Bulbasaur
| Bulbasaur | |
|---|---|
| File:1bulbasaur.png National Pokédex None - Bulbasaur (#001) - Ivysaur Johto Pokédex Celebi - Bulbasaur (#226) - Ivysaur | |
| Japanese name | Fushigidane |
| Evolves from | None |
| Evolves into | Ivysaur |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Seed Pokémon |
| Type | Grass / Poison |
| Height | 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) |
| Weight | 15.0 pounds (6.8 kg) |
| Ability | Overgrow |
Bulbasaur (フシギダネ Fushigidane in Japanese, Bisasam in German and Bulbizarre in French) is a fictional character from the Pokémon franchise. Bulbasaur, a Template:PokemonTypeGrass/Template:PokemonTypePoison-type Pokémon, is notable as one of the first Pokémon a player can have in the first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Blue; Bulbasaur is also one of the most commonly appearing Pokémon in the Pokémon animé. According to CNN, Bulbasaur is considered one of the "lead critters" in the series.[1]
The name Bulbasaur is a portmanteau of "bulb" (regarding the large bulb on its back) and "sauros" (lizard in Greek). Fushigidane (フシギダネ), the Japanese name for Bulbasaur, is a portmanteau of ふしぎ (fushigi - mystery) and たね (tane - seed). Bulbizarre in French is a portmanteau of bulbe meaning bulb, and bizarre.
Biology
Bulbasaur is a small, squat lizard, which moves on all fours. Its body coloration consists of dark green spots on a lighter green skin. Bulbasaur is able to release two vines from the bulb on its back, which are powerful enough to hold up a large amount of weight.
When a Bulbasaur is born, it does not have anything resting on its bare back, but rather an unusual seed that has materialized on the back of the Pokémon. The seed soon grows into a large, floral bulb as Bulbasaur matures, and this bulb can absorb solar energy in order to supply Bulbasaur with nutrients. When in battle, the solar energy that has been stored in the bulb can be harnessed by Bulbasaur to launch a powerful Solar Beam attack. This bulb is also able to hold seeds, which can be launched at an enemy in order to sap health from them, in an attack called Leech Seed. The bulb itself will grow bigger if it is exposed to sunlight and for this reason, Bulbasaur enjoys taking naps in the sunlit daytime.
In the video games
In the first-generation Pokémon games (Red, Green, and Blue) and the remakes of same (FireRed and LeafGreen), Bulbasaur is one of the three Pokémon, along with Charmander and Squirtle, that the player may choose as his or her first (or "starter") Pokémon. If the player chooses Bulbasaur, the players rival will choose Charmander, as Charmander has a type advantage over Bulbasaur.
In the next game, Pokémon Yellow, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle are not available from the start, as the three of them had already been taken by other trainers, and instead, the player gets a Pikachu. However, Bulbasaur is available later in the game as a gift from a Pokémon breeder. This is much closer to the storyline in the anime. The three original starters (Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur) are not available in any other games.
Bulbasaur is also one of the random Pokémon available as a prize after defeating all the Gym Leaders and Elite Four members in Pokémon Stadium. Other Pokémon available are Squirtle, Charmander, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Eevee, Kabuto and Omanyte.
Bulbasaur is considered a good starter Pokémon for beginners due to its effectiveness against the two first Gym Leaders: Brock, an expert in the Rock type, and Misty, an expert in the Water type. The third and fourth Gym Leaders also have no type advantage to Bulbasaur, as Lt. Surge uses Electric-type Pokémon and Erika, who uses Grass-type Pokémon. Pokémon types
In terms of statistics, Bulbasaur has a reasonably high Special Attack, Special Defense and Special, but low Hit Points and physical properties. This means that although it has strong elemental attacks, its physical ones (tackles, slams ...etc.) leave something to be desired. However (as it evolves twice more, getting stronger each time), this isn't an issue. As in the animé, the two attacks generally used the most are Vine Whip and Razor Leaf, learnt at levels 13 and 27 respectively, with Razor Leaf occurring after Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur at level 16. Template:Inote
Bulbasaur appears as a Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is acquired through the internal lottery by putting in the Smash Coins earnt whilst playing the game[2].
In the animé
Several Bulbasaur have appeared throughout the animé, although only two as a major characters. Pokémon's main character, Ash Ketchum, owned a Bulbasaur through much of the series. Another main character, May, had also aquired a Bulbasaur.
Ash's Bulbasaur has been around longer than all of his other Pokémon with the exception of Pikachu. Like many other Pokémon in the animé, Bulbasaur's gender is unknown, but is commonly believed to be male. Bulbasaur typically has a relaxed attitude, rarely being provoked. This is in contrast to its team mate Squirtle, who tends to act rashly in similar situations.
Before joining Ash's team, Bulbasaur lived with a girl named Melanie, who took care of abandoned Pokémon. It was unclear whether or not Bulbasaur was abandoned, but it was shown that Melanie was not its trainer, enabling Ash to catch it after a battle. Characters cannot catch other trainers' Pokémon. Originally, Bulbasaur was pessimistic about Ash, but when Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle were separated from Ash and company, Bulbasaur insisted that Ash had abandoned them, while Charmander and Pikachu provided more optimistic outlooks. However, after that episode, Bulbasaur's loyalties began to improve and, ironically, Bulbasaur was one of Ash's most loyal Pokémon; while Charmander evolved into Charmeleon (and later Charizard), and began to frequently disobey him.
Bulbasaur would remain on Ash's active roster for much of the series, leaving it in Professor Oak's lab after Pokémon there started fighting among themselves. Bulbasaur was the only Pokémon able to break up these fights, and these fights would often resume if Bulbasaur leaves the lab. After leaving Ash's active roster, Bulbasaur appeared as a main character in Housoukyoku, and made one brief appearance in Advanced Generation after May acquires a Bulbasaur of her own.
Like Pikachu, Bulbasaur had decided it would be best if it does not evolve. Although this decision was not accepted by other Bulbasaurs (and evolved forms thereof), it has been a decision that others have come to accept. Bulbasaur also showed traits similar those of Fighting-type Pokémon in that episode, perhaps due to its calm nature.
Despite rarely fighting as part of Ash's team, in the Grass Field battle of the Indigo League tournament, Bulbasaur defeated two of the opponent's three Pokémon (a Beedrill and a Scyther) by itself. It is one of only two of Ash's other Pokémon team members (the other being Snorlax) to appear in the Advanced Generation series.
May befriended a Bulbasaur, who is now a member of her team. Because of the heart-shaped marks on this Bulbasaur's forehead, it is commonly believed to be female. Like May's other Pokémon, it is a contest Pokémon and as a result is taught the Petal Dance attack later on in the series. Template:Inote
In other properties
Bulbasaur appears in 2 of the available mangas: Pokémon Adventures and Magical Pokémon Journey. In Pokémon Adventures, Red, the proponent of th series, receives a Bulbasaur from Professor Oak. In Magical Pokémon Journey, a character named Pistachio has a female Bulbasaur (nicknamed Danerina in the Japanese version), who has a crush on him.
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Bulbasaur is among the "first" Pokémon cards that players were acquainted with. Bulbasaur cards have appeared in the Base Set (and Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection), Gym Challenge (as Erika's Bulbasaur), Expedition (2 cards), EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua, EX Firered & Leafgreen (2 cards) and POP Series 2. Considering the notability and popularity of Bulbasaur, the Pokémon has had a relatively low amount of appearances early in the cards' series. In particular, in the Rocket set, there were Charmander and Squirtle cards, but no Bulbasaur. It began to make more frequent appearances in the recent expansions, starting with the Expedition set.
In Japan, McDonald's released a series of promotional Pokémon cards with their Happy Meals, of which Bulbasaur was one[3]. McDonald's did not, however, bring this idea outside Japan - it was Burger King, a rival company, who took up the idea. Their "Power Cards" also included a Bulbasaur, alongside Elekid, Charmander, Meowth, Kingler, Snorlax, Lapras, Scyther, Articuno and Pikachu in "Assortment 3".
Notes
- ^ "Pokémon banished from another playground," CNN, October 5, 1999.
- ^ "Guides:Super Smash Bros. Melee," IGN.com. URL last accessed on December 29, 2005.
- ^ "McDonalds's Pokemon Series I & II," Rita's Pokemon Store. URL last accessed on December 29, 2005.
References
- Books
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0439154049.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 130206151.
- Websites
- "Statistical analysis of Bulbasaur". PsyPoke. December 29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - "Individual animé episode summaries". Serebii.net. December 29.
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External links
- Bulbapedia, a Pokémon-centric Wiki's article about Bulbasaur as a species.
- Bulbapedia's article about Ash's Bulbasaur.
- Bulbapedia's article about May's Bulbasaur.
- Pokémon Dungeon, full of statistics analysis.