Bulbasaur

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Bulbasaur
Pokémon series character
File:001Bulbasaur.png
National Pokédex
Bulbasaur (#001) - Ivysaur
First gamePokémon Red and Blue

Bulbasaur, known as Fushigidane (フシギダネ) in Japan,[1] is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Designed by Ken Sugimori, their name is a combination of the words "bulb" and "dinosaur." First appearing in Pokémon Red and Blue as a Starter Pokémon, they later appeared in subsequent sequels, spin-off games, related merchandise, and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.

Known as the Seed Pokémon, Bulbasaur can survive for days without eating because the bulb on its back stores energy. Bulbasaur is a central character in the anime, being one of Ash's main Pokémon for the first season, and a different one later being obtained by May. It is featured in various manga, and is owned by main protagonist Red in the Pokémon Adventures manga. Bulbasaur has been featured in varying pieces of merchandise, including toys and plush dolls.

Conception and design

The design and art direction for Bulbasaur was provided by Ken Sugimori, a friend of the creator of the Pokémon games, Satoshi Tajiri.[2] The species first appeared as one of three starter Pokémon the player could choose from at the beginning of the initial Game Boy games, Pokémon Red and Blue, released in Japan in 1996.[3] Its Japanese name, Fushigidane, is a combination of the Japanese words for mystery or miracle (fushigi) and seed (tane).[4] In translating the game for English speaking audiences, Nintendo gave the Pokémon "cleverly descriptive names" related to their appearance or features as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children; thus Bulbasaur, relating to both its dinosaur appearance and the large garlic-shaped bulb on its back.[5]

Characteristics

In the Pokémon franchise, Bulbasaur are small, squat reptilian and frog Pokémon that move on all four legs, and have light blue-green bodies with darker blue-green spots. As a Bulbasaur undergoes evolution into Ivysaur and then later into Venusaur, the bulb on its back blossoms into a large flower.[6] The seed on a Bulbasaur's back is planted at birth, and then sprouts and grows larger as the Bulbasaur grows.[7] The bulb absorbs sunlight which makes it grow. For this reason, Bulbasaur enjoy soaking up the sun's rays,[8] and can survive for days without eating because the bulb stores energy.[9] In the Pokémon anime, the character Ash Ketchum has a Bulbasaur who is portrayed as being brave but also stubborn. The distinctive differences of Bulbasaur from other Pokémon such as Diglett are well understood by children and so motivate their play and trading of the creature.[10]

Appearances

In the video games

Bulbasaur made its video game debut on February 27, 1996, in the Japanese-language games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.[11] Along with Charmander and Squirtle, Bulbasaur is a starter Pokémon the player can choose from at the beginning of the games.[12] Bulbasaur's grass type is in contrast to Charmander's fire type and Squirtle's water type.[12] Bulbasaur and the other starters from Red and Blue are replaced by Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow, the only starter available in it. Instead, they are obtained throughout the game from several trainers.[12] In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, remakes of Red and Blue, Bulbasaur is selectable as a starter Pokémon once again, along with Charmander and Squirtle. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, after obtaining all sixteen badges and defeating Red, the player can chose to obtain either Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle.[13]

The Nintendo 64 spin-off Pokémon Stadium, and other spin-offs such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, give the player a choice of a Bulbasaur (among fifteen other Pokémon), and in Pokémon Snap, Bulbasaur are one of the Pokémon that the player can photograph.[3] Bulbasaur also appears in Hey You, Pikachu! as a supporting character who lives in the Ochre Woods and makes the five recipes with Pikachu's help.[14] In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, Bulbasaur appears as one of the obtainable trophies.[15][16]

In the anime

Scenes from the Pokémon anime have depicted both the characters Ash and May training a Bulbasaur at different times, with Ash's Bulbasaur garnering more prominence within the storylines.[17][18] Ash’s Bulbasaur has remained with Ash longer than all of his other Pokémon, with the exception of his Pikachu. Before joining Ash's team, it lived with a girl named Melanie, who took care of abandoned Pokémon.[19] Bulbasaur was given to Ash, but it was pessimistic about him. However, its loyalties began to improve and it eventually became one of Ash's most faithful Pokémon.[19][20] May catches a Bulbasaur while traveling in a grass-type Pokémon nature reserve during her journey in Hoenn. Bulbasaur defends her from the other grass Pokémon in the forest, who see her as a threat, and when May leaves, Bulbasaur decides to go with her.[21] She later makes a guest appearance on the series and it is revealed that her Bulbasaur has fully evolved into a Venusaur.[22]

In the original Japanese version the two Bulbasaur are each played by separate seiyū, Ash's Bulbasaur by Megumi Hayashibara and May's by Miyako Itō. In the English dub, they are both voiced by Tara Jayne until Michele Knotz took over the job for the 9th season.

In other media

Bulbasaur is featured in an eclectic range of different Pokémon manga series. In Pokémon: Pikachu Shocks Back, Electric Pikachu Boogaloo, and Surf’s Up, Pikachu!, which loosely parallel the storyline of the anime, Pikachu is separated from Ash temporarily, and travels with a Bulbasaur to a secret Pokémon village in the mountains. Later, Ash finds Pikachu and catches the Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur accompanies Ash throughout his journeys in the Orange Islands, and eventually fights in the final showdown with Drake, the Orange Crew Supreme Gym Leader. In Magical Pokémon Journey, a character named Pistachio has a female Bulbasaur (nicknamed Danerina in the Japanese version), who is infatuated by him.[23]

In Pokémon Adventures, a manga based on the plot of the Pokémon Red and Blue games, the character Red receives a Bulbasaur from Professor Oak, which he nicknames Saur.[24] In Chapter 15, "Wartortle Wars", it evolves into an Ivysaur after battling a wild Mankey.[25]

Bulbasaur is the main character of two Pokémon children's books, Pokémon Tales Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble and Bulbasaur’s Bad Day, published in 1999 and 2000 respectively by Sagebrush.[26][27] In Pokémon Tales Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble, Bulbasaur resolves an argument between two other Pokémon.[27] In Bulbasaur’s Bad Day, Meowth traps Bulbasaur in a pit and it has to outwit Team Rocket (the antagonists of the Pokémon anime) to escape.[26]

Promotion and merchandising

Bulbasaur has been featured in varying pieces of merchandise, including toys and plush dolls.[28] Bulbasaur has been depicted in action figures sold by Hasbro in the United States, while Tomy in Japan sold extensive merchandise of the character, including vinyl dolls, wind-up model kits, and terry cloth bean bags.[29] It has also been used in promotional merchandising at fast-food chains such as McDonald's and Burger King.[30][31] Bulbasaur has also been included in various versions of the Pokémon painting on ANA Boeing 767s.[32] The island nation of Niue issued a commemorative coin with a legal tender value of one crown which has a Bulbasaur on the reverse side.[33]

Reception and legacy

CNN reporter Dennis Michael described Bulbasaur as one of the "lead critters" of the games and "perhaps the Carmen Miranda of Pokémon figures."[34] Bulbasaur was selected as one of the top ten Pokémon by fans who voted at Pokemon.com.[35] In an IGN biography page, Bulbasaur is described as "the odd man out" in the Pokémon Red and Blue game due to the fact that it represented neither color, thought added "it’s perhaps the best-known grass-type Pokémon, even though it’s a little bit more animal than vegetable", as well as noting its popularity with new players of the games.[36] IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" agreed, despite the fact its later evolutions were "slightly" eclipsed by Charizard, and also praised the anime incarnation for its attitude.[37] GamesRadar editor Brett Elston described Bulbasaur as being popular for more than just being the first Pokémon numerically, citing its moveset and evolutions.[28] Fellow GamesRadar editor Carolyn Gudmundson, in an article on the "top 7 gut-wrenching choices", listed the choice between fire, grass, or water with Bulbasaur a frontrunner, due to being a dinosaur as well as being grass type, though found its later evolutions "ugly" and "charmless".[38]

According to a panel of 5 - 8 year olds assembled by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1999, Bulbasaur was one of the children's three favorite Pokémon.[39] One boy in a study by Dafna Lemish and Linda Renee-Bloch identified with Bulbasaur's attributes of being "strong and also cute". Lemish and Renee-Bloch feel that the importance of cuteness is an example of the "appropriation of Japanese values" in an Israeli context, and note that boys' desire for strength has been correlated with "a desire for social interaction".[40]

References

  1. ^ Kalbfleisch, Pamela. Communication Yearbook 27. International Communication Association. p. 173. ISBN 0-8058-4819-3. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  2. ^ Stuart Bishop (2003-05-30). "Game Freak on Pokémon!". CVG. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  3. ^ a b MacDonald, Mark; Brokaw, Brian; Arnold; J. Douglas; Elies, Mark. Pokémon Trainer's Guide. Sandwich Islands Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9. (pg 192–195)
  4. ^ Drazen, Patrick (2003). Anime Explosion!: The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation. St. Paul, MN: Stone Bridge Press, LLC. p. 321. ISBN 1-880656-72-8.
  5. ^ Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". TIME. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  6. ^ "pokemon.com Pokédex". Nintendo/Gamefreak. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  7. ^ Game Freak (1998-09-30). Pokémon Red (Game Boy). Nintendo. Pokédex: A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon.
  8. ^ Game Freak (2003-03-17). Pokémon Ruby (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo. Pokédex: Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger.
  9. ^ Game Freak (1999-10-19). Pokémon Yellow (Game Boy). Nintendo. Pokédex: It can go for days without eating a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy.
  10. ^ Helen Bromley (2004), "ch 10. Localizing Pokémon Through Narrative Play", Pikachu's global adventure, ISBN 978-0-8223-3287-9
  11. ^ "Official Japanese Pokémon website". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  12. ^ a b c Allison, Anne (2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0-520-22148-6. A player must first find Professor Oak—the world's foremost expert on Pokémonology—who offers three choices for starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur (grass type), Charmander (fire type), or Squirtle (water type).
  13. ^ Game Freak (2010-03-14). Pokémon HeartGold (Nintendo DS). Nintendo. Pokédex: {{{2}}}
  14. ^ Parents Video Game Reviews for Families- Hey You, Pikachu!
  15. ^ “Guides:Super Smash Bros. Melee,” IGN.com. Retrieved 2005-12-29.
  16. ^ "Super Smash Bros. Trophy List," smashbros.com'.' Retrieved July 12, 2009.
  17. ^ Pokémon — Seaside Pikachu! Viz Video., 1999-07-20. ISBN 6305466858.
  18. ^ Pokémon — Pikachu Party (Vol. 12) Viz Video., 1999-11-23. ASIN B000021Y6R.
  19. ^ a b Pokemon — Seaside Pikachu! Viz Video., July 20, 1999. ASIN 6305466866.
  20. ^ Pokemon — Pikachu Party (Vol. 12) Viz Video., November 23, 1999. ASIN B000021Y6R.
  21. ^ Atsuhiro Tomioka (writer) (April 9, 2005). "Grass Hysteria!". Pokémon. Season Advanced Challenge. Episode 73. Various.
  22. ^ Shinzō Fujita (writer) (September 27, 2008). "Pruning a Passel of Pals!". Pokémon. Season Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension. Episode 78. Various.
  23. ^ Template:Jp icon Pokémon: Magical Journey character bios Maco.cha.to. 2006-07-26.
  24. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 1: Desperado Pikachu, VIZ Media LLC, 2000-07-06. ISBN 1-56931-507-8.
  25. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures: Legendary Pokémon, Vol. 2; Chapter 33, Chapter 15, "Wartortle Wars", (pg 7–20) VIZ Media LLC, 2001-12-06. ISBN 1-56931-508-6.
  26. ^ a b "Bulbasaur's Bad Day". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  27. ^ a b "Pokemon Tales Volume 3: Bulbasaur's Trouble". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  28. ^ a b The complete Pokemon RBY pokedex, part 1, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl DS Features | GamesRadar
  29. ^ White, Jason. "allgame ((( Bulbasaur > Overview )))". Allgame. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  30. ^ "The Pojo — TCG Set Lists McDonald's Campaign Expansion Set". Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  31. ^ "Fastfoodtoys.Net Pokémon 2000 Toys". Archived from the original on 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  32. ^ "Design". All Nippon Airways. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  33. ^ Chester L. Krause, Clifford Mishler (2003), 2004 standard catalog of world coins, p. 1532
  34. ^ Michael, Dennis (1999-10-05). "Pokémon banished from another playground". CNN. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  35. ^ "VIZ Media Announces New Pokémon Products for 2006 Holiday Season". PressZoom. 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  36. ^ "Bulbasaur Biography". IGN. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  37. ^ Pokémon Crystal Version Pokemon of the Day: Bulbasaur (#1) - IGN FAQs
  38. ^ The Top 7... gut-wrenching choices | GamesRadar
  39. ^ Shimabukuro, Betty (1999-04-26). "Pokémon An Adult's Guide from a Kid's Perspective". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on 1999-05-08. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  40. ^ Pikachu's global adventure: the rise ... - Google Books

External links

Look up Bulbasaur in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bulbasaur&oldid=495037274"