My name is Captain Olimar. While traveling through space, my ship was struck by a meteor... I must have blacked out, and I awoke on the surface of a weird planet. With so many parts lost, the skeletal hull of my beloved Dolphin is a painful sight. The engine is gone... I'm stranded. To make matters worse, my atmospheric sensors indicate this planet's environment contains high levels of poisonous oxygen. My life-support systems can function for only 30 days. If I can't repair the Dolphin by then... No! Better not to think about it. I must find the missing ship parts!
„
~ Olimar's Monologue
“
We've recovered our first treasure! Amazingly, the Pikmin remembered how to salvage it. I can't understand their adorable language and I don't know what they're thinking, yet I'm so happy to see them. When I crashed on this planet, the Pikmin helped me locate my missing ship parts. In my darkest hour, the Pikmin were there for me. Now that I'm reunited with them, I know everything will be alright. It will, right?
„
~ Olimar after acquiring his first piece of treasure
Captain Olimar, also referred to as simply Olimar, is the main protagonist of Pikmin 1, Pikmin 2, and the side stories to Pikmin 3 Deluxe. He also has a minor role throughout the main story of Pikmin 3 where he becomes a primary character in the final location, the Formidable Oak. He is from the planet Hocotate, and while on several missions for his employer, Hocotate Freight, he discovered PNF-404 and all types of Pikmin so far.
This dropdown contains the synopsis of Captain Olimar’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Pikmin 1
While on an interstellar vacation from Hocotate, Captain Olimar's ship, the S.S. Dolphin, collided with a meteor and crashed onto an uncharted planet (later named "PNF-404" by natives of Planet Koppai), which is actually the Pikmin' planet. The Dolphin lost 30 pieces, and the accident rendered Olimar unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he found the planet's atmosphere contained high amounts of oxygen, which is extremely poisonous to his species. Fortunately, Olimar landed next to the still, barely functioning skeletal hull of the Dolphin. While wandering around an area he called The Impact Site, Olimar met odd creatures that he called Pikmin at what could be called their nest, which he named an Onion. Both Pikmin and the Onions are named after famous foods Olimar often ate on Hocotate.
These Red Pikmin that he discovered were able to reproduce more Pikmin with Olimar's help. Olimar directed them to carry his ship's Main Engine back to The Dolphin's remains, which auto-repaired itself with the parts that Olimar and the Pikmin brought. This allowed the S.S. Dolphin at least to lift off for the night and avoid the hostile nocturnal creatures that reside on PNF-404.
Olimar found that the Pikmin followed him loyally, which he guessed was because he plucked each one from the ground or was seen as a parental figure. Olimar's leadership skills and the Pikmins' ability to fight enemies, destroy obstacles and carry ship parts combined to allow Olimar to find each of the various parts of the Dolphin while the Pikmin species flourished. While looking for parts, Olimar discovered other areas, including the Forest of Hope, the Forest Navel, the Distant Spring, and the Final Trial. He also discovered two more Pikmin species, the bomb-carrying Yellow Pikmin and the aquatic Blue Pikmin. Luckily for Olimar, he was able to find the Dolphin's 30 ship parts to attach to the Dolphin's remains with time left to spare. Before he left, he took a bottle cap from the planet as a souvenir for his son. By the time Olimar left, the Pikmin had learned to work together by themselves, and it seemed as though they would survive as species without his assistance, resulting in a happy ending.
Alternative Endings
Bad Ending
If Olimar fails to get twenty-five of the mandatory ship parts by Day 30, he will suffer major poisoning from the oxygen. He will try to fly off, but the Dolphin will come crashing back down again, killing Olimar. His Pikmin will then bring his body to an Onion, which now turns him into a seed that grows on Olimar's head, along with a black stem and leaf, turning him into a Pikmin capable of surviving on PNF-404.
Average Ending
If Olimar gets the twenty-five necessary ship parts for flight but does not manage to collect all thirty ship parts, he will successfully fly away from the planet, but won't properly say goodbye to the Pikmin who are left staring at the S.S Dolphin.
Return to Hocotate
After Olimar's success at the Distant Planet, he was able to blast off of the planet to return to Hocotate, see his family and return to his normal life. Deciding to land at Hocotate Freight, he met up with the President of Hocotate Freight and a local employee named Louie. After landing the S.S. Dolphin, he learned that the company was in serious debt, having to pay an amount equal to 10,100 Pokos and the unknown price of Olimar's prized ship, the S.S. Dolphin.
This was to pay for the loss of a Golden Pikpik Carrot shipment, supposedly eaten by a ravenous space bunny. Learning that the S.S. Dolphin was sold to pay for some of the debt, Olimar was so shocked he dropped a souvenir he found on the Distant Planet for his son. As the bottle cap rolled past Louie, an old ship, commonly known as 'The Ship' was able to use its Research Pod to suck up the rusty bottle cap. The Pod analyzed the piece of salvage to be worth 100 Pokos, which lowered the remaining debt to 10,000 Pokos.
With hope for Hocotate Freight's future insight, The President commanded Olimar and Louie to return to the Distant Planet and collect more treasure to pay off the debt.
Pikmin 2
As Olimar and Louie were heading to the Valley of Repose, the ship collided with a tree branch, and the resulting impact jolted Louie out of the cockpit, meaning Olimar had to search for him. Luckily for Olimar, he found a group of Red Pikmin fighting a lone Dwarf Red Bulborb. He was able to unite with Louie by using the Pikmin to penetrate the barriers.
Louie had discovered a treasure that was a large double D Duracell battery, dubbed the Courage Reactor and started their treasure -seeking adventure. Later they discovered a series of Caverns deep underground, which housed many treasures and even the previously undiscovered Purple Pikmin.
As they were able to make progress in the Awakening Wood and Perplexing Pool, they encountered the undocumented White Pikmin and rediscovered the Yellow and Blue Pikmin, which were eager to help. The debt eventually lowered to a minuscule amount. In the end, Olimar and Louie were able to pay off their company's debt.
After repaying the debt, Captain Olimar blasted off the planet but noticed that he somehow left Louie behind. Alas, it was too late, as he was going too fast to turn around and get him. After meeting the President once again to present him with all the treasures he and Louie found, the debt was fully paid. Olimar then told the President that there was more treasure on the planet. The President, looking to increase Hocotate Freight's fortune, then decided to send Olimar and Louie back to the planet. Only then did he realize that Louie was missing. The President decided that he would join Olimar to search for Louie and to make their company even wealthier.
The two went to the Wistful Wild to start their search and find more treasure. They both were able to find Louie in the Wistful Wild, but he was at the very bottom of the deep, dark, dangerous Dream Den. To make matters worse, Louie was resting on top of a gigantic Titan Dweevil. Olimar and the President were able to rescue Louie, although they suspect that Louie was the one controlling the Titan Dweevil in the first place.
Pikmin 3
Due to to the President's excessive spending and failure of a new business venture, Olimar is sent back to PNF-404 with Louie in search of even more treasure to buy back the S.S. Dolphin and repay Hocotate Freight's newly acquired second debt. However, The Ship lands near a massive creature known as a Quaggled Mireclops, which destroys it, leaving Olimar and Louie stranded. As they explore the planet, they inadvertently pick up the Koppaites' Cosmic Drive Key.
After a while, Olimar starts to enjoy the search for treasure and even becomes tempted by it. He at one point writes in his diary he is sick of the President getting everything and how easy it would be to take just one piece of gold. Olimar eventually discovers the Formidable Oak, seeing something glittering at the top of it. Thinking it must be valuable gold, he climbs to the top, only to find it is actually a living creature, the Plasm Wraith. The creature eventually obsesses over Olimar, preventing him from leaving, yet doesn't harm him. Each time Olimar attempts to escape from the Plasm Wraith, the creature activates the suit's auto-sleep feature, preventing him from continuing his escape.
With the help of Louie, Alph, Brittany, and Charlie are able to locate Olimar and subdue the Plasm Wraith just long enough for them to take off with Olimar back to their respective planets. In Pikmin 3, his notes state that once he pays off the second debt he will be able to get his beloved S.S. Dolphin back.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe
After returning to Hocotate, the President, distraught from the loss of the Hocotate Ship, forces Olimar and Louie to return to PNF-404 yet again to locate and restore the totalled ship.
Over the course of ten days, Olimar and Louie traverse the previously explored lands of PNF-404 in search of the broken parts of the Hocotate Ship, including the biome of the Plasm Wraith; The Forbidden Oak.
After recovering all of the Hocotate Ship's pieces, Olimar and Louie are able to rebuild the ship, and return to Hocotate for the final time.
Alignment:Neutral Good (Olimar does what he needs to do in order to survive. This involves killing wildlife if they threaten him or the Pikmin. Despite this, Olimar has a deep respect and leader-like connection with the Pikmin and blames himself for their deaths. Olimar was willing to rescue Louie despite not having much of a connection with him)
Intelligence:Extraordinary Genius (Is a Scientist and Biologist who designed the Bowsprit for the S.S Dolphin. Studied the Pikmin species along with the enemy species to learn their weaknesses and how they act and react to things. Modified his ship and suit with technology he considered advanced and with only a night's time. Is a brilliant puzzle solver and has shown to work incredibly efficiently while under pressure)
Extraordinary! When I plucked the sprout, it turned out to be a living creature, not a plant! Picking it has done no visible damage... It just stands there, staring at me. Its shape is similar to the Pikpik brand carrots I love so much... I believe I shall call it a Pikmin.
Discovered: At the Impact Site in Pikmin 1, the Valley of Repose in Pikmin 2, and the Tropical Wilds in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
Strengths: Is immune to fire and deals 1.5 times more damage than an average Pikmin.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards excluding fire (Electricity, water, poison, and wind). Can be crushed and instantly killed.
"Red Pikmin are resistant to fire."
"Red Pikmin are good fighters."
“
The yellow Pikmin have picked up some peculiar stones. Why did they decide to grab them? This action seems to be instinctive to the yellow Pikmin. But just what are these strange glowing stones? Brightly glowing cracks cover them. Perhaps these cracks indicate that there's tremendous power locked away within. This merits further research.
Discovered: In the Forest of Hope in Pikmin 1, the Perplexing Pool in Pikmin 2, and the Distant Tundra in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
Strengths: Is lmmune to and can conduct electricity. Due to being lighter, Yellow Pikmin can be thrown further and dig up objects faster.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards excluding electricty (Fire, water, poison, and wind). Can be crushed and instantly killed.
"Yellow Pikmin can conduct electricity."
"Yellow Pikmin are shock resistant."
"Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher."
"Yellow Pikmin are good at digging."
“
It is a Pikmin of yet another color. Near this one's cheeks is what appears to be a set of gills. This trait suggests to me that this blue type of Pikmin can enter the water without any trouble whatsoever. There's only one way to find out...
Discovered: In the Forest Navel in Pikmin 1, the Awakening Wood in Pikmin 2, and the Garden of Hope in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
Strengths: Is lmmune to and can breathe underwater. They can also swim underwater better than most fish, making them ideal for underwater combat.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards excluding water (Fire, water, poison, and wind). Can be crushed and instantly killed.
"Blue Pikmin can survive in water."
"Blue Pikmin can attack while swimming."
“
Amazing! A purple Pikmin! It has little hair... and is quite stocky. It seems very heavy and strong.
„
~ Hocotate Ship's analysis
Name: Purple Pikmin
Sex: Unknown, likely asexual
Onion Type: Unknown (Although Purple Onions do exist, it is unknown whether this is the onion of the purple pikmin we see in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3)
Discovered: Discovered in the Emergence Cave in Pikmin 2.
Strengths: Has the physical power of ten pikmin, thus allowing to carry far heavier items. Can create shockwaves capable of stunning opponents.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards excluding wind (Fire, electricity, water, and poison). Can be crushed and instantly killed.
“
Incredible! A white Pikmin! It is tiny, but looks distinctly swift. Its eyes are an unseemly red.
„
~ Hocotate Ship's analysis
Name: White Pikmin
Sex: Unknown, likely asexual
Onion Type: Unknown (No White Onion has been seen within the Pikmin Series as of Pikmin 3 Deluxe)
Discovered: Discovered in the White Flower Garden in Pikmin 2.
Strengths: White Pikmin are the fastest pikmin on foot, and can sense barried treasures beneath the surface. Due to their physiology, White Pikmin produce acidic poison that can instantly kill foes when consumed. This also makes them immune to toxins entirely.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards excluding poison (Fire, electricity, water, and wind). Can be crushed and instantly killed.
“
These confused bulborbs seem to have fallen in with the Pikmin. They appear to coexist peacefully.
Strange... This bulborb has a leaf sprouting from its spine, much like the leaf of a Pikmin's head.
„
~ Hocotate Ship's analysis
Name: Bulbmin
Sex: Unknown, likely asexual (Pikmin), depends based on the creature they possess
Onion Type: None (Does not have an Onion, and instead nests itself in the spinal cord of other wildlife to survive)
Discovered: Discovered in the Frontier Cavern in Pikmin 2.
Strengths: Bulbmin are immune to every elemental hazard except wind. This makes them the most diverse Pikmin type of the family.
Weaknesses: Is unable to leave certain areas due to having no means to survive on the surface of PNF-404. Still affected by the wind hazard.
“
Are these creatures Pikmin too? They're giving me a funny look...
Discovered: At the Garden of Hope in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
Strengths: Due to being a rock, their hard bodies allow them to break through more solid surfaces like crystal. They also cannot be crushed due to their physiology.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards (Fire, electricity, water, poison, and wind). Cannot latch on to targets due to their size.
"Rock Pikmin are very hard... like rocks."
"Rock Pikmin inflict extraordinary damage when thrown directly onto an enemy or object."
"Rock Pikmin aren't crushed when trampled on."
“
A new type of Pikmin came from the Onion trapped by that creature.
A type with little wings! It's the first time I've seen a Pikmin fly.
Discovered: At the Twilight River in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
Strengths: Thanks to their wings, Winged Pikmin can fly over various obstacles, and fight opponents within the air most efficiently.
Weaknesses: Standard elemental hazards (Fire, electricity, water, poison, and wind). Is a weaker fighter than most other Pikmin species.
"Winged Pikmin can fly."
"Winged Pikmin can lift objects into the air."
"Winged Pikmin are somewhat lacking in attack strength."
"Winged Pikmin are aces in aerial combat."
Notable Techniques
Whistle: The whistle is a main part of the gameplay in the Pikmin games. It is the primary way of calling idle Pikmin and leaders over onto the active leader's group, the secondary way being the active leader bumping into them. Whistling can also be used to instantly rescue Pikmin who are under the effects of certain hazards, or Pikmin trapped by special enemy attacks. Throughout the series, the whistle has been modified and repurposed for multiple different techniques.
Call: By blowing the whistle for an extended period of time, any idol Pikmin or captains will be alerted and fall into line next to the captain issuing the command.
Dismiss: Using the dismiss signal alerts any pikmin and captains following the current captain to separate into idol groups for further action.
Charge: The swarm command plays a sound equivalent to a blow horn which signals any active Pikmin groups in the captain's party to charge a targetted objective.
Swarm: The swarm technique directs any and all Pikmin in the captain's current troop to fall in on an objective in quick succession.
Whistle Upgrades:
The Mega Tweeter: The Mega Tweeter is obtained by defeating the Ranging Bloyster in the Shower Room, and collecting the Amplified Amplifier. This upgrade increases the range of the whistles of all captains. The diameter of the visible circle projected on the ground increases to about 144% of its original size, thus more than doubling the area the whistle affects. This makes it easier to call scattered Pikmin to the captain's side, even when being slow in the Onions.
Pluckaphone: The Pluckaphone is obtained by defeating the Waterwraith in the Submerged Castle and collecting the Professional Noisemaker. It is an upgrade that allows the captain' whistles to call buried Pikmin out from the ground, saving precious time that would otherwise be spent plucking them out. As well as picking newly produced Pikmin at the Onions, this is useful for calling out Pikmin that were planted by wildlife in battle.
Dodge Roll: The Dodge Whistle can be found on a small cliff a short distance away from the exit to the Vehemoth Phosbat cave. It is an upgrade that allows captains to dodge left or right, guiding the Pikmin to do the same. It is done in a straight line normally, or in an arc around a locked-on target.
Throw: A standard technique which involves throwing a captain or pikmin at an objective. This technique is used primarily to launch Pikmin at foes from a distance with risking as many casualties, at the risk of only being to throw one Pikmin at a time.
Other
Weaknesses: Must wear a spacesuit while on unknown planets. He mainly relies on his Pikmin to get work done, so losing all Pikmin causes him to become extremely depressed and drop everything he's doing to flee.
This dropdown contains a full run-down of all of the Pikmin if one does not wish to go on the separate Pikmin profile.
Background
Pikmin are a plant-animal life-form first encountered by Captain Olimar when his ship crash-lands on an uncharted planet in Pikmin. The Pikmin are loyal to their leaders, although their criteria for deciding a leader is unclear. They come in a number of different types, each indicating a unique set of attributes that better suit them to different environments and tasks. Most Pikmin are 1.2 cm, from the top of the head to the feet, and have a vaguely humanoid shape, allowing them to walk, run, carry, and fight. Different types can have different shapes or sizes. Atop any Pikmin's head is a stem, topped with a leaf, bud, or flower, depending on their maturity.
Captain Olimar was noted in Pikmin to wonder, a bit uneasily, why the Pikmin don't attack him, and he speculated that they might see him as a "parental figure". However, the Antenna Beetle being able to control Pikmin with its sound might prove that it is in fact the whistle that makes Pikmin non-aggressive.
Biology
Although each species have different characteristics, most Pikmin have the same general appearance: a roughly humanoid body shape, two round eyes, two arms and two legs, two hands and two feet – each with three digits – and a tall stem on which a single leaf, bud, or five-petaled flower grows. Their limbs also serve as roots when buried in the ground. In fact, Olimar refers to their entire bodies, save the stems, as ambulatory root structures.
The internal structures of Pikmin are a mystery, but certain things about them can be speculated. Since Pikmin never seem to eat anything, save nectar, they probably have a very simple digestive system, if any. As such, it is 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. However, in Pikmin 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. These bones however are incredibly flexible to the point of allowing the Pikmin to act like rubber. Pikmin don't appear to have any sort of lungs (however, the Blue Pikmin are observed to have gill structures), but their leaves, buds, and flowers appear to serve as their main means of respiration, since poison gas or water droplets collecting around them suffocates the Pikmin; inversely, walking in shallow water in which their leaf/bud/flower does not touch (as seen in the Shower Room) is fine. When killed, Pikmin disappear and a ghost resembling the original Pikmin flies into the air, sometimes after releasing a liquid of the same color as the Pikmin, possibly the Pikmin equivalent to hemolymph or blood – this is best seen when the Cloaking Burrow-nit attacks.
Pikmin start off as seeds ejected from the Onion, which, after landing on the ground, transform into sprouts. A leader must pluck a sprout so that the Pikmin may come out or alternatively have the Pluckaphone whistle blown at them to "inspire" them. While idle, the Pikmin's leaves and flowers glow that Pikmin's respective color; that, coupled with a cutscene at the end of Pikmin 2, would suggest that Pikmin are somehow bioluminescent, though what causes this and what function(s) it might serve in the wild have never been explained.
Regular Pikmin are able to carry (at least) ten times their own weight, as evidenced by the ability of Blue Pikmin to lift and toss heavy Purple Pikmin when they are drowning in water, and have even been shown to lift entire nuggets of gold roughly the size of the Pikmin. Pikmin are also capable of basic speech and can even be heard saying English phrases like "OK!", "Hi!", and "Yahoo!" after being plucked from the ground. When in a group they will sometimes sing parts of Ai no Uta in Pikmin 2. If left idle for a long time, Pikmin will moan at each other. From what is heard, it can be assumed that Pikmin language is very simple and primitive.
Stages
Pikmin can be divided into three stages. In the first of these, the Pikmin will have a leaf on their stem, which changes to a bud and then a flower as the stage increases. Leaf Pikmin are the slowest and least efficient at performing tasks, but as the stage goes up the movement speed and task efficiency increases. Along with that, Pikmin think more efficiently in both combat and task when in a higher stage as they sprout into their flower state when thinking of more elaborate plans.
Pikmin can advance their current stage in several ways. The most common way is by being fed nectar. Alternatively, they may be left underground before being plucked, where they will gradually mature with time, or, in Pikmin 3, they can be sprayed. When knocked to the ground in battle in Pikmin and Pikmin 2, they have a chance of losing their maturity and decreasing in stage. They will never revert their current stage in Pikmin 3.
In Pikmin, 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 immediately. Like flower Pikmin, buds can be received when leaf Pikmin are allowed to stay in the ground for a certain amount of time.
Statistics
Tier: At least 10-C, 10-A with Purple Pikmin, higher with multiple of them attacking at once
Name: Pikmin (Name of species), Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, White Pikmin, Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin etc. (Not all Pikmin types have been discovered as shown in the ending of Pikmin)
Durability: At least Below Average Human level+ (Puffmin can tank hits from Pikmin and Pikmin can tank hits from Puffmin), Athlete level for Purple Pikmin, higher for Rock Pikmin (Unlike most pikmin, Rock Pikmin can survive getting crushed by bosses that attack by crushing pikmin, such as the Shaggy Long Legs)
Striking Strength: At least Below Average Human Class+, Athlete Class with Purple Pikmin higher with multiple of them attacking at once
Weaknesses: Aside from Bulbmin, every Pikmin either only resists one elemental type or none of them. Purples and Rocks resist no elemental types, and any Pikmin that's not a blue pikmin or Winged Pikmin can drown. Though if a Winged Pikmin does get caught off guard they can fall in the water and proceed to drown themselves. However this weakness can be avoided with the help of Blue Pikmin throwing them out of the water
Gallery
The three types of Pikmin from Pikmin.
Artwork of Olimar and his army of Pikmin.
Another artwork of Olimar and his Pikmin.
Artwork of Captain Olimar and a few Pikmin. The message reads "Nice to meet you!"
