By Clearly, Shigeru Miyamoto is predominantly recognized for developing Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong, but judging by his sentiments, he possesses a fondness for one of his more recent creations – Pikmin.
Launched in 2001, Pikmin marked one of the final new franchises attributed to Miyamoto (Nintendogs followed afterward). The creator mentioned that it was inspired by his childhood explorations of nature, and ever since, he has been a strong advocate for the series, despite its lengthy absences.
Since its inception, Pikmin have made various appearances, from managing system transfers between Wii and Wii U, a statue in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, to being hidden throughout the Super Nintendo World areas in Universal Theme Parks.
In a discussion with IGN during the grand opening of the new Super Nintendo World in Universal Orlando, Miyamoto elaborated on his perception of Pikmin. “I believe Pikmin has significant potential for use in numerous situations. When you observe young children, they are attracted to cute things, and as they age, perhaps in their twenties, that allure diminishes. However, I think Pikmin retains this distinctive ability to appeal to a wide demographic.”
He also clarified why Pikmin are frequently included in crossovers: “At Nintendo, there exists an unwritten guideline. Mario should remain within the Mario realm, or Splatoon stays in Splatoon, and we don’t mix different characters in the same setting. But Pikmin follows a kind of unwritten tradition where it’s acceptable for them to interact with other characters.”
And although it’s not the largest franchise under Nintendo’s banner, Miyamoto remains committed to expanding it, stating, “I’ve dedicated a lot of time over the past five or six years genuinely aiming to develop Pikmin.” He adds, “I believe Pikmin possesses this unique capacity to resonate across varied age groups, remaining appealing to both younger and older demographics, even in Japan. Hence, I hope we can broaden that reach globally. Whether through a movie or a series, such ventures would be exceptionally enjoyable.”
Interestingly, Pikmin has already demonstrated its viability in cinematic form. In 2014, Nintendo unveiled “Pikmin Short Movies,” a collection of three segments featuring the characters. This was also Shigeru Miyamoto’s inaugural film production credit ahead of the Mario movie. These were delightful shorts, and I would be thrilled to see Nintendo produce more, potentially screening them as previews before their films like Pixar does… Yet, additionally, a Nintendo Switch 2 Pikmin 5 with mouse controls should take precedence.