [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] with the sounds they produce, apparently by flapping their wings. This appears to affect Pikmin in a similar way to the whistles of the other leaders. The only way to regain control of the captured Pikmin is to kill, stun, or chase away the Antenna Beetle. The Antenna Beetle's whistling range is notably larger than the leaders' without the [[Mega Tweeter]].
[[File:Shepherd.png|thumb|left|100px|Erma Shepherd.]]
{{main|Shepherd}}
Erma Shepherd is the captain of the Rescue Corps. Like Collin, she is playable by the first player in Dandori Battle mode only.
 
{{clear}}
 
==Enemies as leaders==
While not playable, several enemies have displayed leader-like traits, either through controlling the player's Pikmin or some equivalent to them.
 
===Antenna Beetle===
[[File:Antenna Beetle call.png|thumb|An Antenna Beetle using its wings to create a whistle sound to attract Pikmin.]]
{{main|Antenna Beetle}}
The Antenna Beetles found in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' are comparable to the [[Hocotatian]] leaders in that they can control [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] with the sounds they produce, apparently by flapping their wings. This appears to affect Pikmin in a similar way to the [[whistle]]s of the other leaders. The only way to regain control of the captured Pikmin is to kill, stun, or chase away the Antenna Beetle. The Antenna Beetle's whistling range is notably larger than the leaders', without the [[Mega Tweeter]].
 
===Puffstool===
{{main|Puffstool}}
The only enemy leader in the first ''Pikmin'' game is the Puffstool, who will shoot spores at Pikmin to infect them. These "[[Mushroom Pikmin]]" will follow the Puffstool around, and will chase Captain Olimar if he gets too close. Pikmin can be cured by either shaking them off or by killing the Puffstool.
 
===Bulbmin===
{{main|Bulbmin}}
Bulbmin are Pikmin-Bulborb crosses that roam around [[cave]]s. They have a maximum of ten following Bulbmin. These Bulbmin do not do anything but follow their leader. The leader attacks by eating Pikmin just like normal [[Bulborb]]s do, and when the player kills it, the followers will get frightened and run around in circles. These Bulbmin can be [[whistle|called]] into the army, and act as additional Pikmin. They have immunities to the main four hazards, but the downside is that they cannot be taken out of caves. It is best to use [[Candypop Bud]]s to convert them into other types of Pikmin which can be taken out of caves.
 
===Spotty Bulbear===
{{main|Spotty Bulbear}}
In ''Pikmin 2'' and ''Pikmin 3'', Spotty Bulbears are awake and walk from place to place. It's common to find [[Dwarf Bulbear]]s following them around in a pack. If a mature Bulbear passes near some dwarfs, they will stop whatever they are doing and will start following. Besides that, these two creatures have no other interaction.
 
===Scornet Maestro===
[[File:Scornet Maestro attack no.1.jpg|thumb|The Scornet Maestro ordering the Scornets to attack the leader.]]
{{main|Scornet Maestro}}
The Scornet Maestro is the fourth major [[boss]] in ''Pikmin 3'' story mode. It can command up to 100 [[Scornet]]s at the same time and use them to attack with various formations. They also protect it. After one of its assaults, the Scornets will leave for a while, and the player will be able to attack the Maestro.
 
===Queen Shearwig===
{{main|Queen Shearwig}}
The Queen Shearwig is the fifth boss fought in ''Hey! Pikmin'', in the [[Troop Commander]] area. As the name of the area implies, the Queen Shearwig is the commander of a troop of [[Shearwigs]], which aid it in battle. These must be defeated in order to attack the Queen.
 
===Moss===
{{main|Moss}}
Moss is a special enemy encountered in the [[Hero's Hideaway]] before the player has opened the entrance to [[Leafy Showdown]]. She will roam the floors of Hero's Hideaway and attempt to collect any Pikmin she finds. If she manages to whistle the player's Pikmin, they will jump on her back as she carries them off. Similar to confusion, the Pikmin will have purple clouds around their stems and cannot be whistled. To free the Pikmin, the player must damage Moss enough until she starts to run away, which will make her drop the Pikmin.
 
===Leafling Olimar===
{{main|Leafling#Leafling Olimar}}
In [[Dandori Battle]] caves in ''Pikmin 4'', a red leafling commands Moss and his own group of Pikmin identical to how the player does: collecting [[treasure]]s, defeating enemies, and carrying those things to their own [[Onion]]. This leafling is later revealed to be [[Olimar]].
 
===Louie===
{{main|Louie}}
After the Rescue Corps defeats Olimar in [[Leafy Showdown]] and cures him, Louie finds the abandoned Moss and takes over Olimar's role as a Dandori Battle opponent.
 
== Gameplay differences between characters ==
Normally, all playable leader characters work exactly the same in terms of gameplay, making choosing a specific one a preference for the player.
 
However, in ''Pikmin 2'', Louie and the President are actually slightly taller than Olimar, which has a very slight impact in the gameplay. Clipping through the bridge near the [[Geographic Projection]] using the [[Napsack]]{{cite youtube|SafoGOWLIg8|showing how to clip through the bridge with the Napsack|m=9|s=7}} is considerably easier with Louie and the President, compared to Olimar. It can also be noted that in this game, the [[music]] switches from straight eight notes when controlling Captain Olimar to swing time when controlling Louie or the President.
 
In ''Pikmin 3'', Brittany has a minor special role at the [[Formidable Oak]] since she's the one the Pikmin will initially follow. If she falls, [[Captain Charlie]] will take her place, and then [[Alph]]. Charlie's frame is also larger, and when he [[Throw|holds on]] to another leader or Pikmin, they're actually a bit further outward than with Alph or Brittany. In the original ''Pikmin 3'', this makes Captain Charlie ideal for releasing Pikmin or leaders [[out of bounds|through walls]].
 
In ''Pikmin 4'', [[Oatchi]]'s capabilities are vastly different from that of the [[rookie Rescue Officer]]. Oatchi can jump, rush, dig, carry objects, and follow scents. Pikmin in Oatchi's squad will ride on his back rather than trailing behind him, allowing Oatchi to transport Pikmin safely across water, cold areas, and [[sizzling floor]]s. However, Oatchi cannot [[charge]] or [[swarm]], and can only cross water and pluck Pikmin after being trained to do so. Oatchi also cannot use climbing walls, nor can he pass through iron bars or narrow tunnels.


== Leader is down ==
== Leader is down ==
When a leader loses all his health, he becomes unconscious. In ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', the day ends and all [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] that aren't in an [[Onion]] die. In ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', this only occurs if both leaders faint; otherwise, the Pikmin that were with the leader become idle, and the leader is moved to [[the ship]], where he lies on the floor until the end of the day.
When a leader loses all of their [[health]], they become unconscious. In ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', the day ends and all [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] that aren't in an [[Onion]] die. In the main stories of ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' and ''[[Pikmin 3]]'', this only occurs if all leaders faint; otherwise, the Pikmin that were with the fallen leader become idle, and the leader is moved to the [[Hocotate ship]] or the [[S.S. Drake]], where they stay until the end of the [[day]]. If a leader faints in ''Pikmin 2''{{'s}} [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode]], [[Mission Mode]], and the [[Side Stories]], the mission or day will be aborted even if other leaders are still standing. If a player loses all of their health in [[2-Player Battle]] and [[Bingo Battle]], their opponent wins.
 
In ''Pikmin'', if Captain Olimar's suit takes too much damage, there will be a [[cutscene]] with his space suit being electrified, then Olimar falling down. Eventually, the screen will turn black and white. The words "Olimar is down" will then appear on-screen and the day's journal will read as follows:
 
{{transcript|I've been careless, sustaining damage beyond my space suit's limits. My crisis transport system saved me, but I lost all of the Pikmin I had with me. I must pay closer mind to my space suit damage meter in the bottom-left corner of the screen. I can press {{button|gc|a|wii|a}} by the Dolphin to repair my suit.|block=y}}
 
In ''Pikmin 4'' if a leader runs out of health, they will be teleported to the [[S.S. Beagle]] (or the [[Onion]] during [[Dandori Battle]]s), where they will slowly regain health. The other leader can stop the health regeneration and bring the leader back to life by pressing {{button|switch|a}} next to the knocked-out leader.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Olimar Shacho.png|Captain Olimar and the President of Hocotate Freight.
Olimar guides Red Pikmin P1 art.png|Artwork of Olimar from {{P1}}.
P2 Louie With White Pikmin Artwork.jpg|Clay art of Louie.
Hocotate President Shocked.png|Clay art of The President.
Alph Awakening.png|Alph waking up in the Tropical Wilds.
Captain Brittany.jpg|Brittany as seen from the [[KopPad]] in an early build of the game.
Charlie Awakening.png|Captain Charlie in the [[Distant Tundra]].
Leaders E3 2012 screenshot.png|The leaders in an [[Pikmin 3 prerelease information|earlier]] E3 2012 build of ''Pikmin 3''.
movie01.jpg|All three leaders from ''Pikmin 3''.
Alph Brittany Charlie.png|Brittany pulling out a Red Pikmin, while standing next to the other ''Pikmin 3'' leaders.
All leaders' silouhette.png|A montage showing every leader's silouhette. From left to right and top to bottom: The President, Alph, Brittany, Charlie, Louie, Captain Olimar.
You Walking.png|The rookie Rescue Officer in ''Pikmin 4''.
Oatchirender.png|Oatchi in ''Pikmin 4''.
</gallery>
 
==Trivia==
[[File:Demo leaders.png|thumb|200px|Concept art of the four leaders. The scrapped one is labeled with "D".]]
*''Pikmin 3'' was originally planned to have [[Pikmin 3 prerelease information#Character D|four leaders]], but the idea was later changed to three. The leaders in the concept art were labeled as A, B, C, and D. While A, B, and C were later worked into Alph, Brittany, and Charlie respectively, D went unused. It's commonly thought that D's name was meant to be Drake, and was later reworked into the Koppai explorer's spaceship, the S.S. Drake.
*Also in ''Pikmin 3'', leaders can lightly move small objects by repeatedly bumping into them. These objects include [[nectar egg]]s, [[Cupid's Grenade]]s, [[Juicy Gaggle]]s, and the smallest part of [[Crimson Banquet]]s. Objects can be pushed into the [[abyss]] using this method, but they merely reappear in their original location.
[[File:P3D 2 Player Ghost Leaders.jpg|thumb|left|200px|2 copies of Charlie on day 1.]]
*In ''[[Pikmin 3 Deluxe]]'', if the [[Story Mode]] is played with two players during a moment where only one leader should be playable, the second player will control an exact copy of that leader. The other player will appear translucent from the other person's perspective.
*Leaders are on occasion referred to as captains by players. This might be because the term is often used to refer to certain leaders in the games. In reality, [[Olimar]], [[Charlie]], and [[Shepherd]] are the only known individuals to officially hold the title of Captain, and are referred to as such. Shepherd is notably too afraid of Pikmin to command them, making her a captain but not a leader outside the non-canon [[Dandori Battle]] mode.
*The [[Strategy guides|''Pikmin 2'' Nintendo Player's Guide]] uniquely refers to the leaders as '''pilots'''.
{{clear}}
 
==Names in other languages==
{{foreignname
|Jap=リーダー
|JapR=Rīdā
|JapM=Leader
|ChiTrad=領隊
|ChiTradR=
|ChiTradM=Leader
|ChiSimp=领队
|ChiSimpR=
|ChiSimpM=Leader
|Fra=Meneur
|FraM=Leader
|Ger=Anführer
|GerM=Leader
|Ita=Leader
|ItaM=Leader
|Kor=리더
|KorR=lideo
|KorM=Leader
|Spa=Líder
|SpaM=Leader
}}


In ''Pikmin'', if Captain Olimar's suit takes too much damage, there will be a cutscene with his space suit being electrified, then Olimar falling down. Eventually, the screen will turn black and white. The words "Olimar is down" will then appear onscreen and the day's journal will read as follows:
==See also==
*[[Mii]], who fill the role of leaders in {{pa}} and {{pb}}
*[[Minor characters]]
*[[Pikmin family]]


"I've been careless, sustaining damage beyond my space suit's limits. My crisis transport system saved me, but I lost all of the Pikmin I had with me. I must pay closer mind to my space suit damage meter in the bottom-left corner of the screen. I can press A by the Dolphin to repair my suit."
==References==
{{refs}}


== Trivia ==
{{Characters}}
In ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', when the active leader is [[Louie]] or [[The President]], the background music is in swing time, while the music has straight eighth notes when the active leader is [[Olimar]].
[[de:Captain]]
[[Category:Leaders| ]]
[[Category:Leaders| ]]

Latest revision as of 22:21, November 30, 2024

Leaders (リーダー?, lit.: "Leader"), unofficially also called captains, are the characters the player controls in the Pikmin games. Leaders have the ability to lead a squad of Pikmin, and can command the squad through throwing, whistling, and other actions. Each of the 11 leaders in the series is an alien explorer with some role in the mission, with the exception of Oatchi and Moss who are space dogs. Some games have multiple leaders which can be switched between, allowing multiple squads to be managed at a time.

In Pikmin, there is only one leader, Olimar, an employee of Hocotate Freight who crash-landed on PNF-404. In Pikmin 2, Louie is added as a second character, also controlled by the player; it is possible to switch between the two playable leaders by pressing the Y Button on the GameCube controller / the Minus Button on the Wii Remote / the Y Button on the Switch. Louie is replaced by The President after the debt is cleared. In Pikmin 3 there are three new leaders: the engineer Alph, the botanist Brittany, and the crew's captain, Charlie. the Y Button on the Wii U GamePad / the Minus Button on the Wii Remote / the Y Button on the Wii U Pro Controller is used to switch in the original Pikmin 3 and the action menu left and right is used to switch in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Pikmin 4 has several playable leaders across its game modes. Hey! Pikmin again features only Olimar as a playable character.

Puffstools, Antenna Beetles, mature Bulbmin, the Scornet Maestro, and Moss act as naturally occurring enemy leaders, in each of the four main Pikmin games, stealing the player's Pikmin or scouting with their own type of underlings.

Inactive leader[edit]

When the player is not playing as the other leader(s), they are considered inactive. The inactive leader is controlled by a simple artificial intelligence system in both Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3. If the inactive leader is with the active leader's group, they will follow the active leader very closely. They will also attack an enemy if the active leader is attacking the enemy through punching. However, they can only throw about one punch per second; far less than the player is capable of. The Rocket Fist will also not activate for the inactive leader. In Pikmin 3, they will not punch alongside the leader, as leaders can now be thrown.

If an inactive leader is not in the player's group, they will stand idle similar to the way Pikmin do when dismissed or thrown. However, they can not call idle Pikmin to their side by touching them. They will also not attack enemies; instead choosing to walk away from them, which can be used to the player's advantage against certain creatures, such as the Ranging Bloyster. Pikmin in the inactive group are likely to be killed in these situations nonetheless, as the leader's reactions are rather sloppy and aim to protect the leader, not their Pikmin squad. In Pikmin 3, whenever a leader is near an enemy, they will run in circles around it, while alerting the active leader by saying something. For example, Charlie can say "Things aren't looking good!" if he is near an enemy.

Playable leaders[edit]

Olimar[edit]

Clay artwork of Captain Olimar.
Captain Olimar's clay artwork from Pikmin 2.
Main article: Captain Olimar.

Captain Olimar, often simply called Olimar, is the main character of the Pikmin series. He is the Hocotate Freight employee who discovered PNF-404 and the Pikmin. He is the captain of his personal ship, the S.S. Dolphin, until it is sold to repay some of the debt at the start of Pikmin 2. In Pikmin 3, Captain Olimar is a non-playable character that appears later in the story. However, he is playable in Bingo Battle and certain Mission Mode stages. Olimar is also playable in the Side Story missions in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. In Pikmin 4, he once again remains unplayable in the main story apart from a brief prologue, but is playable in Olimar's Shipwreck Tale and Dandori Battle mode (the latter only by the second player). He is the only playable character in Hey! Pikmin.

Louie[edit]

Artwork of Louie from Pikmin 2.
Louie.
Main article: Louie.

Louie first appears in Pikmin 2 and serves as a partner to Olimar, commanding Pikmin as his sidekick. He is relatively new to the shipping business and has a ravenous appetite. He was raised by his grandmother, who made him play with bugs and eat them, from where it is assumed that his great affinity for cooking beasts in Pikmin 2 comes. After gaining 10,000 Pokos, Louie is replaced by the President. In Pikmin 3, Louie is salvaged a few times by the Koppai explorers. He is only a playable leader in a few Mission Mode stages, and when playing with two leaders per team in Bingo Battle. In Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Louie is also playable in the Side Story missions. As with Olimar, the second player can choose to play as Louie in Dandori Battle mode in Pikmin 4.

Recently, Louie's signature color has been changed from blue to yellow, as seen in the side stories of Pikmin 3 Deluxe and the updates to the Nintendo Switch version of Pikmin 2. The reason for this is unclear, but likely has to do with giving all of the pre-Pikmin 4 leaders their own unique color.

The President[edit]

Artwork of The President from Pikmin 2.
The President.
Main article: The President.

The President is the owner of Hocotate Freight, and is a playable character in Pikmin 2. He is called "Shacho" in the Japanese version, which is Japanese for "President". After returning back to Hocotate after clearing the debt, the President becomes the replacement for Louie for the rest of Pikmin 2's duration. He is mentioned frequently throughout Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4, such as in Olimar's Log and the voyage logs written by Olimar and Louie. There is a snow sculpture of him in the Distant Tundra, and the Lucky Marble in Bingo Battle resembles his head. However, he is not a playable character in either game.

Alph[edit]

Artwork of the 3 leaders in Pikmin 3.
Alph, Brittany, and Charlie.
Main article: Alph.

Alph is the mechanic of the S.S. Drake. He is kind, gentle, very interested in technological devices, and is a very capable engineer that configures objects found on the Pikmin Planet for the crew to use on their quest for food. He has a cerulean blue tuft of hair and wears a spacesuit with cerulean blue accents. Like the other two members of his team, he is from Koppai.

Brittany[edit]

Main article: Brittany.

Brittany is a botanist who is responsible of keeping track of the fruit found on the planet and juices produced by the crew. She is a bit dishonest and seems to care about her own safety far more than that of others, as she tends to take slightly more than her share of juice and is not concerned at all when Charlie is lost in the wild. Brittany is also a bit of a glutton, though not quite as much as Louie. She has shoulder-length pink hair and a spacesuit with pink accents.

Charlie[edit]

Main article: Charlie.

Charlie is the captain of the Koppaite trio. Though acting tough, he is caught quite off-guard by the Pikmin on the foreign planet. He also tries his best to appear as a good leader, but nonetheless the crew members all have equal say in decision-making. Aside from these traits, his personality differs noticeably between the European and American versions of Pikmin 3. In the former, he appears to be very fond of Brittany, but in the latter, he is instead portrayed as being very egotistical. His hair is styled in a flattop pattern, but unlike Alph and Brittany, Charlie's hair does not match his suit's color scheme. Instead, his hair and mustache are dark brown, whereas his suit has green accents. By extension, his suit bears a five-point star, which presumably denotes his superior rank. Humorously, Charlie also owns a rubber ducky that he is very fond of.

Rookie Rescue Officer[edit]

Official artwork of Oatchi with the rookie Rescue Officer and 4 Pikmin riding on his back.
The default character design and Oatchi.
Main article: Rookie Rescue Officer.

The rookie Rescue Officer is the main leader in Pikmin 4, and they are a customizable character, referred to in promotional material and in the game's introduction as "You". Their name and appearance can be customized in a character creator. They are the newest recruit to the Rescue Corps, sent to rescue them from a crash landing after trying to rescue Captain Olimar for the same reason.

The default design of this character (shown in trailers and promotional art) has a full head of unkempt red hair, one long eyelash atop each eye, rosy cheeks, a small spherical nose, a small circular open mouth, an orange antenna light, as well as a full red spacesuit with white gloves and boots. Their ID card states they are from the planet Karut.

Oatchi[edit]

Main article: Oatchi.

The space dog Oatchi is the second playable character in Pikmin 4. Unlike the Rescue Officer, he cannot be customized, but his collar color will match the Rescue Corps suit color. He can be taught skills such as increasing his strength, allowing him to use the Go Here! function, or unlocking the ability to pluck. Just like the Rescue Officer, he can call back Pikmin, but he uses a bark instead of a whistle. He can also throw Pikmin using his mouth. Instead of being able to charge or swarm Pikmin, he can dash forward in a "Rush", which damages and stuns enemies on impact while launching any Pikmin he is carrying at them.

Moss[edit]

A render of Moss from the Nintendo Switch Online icons
Moss.
Main article: Moss.

A space dog named Moss fills Oatchi's role in Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, being one Olimar encountered in the Blossoming Arcadia on PNF-404. Like Oatchi, she can be taught skills that increase her damage and speed, as well as function like a secondary leader. However, she learns her skills as ship parts are recovered rather than by exchanging Pup Drive.

Collin[edit]

A render of Collin taken from a Pikmin Garden coloring page preview.
Collin.
Main article: Collin.

Collin is the communications operator of the Rescue Corps. Although he is not playable in Pikmin 4's Story Mode, the first player can choose to play as him in Dandori Battle mode.

Shepherd[edit]

A render of Shepherd taken from a Pikmin Garden coloring page preview.
Erma Shepherd.
Main article: Shepherd.

Erma Shepherd is the captain of the Rescue Corps. Like Collin, she is playable by the first player in Dandori Battle mode only.

Enemies as leaders[edit]

While not playable, several enemies have displayed leader-like traits, either through controlling the player's Pikmin or some equivalent to them.

Antenna Beetle[edit]

An Antenna Beetle tries to attract Pikmin.
An Antenna Beetle using its wings to create a whistle sound to attract Pikmin.
Main article: Antenna Beetle.

The Antenna Beetles found in Pikmin 2 are comparable to the Hocotatian leaders in that they can control Pikmin with the sounds they produce, apparently by flapping their wings. This appears to affect Pikmin in a similar way to the whistles of the other leaders. The only way to regain control of the captured Pikmin is to kill, stun, or chase away the Antenna Beetle. The Antenna Beetle's whistling range is notably larger than the leaders', without the Mega Tweeter.

Puffstool[edit]

Main article: Puffstool.

The only enemy leader in the first Pikmin game is the Puffstool, who will shoot spores at Pikmin to infect them. These "Mushroom Pikmin" will follow the Puffstool around, and will chase Captain Olimar if he gets too close. Pikmin can be cured by either shaking them off or by killing the Puffstool.

Bulbmin[edit]

Main article: Bulbmin.

Bulbmin are Pikmin-Bulborb crosses that roam around caves. They have a maximum of ten following Bulbmin. These Bulbmin do not do anything but follow their leader. The leader attacks by eating Pikmin just like normal Bulborbs do, and when the player kills it, the followers will get frightened and run around in circles. These Bulbmin can be called into the army, and act as additional Pikmin. They have immunities to the main four hazards, but the downside is that they cannot be taken out of caves. It is best to use Candypop Buds to convert them into other types of Pikmin which can be taken out of caves.

Spotty Bulbear[edit]

Main article: Spotty Bulbear.

In Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3, Spotty Bulbears are awake and walk from place to place. It's common to find Dwarf Bulbears following them around in a pack. If a mature Bulbear passes near some dwarfs, they will stop whatever they are doing and will start following. Besides that, these two creatures have no other interaction.

Scornet Maestro[edit]

The Scornet Maestro organizing its Scornets to attack. This is the first attack formation.
The Scornet Maestro ordering the Scornets to attack the leader.
Main article: Scornet Maestro.

The Scornet Maestro is the fourth major boss in Pikmin 3 story mode. It can command up to 100 Scornets at the same time and use them to attack with various formations. They also protect it. After one of its assaults, the Scornets will leave for a while, and the player will be able to attack the Maestro.

Queen Shearwig[edit]

Main article: Queen Shearwig.

The Queen Shearwig is the fifth boss fought in Hey! Pikmin, in the Troop Commander area. As the name of the area implies, the Queen Shearwig is the commander of a troop of Shearwigs, which aid it in battle. These must be defeated in order to attack the Queen.

Moss[edit]

Main article: Moss.

Moss is a special enemy encountered in the Hero's Hideaway before the player has opened the entrance to Leafy Showdown. She will roam the floors of Hero's Hideaway and attempt to collect any Pikmin she finds. If she manages to whistle the player's Pikmin, they will jump on her back as she carries them off. Similar to confusion, the Pikmin will have purple clouds around their stems and cannot be whistled. To free the Pikmin, the player must damage Moss enough until she starts to run away, which will make her drop the Pikmin.

Leafling Olimar[edit]

Main article: Leafling#Leafling Olimar.

In Dandori Battle caves in Pikmin 4, a red leafling commands Moss and his own group of Pikmin identical to how the player does: collecting treasures, defeating enemies, and carrying those things to their own Onion. This leafling is later revealed to be Olimar.

Louie[edit]

Main article: Louie.

After the Rescue Corps defeats Olimar in Leafy Showdown and cures him, Louie finds the abandoned Moss and takes over Olimar's role as a Dandori Battle opponent.

Gameplay differences between characters[edit]

Normally, all playable leader characters work exactly the same in terms of gameplay, making choosing a specific one a preference for the player.

However, in Pikmin 2, Louie and the President are actually slightly taller than Olimar, which has a very slight impact in the gameplay. Clipping through the bridge near the Geographic Projection using the Napsack[1] is considerably easier with Louie and the President, compared to Olimar. It can also be noted that in this game, the music switches from straight eight notes when controlling Captain Olimar to swing time when controlling Louie or the President.

In Pikmin 3, Brittany has a minor special role at the Formidable Oak since she's the one the Pikmin will initially follow. If she falls, Captain Charlie will take her place, and then Alph. Charlie's frame is also larger, and when he holds on to another leader or Pikmin, they're actually a bit further outward than with Alph or Brittany. In the original Pikmin 3, this makes Captain Charlie ideal for releasing Pikmin or leaders through walls.

In Pikmin 4, Oatchi's capabilities are vastly different from that of the rookie Rescue Officer. Oatchi can jump, rush, dig, carry objects, and follow scents. Pikmin in Oatchi's squad will ride on his back rather than trailing behind him, allowing Oatchi to transport Pikmin safely across water, cold areas, and sizzling floors. However, Oatchi cannot charge or swarm, and can only cross water and pluck Pikmin after being trained to do so. Oatchi also cannot use climbing walls, nor can he pass through iron bars or narrow tunnels.

Leader is down[edit]

When a leader loses all of their health, they become unconscious. In Pikmin, the day ends and all Pikmin that aren't in an Onion die. In the main stories of Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3, this only occurs if all leaders faint; otherwise, the Pikmin that were with the fallen leader become idle, and the leader is moved to the Hocotate ship or the S.S. Drake, where they stay until the end of the day. If a leader faints in Pikmin 2's Challenge Mode, Mission Mode, and the Side Stories, the mission or day will be aborted even if other leaders are still standing. If a player loses all of their health in 2-Player Battle and Bingo Battle, their opponent wins.

In Pikmin, if Captain Olimar's suit takes too much damage, there will be a cutscene with his space suit being electrified, then Olimar falling down. Eventually, the screen will turn black and white. The words "Olimar is down" will then appear on-screen and the day's journal will read as follows:

I've been careless, sustaining damage beyond my space suit's limits. My crisis transport system saved me, but I lost all of the Pikmin I had with me. I must pay closer mind to my space suit damage meter in the bottom-left corner of the screen. I can press the A Button on the GameCube controller / the A Button on the Wii Remote by the Dolphin to repair my suit.

In Pikmin 4 if a leader runs out of health, they will be teleported to the S.S. Beagle (or the Onion during Dandori Battles), where they will slowly regain health. The other leader can stop the health regeneration and bring the leader back to life by pressing the A Button on the Switch next to the knocked-out leader.

Gallery[edit]

Trivia[edit]

Concept art of the leaders in Pikmin 3, showing a "Character D" who isn't present in the final game.
Concept art of the four leaders. The scrapped one is labeled with "D".
  • Pikmin 3 was originally planned to have four leaders, but the idea was later changed to three. The leaders in the concept art were labeled as A, B, C, and D. While A, B, and C were later worked into Alph, Brittany, and Charlie respectively, D went unused. It's commonly thought that D's name was meant to be Drake, and was later reworked into the Koppai explorer's spaceship, the S.S. Drake.
  • Also in Pikmin 3, leaders can lightly move small objects by repeatedly bumping into them. These objects include nectar eggs, Cupid's Grenades, Juicy Gaggles, and the smallest part of Crimson Banquets. Objects can be pushed into the abyss using this method, but they merely reappear in their original location.
Ghost leaders in 2-player gameplay in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. The other player's leader appears as a ghost because a second leader has not yet been unlocked. Despite this, the leaders look at each other as if they both exist.
2 copies of Charlie on day 1.
  • In Pikmin 3 Deluxe, if the Story Mode is played with two players during a moment where only one leader should be playable, the second player will control an exact copy of that leader. The other player will appear translucent from the other person's perspective.
  • Leaders are on occasion referred to as captains by players. This might be because the term is often used to refer to certain leaders in the games. In reality, Olimar, Charlie, and Shepherd are the only known individuals to officially hold the title of Captain, and are referred to as such. Shepherd is notably too afraid of Pikmin to command them, making her a captain but not a leader outside the non-canon Dandori Battle mode.
  • The Pikmin 2 Nintendo Player's Guide uniquely refers to the leaders as pilots.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Flag of Japan Japanese リーダー?
Rīdā
Leader
Flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Chinese
(traditional)
領隊 Leader
Flag of China Chinese
(simplified)
领队 Leader
Flag of France French Meneur Leader
Flag of Germany German Anführer Leader
Flag of Italy Italian Leader Leader
Flag of South Korea Korean 리더
lideo
Leader
Flag of Spain Spanish Líder Leader

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ YouTube video showing how to clip through the bridge with the Napsack (at 09:07)