Pokemon Scent-sation

Misty learns an important lesson in Episode 26. As our heroes find their way through Celadon City, they discover Erika's grass-type Pokemon gym. Erika explains:

Gloom doesn't have a bad smell all the time. Whenever Gloom is in danger, it lets out the bad smell its a natural defense mechanism but as long as gloom doesn't feel threatened, it smells fine! Just make sure gloom feels safe and show you want to be its friend.

Erika shares a touching account of how a Gloom saved her as a child from a rouge Grimer. In fact, according to the episode this event is what inspired Erika to become a grass Pokemon trainer.

In order to get in to the Celadon City gym, Ash Ketchum is dressed up by team Rocket to resemble a girl. Pikachu quickly recognizes Ash, however, Erika consents to Ash's challenge anyway, due to her Pokemon League obligation.
Erika first using a Tangela and a Weepingbell, Erika finally sends out her Gloom.

Some memorable quotes from this episode:

'I should never have listened to team Rocket!'
-Ash Ketchum
'You can't judge a Pokemon by its smell.'
-Narrator
'Gym rules: no theives allowed'
-Erika

Episode Tidbits:

Episode 26 features one of team Rocket's first fourth wall jokes - one of many to come! Basically, Meowth comments on how the animators never gave him a nose.

When team Rocket is dressing Ash up as a girl in order to get into the Pokemon Gym, the music plays from the game soundtrack, when you are being led to the Pewter City Gym.
Trainer Tips:
Gloom
クサイハナ (Kusaihana)
Pokedex:

The fluid that oozes from its mouth isn't drool; it is a nectar that is used to attract prey.

Before you evolve your Gloom into a Vileplume by means of a grass stone, consider waiting until it has learned some of these powerful grass type moves. Remember, your Gloom will not learn any new moves once it has been exposed to a grass stone.

Acid - Lv 28
Petal Dance - Lv 38
Solar Beam - Lv 52



Pokemon TCG:

Gloom debuted as the 37th card in the Jungle set,
Its card depicts a placid Gloom amongst its natural environs, a characteristic bit of nectar dripping from its mouth. The
Level 22 Gloom is 2' 7" tall, and a mere 19 lbs. - your typical grass type, weighing not 20 lbs.

The artist behind this lovely card is Keiji Kinebuchi, the original 3D artist for the franchise.

Here Comes The Squirtle Squad!

This post gets its name from Episode 12 of the anime, wherein Ash Ketchum has a run in with a nasty squad of squirtles, who've been terrorizing the locals with their reckless behavior. It turns out that these Squirtles have been abandoned by their trainers, and thus become embittered and troublesome. Hungry for human affection, or at least attention, this squad of miscreant Squirtles have resorted to disturbing the peaceful human populus.

Ash gains the trust of the squad by risking his safety to protect the Squirtle leader from team rocket's explosive antics. Later on, the penitent Squirtle Squad has the opportunity to redeem itself in the eyes of the town by putting out a fire caused by team rocket, earning the title 'Town Firefighters'. It seems the misguided pokemon have gained what they always desired: human affection and admiration. We see this recuring theme throughout the anime; allow me to paraphrase... (italics added for emphasis)

I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause

I will travel across the land
Searching far and wide
Each Pokemon to understand
The power that's inside

Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all!
It's you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokemon!
Oh, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend

Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all!
Our hearts so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all! Gotta catch 'em all!
Pokemon!

Alright I got carried away there and just italicized the entire last stanza; it's such a moving piece. The point is that it's better than the Japanese intro song, though I can't say I've looked up the translation for that one... But here 'Each pokemon to understand/ The power that's inside' Meaning we look beyond the cover of the book; we look deeper than the skin. This is what we're meant to take away from each episode. What better example of this 'hidden value' theme than the fish pokemon, Magikarp? A meager wight of a pokemon, anyone could be guilty of labeling it such, as did James in episode 16: Pokemon Shipwreck. Much to his dismay, however, we discover Magikarp to be the progenitor of the atrocious pokemon, Gyrados! But that must be the topic of another post.

This is the last we hear of the Squirtle Squad, until episode 149: 'the Fire-ring Squad'. In this episode, our friends come across the squirtle squad led by Officer Jenny entering a pokemon competition known as the Firefighting Grand Prix. The old squad seems to be disheartened, until they meet up with their old companion and leader, who has been traveling with Ash all the while. While practicing for the Grand Prix, the squirtle squad becomes intimidated by the skill and focus of the reigning champions, the Wartortle Team. However, sensing their distress, Ash's Squirtle steps in and unites the squad, at which point, Brock stoically observes, "I guess it doesn't matter how long the old gang has been apart; the leader is still the leader."
Finally it's time for the Firefighting Grand Prix, but in the midst of the announcer's cliche similies, team Rocket makes their token entrance, wreaking havoc with a devious flamethrowing mecha (god only knows where they get the money for these things). In the end, it's up to the reunited Squirtle Squad to put a stop to the trouble. After blasting team rocket off again, the competition continues, and the Squirtle Squad come out victorious. Ash's Squirtle decides to stay with his old gang, and continue firefighting under Officer Jenny's guidance. After a moving montage of memories, Ash remarks, "Don't forget, we'll always be friends no matter what, Squirtle!"

On a related note, Gary Oak chooses a Squirtle as his starting Pokemon from Professor Oak, only later manifest as his Blastoise in episode 271: the Ties That Bind.










Trainer Tips:

Squirtle (ゼニガメ Zenigame) is the #07 Pokemon in the Kanto Pokedex

Squirtle's name is probably a combination of the words 'Squirt' and 'Turtle'.
Let's see what the Pokedex has to say about this water pokemon:
'After birth, its back swells and hardens into a shell. Powerfully sprays foam from its mouth'

As everyone knows, Squirtle is one of the three starter pokemon to be offered to the player by Professor Oak at his lab in Pallet town.
Now, Squirtle will evolve to a mean looking Wartortle at level 16 if he is allowed. However, a wise pokemon trainer knows that sometimes Pokemon need a little more time before they are ready to grow up. Here are some moves that Squirtle will learn after level 16:
Bite - Lv 22
Withdraw - Lv 28
Skull Bash - Lv 35
Hydro Pump -Lv 42



Pokemon TCG:

Here Squirtle makes his appearance as the #63 Pokemon card.
This 'tiny turtle pokemon' measures 1' 8", and weighs in at 20 lbs. Squirtle knows the moves Bubble and Withdraw.
This card was illustrated by the famous pokemon artist Mitsuhiro Arita.

The Bastardization of a franchise

Poke'mon, I owe a lot to the game. mostly because its so much more than just a game. It was something that represented the imaginative era we all so fondly "or not so fondly" refer to as the 90's. Now personally, I'm not quite as eloquent as my very good friend and co-writer of this blog, but my passion for pocket monsters is un-equalled. that being said this angry rant is out of love, not hate.

Mudkip is the single reason that poke'mon has come to the state its in now. He's a striped down ideal. Take something cute, and marketable and shove it into the masses. It's in every sense the easy way out. Third generation as a whole is best described in this fashion, easy. If you take a good look at 3rd gen you'll notice what a huge step back it is in every way. The story, music, characters even the monsters themselves are without soul. They have no purpose other than to obtain cash from unfortunate children and boy did they. Poke'mon diamond and pearl upon the first week of release raked in an astounding 2,000,000$$ worth of sales. Granted I was one of the mind less idiots fully aware of the shallow purchase but I can safely say I never once have gotten past the first gym of emerald solely because of the ideals it represents. if you still think I'm an idiot for posting such a self righteous post, take a look into mudkip's eyes and ask yourself," does he love me, really?"

Welcome to PocketMonster Pals!

Hey everyone,
Welcome to PocketMonster Pals! the First generation Pokemon blog, dedicated to preserving the memory of the wonderful phenomena known as Pokemon! Thank you for visiting!

This being the first entry of the blog, I'll try to explain what you can expect to find here, in the future. First off, a little bit about me - I am a long time fan of the Pokemon franchise, my first experience was as a child growing up in the 90's with the first generation anime series; the Red, Blue and Yellow games; as well as the first generation card game produced by Wizards of the Coast. To this day I enjoy watching old episodes of Pokemon season 1, like Episode 53: 'the Purr-fect Hero'; as well as playing yellow version on a good old Gameboy Color. Speaking of the GBC, there's a very good chance you might find a future post dedicated to this fantastic system, in fact the most fashionable system ever conceived by Nintendo, followed by the Famicom.


The lovely pokemon edition GBC







Here at PocketMonster Pals! we plan to post individual Pokemon spotlights, which may include episodes featuring the Pokemon, the Pokemon's card, as well as etymology and move sets.
Look forward also to Pokemon Trainer spotlights, and posts on various Kanto citizens. After all, where would we be without the sagacious advice of Proffesor Oak (affectionately referred to as 'the Pokemon Professor'). As the Hotheaded quizmaster Blaine often says, 'Hah! you better have burn heal!'.


Regarding my opinion on the current state of the Pokemon franchise:

I would like to emphasize my disappointment regarding the decadence of the current state of Pokemon affairs. This blog chooses to disacknowledge the existence of the franchise as we find it today, and as it has been since the last decade. I, personally, hold the second generation of games in the highest regard, and do not consider them nor the corresponding anime to be by any means decadent or abominable. The glorious and blissful reign of Pokemon faltered and eventually collapsed after the second generation. (Arguably under the sheer weight of the massive amount of new Pokemon introduced third gen, though signs of decay certainly crept in before we were ever nausiated by the cry of a baby Treecko *shudder*) However, undeniably, the true and righteous glory of Pokemon was only fully extended in the first generation, and this blog will focus primarily, or rather, exclusively on that generation, as a general rule. (An exception to this rule will be admitted in the case that a storyline continues into later seasons of the anime throughout the first series [season 1 through 5]. Never shall any reference be made to any later series, regardless of storyline.)



Pokemon was a phenomena of the last decade, sadly dragged into this one by greed and the nature of business marketing. Here at PocketMonster Pals! we aim to remeber Pokemon as it was, and simply disregard this current abomination (referring to third and fourth generation games and anime, and the post-wizards trading card game). You can look forward to a conclusive examination into the events surrounding what shall be referred to as 'The Rise and Fall of the Pokemon Franchise' later on, let this summary be sufficient for the demands of this introduction.















Become a Pokémon Master!

Now! If anyone reading this blog feels that they share these ideals and would be interested in expressing themselves further than the comments box, we would be delighted to have you join our little crusade! Simply send a copy of your resume to pocketmonster7@gmail.com along with your favorite pokemon and any personal references you may have. And honestly, you needn't really send a resume.