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Assets used in the Pikmin series

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The Pikmin series and its world is built with distinct pieces of imagery, audio, and typefaces. A large portion of the assets used in the games are made from scratch and are proprietary to Nintendo, though occasionally, some of these assets may be taken or contain elements from external sources. This can include commercially-available software libraries, or real-life objects and hardware.

Stock photography

Since the objects and environments within the Pikmin series are often based on human technology and nature in the real world, photography of real items and locations on Earth are a common resource for textures. For the first game, a large amount of these images were taken in Japan by members of the game's own staff.[1] However, it was not uncommon for some few pieces of foliage to be made using graphics from stock photography libraries. For more unnatural materials, this occurred a lot more often. During the development of Pikmin and Pikmin 2, these libraries were primarily sold and distributed on CD-ROMs.

Sozaijiten

 
The cover of Sozaijiten Vol. 6, one of the CD-ROMs used in the Pikmin series.

Sozaijiten (素材辞典?, lit.: "Material Dictionary") is a series of stock image libraries by Datacraft that is advertised and sold as volumes. The content of each volume is themed (usually around a type of material, part of nature, or event), and were originally distributed on singular CD-ROMs. For Pikmin and Pikmin 2, photographs and artwork from Sozaijiten are used very often and in a myriad of ways.

On Sozaijiten's website, low-resolution previews of every image are available for browsing. The previews come with descriptions; these reveal the original shooting location of certain photos, or some miscellaneous information about the photographed material.

List of Sozaijiten textures used in Pikmin
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF085     The background to a piece of promotional artwork for Pikmin. It is an image of some horsetails, taken in Atsuta, Hokkaido.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF097     The background to a piece of promotional artwork for Pikmin.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF122 File:Pikmin The Final Trial Island Base.png   The mountains in the area selection menu. It is a photograph of Mount Kamui and Lake Mashū.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF164 File:Pikmin World Map Base.png   The main landmass in the area selection menu. It is a photograph of Shakotan, Hokkaido.
Vol. 13 葉・葉脈編

(Leaves and Leaf Veins)

SM054     Several plants founds in the The Impact Site. It is a photograph of an elderberry's leaves.
Vol. 16 皮・年輪編

(Wood Textures)

SQ166     The base of several wooden stumps in The Distant Spring.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV001     PNF-404, in the Nintendo Player's Guide of Pikmin. It is a photograph of Earth. It is also used for Koppai in the opening of Pikmin 3.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV002     PNF-404, during the credits of Pikmin. It is a photograph of Earth.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV007     PNF-404, during the good ending cutscene of Pikmin. It is a photograph of Earth.
List of Sozaijiten textures used in Pikmin 2
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
Vol. 1 テクスチャー・石編

(Stone Textures)

SA068     Stone used around the geyser in the 2nd sublevel of the Emergence Cave.
Vol. 2 紙・布・木編

(Paper, Cloth, and Wood Textures)

SB108     The fabric for the Five-man Napsack.
Vol. 5 空・雲編

(Sky and Clouds)

SE074     The fog in the area selection menu of Pikmin 2.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF122 File:Pikmin The Final Trial Island Base.png   The mountains in the area selection menu. It is a photograph of Mount Kamui and Lake Mashū.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF164 File:Pikmin World Map Base.png   The main landmass in the area selection menu. It is a photograph of Shakotan, Hokkaido.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF190     Snow used for the Valley of Repose's background image. The image was taken on a beach in Otaru.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF191     Trees used for the Valley of Repose's background image. The image was taken in Shikaoi, Hokkaido.
Vol. 8 壁・土編

(Walls and Soils)

SH071     The walls of a cave background in Pikmin 2 , build. It has been flipped horizontally.
Vol. 8 壁・土編

(Walls and Soils)

SH096     Several metallic sheets buried in the ground that appear in the Perplexing Pool.
Vol. 13 葉・葉脈編

(Leaves and Leaf Veins)

SM074     Large leaves in the Perplexing Pool. It is a photograph of Galax.
Vol. 16 皮・年輪編

(Wood Textures)

SQ166     The base of several wooden stumps in the Perplexing Pool and a unique cave unit seen in the Hole of Heroes.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV161     A galaxy that can be seen in the Debt Repayment Cinema in Pikmin 2. It is a photograph of a spiral galaxy in the Pegasus constellation.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV186     Nebulae that can be seen in the Opening and Debt Repayment Cinemas in Pikmin 2. It is a photograph of the Orion Nebula.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV187     Nebulae that can be seen in the Opening and Debt Repayment Cinemas in Pikmin 2. It is a photograph of the Orion Nebula.
Vol. 24 大理石編

(Marbles)

SY089     The texture for the Priceless Statue and Worthless Statue. It is an image of Grigio Carnico marble. For the latter treasure, the colors have been inverted.
Vol. 53 木目・組木・あじろ編

(Grain, Interlocked and Braided Wood)

CD123     The texture used for the Shock Therapist's wooden base. It is an image of rosewood.
Vol. 53 木目・組木・あじろ編

(Grain, Interlocked and Braided Wood)

CD138     A cave background in Pikmin 2 , flooring. It is an image of 5-inch white oak flooring. Several planks of wood were stretched.

Bakku no Oni

 
An image of Bakku no Oni SABI 2.

Bakku no Oni (バックの鬼?, lit.: "Background Demon") is a series of stock image libraries that was distributed by A&P CO-ORDINATOR JAPAN. Its volumes were themed after colors or emotions. Images from "Bakku no Oni SABI 2" were often used as textures for the caves in Pikmin 2.

List of Bakku no Oni textures used in Pikmin 2
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-08   N/A Used for a the small metal plate in the center of the room_hitode3x3_5_metal cave unit.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-27   N/A Used for the dark brown metal in many metallic cave units, and the top of the bucket in the room_big_kusachi garden cave unit.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-34   N/A Used as the center room's floor in room_white14x12_metal, a cave unit in sublevel 3 of the White Flower Garden.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-36   N/A The blue rusted metal in nearly every metal cave unit.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-41   N/A Used in the small path at the top of room_white14x12_metal, and as the circular rim in the Titan Dweevil's arena, room_oootakara_tile.

VisualDisk

 
The front cover of VisualDisk M10 Leaves.

VisualDisk is a series of stock image libraries that was distributed by dizáin. Similar in scope to Sozaijiten, there was a very large amount of volumes released and high variety in its content. However, it is used sparsely in Pikmin 2.

List of VisualDisk textures used in Pikmin 2
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
M-02 Metals M2_01   N/A Used for the top of the bucket in the room_big_kusachi garden cave unit. It is mixed with "RUST-27" from Bakku no Oni SABI 2.
M-10 Leaves M10_05   N/A Used for various autumn leaves on Pikmin 2's title screen, and in the intro for the Wistful Wild when landing in the area for the first time.
M-10 Leaves M10_43   N/A Used for several plants in the Wistful Wild. The leaves have been edited to look like they are decaying.

Instrument samples

The music of the Pikmin series is primarily made using commercially-available sample libraries, synthesizers, and virtual instruments. This is the case for all of the music in Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Pikmin 3. Instances of musicians performing live on real acoustic instruments is highly uncommon in the games; the new music composed by Babi for Pikmin 3 Deluxe is one such example.[2]

Synthesizers and sample libraries used by Hajime Wakai in the music of Pikmin
  • Kurzweil K2500R (and K25 FARM)
  • Roland SC-88
  • Digidesign SampleCell II's factory library
  • Best Service Ultra Gigapack (SampleCell format)
  • Spectrasonics Supreme Beats (SampleCell format)

For this game, Hajime Wakai uses SampleCell II as his primarily sampler. He also makes use of the K2500's packaged "K25 FARM", which contains several hundred extra presets that can be loaded onto the synthesizer.

Synthesizers and sample libraries used by Hajime Wakai in the music of Pikmin 2
  • Kurzweil K2500R (and K25 FARM)
  • Roland SC-88
  • Best Service Peter Siedlaczek's Advanced Orchestra (AKAI format)
  • Best Service Peter Siedlaczek's Orchestral Colors (AKAI format)
  • EastWest Drums + Percussion Special Edition (AKAI format)
  • InVision Lightware 1 (AKAI format)
  • Zero-G Ambient Volume 2
  • Sound Ideas Series 4000 Hollywood Sound Effects Library
  • Sound Ideas Series 6000 The General Sound Effects Library
  • Sound Ideas Warner Bros. Sound Effects Library

Hajime Wakai does not use SampleCell libraries in Pikmin 2; instead, he uses a newer AKAI sampler and AKAI format sample libraries in its place. This is most likely to be an AKAI CD3000, as Drums + Percussion Special Edition and Lightware 1 were bundled in with the purchase of the unit.

Synthesizers and sample libraries used by Kazumi Totaka in the music of Pikmin 2
  • Yamaha S90
  • Yamaha PLG-150DX
  • Yamaha PLG-150VL
  • Roland SC-8850
  • Best Service Peter Siedlaczek's Advanced Orchestra
  • Best Service Ultra Gigapack
  • Digidesign SampleCell II's factory library
  • ILIO Synclavier Sampler Library World & Orchestral
  • Spectrasonics Bass Legends
  • Spectrasonics Supreme Beats
  • Q-Up Arts Voices of Instanbul
  • Sound Ideas Series 4000 Hollywood Sound Effects Library

The PLG-150DX and PLG-150VL are "plug-in" synthesizers inserted into the Yamaha S90. The sample libraries he uses are in a number of different formats, which indicates that he likely often saves and reuses samples, rather than reutilizing the entire libraries as whole. Further evidence of this is the fact some sounds have appeared in different games he has composed music for.

Synthesizers and sample libraries used in the music of Pikmin 3
  • Kurzweil K2500R
  • Roland SC-88
  • KORG Triton
  • Apple Logic Pro
  • Steinberg HALionOne
  • Best Service Peter Siedlaczek's Advanced Orchestra
  • EastWest Ra
  • EastWest Stormdrum 2
  • EastWest Symphonic Orchestra
  • Native Instruments KONTAKT Factory Library
  • Spectrasonics Omnisphere
  • Spectrasonics Supreme Beats
  • Sound Ideas Series 4000 Hollywood Sound Effects Library
  • Sound Ideas Series 6000 The General Sound Effects Library
  • Zero-G Ethnic Flavours (Creative Essentials Vol. 21)

Despite Hajime Wakai writing very few compositions for this game, the K2500R is still used frequently. It is present in the songs by Asuka Hayazaki in particular.

Fonts

Most of the fonts used in the Pikmin games are commercially-available fonts created by Dynacomware or Fontworks. Originally, they were sold bundled together with many other typefaces and distributed on CD-ROMs, but the individual fonts are still available online. Because of their availability, usage of these fonts in other media may be mistaken as a reference to the Pikmin series.

DFCraftSumi Std W9

 
DFCraftSumi Std W9.

DFCraftSumi Std is a typeface created by Dynacomware. DFCraftSumi Std W9 is used in Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Hey! Pikmin for the bubble-like letters that appear in some menus and cutscenes. In Pikmin 3, a modified version of this font is used.

  • The save selection menu in Pikmin.

  • The Onion menu in Pikmin.

  • Title screen for Pikmin 2.

  • One of the day results menu screens in Pikmin 2.

DFPOP1 Std W3

 
DFPOP1 Std W3.

DFPOP1 Std is a typeface created by Dynacomware. DFPOP1 Std W3 is used as the main text font in Pikmin, such as for Olimar's monologs.

  • The title screen of Pikmin.

  • One of Olimar's voyage logs in Pikmin.

  • One of Olimar's monologs in Pikmin.

  • The high scores menu in Pikmin.

  • The enemy reel in Pikmin.

  • The Challenge Mode menu in Pikmin.

Seurat Pro DB

 
Seurat Pro DB.

Seurat is a typeface created by Fontworks. Seurat Pro DB is used as the main text font in Pikmin 2, as seen in the ship's dialogs and other various menu elements.

  • The mail screen in Pikmin 2.

  • The options menu in Pikmin 2.

  • A dialog box in the Treasure Hoard.

  • A menu explaining the rules in 2-Player Battle.

Rodin NTLG Pro DB

 
Rodin NTLG Pro DB.

Rodin NTLG is a typeface created by Fontworks. Rodin NTLG Pro DB is used as the main text font in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe, such as the English text displayed on the KopPad, on-screen character dialog, and other various menu elements.

  • One of Olimar's assignments in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. The message on the right uses Rodin NTLG.

  • The KopPad's exploration notes menu.

  • A data file obtained in Pikmin 3.

  • A HUD element in Pikmin 3.

New Rodin Pro DB

 
New Rodin Pro DB.

New Rodin is a typeface created by Fontworks. New Rodin Pro DB is used in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the numbers in the countdown at sunset.

Proprietary fonts

Some text that appears in the games use fonts that are uniquely created for the Pikmin series itself.

Pikmin 3 bubble-like font

An updated variant of DFCraftSumi Std W9 is used in Pikmin 3. It highly resembles the original typeface, but many minor changes have been made to improve readability, such as making the tails of certain characters longer and their widths more consistent.

 
A comparison between DFCraftSumi Std W9, and its smoother look-alike in Pikmin 3.

Hocotate Freight text

The logo for Hocotate Freight uses a uniquely designed font. It is alien-like, but still legible English.

  • The Hocotate Freight logo in the Pikmin 2 intro cutscene.

  • A sign bearing Hocotate Freight's logo.

Koppaite text

Main article: Koppaite text.

In Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4, an in-universe written language appears very frequently on technology and as a background element throughout various in-game menus. The text appears as an assortment of illegible alien symbols, but these characters are actually translatable into the 26 letters in the English alphabet, which reveal some small secrets when various instances of the text are deciphered.

References

  1. ^ YouTube video of footage from E3, where it is stated that some of the materials used in Pikmin are from around Shigeru Miyamoto's neighborhood (at 10:10)
  2. ^ Babi's response to an e-mail inquiry on Reddit
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