- "Red Bulborb" redirects here. For the enemies in Pikmin Adventure, see Red Bulborb (Pikmin Adventure).
Bulborbs (チャッピー Chappī) are enemies appearing in every game of the Pikmin series. Bulborbs are both the most common and iconic creatures native to PNF-404. They were originally named Spotty Bulborb in Pikmin, and had their name changed to Red Bulborbs (アカチャッピー Aka Chappī) in Pikmin 2. As of Pikmin 3, they have been called simply "Bulborbs," even though the Orange Bulborb appears in said game. The same name is used in Pikmin 4, which features other Bulborb variants, including the Frosty Bulborb and Jumbo Bulborb.
Bulborbs are nocturnal creatures, sleeping during the daytime, during which they are vulnerable to unexpected attacks from Pikmin. Bulborbs only wake up during the day when they are either bothered or detect potential prey. Bulborbs are the main predators of Pikmin, and their attack involves trying to eat them. Bulborbs become considerably stronger at night and are therefore generally invulnerable. While a single Bulborb can usually easily overcome one or two Pikmin, the Bulborbs' main weakness lies in the fact they do not usually cooperate with one another, and thus, any single one of the Bulborbs can almost always be defeated a large group of the much smaller Pikmin.
Biology
Artwork of a Bulborb for Pikmin, depicting it with purple eyes instead of light-blue like in Pikmin 3 and most later appearances
Bulborbs are among the most biologically diverse creatures in the Pikmin series. Red Bulborbs have a red back with white spots, eyes on stalks, a yellow face, orange bird-like legs, and a pointed snout. They have a sharp fang on the left and right sides of their mouth each. A Bulborb's eyes are large and bulbous, unlike the compound eyes of most insects. Judging by the size of their eyes and their nocturnal lifestyle, their eyes have a wide pupil, a large lens and possible increased retinal surface used for collecting more ambient light during night time. In the first two Pikmin games, Bulborbs have purple, changed to light-blue in Pikmin 3. It seems likely that they developed from amphibious creatures (or amphibians in general), possibly swamp-dwellers - their large bodies are/would be somewhat buoyant, allowing them to maintain a neutral position in the water with their eyes above the surface. Their legs mostly served for limited propulsion, and also allowed them to lunge out of the swamp to seize prey - also a reason for mandibles that can grip quickly.
Olimar mentions the Bulborbs having a set of mandibles, a pair of appendages near an insect's mouth used for grinding and chewing food. The 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. It is very likely that Bulborbs are omnivorous creatures.
It seems that the juvenile Bulborb is the favored host of the parasitic Pikmin type 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.
Strategy
Pikmin
A Bulborb being fought in Pikmin
An effective strategy is to swarm a Bulborb from the back with a large group of 30 or more Pikmin, preferably Red Pikmin for their high attack power, and it will die. Note that if the game has been running for a while it may instantly be standing and will kill more Pikmin than expected. Another very effective strategy is, with a group of 30-40 Pikmin(preferably Red, as stated above), to get behind it and throw Pikmin onto the back of the Bulborb. The Bulborb should shake in an attempt to get the attacking Pikmin off, but continue to throw your Pikmin; the speed you can throw in this game is perfect for this strategy, since even the fastest speed is slow enough that not all of your Pikmin will thrown onto the Bulborb come the first shake. This will result in more Pikmin on the Bulborb's back while the ones that were shaken off will rush to the feet of the Bulborb for greater damage.
If only a few Pikmin are available, repeatedly throw Pikmin onto the Bulborb's back and retreat if it starts charging at them. When it goes back to sleep, toss more Pikmin on its back. Then, when it attempts to shake them off, call your Pikmin back and throw them back when the Bulborb is done shaking. It should be unable to eat any Pikmin if done correctly. This strategy also works for the Spotty Bulbear, but it takes a little bit longer because Spotty Bulbears have more health. Red Pikmin are the best for this strategy. (Notice: This does not work well in Pikmin 2) When attacking Dwarf Bulborbs, they will sometimes screech when agitated and awaken nearby Red Bulborbs. Note that a glitch exists when the Bulborb moves in to attack that renders it invincible. Unless it is at very low health, expect some Pikmin to be devoured. With a large enough Pikmin group, this shouldn't be a problem. If Bomb Rocks are used, the Bulborb will die with two blasts or 3 blasts, each blast dealing half damage. However, it will heal itself over time so throwing two almost simultaneously is recommended.
Pikmin 2
In Pikmin 2, rather than swarming it, continuously toss Pikmin onto its back and ignore any fallen Pikmin if it has low enough HP when it shakes. A few Purple Pikmin can cause serious damage, especially if they stun the Bulborb. If it is accidentally awakened it before attacking with Pikmin, run away until it turns around, and begins to fall asleep, if attacked at this moment, it will not realize it is being hurt until it begins to snore. In some metallic themed caves, Red Bulborbs and their kin can be led off of the stage by awakening it and quickly running around a hole in the sublevel, causing it to fall.
It should be noted that when it shakes, it flings attacking Pikmin in front of it, opposed to flinging them backwards as they did in Pikmin.
It has also been observed that hitting it from underneath could kill it immediately, but this is a rare occurance and not recommended.
Pikmin 3
A Red Bulborb hit on the eye in Pikmin 3
In Pikmin 3, the best way to defeat a Red Bulborb is to gather a large amount of Pikmin, about 40, and sneak behind the Bulborb while it is sleeping. Once you are behind it, Lock on to it and dismiss your Pikmin. All the Pikmin should run towards it and kill it instantly, before it has a chance to eat a single Pikmin. If it has been awoken, repeatedly throw Pikmin at its eyes, preferably Rock Pikmin.
The last strategy is the easiest. Take around 50 Rock Pikmin, ambush the Bulborb, and unleash all hell and fury and chaos upon it. It will not even get to react. You could try with other Pikmin, but Rock Pikmin work best because of impact damage, and because they don't stick. This works a little worse for Orange Bulborbs and Spotty Bulbears because the former has huge FoV, and the latter has high health.
Hey! Pikmin
In Hey! Pikmin, a Red Bulborb is the boss of Brilliant Garden, and it is the first boss of the game overall. At the start of the battle, wait for the Bulborb to lean down, then throw your Pikmin at its eyes and run between its legs while it's stunned. Once you're behind it, throw your Pikmin at its rear. After it shakes them off, whistle for your Pikmin and run to the far right of the area to avoid the Bulborb's jaws. After this, it will retreat into the grass in the background, then lunge back out. This can be easily avoided by paying attention to which patch of grass is shaking. Then repeat from the beginning two more times, and the Bulborb will be defeated.
Merchandise
Along with Olimar, the Pikmin, Louie and the Red Bulborb is available as a plush toy, along with being a secret figurine in the first volume of Pikmin Figures.
Crossover appearances
Nintendogs
A Bulborb in the background of the Secondhand Shop in Nintendogs
In all versions of the Nintendo DS game, Nintendogs, a red Bulborb toy can be seen in the Secondhand Shop, but it cannot be obtained.
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Red Bulborb of the Distant Planet in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
A Bulborb will sometimes enter the Distant Planet stage of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and can be used as a temporary platform. However, when the Bulborb opens its mouth, anyone caught in its mouth will immediately be eaten, trapped, and carried off the screen, resulting in a KO. Another Red Bulborb can be seen in the background.
Strangely, if it attempts to open its mouth while someone is on top, the animation for it opening its mouth will not play, and it will immediately play the eating animation, causing the unlucky person on top to be KO'd. Even more strangely, if a transformation Final Smash (such as Giga Bowser or Landmaster) is used, the game will not recognize the transformation as a character, and the Bulborb will not eat the transformation.
A Red Bulborb also appears in the form of a collectible trophy and a sticker, the latter depicting clay artwork of the Red Bulborb being fought by Pikmin in Pikmin 2. Many Red Bulborbs also appear in Olimar's Final Smash, End of Day, in which Olimar enters the Hocotate Ship to briefly escape the stage while Red Bulborbs snack on opponents, inflicting a lot of damage to them, before Olimar crash-lands back onto the stage.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
A Red Bulborb in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
In the Smash Run mode of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Red Bulborbs are featured as enemies. They are the largest enemies in the mode and have more health. A Bulborb's main attack involves using its big jaws to repeatedly bite the player, but it can also stomp repeatedly. Bulborbs are likely to slam into the player if they are behind it. A Bulborb's attacks can almost always KO the player fighter instantly.
The best strategy for defeating the Bulborb is to stay behind it attempts to slam the player. Dodge and roll forward, then use a quick smash. The Bulborb will attempt to slam again, allowing you to roll back and forth. This strategy is a bit more difficult for characters with slower smash attacks, such as Ike, and weaker characters, such as Kirby. As it is highly rare to encounter a Bulborb early on, you will most likely have gathered many Attack and Defense stats. Another strategy is to equip your character with several powers, such as Homing Missiles or Power Bombs, and use them repeatedly. Note that upon using a power, other powers of that category may be disabled for a moment, depending on the power. This may be an issue when using Homing Missiles, as they may miss and repeatedly rotate around the enemy, preventing usage.
A Bulborb retains its role as a hazard in the Distant Planet stage. However, it does not appear in the stage's Final Destination form. Several Bulborbs retain their appearance in Olimar's Final Smash, End of Day, now also used by his echo fighter, Alph. There is a different trophy of a Red Bulborb, which depicts it being fought by several Pikmin.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
A Bulborb can appear in the near background on the left side of the Garden of Hope in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The Bulborb does not affect any of the fighters, but Pikmin do not arrive to repair any broken structures until it leaves.
There is a different yet similar trophy of a Bulborb, depicting the same pose as in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, although the trophy descriptions are different.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
A Red Bulborb is one of the spirits appearing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It can be enhanced to an Empress Bulblax spirit when reaching level 99. A Bulborb once again appears in the Distant Planet and Garden of Hope stages, behaving identically in the respective stages as before, and many Red Bulborbs appear in the End of Day Final Smash, as before.
Etymology
The Red Bulborb's scientific name, Oculus kageyamii russus, translates to "red-eyed kageyamii". It is unclear what "kageyamii" actually means (it would be the Latin genitive meaning "of Kageyama"). It may refer to a Kageyama working at Nintendo or an in-universe person who discovered them, or it could mean "of the shadow mountain", in a weird Japanese-Latin hybrid language.
"Chappy" is the enemy's Japanese name, and could possibly refer to the lip-smacking sound it makes when it gobbles up Pikmin in the first two games. "Chappy" is their internal name in the files of Pikmin 2.
Using an Action Replay to access a model test menu in Pikmin, the Spotty Bulborb's code name is "swollow".
Notes
Pikmin series
Pikmin
- Ship's 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.
- Enemy reel: This nocturnal hunter feeds mostly on small animals returning to their nests at night.
- Promotional booklet: These nocturnal creatures are very common. Capable of surviving in a variety of habitats, bulborbs spend nearly all of their time searching for food. Their favorite meal? Raw Pikmin, of course.
- New Play Control! website (British English): Can anything polka-dotted be dangerous? If it’s a hungry Bulborb, you bet. Its big eyes on the top of its head are as big as its stomach. But the eyes can’t see what’s going on behind it. From the back is the perfect place to strike and swarm this beast.
Pikmin 2
- Olimar: 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: Plump specimens are best spit-roasted whole, stuffed with a lime and a slab of bacon. Baste frequently to ensure a magnificently moist haunch.
- Player's Guide: 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
- Alph
- Structural flaws: eyestalks
- 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."
- Brittany: 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: 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.
- Website: 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.
- Prima guide: 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.
Hey! Pikmin
- Creature Log: The S.S. Dolphin II said that 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 4
- Dalmo: It has wide, googly eyes on protruding stalks, a mouth meant to swallow prey in one large gulp, and powerful, red and white polka-dotted hindquarters. It's fierce, and yet it's somehow quite endearing. Be wary of getting lured in by its disarming mien.
- Olimar:
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.
- Louie: Plump specimens are best spit-roasted whole, stuffed with a lime and a slab of bacon. Baste frequently to ensure a magnificently moist haunch.
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy
| Image | Title | Appears in | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Red Bulborb | GCN Pikmin 2 | Random drop |
| Description | |||
|
American English: 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. British English: 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. | |||
Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker
| Name | Image | Artwork from | Effect in The Subspace Emissary | Usable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulborb | 
|
Pikmin 2 | [Pikmin] - Attack +32 | Olimar |
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U trophy
| 3DS image | Wii U image | Title | Category | Appears in* | Trophy Box*
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Bulborb | Stage | GCN Pikmin (12/2001) GCN Pikmin 2 (08/2004) |
61: Distant Planet & Indigenous Creatures
| ||
| 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! | |||||||
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit
| General information | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Image | Series / game | Type | Slots | Class | Strength / effect(s) | How to obtain |
| 810 | Bulborb | 
|
Pikmin Series | Primary | 2 | Advanced | Shield Can be enhanced to Empress Bulblax at Lv. 99 |
World of Light (Sacred Land); Spirit Board |
| Spirit battle | ||||||||
| Opponent(s) | Battle conditions | Stage | Song | |||||
| Giant Yoshi | Rule: Attack Power ↑
|
Distant Planet | Main Theme - Pikmin (original) | |||||
Gallery
Trivia
- On the title screen of Pikmin 2, pressing and holding the X button will summon a Red Bulborb onto the screen. The player can control it by using the C stick and can eat Pikmin using the Z button.
- Its name has been slightly altered in every game so far. It is named "Spotty Bulborb" in Pikmin, "Red Bulborb" in Pikmin 2, and just "Bulborb" in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4. This makes the Red Bulborb the creature with the most name changes in the series.
- The Bulborbs in Pikmin 3 look directly at the Pikmin instead of looking straight forward, as they have done in the first two games.
- It is believed that Bulborbs are named after Olimar's pet dog, Bulbie.
- In some pre-release builds of Pikmin, the Pikmin originally carried the Bulborb's corpses upside down instead of right-side up.
- In Pikmin 3, if a Bomb Rock is planted near a Bulborb, the noise produced by the explosion will wake it up.
See also
- Spotty Bulbear
- Hairy Bulborb
- Orange Bulborb
- Dwarf Red Bulborb
- Whiptongue Bulborb
- Jumbo Bulborb
- Frosty Bulborb