Lickitung

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Lickitung
Pokémon series character
File:108Lickitung.png
National Pokédex
Hitmonchan - Lickitung (#108) - Koffing
First gamePokémon Red and Blue

Lickitung, known in Japan as Beroringa (ベロリンガ), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Lickitung first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. In animated appearances, Lickitung is voiced in Japanese by Chinami Nishimura and in English localizations by Eric Stuart.

Design and characteristics

Lickitung was one of many different designs conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.[1][2] Originally called "Beroringa" in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.[3] Lickitung's English name comes from a combination of "lick" and "tongue".[4]

Lickitung, known as the Licking Pokémon, has soft, pink skin with semicircular yellow markings on its belly, fully circular markings on its knees, and a thick, powerful tail. It has small, beady eyes, and its hands have thumb-claws and circular yellow markings on the underside. The most famous feature Lickitung possesses is a long prehensile tongue, which it uses to manipulate objects and possibly to consume them.[5] The tongue is very likely connected to its huge tail, as when it is extended, the tail quivers.[6] Licks from its 6' 6" long tongue can paralyze foes.[7][8] Its saliva is gooey and sticks to everything.[9] They also like to lick unfamiliar things they come across, but get put-off by some sour substances.[10] Lickitung also uses its tongue to lick its body clean.[8]

Appearances

In the video games

The first video game appearance of Lickitung was in Pokémon Red and Blue versions. It later appeared in several sequels, including Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the Red and Blue remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Beginning with Diamond and Pearl, Lickitung, when it reaches level 33 and learns the move Rollout, (or leveling it up after it knows Rollout) it evolves into a new Pokémon called Lickilicky. (Prior to Generation IV, Lickitung had no other evolution) Outside of the main series, Lickitung has appeared in Pokémon Pinball and the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games. It also makes a small appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee as an element of a stage. In Pokémon Stadium, Lickitung featured in its own mini game called "Sushi-Go-Round", in which players tried to eat as much food as they could.

In other media

In the anime, Jessie captured a Lickitung and used in the Princess Festival Tournament against Misty. Jessie usually used Lickitung as a last resort in battle. Lickitung licked Jessie's face on several occasions. Many episodes later, Jessie accidentally traded her Lickitung for a Wobbuffet. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Lickitung is one of the Pokémon seen in Gold's house. Later, a quad of Lickitung becomes attracted by the scent of Crystal's newly evolved Bayleef. In the Diamond and Pearl series, Diamond's map was stolen by a Lickitung and he attempts to capture one. He has also appeared in many Hollywood blockbusters such as: The Avengers, The Hunger Games and the Harry Potter series.

Reception

Since appearing in Pokémon Red and Blue, Lickitung has received generally positive reception. Lickitung has been featured in several pieces of merchandise, including cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, figurines, plush toys, and others.

GamesRadar named Lickitung on their list of fugly Pokémon, noting that its large tongue is unacceptably gross.[11] IGN commented that Lickitung was both "cool" and "the most disturbing Pokemon in Blue/Red and Yellow," adding that there was something creepy about a "giant, pink and yellow hippo-like creature with a fat tail and a tongue that's twice as long as its body."[4] The Escapist editor John Funk noted that while some of the new Pokémon in Pokémon Black and White were weird, the first game featured weird Pokémon such as Lickitung, Magmar, and Jynx.[12] Eurogamer editor Luke Albiges called Lickitung "magnificent."[13] Time expressed disgust at Lickitung's tongue wrap, calling it "yucky."[3] Loredana Lipperini, author of Generazione Pókemon: i bambini e l'invasione planetaria dei nuovi in discussing what made Pokémon popular, citing Lickitung's "extravagant" weapon, its tongue. She describes Lickitung as disgusting, comparing it to Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones.[14] Guy Kawasaki, author of The art of the start: the time-tested, battle-hardened guide for anyone starting anything, used Lickitung as an example of how the Pokémon series uses names that clearly explain what they are.[15] Author Maria S. Barbo called Lickitung a weird-looking Pokémon.[16]

References

  1. ^ Staff. "2. 一新されたポケモンの世界". Nintendo.com (in Japanese). Nintendo. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  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 Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". TIME. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  4. ^ a b "Pokemon Strategy Guide - IGNguides". Guides.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  5. ^ Game Freak (2000-10-15). Pokémon Gold (Game Boy Color). Nintendo. Pokédex: Its tongue has well-developed nerves that run to the very tip, so it can be deftly manipulated.
  6. ^ Game Freak (2009-03-22). Pokémon Platinum (Nintendo DS). Nintendo. Pokédex: When it extends its over-six-foot-long tongue, its tail quivers. There is a possibility they are connected.
  7. ^ Game Freak (1999-10-19). Pokémon Yellow (Game Boy). Nintendo. Pokédex: Its tongue spans almost 7 feet and moves more freely than its forelegs. Its licks can cause paralysis.
  8. ^ a b Game Freak (2001-07-29). Pokémon Crystal (Game Boy Color). Nintendo. Pokédex: It has a tongue that is over 6'6" long. It uses this long tongue to lick its body clean.
  9. ^ Game Freak (2007-04-22). Pokémon Diamond (Nintendo DS). Nintendo. Pokédex: Instead of hands, it uses its tongue, which is twice its height. Its sticky saliva grips anything.
  10. ^ Game Freak (2005-05-01). Pokémon Emerald (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo. Pokédex: Whenever it sees something unfamiliar, it always licks the object because it memorizes things by texture and taste. It is somewhat put off by sour things.
  11. ^ "Fugly Pokemon". GamesRadar. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  12. ^ John Funk (2010-09-16). "The Escapist : News : All New Pokemon from Pokemon Black & White Revealed". Escapistmagazine.com. Retrieved 2010-09-27. {{cite web}}: Text "16 Sep 2010 21:47" ignored (help)
  13. ^ Luke Albiges (2007-05-14). "Pokémon Diamond/Pearl DS Review - Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  14. ^ Generazione Pókemon: i bambini e l ... - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  15. ^ The art of the start: the time ... - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  16. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=08IRMQAACAAJ

External links

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