Themes in the Pikmin series
I've decided to create this sub-page to discuss artistic motifs and themes throughout the pikmin series, these are often left not talked about and I felt like shedding some light on them would help spread some more interest into the more artistic side of Pikmin.
Technology and Nature
The opposing themes of technology and nature are central to the pikmin franchise. Even disregarding all context, the main gameplay of Pikmin is centred around this dichotomy, being an advanced astronaut forced to grapple with nature in the form of both ally Pikmin and enemy creatures. As such, this theme has been around since its inception and grown from game to game.
Pikmin 1
In Pikmin 1, Captain Olimar is thrust unexpectedly for the first time on PNF-404, what was once supposed to be a relaxing space vacation becoming the first major adventure we see from him. The main collectible of this game are ship parts, modular pieces of the S.S. Dolphin, toylike in construction yet so incredibly advanced Olimar usually fails to explain how they function. On the other hand, the titular Pikmin are first discovered in this game. Their designs seem to be made to intentionally contrast with Olimar and his ship, Olimar is covered head to toe in a space suit that protects him from the outside elements and thick eyelids that betray his true expression. This is in contrast to the plantlike Pikmin who bear no clothing and leaves on their heads, their eyes are also beady and piercing which contrasts heavily with Olimar. The initial introduction of Olimar, his ship parts and the Pikmin are very striking in this way and set the precident for the rest of the series. Also to note is the game's UI and music, especially at the title screen, where we are introduced to the game with sampled woodwind instruments and the Pikmin logo written in swaying pikmin flowers and a bubbly font that aims to convey an entirely naturalist exterior.
As the game progresses from just the beggining, olimar encounters many creatures and areas devoid of much technology at all. Pikmin 1 in general is very oppressive with its use of natural themes, conveying a sense of lonliness and unfamiliarity that is fitting for a story about a lone castaway. There are, however, distinct traces of a long gone civilisation if the player looks closely, perhaps a bad omen for what happens to Olimar's kind if forced to contend with nature. In Pikmin 1's bad ending, this is shown in full when Olimar himself is converted into a Pikmin if he fails mastery over nature. However, if Olimar is able to succeed in his quest for the ship parts and escape the planet, he and the player will instead be treated to visuals of Pikmin defeating bulborbs on their own and many undiscovered Onion types that imply Olimar's arrival has allowed Pikmin and thus nature to flourish, maybe implying that technology and nature don't necessarily have to work against eachother.
Pikmin 2
Pikmin 2 begins with a cutscene depicting Planet Hocotate, a seeming desolate wasteland in which the only noteable features are strange devices, buildings and a single spaceship that can be seen taking off in the background. The depiction of Planet Hocotate is not very flattering, which fits with the comedic tone of this cutscene. The lack of much of any natural features aside from the odd plant is of heavy contrast to that of PNF-404, to which olimar is about to journey once again. In this game, Olimar is working as a part of his job with his newly introduced co-worker Louie. This premise already centres technology as a far more major theme than in Pikmin 1, as will be seen later the two games are near opposites in this sense.
During the game, Olimar collects "Treasure", relics of a long-gone society that are actually common household objects. The prescence of these objects implies that there must have once been a civilisation living here that has somehow dissapeared, being reclaimed by the creatures and plants of PNF-404. The first treasure Olimar comes across is even a battery, something comparitively advanced compared to the first game's rusted cans and discarded mufflers. These treasures being in pristine condition and highly valuable also portrays human technology as something to be admired, which can be seen in several Treasure Hoard descriptions for tech-based treasures later into the game. Introduced along with treasure is the new spaceship Olimar and Louie are using for their operations, this ship is toylike in construction much like the S.S. Dolphin, however its rusted metal appearance and heavy clanking sound effects leave little faith in its ability to run properly. The ship's AI is also a character in this game, an example of the incredibly advanced technology the Hocotations possess. The AI is often described as annoying in-universe and by players, it often places corperate interests first and has major allegiences to the company president. The connection between technology and enterprise seen with the ship's personality is a big theme of Pikmin 2, which is also seen in many of the treasures being real life brands. Pikmin 2 seems to have a relatively nihilistic view when it comes to this relationship, seeing as Hocotate Freight is usually represented as being poorly ran and the branded material has lost all meaning once their original audience had dissapeared.
Natural themes take a backseat in Pikmin 2's main campeign, although the overworld areas are extremely lush, most of the gameplay is spent within dreary caves which are often made of unnatural metal, concrete and wood. Electricity being a new and important hazard found throughout the game further drives this feeling home. Furthermore, the final boss of this game is the Titan Dweevil, who fittingly uses technology in the form of treasures to attack your pikmin with every hazard. This creature is actually relatively docile, and it is potentially Louie's influence that caused it to go bezerk. This is yet another negative view on technology as in this scenario it has made an otherwise gentle creature into a hostile force.
Also of note is this game's Piklopedia, a marriage of both science and nature in the form of documenting the ecology of creatures and plants discovered on the planet.
Pikmin 3
Pikmin 3 has a much more heavy sci-fi theme and thus uses technology to a more prominent extent, its theming around fruit and featuring HD graphics however also means more naturalist environments can be conveyed. In terms of theming, Pikmin 3 is probably the most balanced compared to the previous two in this way.
Pikmin 3 heavily uses sci-fi theming in its sound design and cutscenes which can be heard right away as soon as the player opens the game for the first time. However, the more natural sound effects, music and backgrounds accompanying this on the title screen help create a marriage between the two ideas that mesh together in an unusual yet satisfying way. This is incorperated even into the story, Koppai is facing a food crisis, Koppai being a new planet of people who eat only fruit as their main form of sustenence. Their journey to PNF-404 is essencially fueled by the need to discover and harvest this fruit and an Engineer, Botanist and Space Ranger are chosen to fulfill this duty. The fact that such advanced technology is required for what essentially amounts to a fruit picking expedition is not only slightly humerous in nature but also provides a contrast between technology and the natural world as despite all their technologies available they cannot replicate the fruits only nature can provide.