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.