Assets used in the Pikmin series

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The Pikmin series and its world is built with distinct pieces of imagery, audio, and typefaces. A large portion of the assets used in the games are made from scratch and are proprietary to Nintendo, though occasionally, some of these assets may be taken or contain elements from external sources. This can include commercially-available software libraries, or real-life objects and hardware.

Stock photography

Since the objects and environments within the Pikmin series are often based on human technology and nature in the real world, photography of real items and locations on Earth are a common resource for textures. For the first game, a large amount of these images were taken in Japan by members of the game's own staff.[1] However, it was not uncommon for some few pieces of foliage to be made using graphics from stock photography libraries. For more unnatural materials, this occurred a lot more often. During the development of Pikmin and Pikmin 2, these libraries were primarily sold and distributed on CD-ROMs.

Sozaijiten

The cover of Sozaijiten Vol. 6, sold as a CD-ROM.
The cover of Sozaijiten Vol. 6, one of the CD-ROMs used in the Pikmin series.

Sozaijiten (素材辞典?, lit.: "Material Dictionary") is a series of stock image libraries by Datacraft that is advertised and sold as volumes. The content of each volume is themed (usually around a type of material, part of nature, or event), and were originally distributed on singular CD-ROMs. For Pikmin and Pikmin 2, photographs and artwork from Sozaijiten are used very often and in a myriad of ways.

On Sozaijiten's website, low-resolution previews of every image are available for browsing. The previews come with descriptions; these reveal the original shooting location of certain photos, or some miscellaneous information about the photographed material.

List of Sozaijiten textures used in Pikmin
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF085 An image of some horsetails from Sozaijiten Vol. 6. The image's description on the website says it was taken in Atsuta, Hokkaido. Pikmin climbing up some horsetails. The background to a piece of promotional artwork for Pikmin. It is an image of some horsetails, taken in Atsuta, Hokkaido.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF097 An image of a leaf from Sozaijiten Vol. 6. Captain Olimar and some Pikmin on plant leaves. The background to a piece of promotional artwork for Pikmin.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF122 File:Pikmin The Final Trial Island Base.png The background texture used on the area selection menu in Pikmin. The mountains in the area selection menu. It is a photograph of Mount Kamui and Lake Mashū.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF164 File:Pikmin World Map Base.png The background texture used on the area selection menu in Pikmin. The main landmass in the area selection menu. It was taken in Shakotan, Hokkaido.
Vol. 13 葉・葉脈編

(Leaves and Leaf Veins)

SM054 An image of leaves from Sozaijiten Vol. 13. The image's description says it is from an elderberry. The leaves of an elderberry, used in The Impact Site. Several plants found in the The Impact Site. It is a photograph of an elderberry's leaves.
Vol. 16 皮・年輪編

(Wood Textures)

SQ166 An image of a wooden stump from Sozaijiten Vol. 16. "Yaku_n02_s3tc", from Pikmin 2. This texture is used in The Distant Spring, the Perplexing Pool, and the submerged cave unit with unique music. The base of several wooden stumps in The Distant Spring.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV001 An image of Earth from Sozaijiten Vol. 21. This image is used for PNF-404 in the Nintendo Player's Guide of Pikmin, and for Koppai in the opening cutscene of Pikmin 3. Artwork of PNF-404 for Pikmin, scanned from the Nintendo Player's Guide of Pikmin. PNF-404, in the Nintendo Player's Guide of Pikmin. It is a photograph of Earth. It is also used for Koppai in the opening of Pikmin 3.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV002 An image of Earth from Sozaijiten Vol. 21. The website credits NASA for providing the photo. Planet of the Pikmin.png PNF-404, during the credits of Pikmin. It is a photograph of Earth.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV007 An image of Earth from Sozaijiten Vol. 21. The image's description on the website credits NASA for providing the photo. Fourteen other Onions in the best ending. PNF-404, during the good ending cutscene of Pikmin. It is a photograph of Earth.
List of Sozaijiten textures used in Pikmin 2
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
Vol. 1 テクスチャー・石編

(Stone Textures)

SA068 An image of stone from Sozaijiten Vol. 1. Conc_st_256x256, a texture used around the geyser in the room_purple14x14_snow cave unit. Stone used around the geyser in the 2nd sublevel of the Emergence Cave.
Vol. 2 紙・布・木編

(Paper, Cloth, and Wood Textures)

SB108 An image of knitted fabric from Sozaijiten Vol. 2. The texture for the Five-man Napsack. The fabric for the Five-man Napsack.
Vol. 5 空・雲編

(Sky and Clouds)

SE074 An image of a cloud from Sozaijiten Vol. 5. "Kumo_02.bti", the texture used for the clouds in Pikmin 2's area selection menu. The fog in the area selection menu of Pikmin 2.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF122 File:Pikmin The Final Trial Island Base.png The texture used for the backmost layer of Pikmin 2's area selection menu background. The mountains in the area selection menu. It is a photograph of Mount Kamui and Lake Mashū.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF164 File:Pikmin World Map Base.png The texture used for the backmost layer of Pikmin 2's area selection menu background. The main landmass in the area selection menu. It was taken in Shakotan, Hokkaido.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF190 An image of a snowy field from Sozaijiten Vol. 6. The image's description on the website says it was taken in Otaru, Hokkaido. ValleyofReposeTrees.png Snow used for the Valley of Repose's background image. The image was taken on a beach in Otaru.
Vol. 6 四季・自然編

(Seasons and Nature)

SF191 An image of a snowy forest from Sozaijiten Vol. 6. The image's description on the website says it was taken in Shikaoi, Hokkaido. ValleyofReposeTrees.png Trees used for the Valley of Repose's background image. The image was taken in Shikaoi, Hokkaido.
Vol. 8 壁・土編

(Walls and Soils)

SH071 An image of a wall from Sozaijiten Vol. 8. "Bc_s3tc", the texture for the walls of the build VRBOX. Used for the build cave background. It has been flipped horizontally.
Vol. 8 壁・土編

(Walls and Soils)

SH096 An image of a wall from Sozaijiten Vol. 8. "Totan_s3tc", the texture for the buried metal sheets in the Perplexing Pool. Several metallic sheets buried in the ground that appear in the Perplexing Pool.
Vol. 13 葉・葉脈編

(Leaves and Leaf Veins)

SM074 An image of a leaf from Sozaijiten Vol. 13. The image's description on the website identifies it as Galax. "Fuki_s3tc", the texture for the Galax in the Perplexing Pool. Large leaves in the Perplexing Pool. It is a photograph of Galax.
Vol. 16 皮・年輪編

(Wood Textures)

SQ166 An image of a wooden stump from Sozaijiten Vol. 16. "Yaku_n02_s3tc", from Pikmin 2. This texture is used in The Distant Spring, the Perplexing Pool, and the submerged cave unit with unique music. The base of several wooden stumps in the Perplexing Pool and a unique cave unit seen in the Hole of Heroes.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV161 An image of a spiral galaxy from Sozaijiten Vol. 21. The image's description on the website says it was provided by NASA. A still from the Debt Repayment Cinema in Pikmin 2. A stock image of the Orion Nebula can be seen in the background, as well as a spiral galaxy. A galaxy that can be seen in the Debt Repayment Cinema in Pikmin 2. It is a photograph of a spiral galaxy in the Pegasus constellation.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV186 An image of the Orion Nebula from Sozaijiten Vol. 21. The image's description on the website says it was provided by NASA. A still from the Debt Repayment Cinema in Pikmin 2. A stock image of the Orion Nebula can be seen in the background. Nebulae that can be seen in the Opening and Debt Repayment Cinemas in Pikmin 2. It is a photograph of the Orion Nebula.
Vol. 21 宇宙・惑星編

(Space and Planets)

SV187 An image of the Orion Nebula from Sozaijiten Vol. 21. The image's description on the website says it was provided by NASA. A still from the Debt Repayment Cinema in Pikmin 2. A stock image of the Orion Nebula can be seen in the background, as well as a spiral galaxy. Nebulae that can be seen in the Opening and Debt Repayment Cinemas in Pikmin 2. It is a photograph of the Orion Nebula.
Vol. 24 大理石編

(Marbles)

SY089 An image of "Grigio Carnico" marble from Sozaijiten Vol. 24. The image has extra identifying details from the website: The texture for the Priceless Statue. The texture for the Priceless Statue and Worthless Statue. It is an image of Grigio Carnico marble.
Vol. 53 木目・組木・あじろ編

(Grain, Interlocked and Braided Wood)

CD123 An image of rosewood from Sozaijiten Vol. 53. The texture for the wooden base of the Shock Therapist. The texture used for the Shock Therapist's wooden base. It is an image of rosewood.
Vol. 53 木目・組木・あじろ編

(Grain, Interlocked and Braided Wood)

CD138 An image of 5-inch white oak from Sozaijiten Vol. 53. "Wflooring_mip_s3tc", the texture for the floor of the flooring VRBOX. Used for the flooring cave background. It is an image of 5-inch white oak flooring. Several planks of wood were stretched.

Bakku no Oni

An image of Bakku no Oni SABI 2.
An image of Bakku no Oni SABI 2.

Bakku no Oni (バックの鬼?, lit.: "Background Demon") is a series of stock image libraries that was distributed by A&P CO-ORDINATOR JAPAN. Its volumes were themed after colors or emotions. Images from "Bakku no Oni SABI 2" were often used as textures for the caves in Pikmin 2.

List of Bakku no Oni textures used in Pikmin 2
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-08 A preview of RUST-08 from Bakku no Oni SABI 2. "Plate1", used for a small metal plate in the center of room_hitode3x3_5_metal. Used for a small metal plate in the center of the room_hitode3x3_5_metal cave unit.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-27 A preview of RUST-27 from Bakku no Oni SABI 2. "SABI2_128", used for some metal cave units. Interestingly, the texture's internal name contains the name of the texture library it originates from, Bakku no Oni SABI 2. Used for the dark brown metal in many metallic cave units, and the top of the bucket in the room_big_kusachi garden cave unit.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-34 A preview of RUST-34 from Bakku no Oni SABI 2. "Sabi_red_256x256_s3tc", used in the center room of room_white14x12_metal. Interestingly, the texture's internal name contains the name of the texture library it originates from, Bakku no Oni SABI 2. Used as the center room's floor in room_white14x12_metal, the main cave unit in sublevel 3 of the White Flower Garden.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-36 A preview of RUST-36 from Bakku no Oni SABI 2. "Unit0401_s3tc", used for some metal cave units. The blue rusted metal used in many metallic cave units.
寂2

(SABI 2)

RUST-41 A preview of RUST-41 from Bakku no Oni SABI 2. "sabi_brown256x256", used in the small path of room_white14x12_metal. Interestingly, the texture's internal name contains the name of the texture library it originates from, Bakku no Oni SABI 2. Used in the small path in room_white14x12_metal, and as the circular rim in the Titan Dweevil's arena, room_oootakara_tile.

VisualDisk

The front cover for VisualDisk M10 Leaves.
The front cover of VisualDisk M-10 Leaves.

VisualDisk is a series of stock image libraries that was distributed by dizáin. Similar in scope to Sozaijiten, there was a very large amount of volumes released and high variety in its content. However, it is used sparsely in Pikmin 2.

List of VisualDisk textures used in Pikmin 2
Volume Name Source Image Texture/Screenshot Description
M-02 Metals M2_01 A preview of M2_01 from VisualDisk M-02 Metals. "Baketu01_128x128_s3tc", used for the top of the bucket in room_big_kusachi. Used for the top of the bucket in the room_big_kusachi garden cave unit. It is mixed with "RUST-27" from Bakku no Oni SABI 2.
M-10 Leaves M10_05 A preview of M10_05 from VisualDisk M-10 Leaves. "Last_plant_momiji_s3tc", used in the first landing cutscene of the Wistful Wild. Used for various autumn leaves on Pikmin 2's title screen, and in the intro for the Wistful Wild when landing in the area for the first time.
M-10 Leaves M10_43 A preview of M10_43 from VisualDisk M-10 Leaves. "Last_plant_yellow_s3tc", a texture used for some plants in the Wistful Wild. Used for several plants in the Wistful Wild. The leaves have been edited to look like they are decaying.

Audio

Similar to graphics, creating game audio often involves the sampling of various sound libraries. The games within the Pikmin series are a good example, where a large amount of audio can be sourced back to a number of different commercially-released products. These products are used to create the individual instrument samples and sound effects in the games, as well as pieces of streamed music. All of the music in Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Pikmin 3 use audio from digital instruments and synthesizers; instances of musicians performing live on real acoustic instruments are highly uncommon in the games. The new music composed by Babi for Pikmin 3 Deluxe is one of the very few occasions where this was done.[2]

Since there is a history of many different composers and sound effect programmers contributing to the games, there is a large variety of synthesizers and sample libraries that have been used. Listed below are all of these currently known products.

List of products used for music
Product Image Year Format Pikmin (game) icon.png Pikmin 2 icon.png Pikmin 3 icon.png Game icon for Pikmin 4 articles, from the September 13th, 2022 Nintendo Direct. This icon represents Hey! Pikmin on Pikipedia. It is based off of the game's logo.
Roland SC-88 Image of a Roland SC-88. 1994 Hardware synthesizer Used Used Used Absent Absent
Kurzweil K2500R An image of a Kurzweil K2500R. 1996 Hardware synthesizer Used Used Used Used Absent
KORG TRITON STUDIO The KORG - TRITON STUDIO. 1999 Hardware synthesizer Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
Yamaha S90 The Yamaha S90. 2002 Hardware synthesizer Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Yamaha PLG150-DX The front cover for the Yamaha PLG150-DX's box. 1999 Plug-in board Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Yamaha PLG150-VL The front cover for the Yamaha PLG150-VL's box. 1999 Plug-in board Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
InVision Lightware 1 The front cover of InVision Lightware 1. 1989 AKAI CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Drums + Percussion Special Edit. The front cover of EastWest - Drums + Percussion Special Edition, cropped from an online sale listing. 1992 AKAI CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Orchestral Colours The front cover of Best Service - Peter Siedlaczek's Orchestral Colors. 1993 AKAI CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
ZERO-G Ambient Volume 2 The front cover of ZERO-G - ambient Volume 2, taken from an online store page. 1993 AKAI CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
ILIO Synclavier Sampler Library File:ILIO Synclavier Sampler Library Percussion World and Orchestral.jpeg 1994 AKAI CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Advanced Orchestra The front cover of Best Service - Peter Siedlaczek's Advanced Orchestra. 1997 AKAI CD-ROM Absent Used Used Used Absent
SampleCell II CD-ROM Library The front cover of Digidesign - SampleCell II CD-ROM Library #1. The image has been cropped and rotated. 1991 SampleCell CD-ROM Used Used Absent Absent Absent
Ultra Gigapack The front cover of Best Service - Ultra Gigapack. 1995 SampleCell CD-ROM Used Used Absent Absent Absent
Now CD-ROM An image of the AMG Now CD-ROM. 1994 CD-ROM Absent Absent Absent Absent Used
Bass Legends Front cover of Spectrasonics Bass Legends. 1994 CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Supreme Beats Front cover for Spectrasonics - Supreme Beats. 1995 CD-ROM Used Used Used Absent Absent
Series 4000 Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Series 4000 Hollywood Sound Effects Library. 1989 Audio CD-ROM Absent Used Used Absent Absent
Series 6000 Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Series 6000 The General Sound Effects Library. 1992 Audio CD-ROM Absent Used Used Absent Absent
Warner Bros. Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Warner Bros. Sound Effects Library. 1992 Audio CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Animal Trax Front cover of The Hollywood Edge - Animal Trax. 1996 Audio CD-ROM Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
ZERO-G Ethnic Flavours The front cover of ZERO-G - Creative Essentials Vol. 21 - Ethnic Flavours. 1996 Audio CD-ROM Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
Voices of Istanbul The front cover of Q-Up Arts - Voices of Istanbul, from Q-Up Arts' website. 2000 Audio CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Symphonic Orchestra The interface for East West Symphonic Orchestra. 2003 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Used Absent
Ra The interface for East West Ra. 2005 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
HALion One Steinberg HALion One screenshot. 2006 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
Stormdrum 2 The interface for East West Stormdrum 2. 2007 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
Vienna Special Edition Volume 1 An image of Vienna Symphonic Library Special Edition Volume 1, from its store page on Best Service's website. 2007 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Absent Used
Heavyocity Evolve An image of Heavyocity - Evolve. 2008 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Used Absent
Omnisphere The interface for Omnisphere. 2008 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Absent Used
Discovery Series: West Africa Logo for Native Instruments West Africa, from their website. 2010 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Absent Used
Ethno World 5 An image of Best Service Ethno World 5. 2010 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Absent Used
KONTAKT Factory Library Image for Native Instruments's KONTAKT Factory Library 2010 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
Stylus RMX Image of Spectrasonics Stylus RMX. 2010 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Absent Used
Heavyocity Damage An image of Heavyocity Damage, from their website. 2011 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Absent Used
Soniccouture Music Boxes An image of the Soniccouture Music Boxes interface. 2011 Software instrument Absent Absent Absent Used Absent
Logic Pro X Screenshot of the Logic Pro X interface (2013). 2004 DAW Absent Absent Used Absent Absent
List of products used for sound effects
Product Image Year Format Pikmin (game) icon.png Pikmin 2 icon.png Pikmin 3 icon.png Game icon for Pikmin 4 articles, from the September 13th, 2022 Nintendo Direct. This icon represents Hey! Pikmin on Pikipedia. It is based off of the game's logo.
E-MU Proteus/2 Orchestral An image of an E-MU Proteus 2 sound module. 1990 Hardware synthesizer Used Used Absent Absent Absent
E-MU Proteus/3 World An E-MU Proteus/3 module. 1991 Hardware synthesizer Used Absent Absent Absent Absent
Roland SC-88 Image of a Roland SC-88. 1994 Hardware synthesizer Used Used Used Used Absent
Kurzweil K2500R An image of a Kurzweil K2500R. 1996 Hardware synthesizer Used Used Used Used Absent
SampleCell II CD-ROM Library The front cover of Digidesign - SampleCell II CD-ROM Library #1. The image has been cropped and rotated. 1991 SampleCell CD-ROM Used Used Absent Absent Absent
Ultra Gigapack The front cover of Best Service - Ultra Gigapack. 1995 SampleCell CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Distorted Reality Front cover for Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality. 1995 CD-ROM Absent Used Absent Absent Absent
Supreme Beats Front cover for Spectrasonics - Supreme Beats. 1995 CD-ROM Used Used Used Used Absent
Sound Ideas Sampler Library Front cover of the Sound Ideas Sampler Library. 1987 Audio CD-ROM Used Used Absent Absent Absent
Series 4000 Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Series 4000 Hollywood Sound Effects Library. 1989 Audio CD-ROM Used Used Used Absent Absent
Series 6000 Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Series 6000 The General Sound Effects Library. 1992 Audio CD-ROM Used Used Used Used Absent
Universal Studios Sound FX A custom-made image of the box art for Sound Ideas - Universal Studios Sound Effects Library using an image from https://1000logos.net/universal-logo/. 1992 Audio CD-ROM Used Used Absent Absent Absent
Warner Bros. Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Warner Bros. Sound Effects Library. 1992 Audio CD-ROM Used Used Used Used Absent
Hanna-Barbera Sound FX The front cover of Sound Ideas - Hanna-Barbera Sound Effects Library, cropped from an online sale listing. 1993 Audio CD-ROM Used Absent Absent Absent Absent
Omnisphere The interface for Omnisphere. 2008 Software instrument Absent Absent Used Absent Absent

A more detailed list that includes the specific songs these products are used in can be viewed here.

Kurzweil K2500

An image of a Kurzweil K2500R.
The Kurzweil K2500R.
A cropped image of Hajime Wakai and some of his equipment, taken from the booklet for F-ZERO X's Original Soundtrack on CD. Behind him, his Kurzweil K2500R can be seen.
Hajime Wakai and his powered-on K2500R behind him.

The Kurzweil K2500 is a synthesizer manufactured by Kurzweil Music Systems in 1996. The Kurzweil K2500R is its rackmount variant, and the specific model that was owned and used by Hajime Wakai. Typically, rackmount versions of synthesizers are identical in functionality, but they lack a physical keyboard. This makes them more compact and easy to cram into a studio space; however, it is intended that they be connected to an external MIDI device, such as a musical keyboard, a computer, or some other MIDI-compatible instrument in order to use them.

A lesser-known synthesizer, it is the signature synth of Hajime Wakai, and a staple of the audio design in the Pikmin series as a whole. It is used in Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Pikmin 4. In some parts of Pikmin 3, Asuka Hayazaki uses this synthesizer. Soshi Abe uses samples from it for Pikmin 3 Deluxe and Pikmin 4.

K2500 preview

A short demo of sounds from the K2500.

K25 FARM

One of five accessory disks that came with a brand new Kurzweil K2500. This one in particular contains the K25 FARM, an extra preset bank for the K2500.
Image of the Accessory Disk containing the K25 FARM.

By default, the Kurzweil K2500 comes with 200 instrument presets (also known as programs), but this amount is easily expandable. Users can create their own custom programs using various waveforms built into its synth engine, or load in programs from an external source using the synthesizer's floppy drive or SCSI connection.

The purchase of a new K2500 included several floppy disks, one of which contained the "K25 FARM". On it, is a collection of several hundred brand new, unique programs for the K2500. Users can load these presets by simply inserting the disk into the K2500's floppy drive. If the floppy disk is lost or damaged, the files are still available to download for free from Kurzweil's website; keep in mind, these presets are not playable without their compatible synthesizer.

The programs from the K25 FARM are also used very often within the music and sound effects of the Pikmin games, even Pikmin 3.

K25 FARM preview

A short demo of some sounds exclusive to the K25 FARM.

Roland SC-88

Image of a Roland SC-88.
The Roland SC-88.

The Roland SC-88 is a General MIDI-based synthesizer, manufactured by Roland in 1994. An entry in the Roland Sound Canvas series, it has 654 default instrument presets and 22 drumset presets that are designed to perfectly conform to the General MIDI standard, making it excellent for the playback of MIDI songs. It is still useful as a compositional tool; the sounds from the Roland Sound Canvas line of synthesizers are very common in video games. Compressed samples of audio from a SC-55 are even utilized for the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, the default "soundfont" for MIDI playback on most computers.[3]

It is used primarily in the music of Pikmin and Pikmin 2, by Hajime Wakai. Alongside the Kurzweil K2500, these two synthesizers make up the vast majority of instrument samples in those games.

SC-88 preview

A short demo of sounds from the SC-88.

Yamaha S90

The Yamaha S90.
The Yamaha S90.

The Yamaha S90 is a synthesizer manufactured by Yamaha Corporation in 2002. It has 384 instrument presets and 48 drumset presets (though most of these sounds were lifted from the Yamaha Motif, a synthesizer released one year prior). Its acoustic instruments in particular are much more realistic than the older Kurzweil K2500R and Roland SC-88.

The Yamaha S90 is commonly used by Kazumi Totaka; in the Pikmin series, it has only been used to score the music of Pikmin 2. Comparing that game's release date with that of the synthesizer, Pikmin 2 is very likely to be the time he has used it in his work.

Expansion boards

The Yamaha PLG150-DX plug-in board out of the box.
Image of one of the expansion boards, the PLG150-DX.

Many of Yamaha's synthesizers produced around 1998 to 2003 featured support for the "Modular Synthesis Plug-in System". Users could purchase expansion boards that were designed to simply be inserted into a Yamaha synthesizer, instantly adding brand new playable presets, as well as expanding the synth's original capabilities in the process. In total, 12 of these boards were produced. A few of them contain just basic sets of waveforms, while others are fully-fledged synthesizers. The "PLG150-AN" for example is technically an analog synthesizer; when it is plugged into a compatible synthesizer, the new set of playable presets that it adds will uniquely generate their sound with the board's analog synthesis.

Along with his Yamaha S90, Kazumi Totaka uses the PLG-150DX and PLG-150VL expansion boards for some songs for Pikmin 2. The boards use FM synthesis and physical modelling synthesis respectively.

Fonts

Most of the fonts used in the Pikmin games are commercially-available fonts created by Dynacomware or Fontworks. Originally, they were sold bundled together with many other typefaces and distributed on CD-ROMs, but the individual fonts are still available online. Because of their availability, usage of these fonts in other media may be mistaken as a reference to the Pikmin series.

DFCraftSumi Std W9

A preview of DFCraftSumi Std W9, a font used in the Pikmin series.
DFCraftSumi Std W9.

DFCraftSumi is a typeface created by Dynacomware. DFCraftSumi Std W9 is used in Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Hey! Pikmin for the bubble-like letters that appear in some menus and cutscenes. In Pikmin 3, a modified version of this font is used.

DFPOP1 Std W3

A preview of DFPOP1 Std W3, a font used in the Pikmin series.
DFPOP1 Std W3.

DFPOP1 is a typeface created by Dynacomware. DFPOP1 Std W3 is used as the main text font in Pikmin, such as for Olimar's monologs.

Seurat Pro DB

A preview of Seurat Pro DB, a font used in the Pikmin series.
Seurat Pro DB.

Seurat is a typeface created by Fontworks. Seurat Pro DB is used as the main text font in Pikmin 2, as seen in the ship's dialogs and other various menu elements.

Rodin NTLG Pro DB

A preview of Rodin NTLG Pro DB, a font used in the Pikmin series.
Rodin NTLG Pro DB.

Rodin NTLG is a typeface created by Fontworks. Rodin NTLG Pro DB is used as the main text font in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe, such as the English text displayed on the KopPad, on-screen character dialog, and other various menu elements.

New Rodin Pro DB

A preview of New Rodin Pro DB, a font used in the Pikmin series.
New Rodin Pro DB.

New Rodin is a typeface created by Fontworks. New Rodin Pro DB is used in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe, for the numbers in the countdown at sunset.

Proprietary fonts

Some text that appears in the games use fonts that are uniquely created for the Pikmin series itself.

Pikmin 3 bubble-like font

An updated variant of DFCraftSumi Std W9 is used in Pikmin 3. It highly resembles the original typeface, but many minor changes have been made to improve readability, such as making the tails of certain characters longer and their widths more consistent.

A comparison between DFCraftSumi Std W9 and its look-alike in Pikmin 3.
A comparison between DFCraftSumi Std W9, and its smoother look-alike in Pikmin 3.

Hocotate Freight text

The logo for Hocotate Freight uses a uniquely designed font. It is alien-like, but still legible English.

  • The Hocotate Freight logo in the Pikmin 2 intro cutscene.

    The Hocotate Freight logo in the Pikmin 2 intro cutscene.

  • A sign bearing Hocotate Freight's logo.

    A sign bearing Hocotate Freight's logo.

Koppaite text

Main article: Koppaite text.

In Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4, an in-universe written language appears very frequently on technology and as a background element throughout various in-game menus. The text appears as an assortment of illegible alien symbols, but these characters are actually translatable into the 26 letters in the English alphabet, which reveal some small secrets when various instances of the text are deciphered.

Trivia

References

  1. ^ YouTube video of footage from E3, where it is stated that some of the materials used in Pikmin are from around Shigeru Miyamoto's neighborhood (at 10:10)
  2. ^ Babi's response to an e-mail inquiry on Pikipedia
  3. ^ YouTube video of a live comparison between the SC-55 (via the virtual SCVA plugin) and the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth
  4. ^ Detailed spreadsheet that documents sound sources used in the series, maintained by fans on Google Sheets
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