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

The skeletal structure of a Pikmin while being electrocuted

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. When killed, Pikmin release a liquid of the color of the Pikmin, possibly the Pikmin equivalent to hemolymph or blood.

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.

Stages

Pikmin can be divided into 3 stages: In the first of these, the Pikmin will have a leaf on their stem. Leaf Pikmin are the slowest and weakest. Although all three stages produce the exact same amount of damage to enemies, leaf Pikmin take longer to build bridges and take down gates.

The second stage is a bud. In factors of speed and power, these are just between leaf and flower types. In Pikmin 1, 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 immediatly. Like flower Pikmin, buds can be recieved when leaf Pikmin are let in the ground for a certain amount of time.

The final stage are flower Pikmin. These can be gained by letting Pikmin drink nectar, by letting them mature in the ground, or by letting a Mamuta plant Pikmin. In Pikmin 1, these types would release seeds if killed. This has been discontinued in Pikmin 2.

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.

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.

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.

Mushroom Pikmin

File:Thumb zombiepikmin.jpg

A Mushroom Pikmin.

Main article: Mushroom Pikmin.

Mushroom Pikmin are not a serparate species, but rather the result of exposing Pikmin 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, although they may turn white and and attack the Puffstool instead. Mushroom Pikmin can be cured by shaking them off Olimar, by attacking one with an unaffected Pikmin, by waiting a certain amount of time, or by defeating the Puffstool. Both Mushroom Pikmin and the Puffstool are found only in Pikmin 1.

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

See also

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