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Bulbasaur

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

Bulbasaur, known as Fushigidane (フシギダネ) in Japan,[1] are a fictional species of creatures from the Pokémon universe. It is numbered one in the Template:Pokenum fictional species of creatures, and is a first generation Pokémon.[2] The Pokémon Company in Japan and Nintendo of America have produced many incarnations of the Pokémon story and of its Bulbasaur character for their multi-million dollar media franchise.[3]

Bulbasaur first appeared in 1996 among the first Pocket Monsters video games, 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, metaserial manga and the series of electronic games,[4] as well as appearing in a variety of Pokémon trading cards and non-Pokémon video games. The Pokémon video games are one of Nintendo's flagship franchises and has sold 143 million copies as of 2007.[5]

Creation and conception

The design and art direction for Bulbasaur were provided by Ken Sugimori,[6] a friend of the creator of the Pocket Monsters game, Satoshi Tajiri, and the species appeared as a starting character for players in the initial Game Boy games released in Japan. The character in the early Pokémon 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 series' anime, the character has facial expressions, body language and makes noises that repeat syllables of their name, using different pitches and tones.

Its Japanese name, Fushigidane, is a combination of the Japanese words for mystery or miracle (fushigi) and seed (tane)[7] In translating the game for English speaking audiences, Nintendo of America gave the Pokémon "cleverly descriptive names" related to their appearancee 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-like bulb on its back.[8] French, Korean, Taiwan and Chinese language counterparts used names relating closer to the original name: Bulbizarre,[9] Isanghaessi (이상해씨 "Strange Seed"), Mìao Wa Chóng Zí (妙蛙種子 "Strange Frog Seed") and Qí Yì Chóng Zí (奇異種子 "Very Strange Seed"), respectively. German versions used a name closer to the American counterpart, Bisasam (a combination of bisamratte (musk rat) and samen (seed)).[10]

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. In the Pokémon electronic game series, 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.[11] 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,[12] and can survive for days without eating because the bulb stores energy.[13] In the Pokémon anime, the character Ash Ketchum has a Bulbasaur who is portrayed as being brave but also stubborn.

Appearances

In the video games

A Bulbasaur (left) in a battle with a Charmander in Pokémon Red[14]

Bulbasaur made their video game debut on February 27 1996, in the Japanese-language 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).[15] Along with a Charmander and Squirtle, they are the 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.[16] Bulbasaur are often seen to be the best Pokémon for beginner players to choose because their "levels grow faster" and they "will fare better against your early rivals". Bulbasaur are "the Official Nintendo Magazine choice".[17]

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 several trainers. In Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, Bulbasaur cannot be obtained without in-game 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 photograph.[18] 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.[19]

In the anime

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

Scenes from the Pokémon anime have depicted both the characters Ash and his friend May training a Bulbasaur at different times, with Ash's Bulbasaur garnering more prominence within the storylines. In the original Japanese version the two Bulbasaur are each played by separate seiyū, Ash's Bulbasaur by Megumi Hayashibara, May's by Miyako Itō. In the English dub, they are both voiced by Tara Jayne until season seven; in season nine, Michelle Knotz provides the voice talents.[20]

Ash's Bulbasaur appears in the "Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village", "Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden", "Bulbasaur ... The Ambassador!", and "Tie One On!" episodes of the series, and in the DVDs Seaside Pikachu and Pokémon - Pikachu Party (Vol. 12).[21][22]

When May makes a guest appearance later in the series, it is revealed that her Bulbasaur has fully evolved into a Venusaur.[23]

In the trading card game

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

Collectible cards featuring Bulbasaur have appeared since the initial Pokémon Trading Card Game released in October 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), and are generally to be found with relative ease.[24]

In the manga

Bulbasaur is also featured in an eclectic range of manga from the franchise. 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 Blue games, the character 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 (named 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]

In other Pokémon 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. In the episode "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.

Bulbasaur has been used in promotional merchandising at fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King.[30][31]

Bulbasaur also prominently appeared in a Kids' WB! promo for Men In Black: The Series, in which Agent Jay is informed that Bulbasaur is replacing him. Agent Kay states that the reason for this is because, as demonstrated on Jay, that Bulbasaur has built-in weaponry.

Reception

Dennis Michael of CNN described Bulbasaur as one of the "lead critters" of the Pokedex and "perhaps the Carmen Miranda of Pokémon figures."[32] Joyce Millman's impression of Bulbasaur he looked like a "a dinosaur thingy with what looks like a large garlic bulb growing out of its back." She didn't know how it defeated its opponents but speculated that "perhaps he overpowers them with a strong batch of pesto."[33] Bulbasaur was selected as one of the top ten Pokémon by fans who voted at Pokemon.com.[34] 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.[35]

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.
  • Pokémon 10th Anniversary, Vol. 7 - Bulbasaur, Viz Video., October 2006. ASIN B000HDR8D2.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Kalbfleisch, Pamela. Communication Yearbook 27. International Communication Association. p. 173. ISBN 0805848193.
  2. ^ Augustyn, Frederick (2004). Dictionary of Toys and Games in American Popular Culture. Haworth Press. ISBN 0789015048.
  3. ^ "Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  4. ^ "Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1)". IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  5. ^ David (2005). "Nintendo reveal sales figures". Australia's PAL Gaming Network. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  6. ^ Stuart Bishop (2003-05-30). "Game Freak on Pokémon!". CVG. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  7. ^ Drazen, Patrick (2003). Anime Explosion!: The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation. St. Paul, MN: Stone Bridge Press, LLC. p. 321. ISBN ISBN 1880656728. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  8. ^ “PokéMania,” Time.com. URL accessed on 2005-07-20.
  9. ^ Liste des trophées -- Smash Bros. DOJO, Nintendo. URL accessed on 2008-05-13.
  10. ^ Liste aller Trophäen -- Smash Bros. DOJO, Nintendo. URL accessed on 2008-05-13.
  11. ^ 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."
  12. ^ 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."
  13. ^ 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."
  14. ^ MacDonald, Mark; Brokaw, Brian; Arnold; J. Douglas; Elies, Mark. Pokémon Trainer's Guide. Sandwich Islands Publishing, 1994. ISBN 0-439-15404-9. (pg73)
  15. ^ "Official Japanese Pokémon website". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  16. ^ Allison, Anne (2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0520221486. 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).
  17. ^ Pokémon Master Guide, Nintendo Official Magazine, 1999.
  18. ^ 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)
  19. ^ “Guides:Super Smash Bros. Melee,” IGN.com. URL accessed on 2005-12-29.
  20. ^ "Pokémon (TV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  21. ^ Pokémon - Seaside Pikachu! Viz Video., 1999-07-20. ISBN 6305466858.
  22. ^ Pokémon - Pikachu Party (Vol. 12) Viz Video., 1999-11-23. ASIN B000021Y6R.
  23. ^ "May". Character Profile. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  24. ^ "Official Pokémon TCG site". Archived from the original on 2007-05-24. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  25. ^ Template:Jp icon Pokémon: Magical Journey character bios Maco.cha.to. URL Accessed 2006-07-26.
  26. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 1: Desperado Pikachu, VIZ Media LLC, 2000-07-06. 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, 2001-12-06. 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, 2001-08-05. ISBN 1-56931-560-4
  29. ^ Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege; Chapter 33, "The Winged Legends" (pp 77–95) VIZ Media LLC, 2001-08-05. ISBN 1-56931-560-4
  30. ^ "The Pojo - TCG Set Lists McDonald's Campaign Expansion Set". Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  31. ^ "Fastfoodtoys.Net Pokémon 2000 Toys". Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  32. ^ Michael, Dennis (1999-10-05). "Pokémon banished from another playground". CNN. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  33. ^ Millman, Joyce (1999-07-06). "The secret world of Pokémon". Salon. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  34. ^ "VIZ Media Announces New Pokémon Products for 2006 Holiday Season". PressZoom. 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  35. ^ Shimabukuro, Betty (1999-04-26). "Pokémon An Adult's Guide from a Kid's Perspective". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
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
Manga volumes
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