Pikmin family

This article is about the species/family. For the real world video-games, see Pikmin series.

Pikmin are a plant-animal life-form first encountered by Captain Olimar when his ship crash-landed on an uncharted planet in Pikmin 1. The Pikmin are loyal to Olimar whenever he visits, and he may have taught them some degree of survival, considering they weren't extinct in Pikmin 2. Pikmin come in many colors, each indicating a unique set of attributes that better suit them to different environments. They are 1 inch tall from foot-to-tip and are able to carry (at least) ten times their own weight, as evidenced the ability of Blue Pikmin to lift and toss heavy Purple Pikmin.

Captain Olimar was noted in Pikmin 1 to wonder, a bit uneasily, why the Pikmin don't attack him, and speculated that they might see him as a "parental figure." An idea commonly held by fans is that Olimar's helmet antenna resembles a Pikmin stem, and that the Pikmin see him as one of their own or as some kind of "super Pikmin." Although wild Pikmin have never been observed to follow a leader, this explanation seems to be the most probable and is further evidenced as Pikmin will imitate Olimar while idle, such as by blowing imaginary whistles.

Biology

Although each species has different characteristics, all Pikmin have have the same general appearance with a humanoid body shape, large, bulb-shaped heads, two round eyes, two arms and two legs each with three digits, and a tall stem on which a single, five-petaled flower grows. Their limbs also serve as roots when buried in the ground.

The internal structure of Pikmin is a mystery, but a certain amount about them can be speculated. Since they never seem to eat anything, save nectar, they probably have a very simple digestive system if any; as such, it's 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, although 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 electrocuted. Pikmin probably don't have any sort of lungs, but their leaves/flowers appear to serve as their main means of respiration, since poison gas or water droplets collecting around them suffocates the Pikmin.

While idle, Pikmin's leaves and flowers glow that Pikmin's respective color; that, coupled with a cinema scene 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.

Known species

These are the species so far encountered in the Pikmin games.

Red Pikmin

Three Red Pikmin.

Main article: Red Pikmin.

Red Pikmin were the first species of Pikmin discovered. Their unique physical appearance is their pointed noses. These Pikmin are fireproof and have the second strongest attack power, bested only by Purple Pikmin. These Pikmin are found in The Impact Site.

Yellow Pikmin

Three Yellow Pikmin.

Main article: Yellow Pikmin.

Yellow Pikmin have large ears. Their ears seem to catch wind currents, so they soar much higher when thrown, and they were recently discovered (in Pikmin 2) to be shockproof. In Pikmin 1 they used to be able to carry and throw bomb-rocks, but the bomb-rocks seen in Pikmin 2 are much larger and are too heavy to be carried.

Blue Pikmin

Three Blue Pikmin.

Main article: Blue Pikmin.

Blue Pikmin have what appear to be mouths, but are actually gills. These Pikmin, unlike the others, can survive in water and are resistant to water-based attacks. If thrown into water or standing idle, they will save any nearby drowning Pikmin by throwing them back to land.

Purple Pikmin

A Purple Pikmin with an Ultra Spicy Berry.

Main article: Purple Pikmin.

Purple Pikmin are bulkier and larger than normal Pikmin and have several wiry hairs growing out of their head. These Pikmin can cause damage simply by being tossed on enemies (which may also stun enemies), and will actually scoot their bodies in the air to try and land directly on the enemy if not tossed directly above it. They can also pick up objects with the force of 10 Pikmin, but move more slowly, even at the flower stage. They also seem to have the less obvious ability to pull inter-dimensional creatures or objects into their dimension, as proven by their ability to make the Waterwraith vulnerable to pikmin attacks.

File:Normal whitepikmin.jpg

A White Pikmin.

White Pikmin

Main article: White Pikmin.

White Pikmin are smaller than normal Pikmin and have red eyes. These Pikmin are resistant to poison. They seem to have poison in themselves, as enemies take damage when they ingest White Pikmin. Their red eyes seem to make it possible for them to detect things buried underground. These Pikmin are also the fastest, and carry objects much quicker than other Pikmin.

Bulbmin

A Bulbmin.

Main article: Bulbmin.

Bulbmin are a combination of a parasitic Pikmin and a juvenile Bulborb. They are immune to all hazards thanks to the Bulborb's anatomy. Although they can carry objects and flower as normal pikmin do, they are weak in battle and unable to leave the caves in which they are found.

Rumored species

Five pink Onions, four black, two light blue, an orange, a green, and a purple. They appear during the "happy" end in Pikmin 1

If the player gathers every ship part in the first Pikmin game, they will see several different colors of Onions. These include purple, brown, orange, black, pink, green, and light blue. Although Purple Pikmin were discovered in Pikmin 2, it is unknown whether the rest of these colors will appear in future games, or if the multi-color onions are just an easter egg. Template:Endspoiler

Mushroom Pikmin

File:Thumb zombiepikmin.jpg

A Mushroom Pikmin.

Main article: Mushroom Pikmin.

Also called "Puffmin", this is the form that Pikmin take when exposed to a Puffstool's gas attack. When affected by the spores of a Puffstool, Pikmin turn purple, grow mushrooms on their heads and turn against Olimar and other unaffected Pikmin. Mushroom Pikmin can be cured by knocking them onto the ground either by shaking them off Olimar or by attacking one with another Pikmin. The effect of the spores wears off after a certain amount of time, or it can be ceased immediately by defeating the Puffstool. Both Mushroom Pikmin and the Puffstool are found only in the first game title.

There is a well known glitch associated with Mushroom Pikmin where they will become white, turn against the Puffstool and attack it. A similar glitch actually allows the player to control the Mushroom Pikmin, although this is much harder to accomplish. Normal Pikmin will still attack the rebel Mushroom Pikmin in both cases.

See also

• Onion
• Pikmin (game)
• Pikmin 2
• Gallery of Pikmin