Bulborb

Bulborb
Appears in	Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3, Hey! Pikmin
Scientific name	Oculus kageyamii russus
Family	Grub-dog
Areas	The Forest of Hope, Valley of Repose, Awakening Wood, Garden of Hope, Tropical Wilds, Formidable Oak, The Shadow in the Brush
Caves	Hole of Beasts, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den
Challenge Mode levels	The Forest of Hope, The Distant Spring, Explorer's Cave, Lost Toy Box, Red Chasm, Collector's Room, Breeding Ground, Emperor's Realm
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! levels	Tropical Forest, Twilight Hollow, Shaded Garden, Tropical Forest Remix, Twilight Hollow Remix, Beastly Caverns
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! levels	Tropical Forest, Silver Lake, Thirsty Desert, Shaded Garden, Garden of Hope Remix, Formidable Oak Remix
Side Story levels	Inside Forest, Pikmin Reunion, Creature Hunting, Big Fruit Carnival
2-Player Battle levels	Angle Maze
Bingo Battle levels	Shaded Terrace, Stagnant Sea, Twisted Cavern, Arid Metropolis, Rusted Labyrinth, Jigsaw Fortress, Blooming Terrace, Parched Brook, Buried Pond, Sandbox Kingdom, Corroded Maze, Jigsaw Colosseum
Attacks	Eat Pikmin

This article is about the red grub-dog. For other uses, see Bulborb (disambiguation).

Bulborbs (チャッピー^?, lit.: "Chappy") are common enemies in the Pikmin games, and they are among the most well-known enemies in the series. They were originally called Spotty Bulborbs in Pikmin, and then Red Bulborbs in Pikmin 2, before being simply called Bulborbs in Pikmin 3 and later games.

Due to their prominence in the series, they are often just as much a staple for the games as the Pikmin themselves, getting significant exposure via marketing and spin-off media.

Stats[edit]

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Hey! Pikmin.
Particularly: Find out its health in Hey! Pikmin by retreiving the value from the game files.

Game	Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health	Regen.
	10	20	12	N/A	1100	Unknown
	10	20	12	× 7	750	No
(?)	10	20 (normally)	10	× 50 × 50	1000	No
	N/A	N/A	× 0	N/A	Unknown	Unknown

Behavior[edit]

A Bulborb sleeping during the day.

Bulborbs are nocturnal creatures, and sleep in open locations during the day. In the main series of games, this exposes them to being attacked by Pikmin, as they won't wake up until they are attacked. However, Dwarf Bulborbs in Pikmin will let out a screech when agitated, awaking any nearby Bulborbs.

Once awake, they become aggressive, and will run towards nearby Pikmin and lunge at them to try and eat them. If it manages to catch any Pikmin, it will stand up and eat them; otherwise it will try again. If there are a lot of Pikmin attacking it at once, it will shake them off and then start trying to eat again. If their eyestalks are attacked, they will panic and break off whatever they are doing to shake away their assailants.

In Hey! Pikmin, a Bulborb takes on the role of the boss of the Brilliant Garden. It is larger and moves slower, but is also more aggressive, and is no longer nocturnal. When defeated, it drops the Flashy Monument.

Locations[edit]

See: Bulborb/Locations

Strategy[edit]

Artwork of several Pikmin attacking a Bulborb.

The following article or section contains guides.
The strategies presented may not be the only ones or the best ones.

Pikmin[edit]

Swarming a Bulborb with a large group of 50 or so Pikmin, preferably Red Pikmin due to their increased attack power, proves quite effective most of the time. If only a few Pikmin are available, they should be thrown onto the Bulborb's back repeatedly while retreating if the enemy starts charging at them. Waiting until it goes back to sleep takes longer, but is a lot safer. If bomb-rocks are used, the Bulborb will die with two blasts. If you attack its back it will usually do a quarter-turn right, hiding some of its back from your current position.

Pikmin 2[edit]

Rather than swarming it, continuously tossing Pikmin onto its back is preferable when the army is at least 30 Pikmin strong, even if some are shaken off. A few Purple Pikmin can cause serious damage, especially if they stun the Bulborb. If it is accidentally awakened before being attacked by Pikmin, you should run away until it turns around, then make a new pass at it.

If the Pikmin army is very small, the creature can also be woken up and made to chase the leader until it leaves its territory, at which point it will turn around and return to its original sleeping spot. At this point, the player must follow it and wait for it to reach its spot. Once there it will yawn, fall asleep, then wake up and attack again if provoked. Beginning the attack at the moment the creature yawns provides the player with a few crucial seconds in which the Bulborb is entirely immobilized and harmless.

In some metal-themed caves, Bulborbs can be led off of the stage by awakening it and quickly running around a hole in the sublevel, causing it to fall off.

Pikmin 3[edit]

A Bulborb in Pikmin 3, hit on the eye in a prerelease version.

The first game's tactic of swarming the creature from behind returns in this game, though here it is far more effective. If the Pikmin charge at the creature's behind, they will flawlessly cling to it and continue attacking as it rises, making 20 Red Pikmin enough to take it down before it has any chance of resistance.

If it is awake, repeatedly throw Pikmin at its eyes, even when it's shaking in pain, and whistle them when they scatter around and you end up low on Pikmin to throw. You can also escape from a Bulborb by hiding under a tall plant.

Hey! Pikmin[edit]

The Bulborb cutscene.

In Hey! Pikmin, the Bulborb is a boss, and is fought in a standalone battle. Olimar starts the fight with 20 Red Pikmin. The objective is to deplete the Bulborb's health by throwing Pikmin at its backside. If the Bulborb is facing towards Olimar, then wait for it to bend over and throw a Pikmin at its eye. This will stun it and give you time to run under it to the other side. Once on the other side, proceed to throw the Pikmin onto its vulnerable backside until it shakes them off. The Bulborb will periodically jump into the blades of grass in the backdrop and shuffle around in them until eventually popping back out at the last place Olimar was standing. The player can tell when it will jump out because right before it does it will rustle in a single place. If the Bulborb is attacked once it has shaken off any attacking Pikmin, then it'll slowly turn around to face the group, snarling aggressively, before swooping around once in a circle, attempting to snatch up any Pikmin. After it does this, it'll proceed to do its attack from the grass. While it is bending over, if Olimar or a Pikmin are in its line of sight it will run forward and attempt to eat them.

Biology[edit]

Bulborbs are among the creatures with the most diverse physiology in the Pikmin series. They possess traits similar to those of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They have large bulbous eyes, as opposed to the compound eyes of most insects.

Olimar mentions the Bulborbs having a set of mandibles. Mandibles are a pair of appendages near an insect's mouth, used for grinding and chewing food. The so-called mandibles Olimar mentions in his notes look nothing like normal mandibles and are instead most likely saber-teeth, used for breaking exoskeletons of prey insects and digging through the soil for roots. (That being said, "mandible" is also a technical term for the jaws, in which case its use is unremarkable.) Their diet is, however, quite the mystery, as they are equipped with eating both animal and vegetable life, but they are known to fully ignore Spectralids.

It seems that the juvenile Bulborb is the favored host of the parasitic Pikmin known as Bulbmin. This type of Pikmin appears to control its host, causing the animal to behave less like a Bulborb and much more like a Pikmin, following a leader (which is naturally an older Bulbmin) and hunting in packs. Bulborbs are not observed at the two stages of development displayed by Bulbmin anywhere else in-game (unlike the Spotty Bulbear), so it is unknown whether Bulbmin are a common stage in Bulborb initial development or not, as symbiotic cooperation from the parasite would give this slightly weaker form of Grub-dog an advantage in the subterranean environment that all stages of the Bulborb species are found in.

Development history[edit]

Bulborbs were created before the concept for Pikmin was established. When a game called Adam and Eve was being worked on, the Bulborb had been created to serve as a mammoth-like beast. When the concept for the game was scrapped, the Bulborbs were reused for Pikmin. As clued by the internal name for this enemy and the Dwarf Bulborb, the Dwarf Bulborb may have very well been the original Bulborb, and the Bulborb was created afterward in development. Although the "mammoth" properties of the beast, as mentioned by Shigeru Miyamoto, suggest that the first "Bulborb" creature to be developed was large, and hence, not the Dwarf Bulborb.

Their name in Pikmin is "Spotty Bulborb", and at this point, only one type of Bulborb was planned to exist (besides the false variations of Bulborb, the Dwarf Bulborbs). For Pikmin 2, it was decided that further types of Bulborb would be developed, but because they would all be Bulborbs and have spots on their backs, the original one needed a rename. Due to it being red while the others are orange and hairy, the name "Red Bulborb" was given to this enemy.

In the New Play Control! remake of Pikmin, their sounds were changed to be much higher-pitched, although this is likely an oversight.

For Pikmin 3, perhaps with the purpose to simplify things, its name became known simply as "Bulborb", despite two other types of Bulborb existing in the game: the Orange Bulborb and the Whiptongue Bulborb. In an attempt to flesh out this iconic enemy, its behavior was made slightly more complex in this game, in the form of it reacting to Pikmin thrown at its eyes with a flinch, and by looking at Pikmin while it chases them. These behaviors also happen with the other Bulborbs.

Notes

Reel notes

“This nocturnal hunter feeds mostly on small animals returning to their nests at night.”

Olimar's notes

“This large organism has the familiar mandibles and cranial morphology of the grub-dog family, as well as the characteristic bulging eyes. As with most grub-dogs, the creature's cranium comprises half of its total length and girth. Showing a scarlet abdomen with white spots, this creature is primarily nocturnal, choosing to prey upon smaller creatures returning to their nests. Originally classified as the spotty bulborb, further research has reclassified this species as the red bulborb. Subspecies of varied colors have recently been discovered, but academics are divided into two rival camps over how to handle their classification.”

Louie's notes

“Plump specimens are best spit-roasted whole, stuffed with a lime and a slab of bacon. Baste frequently to ensure a magnificently moist haunch.”

Alph's comments

US version

“Structural flaws: eyestalks, back
Weight: 10

Only a very confident designer would waive through issues like bright-red warning coloration and a tendency to sleep in broad daylight. There's no way a frontal assault on this thing will work, so we have to get creative. I'm thinking we should hit its back hard while it sleeps, or maybe target those thin-looking eyestalks.”

European version

“Structural flaws: eyestalks, back
Weight: 10

Only a very confident designer would waive through issues like bright red warning colouration and a tendency to sleep in broad daylight. There's no way a frontal assault on this thing will work, so we have to get creative. I'm thinking we should hit its back hard while it sleeps, or maybe targeting those thin-looking eyestalks.”

Brittany's comments

“The white polka dots on red is quite a look. Something about it is familiar, but where— Ah. Right. It reminds me of the captain. Not the polka dots—I mean the way it snores as it naps in the sun.”

Charlie's comments

“This red bruiser gobbles up Pikmin like candy. The standard approach is to attack from behind while it's still asleep. That may seem callous, but it would do the same to you if it could. Stow those feelings and strike!”

Louie's comments

“Plump specimens are best spit-roasted whole, stuffed with a lime and a slab of bacon. Baste frequently to ensure a magnificently moist haunch.”

Olimar's comments

US version

“Bulborb
Oculus kageyamii russus
Grub-dog family

This large organism has the familiar mandibles and cranial morphology of the grub-dog family, as well as the characteristic bulging eyes. As with most grub-dogs, the creature's cranium comprises half of its total length and girth. Showing a scarlet abdomen with white spots, this creature is primarily nocturnal, choosing to prey upon smaller creatures returning to their nests. Originally classified as the spotty bulborb, further research has reclassified this species as the basic bulborb. Subspecies of varied colors have recently been discovered, but academics are divided into two rival camps over how to handle their classification.”

European version

“Bulborb
Oculus kageyamii russus
Grub-dog family

This large organism has the familiar mandibles and cranial morphology of the grub-dog family, as well as the characteristic bulging eyes. As with most grub-dogs, the creature's cranium comprises half of its total length and girth. Showing a scarlet abdomen with white spots, this creature is primarily nocturnal, choosing to prey upon smaller creatures returning to their nests. Originally classified as the spotty bulborb, further research has reclassified this species as the basic bulborb. Subspecies of varied colours have recently been discovered, but academics are divided into two rival camps over how to handle their classification.”

Olimar's voyage log

“The most plentiful species on the planet, they are quite ferocious despite their appearance, using their massive jaws to swallow Pikmin whole. Frontal assaults result in disaster; attacks from behind are more successful. Attacking their legs is also effective.”

Hey! Pikmin logs

“The S.S. Dolphin II said it sleeps during the day, but the one I met was awake. I pointed this out and the ship said, "I meant during the day on Hocotate." After defeating it, we found an object rich in Sparklium. It's possible that the creature considers such objects a delicacy.”

Pikmin 3 Nintendo Player's Guide[edit]

“The weakest of the larger Bulborbs, the Red Bulborb can still hold its own against a good-sized Pikmin squad. Since it is a nocturnal species, most of the Red Bulborbs that you encounter in the daytime will be asleep to start. Sneak up on them from behind and hit them with a stream of flying Pikmin.”

Pikmin 3 website[edit]

“It's considered one of the weakest of the Bulborbs, but can still hold its own against a good-sized Pikmin squad. Attack from behind to gain the advantage. Weakest point: eyeballs.”

Pikmin 3 Prima Guide[edit]

“These large creatures use their jaws to gobble up several Pikmin with each bite. Whenever possible, use a large squad of Pikmin to charge the creature from the rear. If brute force isn’t an option, throw Red Pikmin and Rock Pikmin onto the creature’s back. During an extended battle, it’s important to retrieve your Pikmin as the Bulborb shakes them off.”

In the Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Bulborbs appear as enemies on the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS exclusive game mode Smash Run.

This article or section is a short summary on the enemy in the Super Smash Bros. series.
SmashWiki features more in-depth content.

A Bulborb is the main stage hazard on the Distant Planet stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It is considerably larger than a Bulborb in the Pikmin series, and will periodically appear on the right side of the stage. It occasionally opens its mouth, and any fighters that fall in will be eaten and taken away, resulting in a KO.

In the Smash Run mode of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, a Bulborb appears as one of many enemies featured in the mode. It is one of the largest enemies in the game and has a comparable amount of knockback resistance. Its attacks are also deadly, KOing fighters with minimal effort.

A Bulborb also appears in the background of the Garden of Hope stage in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Ultimate, but its purpose is merely cosmetic. There is a sticker for a Bulborb in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where it uses the final name "Bulborb".

Finally, a Bulborb also appears as a Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Spirit Mode. It can be evolved into the Empress Bulblax Spirit at level 99.

Brawl trophy[edit]

	Description: “A creature whose Japanese name translates as "spotted crimson bug-eye." These bulky nocturnal animals have white-and-red-flecked rumps that resemble strawberries. Red bulborbs sleep in the day and wake in the evening to feed on small animals. Several colors of bulborb subspecies have been discovered—their classification is a hot subject for scholars. Pikmin 2”
How to obtain: Random appearance.		Type: Stage

Smash 4 trophy[edit]

3DS

	US description: “These creatures from the Pikmin series have snail-like protruding eyes, huge mouths, and really bad tempers. They're known for snapping at fighters and trying to trample them underfoot. If you see one in a group of enemies, you should try to take it out fast—it'll shoot off and bounce around, hitting other enemies as it goes!”
	EU description: “These creatures from the Pikmin series have snail-like protruding eyes, huge mouths and really bad tempers. They're known for snapping at fighters and trying to trample them underfoot. If you see one in a group of enemies, you should try to take it out first – it'll shoot off and bounce around, hitting other enemies as it goes!”
How to obtain: Random appearance.		Type: Enemy

Wii U

	US description: “These creatures from the Pikmin series have snaillike protruding eyes, huge mouths, and really bad tempers. Despite their cute appearance, they'll happily gobble up Pikmin! In Smash Bros., they appear on the Garden of Hope stage, wandering around or chasing the poor Pikmin. Thankfully, they don't seem interested in the fighters duking it out. Appears in: Pikmin (12/2001) Pikmin 2 (08/2004)”
	EU description: “With their spotted backs and big round eyes, Bulborbs are almost cute. But don't be fooled! They have a voracious appetite, and will gladly eat as many Pikmin as they can get their tongues on. In this game, you might spot one in the Garden of Hope stage, getting in the Pikmin's way. Luckily, the Bulborbs won't bother you. Phew! Related Games Pikmin (06/2002) Pikmin 2 (10/2004)”
How to obtain: Random appearance.		Type: Stage	Trophy Box: 61. Distant Planet & Indigenous Creatures

Technical information[edit]

Pikmin technical information (?)
Internal name	`swallow`
HP	1100

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name			`chappy`
Global properties (List)
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
s000	friction(not used)	Friction	0.5
s001	wallReflection	Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?)	0.5
s002	faceDirAdjust	Unknown	0.25
s003	accel	Acceleration	0.1
s004	bounceFactor	Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?)	0.3
fp00	ライフ	HP	750
fp01	マップとの当り	Unknown (related to slopes)	40
fp02	ダメージスケールXZ	Horizontal damage scale	0.3
fp03	ダメージスケールY	Vertical damage scale	0.3
fp04	ダメージフレーム	Damage scale duration	0.35
fp05	質量	Unknown (weight?)	0.1
fp06	速度	Move speed	100
fp08	回転速度率	Rotation acceleration	0.4
fp09	テリトリー	Territory radius	400
fp10	ホーム範囲	"Home" radius	15
fp11	プライベート距離	"Private" radius	70
fp12	視界距離	Sight radius	500
fp13	視界角度	FOV	90
fp14	探索距離	Unknown (exploration radius?)	500
fp15	探索角度	Unknown (exploration angle?)	90
fp16	振り払い率	Unknown (shake rate?)	1
fp17	振り払い力	Shake knockback	120
fp18	振り払いダメージ	Shake damage	1
fp19	振り払い範囲	Shake range	40
fp20	攻撃可能範囲	Unknown (shock attack max range?)	75
fp21	攻撃可能角度	Unknown (shock attack max angle?)	25
fp22	攻撃ヒット範囲	Unknown (attack hit range?)	80
fp23	攻撃ヒット角度	Unknown (attack hit angle?)	35
fp24	攻撃力	Attack damage	10
fp25	視界高	Unknown (height visibility?)	50
fp26	探索高	Unknown (exploration height?)	50
fp27	ライフの高さ	HP wheel height	90
fp28	回転最大速度	Rotation speed	4
fp29	警戒時間	Unknown (warning time?)	7
fp30	警戒ライフ	Unknown	30
fp31	ライフ回復率	Regeneration rate	0
fp32	LOD半径	Off-camera radius	40
fp33	マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定	Collision processing radius	50
fp34	ピクミンとのあたり	Pikmin damage radius	30
fp35	石化時間	Petrification duration	1
fp36	ヒップドロップダメージ	Purple Pikmin drop damage	50
fp37	地震気絶確立	Purple Pikmin stun chance	0.3 (30%)
fp38	地震気絶時間	Purple Pikmin stun time	5
ip01	振り払い打撃Ａ	Unknown	6
ip02	振り払い張付１	Unknown	5
ip03	振り払い打撃Ｂ	Unknown	12
ip04	振り払い張付２	Unknown	10
ip05	振り払い打撃Ｃ	Unknown	17
ip06	振り払い張付３	Unknown	20
ip07	振り払い打撃Ｄ	Unknown	22
Specific properties
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
fp01	足元範囲	Unknown (foot range?)	30
fp02	白ピクミン毒	White Pikmin poison damage	750

Pikmin 3 technical information (?)
Internal name	`chappy`
HP	1000
Rock Pikmin throw hits to kill	25
White Pikmin ingestions to kill	5
Bomb rock explosions to kill	1
Bomb rock ingestions to kill	1
Number of direct hits on top to kill	0
Damage to leaders	20
Territory radius	300
Mission Mode value	50

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Hey! Pikmin.
Particularly: add more info.

Hey! Pikmin technical information (?)
Internal name	`boss_chappy`
Generator name(s)	`boss_chappy`

Other information[edit]

Prima guide technical name: Greater Grub-Dog
Size: Body length: 90mm, as per the e-card
Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #1

Naming[edit]

Common name: Bulborb. Its name is simplified to this as it's the most "basic" bulborb, compared to other ones; in fact, the alternative name "basic bulborb" is even used in Olimar's notes.^[1] See here for details on the word "Bulborb". In Pikmin 2, it was called "Red Bulborb", referring to its primarily red coloration. The term "Spotty Bulborb" was initially used to refer to this enemy in Pikmin, until other types of Bulborbs were made for Pikmin 2. The "Spotty" in this name is due to the spots it has on its back.
Japanese nickname: チャッピー^?, or アカチャッピー^?. Translate to "Chappy", or "Red Chappy". See here for details on the word "Chappy".
Japanese name: ベニデメマダラ^?. Translates to "Spotted Crimson Bug-eye", as pointed out by the Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy.
Scientific name: Oculus kageyamii russus. russus is Latin for "red". See here for details on the genus and species.
Internal names: Its internal name in Pikmin is swallow, given that the name chappy is already used by the Dwarf Bulborb. The internal name in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3 is also chappy, the same as the Japanese name for Bulborb. Finally, in Hey! Pikmin, the enemy's internal and generator names are both boss_chappy, the same as before, but now acknowledging that it is a boss.
Prerelease: In an early script left inside Pikmin 2, the creature used to have the technical name Oculus kageyamii ssp RED.^[2] The "ssp RED" means "subspecies RED" and is presumably a placeholder used until a proper word for "red" was found.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	チャッピー (Pikmin 3) アカチャッピー (Pikmin 2)^? Chappii Aka Chappii	Chappy Red Chappy
Chinese (traditional)	恰比 Qiàbǐ	Chappy
Chinese (simplified)	恰比 Qiàbǐ	Chappy
Dutch	Bulborb	-
French	Bulborbe (Pikmin 3) Bulborbe rouge (Pikmin 2) Bulborbe à pois (Pikmin)	Bulborb Red Bulborb Spotty Bulborb
German	Punktkäfer (Pikmin 3) Roter Punktkäfer (Pikmin 2)	Dot Beetle Red Dot Beetle
Italian	Coleto (Hey! Pikmin) Coleto Rosso (Pikmin 2)	Red Coleto (Pikmin 2)	"Coleto" may come from "boletus" (Latin for mushroom), as a bulborb's spots resemble those found on certain mushrooms.
Korean	차피 Chappi	Chappy
Spanish	Bulbo (Pikmin 3) Bulbo rojo (Pikmin 2)	Bulb Red bulb
Portuguese (NoE)	Olborbo	From "Bulborb", the masculine suffix -o, and possibly bolbo (bulb) or olho (eye)	Name taken from the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophy.
Russian	Клубнеголов Klubnegolov	From клубника klubnika (strawberry) and голова golova (head)	Name taken from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit