Nintendo Officially Designates November 1 as Pikmin Day, Miyamoto Announces Hello! Pikmin Animation Project

Nintendo has officially designated November 1 as Pikmin Day, an annual celebration dedicated to the puzzle-strategy franchise that has now reached 25 years. The announcement was made directly by Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's senior designer, in a special video covering various updates for the Pikmin series, including the latest game and an animation project.

The choice of November 1 is not without reason. Miyamoto explained that the number 11.1 in date format resembles three iconic Pikmin—red, yellow, and blue—standing side by side. This visual symbolism is considered to represent the franchise identity that has long been embedded in fans' hearts. With this designation, Nintendo hopes to strengthen the Pikmin community through a regular celebration involving various elements, from games to animation.

In the video, Miyamoto also introduced a new project titled Hello! Pikmin, a collaboration with Nintendo Pictures. The project will present a series of animated short films featuring the comical antics of the Pikmin. The first footage shown depicts a red Pikmin trying to steal a worn baseball from a frog that appears to be asleep. However, the situation changes when the frog turns out to be awake and hungry—a classic comedic scene that invites laughter.

Miyamoto revealed that Hello! Pikmin episodes will be released periodically through the Nintendo Today app and other channels, with a target of one video per month in the near future. This is not the first such move for Nintendo; a year earlier, Nintendo Pictures released a short film titled "Close to You" that received a positive response. Previously, in 2014, animated series such as "The Night Juicer," "Treasure in a Bottle," and "Occupational Hazards" were also released, showing Miyamoto's long-term interest in expanding Pikmin into animated media.

In addition to the animation project, Nintendo announced an update for Pikmin 4 in the form of a special Nintendo Switch 2 edition arriving this November. This edition includes bonus Dandori Academy content, offering new strategic challenges for players. One exclusive Switch 2 feature is the ability to call Oatchi, the dog-like companion in the game, using voice commands through the console's built-in microphone. Dandori Academy itself will present limited trials released every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, complete with leaderboards to test players' ability to optimize their strategies.

A total of 72 Dandori Academy stages will be available gradually, providing sustained challenge variety. For players who want to try it early, a free demo will launch on November 2, allowing them to explore the opening area and two Dandori Academy challenges. This move aligns with Nintendo's strategy to introduce the Pikmin franchise to a broader Switch 2 audience while retaining its loyal fan base.

Not only on consoles, Pikmin Bloom—the mobile game developed with Niantic—will also get a new feature called Secret Caves this winter. This feature allows players to send squads of Pikmin into caves to battle enemies and collect treasure. The treasure found will become part of a new collection in the game, giving players an additional goal to keep exploring. To access Secret Caves, players need a map that can be obtained through in-game postcards or by playing Dandori Academy challenges in the Pikmin 4 Switch 2 edition.

Beyond games, Miyamoto announced that well-known Japanese actor Fuka Koshiba has been recruited as the official spokesperson for the Pikmin franchise. Koshiba, widely known for her roles in various dramas and films, also has a unique interest: she enjoys knitting Pikmin-themed hats in her spare time. The appointment is expected to boost Pikmin's appeal among a broader audience, especially in Japan, while reinforcing the franchise's image as a family-friendly pop culture phenomenon.

With this series of announcements, Nintendo appears serious about developing Pikmin as one of its long-term intellectual properties. From the annual celebration, expansion into animation, to cross-platform integration, this formerly niche franchise is now moving toward the center of attention. The question is, will this strategy be able to elevate Pikmin to a level of popularity comparable to Mario or Zelda? Or, conversely, does this aggressive expansion risk blurring its unique identity as a challenging strategy game? Only time will tell, but Nintendo's moves clearly show that Pikmin is no longer just a side game.