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Red Bulborbs (アカチャッピー|Akachappī) are amongst the most well-known enemies and are a recurring antagonistic species in the Pikmin series, appearing in all games in the series. This nocturnal creature will sleep out in the open, exposing themselves to Pikmin attacks.

The Red Bulborb's original name was the Spotty Bulborb, but had its name changed when Olimar found other subspecies with spotted patterns. In Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4 it is simply named Bulborb, despite the Orange Bulborb also appearing in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4 having other Bulborb variants, including the Frosty Bulborb and Jumbo Bulborb.

Biology

Red Bulborbs are among the most biologically diverse enemies in the series. As they poses traits similar to those of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They have large bulbous eyes, opposed to 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. 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 Red Bulborbs having a set of mandibles. Mandibles are a pair of appendages near an insects 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 sabre-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 Red Bulborbs 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 Captain (which is naturally an older Bulborb) and hunting in packs. Red Bulborbs are not observed at the two stages of development displayed by red Bulbmin anywhere else in-game (unlike the Spotty Bulbear), so it is unknown whether Bulbmin are a common stage in Red 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 Red Bulborb species are found in.

Notes

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."

Reel Notes

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

Alph's Notes

"Structural flaws: eyestalks

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 Notes

"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 Notes

"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""

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."

Nintendo 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 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."

Pikmin 3 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."

RedBulborbTrophy

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trophy

"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."

Bulborbssb43ds

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Trophy

"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!"

Dalmo's Notes

"It has wide, googly eyes on protruding stalks, a mouth meant to swallow prey in one large gulp, 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!"

Battle strategy

Note: The following part(s) of the article is a strategy (or strategies); therefore, it is highly subjective, meaning it may not work for everyone.

Pikmin

The most effective strategy is to swarm it 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.

Wii-U-Pikmin-3

A Red Bulborb who is hit on the eye in Pikmin 3

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

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. 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.

Crossover appearances

Nintendogs

Bulborb in 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

Distant Planet SSBB

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

Red Bulborb 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. 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 once again appear in the End of Day Final Smash.

Gallery

Main article: Red Bulborb/Gallery

Trivia

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • While the Red Bulborb had purple eyes in the first two games, they now have blue eyes in Pikmin 3.
  • Using an Action Replay to access a model test menu in Pikmin, the Spotty Bulborb's code name is "swollow".
  • Searching through the Pikmin 2 files reveals that the internal code name for the Spotty Bulborb is "Chappy".
  • 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. 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 past two games.
  • The Red Bulborb Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl states that the Red Bulborb only appears in Pikmin 2. This may be because they are referred to as "Spotty Bulborbs" in the first game.
  • 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

Enemies and plants
Pikmin
Armored Cannon Beetle | Beady Long Legs | Breadbug | Burrowing Snagret | Candypop Bud | Dwarf Bulbear | Dwarf Red Bulborb | Emperor Bulblax | Fiery Blowhog | Female Sheargrub | Goolix | Honeywisp | Iridescent Flint Beetle | Mamuta | Pearly Clamclamp | Pellet Posy | Puffstool | Puffy Blowhog | Male Sheargrub | Shearwig | Smoky Progg | Spotty Bulbear | Swooping Snitchbug | Red Bulborb | Water Dumple | Wolpole | Wollyhop | Yellow Wollyhop
Pikmin 2
Red Bulborb | Hairy Bulborb | Orange Bulborb | Dwarf Bulbear | Spotty Bulbear | Fiery Bulblax | Emperor Bulblax | Empress Bulblax | Bulborb Larva | Water Dumple | Bulbmin | Breadbug | Giant Breadbug | Dwarf Red Bulborb | Dwarf Orange Bulborb | Snow Bulborb | Fiery Blowhog | Watery Blowhog | Puffy Blowhog | Withering Blowhog | Fiery Dweevil | Anode Dweevil | Caustic Dweevil | Munge Dweevil | Volatile Dweevil | Titan Dweevil | Beady Long Legs | Man-at-Legs | Raging Long Legs | Burrowing Snagret | Pileated Snagret | Armored Cannon Beetle Larva | Decorated Cannon Beetle | Segmented Crawbster | Hermit Crawmad | Male Sheargrub | Female Sheargrub | Shearwig | Doodlebug | Iridescent Glint Beetle | Iridescent Flint Beetle | Cloaking Burrow-nit | Ravenous Whiskerpillar | Skitter Leaf | Careening Dirigibug | Swooping Snitchbug | Bumbling Snitchbug | Antenna Beetle | Anode Beetle | Lesser Spotted Jellyfloat | Greater Spotted Jellyfloat | Toady Bloyster | Ranging Bloyster | Wolpole | Yellow Wollyhop | Wollyhop | Creeping Chrysanthemum | Unmarked Spectralid | Honeywisp | Mitite | Gatling Groink | Mamuta | Waterwraith | Crimson Candypop Bud | Golden Candypop Bud | Lapis Lazuli Candypop Bud | Violet Candypop Bud | Ivory Candypop Bud | Queen Candypop Bud | Pellet Posy | Common Glowcap | Glowstem | Clover | Figwort | Dandelion | Seeding Dandelion | Horsetail | Foxtail | Margaret | Fiddlehead | Shoot | Burgeoning Spiderwort
Pikmin 3
Arachnode | Arctic Cannon Larva | Armored Cannon Larva | Armored Mawdad | Bearded Amprat | Bug-Eyed Crawmad | Bulborb | Burrowing Snagret | Calcified Crushblat | Desiccated Skitter Leaf | Dwarf Bulbear | Dwarf Red Bulborb | Dwarf Orange Bulborb | Female Sheargrub | Fiery Blowhog | Flighty Joustmite | Hermit Crawmad | Iridescent Flint Beetle | Joustmite | Male Sheargrub | Medusal Slurker | Necterous Dandelfly | Orange Bulborb | Peckish Aristocrab | Pellet Posy | Phosbat | Plasm Wraith | Puckering Blinnow | Puffy Blowhog | Pyroclasmic Slooch | Quaggled Mireclops | Red Spectralid | Sandbelching Meerslug | Scornet | Scornet Maestro | Shaggy Long Legs | Shearwig | Skeeterskate | Skitter Leaf | Skutterchuck | Spotty Bulbear | Sputtlefish | Swarming Sheargrub | Swooping Snitchbug | Toady Bloyster | Vehemoth Phosbat | Waddlepus | Water Dumple | Watery Blowhog | Whiptongue Bulborb | White Spectralid | Wolpole | Yellow Spectralid | Yellow Wollyhop
Pikmin 4
Albino Dwarf Bulborb | Ancient Sirehound | Anode Beetle | Arctic Cannon Beetle | Arctic Cannon Larva | Aristocrab Offspring | Armored Cannon Larva | Baldy Long Legs | Bearded Amprat | Blizzarding Blowhog | Bloomcap Bloyster | Bogswallow | Breadbug | Bug-Eyed Crawmad | Bulborb | Burrowing Snagret | Chillyhop | Creeping Chrysanthemum | Crusted Rumpup | Desiccated Skitter Leaf | Doodlebug | Downy Snagret | Dwarf Bulbear | Dwarf Bulborb | Dwarf Frosty Bulborb | Dweevil | Emperor Bulblax | Enemy | Fiery Blowhog | Fiery Bulblax | Foolix | Freezecake | Frosty Bulborb | Giant Breadbug | Gildemander | Gildemandwee | Groovy Long Legs | Grubchucker | Hermit Crawmad | Horned Cannon Beetle | Hydro Dweevil | Iceblown Dweevil | Icy Blowhog | Joustmite | Jumbo Bulborb | Mama Sheargrub | Mammoth Snootwhacker | Mamuta | Man-at-Legs | Miniature Snootwhacker | Mitite | Moldy Dwarf Bulborb | Moldy Slooch | Moss | Muckerskate | Pearly Clamclamp | Porquillion | Puckering Blinnow | Puffy Blowhog | Pyroclasmic Slooch | Red Spectralid | Scorchcake | Shearflea | Shearwig | Shockcake | Skutterchuck | Smoky Progg | Snavian | Snowfake Fluttertail | Snowy Blowhog | Sovereign Bulblax | Spotty Bulbear | Startle Spore | Sunsquish | Titan Blowhog | Toady Bloyster | Toxstool | Tusked Blowhog | Venom Dweevil | Waddlepus | Waddlequaff | Waterwraith | Watery Blowhog | Wollyhop | Wolpole | Yellow Wollyhop
Hey! Pikmin
Adult Centipare | Armurk | Berserk Leech Hydroe | Blubbug | Bulborb | Centipare | Clicking Slurker | Coppeller | Crammed Wraith | Crested Mockiwi | Crumbug | Crystalline Crushblat | Electric Cottonade | Electric Spectralid | Electripede | Elongated Crushblat | Emperor Bulblax | Eye-Stalker Bulbeel | Fiery Blowhog | Fiery Blowlet | Fiery Dwarf Bulblax | Fiery Young Yellow Wollywog | Fireflap Bulborb | Fireflinger Groink | Firesnout Beetle | Flatterchuck | Flying Spotted Jellyfloat | Grabbit | Large Splurchin | Long Water Dumple | Luring Slurker | Male Sheargrub | Mockiwi | Muggonfly | Puckering Blinnow | Puffstalk | Puffy Blubbug | Queen Shearwig | Red Bubblimp | Seedbagger | Shearblug | Shearwig | Shooting Spiner (Female) | Shooting Spiner (Male) | Skutterchuck | Sparrowhead | Speargrub | Spiny Coppeller | Sporegrub | Spornet | Starnacle | Stony Flint Beetle | Stuffed Bellbloom | Swooping Snitchbug | Widemouthed Anode Beetle | Yellow Wollyhop | Young Yellow Wollywog
Families
Amphituber | Arachnorb | Breadbug family | Blowhog | Candypop Bud | Chrysanthemum family | Dweevil | Glowcap family | Grub-dog | Jellyfloat | Lithopod | Mandiblard | Mollusking | Snavian | Unknown Family
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