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| {{Pokémon species| | |||
| image=]| | |||
| name=Bulbasaur| | |||
| number=001| | |||
| following=]| | |||
| japanname={{nihongo|Fushigidane|フシギダネ|Fushigidane}}| | |||
| evolvesto=]| | |||
| generation=First| | |||
| species=] Pokémon| | |||
| stage=Basic| | |||
| type=Grass| | |||
| type2=Poison| | |||
| height=2 ] 4 ]| | |||
| metricheight=0.7| | |||
| weight=15.2| | |||
| metricweight=6.9| | |||
| ability=Overgrow| | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Bulbasaur''', known as {{nihongo|'''Fushigidane'''|フシギダネ}} in ],<ref name=fushi>{{cite book|title=Communication Yearbook 27|first=Pamela|last=Kalbfleisch|isbn=0805848193|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IGrbK6_3KeEC|pages=173|publisher=International Communication Association}}</ref> are a ] of ] from the '']'' ]. It is numbered one in the {{pokenum}} fictional species of creatures, and is a ].<ref>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of Toys and Games in American Popular Culture|first=Frederick|last=Augustyn|isbn=0789015048|year=2004|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=syVQ9wjPnYIC|publisher=Haworth Press}}</ref> The ] in Japan and ] have produced many incarnations of the ''Pokémon'' story and of its Bulbasaur character for their multi-million dollar ].<ref name=sev>{{cite web|url=http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20051004/LATU06404102005-1.html|title=Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold|publisher=PR Newswire|accessdate=2007-07-27}}</ref> | |||
| Bulbasaur first appeared in 1996 among the first ], as one of three ] the player receives at the beginning of the game. | |||
| Like all Pokémon, Bulbasaur fight other Pokémon in battles central to the ], ] and the ],<ref name=ign>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gameboy.ign.com/articles/389/389660p1.html |title=''Pokémon Ruby'' and ''Pokémon Sapphire'' Review (page 1) |accessdate=2007-07-27 |format= |work=IGN.com}}</ref> as well as appearing in a variety of ] and non-''Pokémon'' ]. The ''Pokémon'' video games are one of Nintendo's flagship franchises and has sold 143 million copies ].<ref>{{cite web|author=David|publisher=Australia's PAL Gaming Network|year=2005|url=http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3605&sid=4cea9e5e814470cb7ea6fd462d04a13e|title=Nintendo reveal sales figures|accessdate=2007-07-30}}</ref> | |||
| == Creation and conception == | |||
| The design and art direction for Bulbasaur were provided by ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=91965 |title=Game Freak on Pokemon! |author=Stuart Bishop |publisher=CVG |date=2003-05-30 |accessdate=2008-02-07|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5VSJaR6xT|archivedate=2008-02-08}}</ref> a friend of the creator of the ''Pocket Monsters'' game, ], and the species appeared as a starting character for players in the initial ] games released in Japan. In translating the game for ] 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.<ref name="Time">“,” ''Time.com''. URL accessed on ]-].</ref> | |||
| The character in the early ''Pokémon'' video games was portrayed by a ]; in later releases Bulbasaur's appearance has been conveyed by ]. Throughout, the character has been portrayed with no spoken dialogue. In the 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 ] Pokémon that move on all four legs, and have light blue-green bodies with darker blue-green spots. As a Bulbasaur undergoes ] into ] and then later into ], the bulb on its back blossoms into a flower. | |||
| In the ''Pokémon'' electronic game series, the ], 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.<ref>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."</ref> 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 ] which makes it grow, for this reason, Bulbasaur enjoy soaking up the sun's rays,<ref>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."</ref> and can survive for days without eating because the bulb stores energy.<ref>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."</ref> In the ''Pokémon'' anime, the character ] has a Bulbasaur who is portrayed as being brave but also stubborn. | |||
| == Appearances == | |||
| === Video games === | |||
| ] in ''Pokémon Red''<ref> MacDonald, Mark; Brokaw, Brian; Arnold; J. Douglas; Elies, Mark. Pokémon Trainer's Guide. Sandwich Islands Publishing, 1994. ISBN 0-439-15404-9. (pg73)</ref>]] | |||
| Bulbasaur made their video game debut on ] ], in the ] games {{nihongo|''Pocket Monsters Aka''|ポケットモンスター 赤|Poketto Monsutā Aka|"Pocket Monsters Red"}} and {{nihongo|''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'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pokemon.co.jp%2fgame%2fother%2fgb-rg%2f|title=Official Japanese Pokémon website|accessdate=2007-05-24}}</ref> Along with a ] and ], they are one of three ] available at the beginning of the games; Bulbasaur's ] is in contrast to Charmander's ] and Squirtle's ].<ref name="allison"> | |||
| {{cite book | |||
| | last = Allison | |||
| | first = Anne | |||
| | title = Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination | |||
| | year = 2006 | |||
| | publisher = ] | |||
| | isbn = 0520221486 | |||
| | pages = 294-295 | |||
| | quote = A player must first find Professor Oak — the world's foremost expert on ''Pokémon''ology — who offers three choices for starter ''Pokémon'': Bulbasaur (grass type), Charmander (fire type), or Squirtle (water type). | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> Bulbasaur are often seen to be the best Pokémon for beginner players to choose because their "levels grow faster" and they "will fair better against your early rivals". Bulbasaur are "the Official Nintendo Magazine choice".<ref>''Pokémon Master Guide'', Nintendo Offical Magazine, 1999.</ref> | |||
| Bulbasaur and the other starters from ''Red'', ''Blue'', ''Green'', and the ] remakes ] are replaced by ] in '']'', the only starter available in it. Instead, they are obtained throughout the game from several trainers. In ] and '']'', Bulbasaur cannot be obtained without in-game trading. In ], Bulbasaur is nonexistent. In '']'', Bulbasaur is in the ], in ], Bulbasaur is in the ]. The ] spin-off '']'', and other spin-offs such as '']'' give the player a choice of a Bulbasaur (among 15 others), and in '']'', Bulbasaur are one of the Pokémon that the player can ].<ref>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)</ref> Bulbasaur also make appearances in '']'' and '']''. In '']'', a Bulbasaur appears as one of the trophies in a playable lottery.<ref>“,” ''IGN.com''. URL accessed on ]-].</ref> | |||
| === Anime === | |||
| ]'s Bulbasaur in the "Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden" episode of the ]]] | |||
| Scenes from the ''Pokémon'' anime have depicted both the characters Ash and his friend ] 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 '']'', Ash's Bulbasaur by ], May's by ]. In the English ], they are both ] by ] until season seven; in season nine, ] provides the voice talents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=270 |title=Pokémon (TV) |accessdate=2007-07-31 |format= |work=Anime News Network}}</ref> | |||
| 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 Pickachu'' and ''Pokémon - Pikachu Party (Vol. 12)''.<ref>''Pokémon - Seaside Pikachu!'' Viz Video., ]-]. ISBN 6305466858.</ref><ref>''Pokémon - Pikachu Party (Vol. 12)'' Viz Video., ]-]. ASIN B000021Y6R.</ref> | |||
| === Trading card game === | |||
| ]'' (Base Set)]] | |||
| ] featuring Bulbasaur have appeared since the initial '']'' released in ]. Bulbasaur cards have appeared in the Base Set (and Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection), Gym Challenge (as ]'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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Pokémon TCG site|url=http://www.pokemon-tcg.com/p_cards/cards.jsp|accessdate=2007-05-24}}</ref> | |||
| === Manga === | |||
| Bulbasaur is also featured in an eclectic range of ] from the franchise. In '']'', '']'', and '']'', 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 ]. 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 ], and eventually fights in the final showdown with ], the Orange Crew Supreme Gym Leader. In '']'', a character named Pistachio has a female Bulbasaur (nicknamed “Danerina” in the Japanese version), who is infatuated by him.<ref> {{jp icon}} ''Maco.cha.to''. URL Accessed ]-].</ref> | |||
| In '']'', a manga based on the plot of the ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' games, the character ] receives a Bulbasaur from ], which he nicknames "Saur" (Chapter 1, "A Glimpse of the Glow").<ref>Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures, Volume 1: Desperado Pikachu'', ], ]-]. ISBN 1-56931-507-8.</ref> In Chapter 15, "Wartortle Wars", it evolves into an Ivysaur after battling a wild ].<ref> Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures: Legendary Pokémon, Vol. 2''; Chapter 33, Chapter 15, "Wartortle Wars", (pg 7–20) ], ]-]. ISBN 1-56931-508-6.</ref> In Chapter 30, "Zap, Zap, Zapdos!", Red uses Saur to defeat ]'s ], using its Razor Leaf attack to cut the cables that join the Team Rocket Executive and the legendary bird.<ref>Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege''; Chapter 31, "The Art of Articuno" (pg 33–46) ], ]-]. ISBN 1-56931-560-4</ref> In Chapter 33, "The Winged Legends", Red's Ivysaur evolves into a Venusaur to team up with ]'s ] and ]'s ] (named Turtley), to defeat ]'s merged form Zapdos, ] and ] and destroy Team Rocket's control on ], splitting the three birds in the process.<ref>Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege''; Chapter 33, "The Winged Legends" (pp 77–95) ], ]-]. ISBN 1-56931-560-4</ref> | |||
| === In other media === | |||
| Bulbasaur is also the main character of two ], ''Pokémon Tales, Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble'' and ''Bulbasaur’s Bad Day'', that were published in 1999 and 2000 respectively by ]. In ''Pokémon Tales, Volume 3: Bulbasaur’s Trouble'', Bulbasaur resolves an argument between the other Pokémon. In the episode "Bulbasaur’s Bad Day", ] traps Bulbasaur in a pit and it has to outwit ] (the ]s of the ''Pokémon'' anime) to escape. | |||
| Bulbasaur has been used in promotional merchandising at fast-food chains like ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pojo - TCG Set Lists McDonald's Campaign Expansion Set|url=http://www.pojo.com/priceguide/jpMcD.html|accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fastfoodtoys.Net Pokemon 2000 Toys|url=http://www.fastfoodtoys.net/burger%20king%20pokemon%20power%20cards.htm|accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref> | |||
| == Reception == | |||
| {{Expand-section|date=January 2008}} | |||
| == References == | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| *The following games and their instruction manuals: ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue''; ''Pokémon Yellow''; ''Pokémon Stadium'' and '']''; ''Pokémon Gold'', ''Silver'' and ''Crystal''; ''Pokémon Ruby'', ''Sapphire'', and ''Emerald''; ''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen''; '']'' and '']'' and ''Hey You, Pikachu!''. | |||
| ;DVDs | |||
| * ''Pokémon, Vol. 15: Charizard!!'', Viz Video., ]. ASIN B00004DS9J. | |||
| * ''Pokémon, Vol. 18: Water Blast!'', Viz Video., ]. ASIN 6305844674 <!-- not an ISBN -->. | |||
| * ''Pokémon - The First Movie'', Warner Home Video., ]. ASIN B00004WIB2. | |||
| * ''Pokémon, Vol. 26: Friends and Rivals!'', Viz Video., ]. ASIN B0000541UG. | |||
| * ''Pokémon The Movie 2000'', Warner Home Video., ]. ASIN B00005A3O6. | |||
| * ''Pokémon 3: The Movie '', Warner Home Video., ]. ASIN B00005NMW3. | |||
| * ''Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns'', Warner Home Video., ]. ASIN B00005OW0I. | |||
| * ''Pokémon Master Quest 2: Quest 2'', Viz Video., ]. ASIN B0002IQD2Y. | |||
| * ''Pokemon 10th Anniversary, Vol. 7 - Bulbasaur'', Viz Video., ]. ASIN B000HDR8D2. | |||
| ;'''Footnotes''' | |||
| </div> | |||
| <!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/Cite/Cite.php --> | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <!--#No longer referenced: #{{note|gamesales}} “”, ''PalGN Gamecube''. URL accessed on ]-].--> | |||
| <!--#No longer referenced: <!--#{{note|Furby}} “,” ''Mimitchi''. URL accessed on ]-].--> | |||
| <!--#No longer referenced: #{{note|worm}} “”, ''Symantec''. URL last accessed on ]-].--> | |||
| ;'''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. ] B000CDZP9G | |||
| *Nintendo Power. ''Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide''. Nintendo of America Inc., ]. ISBN 1-930206-50-X | |||
| ;'''Manga volumes''' | |||
| *Ono, Toshihiro. ''Pokémon: Pikachu Shocks Back Graphic Novel''. ], ] ]. ISBN 1-56931-411-X | |||
| *Ono, Toshihiro. ''Pokémon: Electric Pikachu Boogaloo Graphic Novel''. ], ] ]. ISBN 1-56931-436-5 | |||
| *Ono, Toshihiro. ''Pokémon: Surf’s Up, Pikachu Graphic Novel''. ], ]. ISBN 1-56931-494-2 | |||
| *Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures, Volume 1: Desperado Pikachu''. ], ] ]. ISBN 1-56931-507-8 | |||
| *Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures, Volume 2: Legendary Pokémon''. ], ] ]. ISBN 1-56931-508-6 | |||
| *Kusaka, Hidenori, & Mato. ''Pokémon Adventures, Volume 3: Saffron City Siege''. ], ] ]. ISBN 1-56931-560-4 | |||
| </div> | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * | |||
| {{Spoken Misplaced Pages|Bulbasaur.ogg|2005-12-31}} | |||
| {{Contains Japanese text}} | |||
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Revision as of 19:46, 9 May 2008
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