#nelle

To start, Pikmin 2. We’re familiar with Olimar, but now, we're introduced to others of his kind! Now, the introduction of the first game alone gives us exciting visuals of a foreign planet - Olimar’s home planet. We see its own planetary system, then to be shown his planet's sandy, and somewhat... barren landscape. This introduction is imperative to understanding these new characters, as we soon learn about Olimar’s coworkers! We're given the first impression of these little guys, but it’s not merely an impression of their personalities that's important; it's their physical traits! In comparison to Olimar, both Louie and the President are similar in their features - their closed eyes (which open large and wide upon exaggerated expression), their large and round noses, and their ears. With this, we can assume this is common on planet Hocotate and a majority of its population would share these traits. The differences, however, of their physique and countenance cause little disturbance to this pattern, such as the unique models of Louie and the President; Louie, in height and the shape of his head, as well as the President with his larger physique and chubby face to match. Nevertheless, there is one thing that goes unchanged, and it's their ears! This pattern establishes their ears as a key Hocotation feature.

Moving onwards, we're introduced to another planet in Pikmin 3: Planet Koppai! We're given more context of a new home planet for a new peoples: Koppaites. The narrative treats the player to the economical failures at play on the surface of this planet, and although we aren't given the same ground-level visuals from Pikmin 2, we're given more context to a considerably more advanced civilization! This information not only prepares its player for the mission, but, tells the story of their Captains! They rebooted the original three Koppaites, known as Alph, Brittany, and Charlie, but... I’ll go ahead and use Yorke, Nelle, and Don’s models from Pikmin 4. From first glance, they’re similar in stature to our previous Captains; however, they stand out with more lively expressions, smaller noses, and... considerably more hair... but not only that, we’re given a new pair of ears! They're shorter and more rounded, and almost...mousier. Now, alike to our previous Captains in the variety of their appearances- their ears have gone unchanged. Now, I will be nitpicky and point out that... Don's ears are stubbier... nevertheless, it shares a striking resemblance to his fellow Koppaites.

This detail is important... keep this in your pocket... we've seen this twice, already.

Moving onto our Rescue Corps! Now, Pikmin 4 opens up its story by rewriting Pikmin 1 - setting up this mission to rescue Olimar as if he had never escaped PNF-404. But, we don’t delve too much into a new home planet, of sorts. Rather, we find that the player's home planet is Karut; as well as that, we discover our fellow officers are from a variety of other planets, as well. We’re not given too much information about these planets, though, other than planet Giya and its history through Captain Shepherd's predecessors. Moreover, we're given a larger cast of characters paired with an abundance of physical traits; however, unlike the previous two games, we find that not all of the officers of the Rescue Corps share... the same... ears. Upon rescuing more and more of the officers, it’s established they’re from different planets.

Okay, this… makes sense...their ears are different based on their corresponding home planet. Correct?

WRONG!

With a look to the example provided, reinstating our previous beloved pattern... This would lead one to assume that Captain Shepherd, Russ, and Yonny were from the same planet. Rather, Yonny’s home planet is planet Ohri!

...As is Dingo’s. Yet, only Dingo stands out in comparison... as, his ear is designed differently than Yonny's!

Comparably, we can observe similarities shared between Lisa/Pom (I'm exampling her model as, I argue, she is the canon Captain) and the S.S Shepherd’s pilot, Bernard. Now, we’ve established that Pom’s home planet is Karut; so, this would reasonably lead one to assume that her ear is unique to the peoples of Karut. This is an exciting feat, as she is our new Captain... based on previous patterns, we should expect to learn more about her and her home planet...

inHALES, UNTIL THE CONCEPT IS OBLITERATED BY THE CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION, because, no matter how you design your officer - they're ALL from Karut? YOU'RE JOKING ME. but Put THIS in your pocket, too. exhale

...That is until we look at our beloved pilot. These two are similar in stature: yes; In height: sure; but… let’s see… I spy with my little eye, their EARS! But, Bernard is from an entirely different planet!

QUÉ??!?!?

INHALEEESS... but we're not done here, oh no, last, but certainly not least...  we’re left with Collin.

THIS LITTLE FREAK OF NATURE. 

No, remember that first thing I said to put in your pocket? PULL IT OUT.

Yes, he has a larger physique, his build is discernible with his unique facial features and ALL, but keep in mind, in LIKENESS to The President and Don! Now,... do we remember what we're talking about here... Collin’s I.D. badge reveals to us that his home planet is planet Giya. However, he shares LITTLE RESEMBLANCE to his FELLOW GIYANS. His ears DIDN'T EVEN TRY. Unlike Don's, for example, let me narrate it… they we're like, okay... squash... we're complimenting this character's design and not distracting from it by being proportionately smaller - but, still... we're Koppaite ears, and we're obvious about it. MEANWHILE, Collin's ears? These girls… are literally… doing their own thing. Like, excuse me? You are NOT from planet Giya - you may be a citizen, at MOST, but your ears tell me an ENTIRELY different story if we were to apply any semblance of pattern recognition. 

Now, that SECOND thing I told you to put in your pocket, too - There are two characters out of the Rescue Corps you cannot replicate in the character customization. Guess. Who. They. Are.

Captain Shepherd and Collin. Why? They are entirely unique designs of their OWN! There’s significance in their character - but, if not significance alone, at least a richly developed design. So, there was a purpose in their designs and how they were set apart from one another. Why, then, are they from the same planet if there wasn't something special about their designs?

I have my hopes that there were... possible... plans for design development for the crew, but, with the end product… This is what we were left with; nevertheless, it's a detail that reveals that, in some way, there was something more!

Okay!

Theory aside... I based a head canon on these observations.

SO......... Iooking into the long list of planets of Pikmin 4, I was curious about the significance of their names. With a quick little search, according to the Pikmin Wiki, it’s noted that they’re often creative depictions of Nintendo…shenanigans… for example, one planet is named from  “the site of a previous Nintendo headquarters,” as well as another being  “from the abbreviation for Nintendo of America” (PikminWiki). Without a lot of knowledge of Nintendo history, I felt it was simple enough to find and try a few street names that were adjacent to Nintendo headquarters in Kyoto. There was one street name which had “koji” before the suffix... so, I designed a little home planet for Collin, naming it planet Kojia. I thought this one was short and sweet, and suitable for his cute, little ears.

Why didn’t I choose from the long list of planets?

I CONSIDERED THIS. Albeit, last second, but, I did… I found a few castaways similar to Collin’s model, but, again, the inconsistencies stirred in me a perfectionist’s rage… ok, bye.