Pikmin animated shorts are coming to the 3DS.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Pikmin and Mario, is working in conjuction with an outside animation studio to produce CG Pikmin cartoons. Interest was tested in a dedicated Pikmin series when Nintendo worked with Japanese movie theater chain Toho Cinemas on a segment shown before a film. 

There are multiple shorts in production but we know the details of only one. It begins with Olimar blending what looks to be red Pikmin. Olimar then walks on over to some scared Pikmin, wielding a knife. The Pikmin begin to back away, then bump into the carrots he was actually blending.

Miyamoto considers this a pet project to expand on the personality of his creation, but noted that the films will not take away from his work on games. The shorts are expected to come to the 3DS before the launch of Pikmin 3. They may be delivered through the Nintendo Video application, and if successful, Miyamoto suggests Nintendo may sell them.