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Torchic

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Torchic
File:Emerald-Torchic.png
National Pokédex
Sceptile - Torchic (#255) - Combusken
Hoenn Pokédex
Sceptile - Torchic (#004) - Combusken
Japanese nameAchamo
Evolves fromNone
Evolves intoCombusken
GenerationThird
SpeciesChick Pokémon
TypeFire
Height1 ft 4 in (0.4 m)
Weight6 pounds (2.7 kg)
AbilityBlaze

The Torchic (アチャモ, Achamo) is one of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. Torchic are famous for being one of the three species of Pokémon players can choose from at the beginning of their adventure in the Pokémon Ruby & Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald versions of the Pokémon series. The purpose of Torchic in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[2]

The name Torchic is a portmanteau of the words torch, a flame or light used to see in darkness, and chick, a common name for infant chickens.[3] The Japanese name for Torchic, Achamo (アチャモ), is a portmanteau of aka (アカ), a term for baby, and shamo (シャモ), a breed of Japanese bird, originally bred for fighting or hunting.[4] The name Torchic refers to both the overall species, and to individual Torchic within the games, anime and manga series.

In all three games, Torchic are described as small, clumsy chickens, with yellowish feathers and orange bodies. They are often seen hopping randomly behind their trainers, or characters in the Pokémon world who collect and battle Pokémon. Although their appearance gives an innocent and harmless impression, Torchic are noted to fight by spitting flames from the pits of their stomachs.[5]

Characteristics

In the Pokémon universe, all Torchic are covered with a fluffy coat of down. Their small wings are said to be useless for flying; but, as a Torchic evolves into its later forms (Combusken and Blaziken), claws slowly protrude from its wingtips, making it a potentially vicious fighter. The Pokédex describes Torchic as disliking darkness because it prevents them from seeing their surroundings (regardless of proficiency with fire techniques). Before its legs fully develop, a Torchic stays with its Pokémon trainer, following behind with unsteady, hopping steps as it learns to walk properly. They are said to have a sac filled with churning fire deep within their stomach, allowing them to give literal "warm hugs" to their trainers. This powerful fire would also serve as a Torchic's ammunition in battles; when attacked, it would retaliate by spitting fireballs (at temperatures of over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit), often leaving the foe scorched black.[5]

In the Pokémon video games

One of the consistent aspects of most Pokémon games—spanning from Pokémon Red and Blue on the Nintendo Game Boy to the un-released Nintendo DS game, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl—is the choice of three different Pokémon at the start of the player's adventures; these three are often labelled Starter Pokémon. Players can choose a Water-type, a Fire-type,[6] or a Grass-type Pokémon indigenous to that particular region; an exception to this rule is Pokémon Yellow (a remake of the original games that follows the story of the Pokémon anime), where players are given a Pikachu—an Electric-type mouse famous for being the mascot of the Pokémon media franchise.[7]

The Torchic is the Fire-type choice in Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance.[6] Choosing one as the player's starting Pokémon is considered more difficult than choosing the Grass-type(Treecko) or the Water-type (Mudkip), primarily because of the difficulty it has in defeating the first Gym-leader, Roxanne, a powerful trainer whom the player must defeat to progress in the game.[2] Roxanne uses Rock-type Pokémon—such as Geodude—that have a natural resistance against Fire attacks.[8][9]

File:Torchic GBA.jpg
A Pokémon Ruby screenshot featuring an enemy Torchic and Zigzagoon fighting in a double battle against a player's Mudkip and Taillow.
File:Pokemon-dash-20041203002621841.jpg
Torchic racing Pikachu and Meowth in Pokémon Dash for the Nintendo DS.

However, the Torchic is the only Fire-type Pokémon, a group of Pokémon with pyrotechnic abilities, available between Littleroot Town, where one can be obtained from Professor Birch, a Pokémon expert,[9] and Fiery Path, a volcanic area several hours into the game.[10] Grass-type Pokémon, Pokémon who are often animals fused with botanic specimens, (such as Oddish, Sunkern and Jumpluff[11]) are very popular early in the game in all incarnations of the series and Torchic has a definitive type advantage against them.[12] Torchic evolves, a metamorphic change within a Pokémon caused by gaining experience in battle,[13] into Combusken, its Stage-1 (middle) form at level 16, and evolves into its Stage-2 (final) form, Blaziken, at Level 36.[14]

Although the Torchic is described as having many chicken-like qualities, including weak wings, it was never grouped as a Flying-type Pokémon, making learnable Flying-type moves such as Peck and Mirror Move not particularly powerful compared to its Fire-type attacks, since Torchic is a Fire Pokémon, its Fire attacks would be stronger than other types of attacks.[15] Torchic are often mistaken for Flying-type Pokémon,[3] as are Combusken, its Stage-1 evolution.[16]

Torchic have made cameo appearances in the Nintendo Game Boy Advance game, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (a sequel of the Nintendo Game Boy Color game Pokémon Pinball); they have also starred in the Nintendo GameCube game, Pokémon Channel, and in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. It also featured as a Non-playable character in Pokémon Dash,[17] and is set to appear in the un-released, Pokémon Ranger, for the Nintendo DS.[18] Pokémon Mystery Dungeon[19] and Pokémon Link[20] also feature Torchic.

In the Pokémon anime

File:Torchic.png
May holding Torchic in the Pokémon anime "Episode 277. Get The Show On The Road!"

The Pokémon anime series and films are a meta-series of adventures separate from the canon that most of the Pokémon video games follow (with the exception of Pokémon Yellow, a game based on the anime storyline). The anime follows the quest of the main character, Ash Ketchum[21]—an in-training Pokémon Master—as he and May (as well as several other companions)[21] travel around the fictitious world of Pokémon along with their Pokémon partners, Pikachu and Torchic.[22] Torchic's role in the anime is to protect its trainer, in this case May, and to aid her in battle and in Pokémon Contests, as well as to aid the protagonists with its pyro-technic abilites.

In the anime, May—Ash's female companion from the Hoenn region onward—chose a Torchic as her starter Pokémon because she considered it to be cute.[22] May's young Torchic was very playful and fun; but, because of its aesthetic appeal, May frequently avoided using it in her Pokémon Contests, contests similar to dog shows that test a Pokémon's appeal from a judge and audience,[23] preferring to use Skitty, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle because of their superior strength. When a Torchic communicates with other characters in the Pokémon anime—the only instance of a Torchic actually speaking—it calls out in its own unique language, which is comprised of the syllables "Tor" and "Chic".

May's Torchic first appeared in "Episode 277: Get The Show On The Road!", which also featured the anime debuts of Professor Birch and May.[24] In "Episode 355: A Shroomish Skirmish", May's Torchic evolved into a Combusken in order to defend Ash's Corphish against an angry mob of newly-evolved Breloom.[25]

Another Torchic—being looked after by Nurse Joy of Slateport City—appeared in "Episode 310: Having A Wailord of a Time".[26] When Nurse Joy had to leave the Pokémon Center, Ash's Pokémon couldn't control the aggressive Torchic, causing it to evolve into a Combusken; once Nurse Joy returned, however, the Combusken stopped Team Rocket's attempts to steal a Wailord and chose to stay with her and guard the Pokémon Center.

In the Pokémon manga

Sapphire, a female protagonist of Pokémon Adventures (a manga series based on the Advanced Generation games), has a Torchic, named Chaka, that she received from her father, Professor Birch.[27] Chaka evolved into a Combusken during Sapphire's battle with Brawly, the Dewford Town Gym Leader,[28] and then evolved again into a Blaziken while training for a battle with Winona, the Fortree City Gym Leader.[29] Chaka was first used in battle (in "Chapter 183: VS. Torchic") against Ruby, Sapphire's rival.[30]

The Torchic character itself—being the basic evolution of Blaziken, one of the most over-used Pokémon—appears in starring roles in several other manga series. The main character of Pokémon Chamo-Chamo Pretty (a Magical Pokémon Journey spin-off) is a female Torchic who has just moved to a new town with her trainer Haruka. Torchic interacts with a number of other main characters—including Pikachu and Clefairy,[31] as well as both Poochyena and Mightyena.[32]

A third Torchic is the starter Pokémon of Brendan (the male character and rival in the Advanced Generation games) in the Pokémon spoof web-comic, Pebble Version.[33] This feisty Torchic has a reputation for the running gag of using Ember—a weak Fire-type attack—on Brendan and other characters, including Professor Birch.[34], and, like those in the anime, has evolved into a Combusken.

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game

File:Rubysapphire torchic.JPG
Torchic as a Basic Fire Pokémon (EX Ruby and Sapphire set).

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game similar in goal to a Pokémon battle in the video game series; players must use cards (with individual strengths and weaknesses) in an attempt to defeat their opponent by "knocking out" all of his cards. The game was first published in North America by Wizards of the Coast in 1999.

Most Torchic cards are typical, Basic Pokémon cards, and are primarily used to play stronger cards (such as Stage-1 Pokémon, like Raichu, or Stage-2 Pokémon, like Charizard). Some Torchic cards are identical in attack and defense to other Basic Fire-type Pokémon, such as Charmander or Cyndaquil. Torchic—like Treecko and Mudkip—has a number of appearances in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, appearing in EX Ruby and Sapphire (twice), EX Dragon, EX Emerald and EX Team Rocket Returns (as Torchic Star), every time as a Basic Fire-type.[35]

One rule when playing with the Star cards—including Torchic Star from the EX Team Rocket Returns set—is that Pokémon with significant terms in their titles (often used to denote Pokémon that are all part of one set) can only evolve into Pokémon that also share this term. Though there is no mention on how to evolve Star Pokémon, if the rule for other suffixes is followed, Torchic Star could only be replaced by a Combusken card with Star in its title—a card which, at this point, does not exist.[36] This makes Star cards somewhat impractical, since they cannot be upgraded from their Basic stage state; they are primarily savoured for their rarity instead.[37]

In other media

Torchic have both been featured widely in Nintendo's marketing campaigns for various Pokémon video games as well as being one of the leading choices for Pokémon memorabilia. The drawings and sprite design of Torchic were created by Ken Sugimori's team for a 2003 release on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance.[38] Like major Fire-types before it, such as Charmander,[39] Torchic's popularity is partially due to its aesthetic appeal.[5] Torchic have also been promoted in this way in the Pokémon anime, where characters have shown a liking towards it because of its attractiveness.[26][40]

Torchic's design has been used at times for various products, most of them coinciding with the releases of Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire.[41] A Torchic action figure was released by Hasbro as part of the Pokémon Advanced range;[42] the toy was packaged with a similar model—based on Sharpedo—and a collectable card detailing Torchic's evolutionary process.

The Torchic was first released as a plush toy in the "Pokémon Advanced Mini Plush" series, along with similar products based on other Pokémon (including Plusle, Mudkip, and Minun).[43] It was later re-released—in a larger, fluffier, and more solid form—as part of the "Pokémon Advanced Deluxe Plush" set, which saw a much more varied choice of designs compared to the original (including similar plush toys based on Metagross, Blastoise, Vigoroth, and Pikachu, among others).[44]

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.
  • Nintendo Power. Super Smash Bros. Melee Official Nintendo Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 2001. ISBN 1930206194.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Ruby Version & Sapphire Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 2003. ISBN 1930206313.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Colosseum Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., March 2004. ISBN 193020647X.
DVDs
  • Pokemon Advanced, Vol. 1 - A Ruin with a View Viz Video., July 2004. ASIN B0001Z35JW
  • Pokemon Advanced, Vol. 7 - Abandon Ship Viz Video., January 2005. ASIN B000667G46
  • Pokemon Advanced Challenge, Vol. 9 - Sky High Gym Battle Viz Video., May 2006. ASIN B000EJ9VMA
Notes
  1. ^ “Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold" PR Newswire. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
  3. ^ a b Torchic Pokédex entry (exampling Torchic type confusion) Pokedream.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  4. ^ Nihongo to English converter (select "Detailed Word Info" and type "シャモ") j-talk.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  5. ^ a b c The in-game Pokédexes of the games (A copy of them from psypokes.com) URL accessed on April 12 2006.
  6. ^ a b Pokémon Ruby review (page 1) Gamespy.com. URL Accessed May 30, 2006.
  7. ^ Pokémon Yellow Critical Review Ign.com. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
  8. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Starter Pokémon Evaluation (see "Starting Pokémon") Db.gamegaqs.com. URL accessed on April 12 2006.
  9. ^ a b Pokémon Ruby walkthrough Psypokes.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  10. ^ Pokémon Ruby walkthrough Psypokes.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  11. ^ List of Grass Pokémon happychild.org.uk. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  12. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Type-Effectiveness Chart Acheivebalance.com. URL accessed on April 12 2006.
  13. ^ "Pokemon For Dummies" Pokemonelite2000.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  14. ^ Pojo Advance Pokédex Entry for Torchic Pojo.com. URL accessed on April 12 2006.
  15. ^ Pokémon types guide Psypokes.com. URL Accessed May 31, 2006.
  16. ^ Incorrect Combusken Pokédex Entry Pokédream.com. URL accessed on April 12 2006.
  17. ^ "Pokémon Dash review" Ign.com. URL Accessed June 4, 2006.
  18. ^ List of Obtainable Pokémon in Pokémon Ranger Serebii.net. URL accessed on March 21 2006.
  19. ^ List of Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon Serebii.net. URL Accessed May 26, 2006.
  20. ^ Official Nintendo Magazine: Pokémon Link Review (pages 80-81) Issue 03; May 2006 ISSN 770965424128
  21. ^ a b Pokémon anime overview Psypokes.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  22. ^ a b Pokémon anime; May character bio Psypokes.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  23. ^ Pokémon Ruby Review (page 2) Gamespy.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  24. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Anime; Episode 277. Get The Show On The Road! Pokémonpalace.net. URL accessed on March 21 2006.
  25. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Anime; Episode 358. A Shroomish Skirmish! Serebii.net. URL accessed on March 21 2006.
  26. ^ a b Synopsis of Pokémon Anime; Episode 310. Having A Wailord of a Time! Serebii.net. URL accessed on March 21 2006.
  27. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Adventures Manga; Chapter 183. VS. Mightyena Serebii.net. URL accessed on May 13, 2006.
  28. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Adventures Manga; Chapter 195. VS. Makuhita Serebii.net. URL accessed on May 13, 2006.
  29. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Adventures Manga; Chapter 226. VS. Altaria Serebii.net. URL accessed on May 13, 2006.
  30. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Adventures Manga; Chapter 183. VS. Torchic Serebii.net. URL accessed on May 13, 2006.
  31. ^ Pokémon Chamo Chamo Pretty definition Freedictionary.com. URL Accessed May 13, 2006.
  32. ^ Mightyena article Omnipelagos.com. URL accessed on May 13, 2006.
  33. ^ Unofficial Web Comic: Pebble Version Pebbleversion.com. URL accessed on March 18 2006.
  34. ^ Pebble Version Episode 24. Pebbleversion.com. URL accessed on March 18 2006.
  35. ^ List of Torchic Appearances in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Psypokes.com. URL accessed on April 12 2006.
  36. ^ Pokémon Trading Card Game Rulebook on Illegal Evolutions Pokémon-tcg.com. URL accessed on April 13 2006.
  37. ^ Trading Card information of Torchic Star Shuffleandcut.com URL accessed on March 27 2006.
  38. ^ Pokémon Sapphire information Amazon.com. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
  39. ^ Charmander Overview and Merchandise List Thejapser.com. URL accessed on April 13 2006.
  40. ^ Synopsis of Pokémon Anime; Episode 277. Get The Show On The Road! Serebii.net. URL accessed on March 21 2006.
  41. ^ Torchic Product List Pokémoncenter.com. URL accessed on March 28 2006.
  42. ^ Hasbro Torchic Action Figure Hasbro.com. URL accessed on March 27 2006.
  43. ^ Hasbro Pokémon Advanced Mini Plush: Torchic Hasbro.com. URL accessed on March 27 2006.
  44. ^ "Pokémon Advanced Deluxe Plush: Torchic", Hasbro.com. URL accessed on March 27 2006.
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