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Bulbasaur

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Bulbasaur
1bulbasaur.png
National Pokédex
None - Bulbasaur (#001) - Ivysaur
Japanese nameFushigidane
Evolves fromNone
Evolves intoIvysaur
GenerationFirst
SpeciesSeed Pokémon
TypeGrass / Poison
Height2 ft 4 in (0.7 m)
Weight15.2 pounds (6.9 kg)
AbilityOvergrow

Bulbasaur (フシギダネ, Fushigidane) are the first of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon that were created by Satoshi Tajiri. The joint venture between The Pokemon Company in Japan and Nintendo of America has produced many incarnations of the Pokémon story and of its Bulbasaur character for their multi-million dollar media franchise.[1]

The Pokémon video games franchise is one of Nintendo's flagships and as of 2007 has sold 143 million copies of the Pokémon game,[2] Bulbasaur first appeared in 1996 in the first ever Pokémon video game, Pocket Monsters, as one of three starter Pokémon the player receives at the beginning of the game.

Like all Pokémon, Bulbasaur fight other Pokémon in battles central to the Pokémon anime, manga, and games of the series,[3] as well as appearing in trading card Pokémon games and non-Pokémon video games.

Conception and creation

The design and art direction for Bulbasaur were provided by Ken Sugimori, a friend of the creator of the Pocket Monsters game, Satoshi Tajiri. Bulbasaur are one of the first Pokémon that can be obtained in the Pocket Monsters Aka (ポケットモンスター 赤, Poketto Monsutā Aka, "Pocket Monsters Red") and Pocket Monsters Midori (ポケットモンスター 緑, Poketto Monsutā Midori, "Pocket Monsters Green") Game Boy games originally released in Japan. In translating the game for English audiences, Nintendo of America gave the Pokémon "cleverly descriptive names"; "of the three more popular Pokémon, [...] Fushigidane, a dinosaur with a green garlic bulb on its back, became Bulbasaur", a TIMEasia.com article stated.[4]

The character in the early video games was portrayed by a two-dimensional sprite; in later releases Bulbasaur's appearance has been conveyed by 3D computer graphics. Throughout, the character has been portrayed with no spoken dialogue. In the anime series, the character has facial expressions, body language and makes noises that repeat syllables of their name, using different pitches and tones

Characteristics

In the Pokémon franchise, Bulbasaur are small, squat, vaguely reptilian 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 flower. A CNN article remarked on the flowering of the character's bulb and suggested that it was "perhaps the Carmen Miranda of Pokémon figures".[5]

In the video games, the Pokédex, a fictional Pokémon encyclopedia, says that the seed on a Bulbasaur's back is planted at birth, it then sprouts and grows larger as the Bulbasaur grows.[6] The bulb growth continues during evolution into Ivysaur and then Venusaur, and as Bulbasaur evolve, they become stronger and more powerful. The Pokédex also states that the bulb absorbs sunlight which makes it grow, for this reason, Bulbasaur enjoy soaking up the sun's rays,[7] and can survive for days without eating because the bulb stores energy.[8] In the anime, Ash's Bulbasaur was portrayed as being brave but also very stubborn.

Appearances

Video games

A Bulbasaur (left) in a battle with a Charmander in Pokémon Red[9]

Bulbasaur made their first video game debut on February 27 1996, in the Japanese games Pocket Monsters Aka (ポケットモンスター 赤, Poketto Monsutā Aka, "Pocket Monsters Red") and Pocket Monsters Midori (ポケットモンスター 緑, Poketto Monsutā Midori, "Pocket Monsters Green") (replaced in other countries by Pokémon Blue).[10] Along with a Charmander and Squirtle, they are one of three starter Pokémon available at the beginning of the games. Bulbasaur's grass type is in contrast to Charmander's fire type and Squirtle's water type.

Bulbasaur and the other starters from Red, Blue, Green, and the Game Boy Advance remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are replaced by Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow, the only starter available in it. Instead, they are obtained throughout the game from various trainers. In Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, Bulbasaur cannot be obtained without trading. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Bulbasaur is nonexistent. In Pokémon Emerald, Bulbasaur is in the Battle Frontier, in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Bulbasaur is in the Battle Tower. 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 15 others), and in Pokémon Snap, Bulbasaur are one of the Pokémon that the player can take a photograph of.[11] Bulbasaur also make appearances in Hey You, Pikachu! and Pokémon Channel. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, a Bulbasaur appears as one of the trophies in a playable lottery.[12]

Anime

File:Bulbasaur in the anime.jpg
Ash Ketchum’s Bulbasaur in the "Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden" episode of the Pokémon anime

The Pokémon anime series and films are a set of adventures separate from most other versions of Pokémon, featuring Ash Ketchum as the main character, and following his quest to become a Pokémon Master. Ash and his friend May have each trained a Bulbasaur (at different times), although Ash’s was featured for a much longer period.

In the Japanese version of the anime, Ash's Bulbasaur is voiced by Megumi Hayashibara, while May's Bulbasaur is voiced by Miyako Itō. In the English version, they are both voiced by Tara Jayne until season seven, then in season nine they are both voiced by Michelle Knotz. In the Spanish version, Bulbasaur is voiced by Eduardo Garza.[13]

Ash's Bulbasaur appears in the "Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village",[14] "Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden",[15] "Bulbasaur ... The Ambassador!",[16] and "Tie One On!" episodes of the series,[17] and in the DVDs Seaside Pickachu and Pokémon - Pikachu Party (Vol. 12).[18][19]

Bulbasaur owned by characters other than Ash include the fourth Pokémon caught by May during her Hoenn adventures, and one that used to belong to the mayor of Trovitopolis City in "The Mystery Menace".[20] In the Pokémon Chronicles episode "Journey to the Starting Line", Gilbert, the son of Pallet Town's mayor, selected a Bulbasaur to be his Starter Pokémon.[21]

Trading Card Game

File:Bulbasaur TCG.jpg
Bulbasaur in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base set)

Bulbasaur were among the first Pokémon cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game released in October of 1996. Bulbasaur cards have appeared in the Base Set (and Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection), Gym Challenge (as Erika’s Bulbasaur), Expedition (two cards), EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua, and EX FireRed & LeafGreen (two cards).

Bulbasaur had relatively few appearances in the early card series. In particular, the Rocket set contained Charmander and Squirtle cards, but no Bulbasaur.[22] Bulbasaur made more frequent appearances in the later expansions, starting with the Expedition set. Most Bulbasaur cards are of the “common” frequency (see image) and can generally be found with relative ease.[23]

There exists one known misprint of Bulbasaur. In the original set, instead of saying "length 2'4, weight 15 lb" it says "length 2'4, length 15 lb".[24]

Manga

Bulbasaur is also featured in several Pokémon manga. 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 has caught a Bulbasaur of his own, which he uses in its first appearance to battle Team Rocket. While Ash and his companions take time off to work odd jobs, his Bulbasaur challenges an Ivysaur’s belief in a guardian Venusaur spirit, and the two scale an enormous, ancient tree to settle the matter. 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.[25]

In Pokémon Adventures, a manga based on the plot of the Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue games, Red receives a Bulbasaur from Professor Oak, which he nicknames "Saur" (Chapter 1, "A Glimpse of the Glow").[26] In Chapter 15, "Wartortle Wars", it evolves into an Ivysaur after battling a wild Mankey.[27] In Chapter 30, "Zap, Zap, Zapdos!", Red uses Saur to defeat Lt. Surge's Zapdos, using its Razor Leaf attack to cut the cables that join the Team Rocket Executive and the legendary bird.[28] In Chapter 33, "The Winged Legends", Red's Ivysaur evolves into a Venusaur to team up with Blue's Charizard and Green's Blastoise, Turtley, to defeat Sabrina's merged form Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno and destroy Team Rocket's control on Saffron City, splitting the three birds in the process.[29]

Other media

Bulbasaur is also the main character of two children’s books, Pokémon Tales, Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble and Bulbasaur’s Bad Day, that were published in 1999 and 2000 respectively by Sagebrush. In Pokémon Tales, Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble, Bulbasaur resolves an argument between the other Pokémon.[30] In Bulbasaur’s Bad Day, Meowth traps Bulbasaur in a pit and it has to outwit Team Rocket (the antagonists of the anime) to escape.[31]

Bulbasaur has been used in promotional merchandising at fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King.[32][33]

References

DVDs
  • Pokémon, Vol. 15: Charizard!!, Viz Video., February 2000. ASIN B00004DS9J.
  • Pokémon, Vol. 18: Water Blast!, Viz Video., May 2000. ASIN 6305844674 .
  • Pokémon - The First Movie, Warner Home Video., October 2000. ASIN B00004WIB2.
  • Pokémon, Vol. 26: Friends and Rivals!, Viz Video., January 2001. ASIN B0000541UG.
  • Pokémon The Movie 2000, Warner Home Video., May 2001. ASIN B00005A3O6.
  • Pokémon 3: The Movie , Warner Home Video., October 2001. ASIN B00005NMW3.
  • Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns, Warner Home Video., December 2001. ASIN B00005OW0I.
  • Pokémon Master Quest 2: Quest 2, Viz Video., February 2005. ASIN B0002IQD2Y.
  • Pokemon 10th Anniversary, Vol. 7 - Bulbasaur, Viz Video., October 2006. ASIN B000HDR8D2.
Footnotes
  1. ^ "Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  2. ^ David (2005). "Nintendo reveal sales figures". Australia's PAL Gaming Network. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1)". IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  4. ^ “PokéMania,” Time.com. URL accessed on July 20 2005.
  5. ^ "Pokémon banished from another playground," Cnn.com, October 8 1999. URL Accessed on July 31 2007.
  6. ^ Pokédex entry on the Red, Blue and Leaf Green video games; "A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this POKéMON."
  7. ^ Pokédex entry on the Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald video games; "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."
  8. ^ Pokédex entry on the Yellow video game; "It can go for days without a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy."
  9. ^ MacDonald, Mark; Brokaw, Brian; Arnold; J. Douglas; Elies, Mark. Pokémon Trainer's Guide. Sandwich Islands Publishing, 1994. ISBN 0-439-15404-9. (pg73)
  10. ^ "Official Japanese Pokémon website". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ “Guides:Super Smash Bros. Melee,” IGN.com. URL accessed on December 29 2005.
  13. ^ "Pokémon (TV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  14. ^ Episode 10 - "Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village", Serebii.net. URL accessed on February 26 2006.
  15. ^ Episode 51 - "Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden", Serebii.net. URL accessed on February 26 2006.
  16. ^ Episode 227 - "Bulbasaur ... The Ambassador!", Serebii.net. URL accessed on February 28 2006.
  17. ^ Episode 270 - "Tie One On!", Serebii.net. URL accessed on February 26 2006.
  18. ^ Pokémon - Seaside Pikachu! Viz Video., July 20 1999. ISBN 6305466858 .
  19. ^ Pokémon - Pikachu Party (Vol. 12) Viz Video., November 23 1999. ASIN B000021Y6R.
  20. ^ Episode 102 - "The Mystery Menace", Serebii.net. URL accessed on October 23 2007.
  21. ^ Specials 15 - "Journey to the Starting Line", Serebii.net. URL accessed on October 23 2007.
  22. ^ Pokémon Trading Card Game set; Team Rocket set cards Serebii.net. URL Accessed July 21 2006.
  23. ^ "Official Pokémon TCG site". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  24. ^ "Appearances of Bulbasaur in the Pokémon Trading Card Game" Psypokes.com. URL Accessed on May 4 2006.
  25. ^ Template:Jp icon Pokémon: Magical Journey character bios Maco.cha.to. URL Accessed July 26 2006.
  26. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 1: Desperado Pikachu, VIZ Media LLC, July 6 2000. ISBN 1-56931-507-8.
  27. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures: Legendary Pokémon, Vol. 2; Chapter 33, Chapter 15, "Wartortle Wars", (pg 7–20) VIZ Media LLC, December 6 2001. ISBN 1-56931-508-6.
  28. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege; Chapter 31, "The Art of Articuno" (pg 33–46) VIZ Media LLC, August 5 2001. ISBN 1-56931-560-4
  29. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege; Chapter 33, "The Winged Legends" (pg 77–95) VIZ Media LLC, August 5 2001. ISBN 1-56931-560-4
  30. ^ “Pokémon Tales, Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble,” Amazon. URL accessed on February 2 2006.
  31. ^ “Bulbasaur’s Bad Day,” Amazon. URL accessed on February 1 2006.
  32. ^ McDonalds’s Pokémon Booster packs, Scyther’s Pokémon place. URL accessed on February 26 2006.
  33. ^ "Fastfoodtoys.Net "Pokemon 2000 Toys"". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
Publications
  • Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
  • Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
  • Nintendo, et al. Official Nintendo Pokémon Snap Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 1999. ASIN B000CDZP9G
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
Websites
Manga volumes
  • Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Pikachu Shocks Back Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, December 6 1999. ISBN 1-56931-411-X
  • Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Electric Pikachu Boogaloo Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, April 5 2000. ISBN 1-56931-436-5
  • Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Surf’s Up, Pikachu Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, June 2000. ISBN 1-56931-494-2
  • Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 1: Desperado Pikachu. VIZ Media LLC, July 6 2000. ISBN 1-56931-507-8
  • Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 2: Legendary Pokémon. VIZ Media LLC, December 6 2000. ISBN 1-56931-508-6
  • Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege. VIZ Media LLC, August 5 2001. ISBN 1-56931-560-4

External links

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