Arcanine

Arcanine
National Pokédex Growlithe - Arcanine (#058) - Poliwag
Series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue
Designed by	Ken Sugimori

Arcanine (ウインディ, Uindi, Windie) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Arcanine first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Arcanine received positive reception from the media.

Concept and characteristics

Arcanine, known as the Legendary Pokémon, is a canine-like Pokémon whose head is covered in a cream-colored hair, except for the region around its eyes and ears, which is orange. Its body is a combination of the same orange fur with black stripes and completely black fur on its belly. It also has patches of cream-colored fur on its chest, legs and tail, resembling smoke. Its paws each have three toes and a round pink pawpad underneath. A legendary Chinese Pokémon, many are charmed by grace and beauty. Others value Arcanine for its mane. Nobody can resist bowing down to its magnificent bark. Arcanine is known for its high speed. It is said to be capable of running over 6,200 miles in a single day and night. The fire that blazes wildly within this Pokémon's body is its source of power. Originally called "Blaze" in beta versions, Arcanine's name comes from "arcane" and "canine".

Appearances

In video games

In the original Pokémon Red and Blue versions and their remakes, the player's rival, Blue, obtains a Growlithe if he doesn't own a Charmander, which evolves into Arcanine by the time he is the League Champion. In Pokémon Gold and Silver versions and their remakes, Blue is a Gym Leader and has an Arcanine on his team.

In anime

In the anime episode "Pokémon Emergency!", an image of Arcanine appears on a stone tablet that also depicts the Legendary Pokémon Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Gary Oak has an Arcanine that was first seen in The Battle of the Badge battling Giovanni. He used it later to battle Ash and his Bayleef in Extreme Pokémon!. Arcanine and its pre-evolution, Growlithe, have often been seen being used as police dogs.

In printed adaptations

In Pokémon Adventures, Blaine is seen to have an Arcanine from a flashback in Volume 3, when he recalls a confrontation with Team Rocket. Crystal has an Arcanine, whom she uses for transport at times. In Volume 9, Blue captured a wild Arcanine that he added to his gym team and trained to the point of being able to defeat any challenger without its trainer present.

Reception

Arcanine has been featured in lines of soft toys and action figures in the Pokémon franchise.

IGN listed Arcanine as one of the best Fire types, alongside Moltres and Flareon, commenting that he "rocks." In a poll by Official Nintendo Magazine, Arcanine was voted as the fourth best Fire-type Pokémon. They stated that it "lost none of its good looks when evolving from Growlithe". They described it as having "the mane of a lion and the stripes of a tiger but it has the speed of a panther." GamesRadar's Brett Elston wrote that Arcanine was better than Ninetales, both statistically and in terms of Fire techniques. Fellow GamesRadar editor Carolyn Gudmundson called it "adorable", while commenting on its high base stat total. IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" recommended that anyone looking for a decent pure fire type to choose Arcanine instead of Entei. She further said that "Arcanine is unquestionably one of the single best Fire type Pokemon in the business." In a poll conducted by IGN, it was voted as the 12th best Pokémon, where the staff described it as a "huge fire breathing dog that looks like a tiger for some reason". They stated that "He's still one of the strongest non legendaries in the game, and a fan favorite over a decade later".

External links

• Arcanine on Bulbapedia