Articuno
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Articuno | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Snorlax - Articuno (#144) - Zapdos Johto Pokédex Blastoise - Articuno (#235) - Zapdos |
|
| Japanese name | Freezer |
| Evolves from | None |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Freeze Pokémon |
| Type | Ice / Flying |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
| Weight | 122.1 lb (55.4 kg) |
| Ability | Pressure |
Articuno (フリーザー Furīzā?, Freezer in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 493 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. Its main purpose in the games, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both "wild" Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and "tamed" Pokémon that are owned by Pokémon trainers.
Articuno is one of the three winged mirages along with Zapdos and Moltres. The name "Articuno" originates from the word "arctic", because it is an ice-type, and from the Spanish word "uno", meaning "one", because it is numerically the first of the three winged mirages. Its Japanese name is 'Freezer' spelled phonetically.
This Pokémon's appearance is based on the Arabic Anka myth, which is that of a giant arctic bird. The bird is similar to the phoenix as it is known to resurrect itself and appear to doomed people in the mountains.
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[edit] Biological characteristics
Articuno is the avian embodiment of freezing cold. It appears to be a large, crested bird with blue plumage, white talons, a white-feathered chest, a three feathered crest adorning its head, and an elegant, sparkling long tail. The crest and tail are slightly darker in colour compared to its body and its beak and legs are almost lilac-blue. Its eyes are red.
Articuno can create and manipulate ice freely. Its translucent wings are imbued with the essence of frigidity, and the flapping of its wings chills the air, causing the conversion of water particles in the air into snow or ice. Therefore, it is believed that when this Pokémon flies overhead, snow will fall. To be able to freeze water with heat producing movement proves that Articuno is one of the coldest Pokémon in existence and appears to be able to control its body temperature as it does not freeze the air while idle. It is also believed that Articuno resides within the confines of icy mountains, because those who have seen it were often doomed explorers scaling such mountains, and therefore it is believed Articuno makes it a point to appear before them and save them, since it is not a malevolent creature.
Articuno may have been somewhat based on the real-life Resplendent Quetzal with a similar long tail and crest, and also the Anka, a mythical bird similar to the Phoenix that has powers associated with ice.
Articuno was a gentle legendary bird Pokémon, it saves people as well as other Pokémon from doomed places.
[edit] In the video games
Articuno is only available in the Red and Blue versions (and their enhanced remakes) and Yellow, alongside the other two, Zapdos and Moltres. It is located in the Seafoam Islands. As with most any other Legendary Pokémon, Articuno is unique, and the player has only one chance to capture it.
In Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, Articuno is found at the lowest level of the Seafoam Islands Cave. It is surrounded by strong water rapids and can be reached only when the player, using the HM move Strength pushes and drops round boulders into black potholes. The boulders, on falling, block the flowing water which, the becomes safe to swim in.
It is also a Shadow Pokémon owned by Grand Master Greevil in Pokémon XD. It is hard to catch because it is ledgendary, and it is owned by Greevil, the Cipher boss. Articuno also appears as both a boss and a playable character in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.
As a legendary Pokémon, Articuno's stats are very high, most notably its HP, defense, and special defense. Trainers using Articuno are sometimes considered "cheap" for using it due to its being the only Pokemon to know the moves Mind Reader and Sheer Cold (Mind Reader gaurantess 100% acc. to the next move so if the player uses Sheer Cold, it becomes a 100% 1 hit KO move).
Articuno also appears in Pokémon Snap, in the Cave level. Playing the Pokeflute near a pair of slumbering Jynx causes them to chant a spell to hatch an egg containing Articuno. Articuno circles the cavern before flying out above the player. If players threw Pester Balls at a Zubat earlier in the level to free a Pikachu it is holding, Pikachu will be riding on Articuno's back as it exits the cave and they fly off.
[edit] In the Super Smash Bros. series
Articuno makes a cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee as one of the Pokémon in the Pokéball item. When it comes out, it will freeze anyone close to it using Sheer Cold and fly away. It is also available as a Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy. It is one of the Pokémon in the Legendary Pokémon event.
[edit] In the Pokémon manga
In Pokémon Adventures in Chapter 25, Articuno appeared as a winged mirage of ice to the hero, Red. Red and his Pokémon teammates went in search for this winged mirage, Articuno. Gyarados was now a new member of Red's Pokémon (original trainer: Misty), but was stopped by the evil hands of Team Rocket, Red and his Pokémon partners had to defeat Team Rocket and manage to save this legendary Articuno in a fight before they plan to steal her from him, their plan backfired as Gyarados accidentally broke the ice, causing Articuno to break free in the iceberg to save both Red and Gyarados from Team Rocket's Muk finishing them, but it was frozen by its ice beam attack. In the end, Red and his teammates thought they had failed to save the legendary Articuno and become their new partner. (in this comic, Gyarados falls in love with the legendary Pokémon, Articuno).
In Chapter 26, Articuno as a legendary had turned to dark side in the hands of Team Rocket's three henchmen, Koga the Ninja, as well as the other two winged mirages: Zapdos for LT. Surge (perfect match for his electric Pokémon) and Moltres for Sabrina (inmmortal soul and mind of inferno) to challenge Red, Blue and Green. In the end, the trio successfully defeated the combined three evil winged mirages. The three winged mirages are finally freed from the evil hands of Team Rocket, Red (main protagonist) takes his last look at the beautiful winged mirage, he learnt about the beauty of this legendary Articuno as it flies off. It turned out to be a female-like legendary Pokemon.
In Chapter 179, Articuno appears again to be Green's Pokémon protagonist as well as the other two, as the trio of winged mirages and their human mistress, Articuno once again help Red and his partners to save the day from destruction of Ho-Oh and Lugia's attack, as he rides on her back as they flew off, Green face off against Pryce's two of his best henchmen, Will and Karen (Elite Four leaders) as well as new two legendary giant-sized Pokémon, Lugia and Ho-Oh, the evil duo try to defeat them, but failed as many Pokémon came to rescue as they attacked both legendary Pokémon so that they could release from the evil control,. In the end, Green summons back her three Legendary Pokémon as Red gave her back her Pokémon, Blastoise and his friend/rival Blue for Charizard.
In Chapter 180, Articuno makes a cameo appearance (cut comic scene) in the ending chapter, like Green's winged mirages traded her Pokémon data to Crystal as she does the same, like Red's Articuno for Crystal's Suicune, Green's Moltres for Silver's Entei and Blue's Zapdos for Gold's Raikou (not really trading in the trading centre). Although Articuno was also appears as a guest appearance along with the other two winged mirages, she could make another appearance in Ruby & Sapphire.
In Magical Pokémon Journey, a female Articuno is also featured as a friendly legendary Pokémon like the original character in the other game version, it appears as a female challenger as she wears an apron to challenge Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Clefairy in her challenge by eating 50 snowcones, but loses the contest, so she doesn't grant them any wish to free Hazel, Almond and Squirtle. Although Articuno changes her mind and decides to free them instead, at the end of this comic, she takes them all home by having them sit on her back safely and puts them off as she flies away to say "goodbye".
[edit] In the Pokémon anime
Articuno first appeared in Pokémon: The Movie 2000 together with the other two winged mirages. Lawrence III created a battle between them, and Ash Ketchum had to team up with Lugia to stop this madness.
Articuno also was the focus of a three-part saga of episodes, "Moving Pictures", "Spring Fever" and "Freeze Frame", where Todd (Snap) joined up with Ash and friends to try to get a picture of the winged mirage Pokémon. It culimated in Articuno's appearance in the episode "Freeze Frame", when it saved Ash and friends from a blizzard. Although Ash's Pikachu doesn't fight with it in these episodes, because it became Pikachu's favorite friend.
Articuno also is a wild befriended Pokémon used by the Battle Frontier Brain at the Battle Factory named Noland. This Articuno was befriended and sometimes is used in playtimes and battles, such as his battle against Ash and his Charizard but unfortunately it's playtime for Max and Pikachu as they ride along with Articuno in Noland's plane. They knew that Articuno is a legendary pokemon. Still, they accepted the challenge.
It is unclear whether all of these appearances are by a single, unique Articuno (as in the games, animes and in the movies where each Legendary Pokémon is one of a kind), or if those in the TV series are offspring, relatives or descendants of "the" Articuno of legend, depicted in the second movie. It may just be that Articuno as a species whether it is a hero, anti-hero or a villain, along with Zapdos and Moltres, are so rare and isolated that they are considered legendary. Articuno does appear significantly larger in the movie, but depictions of Pokémon size are sometimes inconsistent (for example, Ash's Charizard can appear twice as tall as Ash one episode, and be nearly eye level the next, which is exactly the same height as Articuno.)
In the ending of "The Symbol Life", a seismic toss from Ash's Charizard causes a large cloud of dust. When the dust clears, Charizard appears to be defeated. However, Articuno falls over and Charizard is able to get back up. Ash is then declared the winner. Both congratulate their pokemon Charizard and Articuno for their effort. Noland says goodbye to Articuno as it flies off into the sunset. Later, Ash says goodbye as Charizard follows Articuno's path. With the Knowledge Symbol won, Ash and friends move on to the next area.
[edit] In the Pokémon trading card game
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, there are four mainstream versions of Articuno:
- Fossil
- Skyridge
- EX Firered & Leafgreen (as Articuno EX, a secret hidden card - 113/112)
- EX Team Rocket Returns (as Rocket's Articuno EX, as a pure Dark type)
In addition, there were two promotional Articuno cards in the game's history. One was handed out alongside Zapdos and Moltres promo cards at showings of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
[edit] References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- 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 Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21, 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki) ’s article about Articuno as a species
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Articuno Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Articuno Tactical Data
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Articuno Previously hosted by Wikibooks
