Kadabra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kadabra | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Abra - Kadabra (#064) - Alakazam Johto Pokédex Abra - Kadabra (#090) - Alakazam Hoenn Pokédex Abra - Kadabra (#040) - Alakazam Sinnoh Pokédex Abra - Kadabra (#021) - Alakazam |
|
| Japanese name | Yungerer |
| Evolves from | Abra |
| Evolves into | Alakazam |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Psi Pokémon |
| Type | Psychic |
| Height | 4'3" (1.3 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (56.5 kg) |
| Ability | Synchronize/Inner Focus |
Kadabra (ユンゲラー Yungerā?, Yungerer in original Japanese language versions) is one of 493 fictional species of Pokémon in the Pokémon franchise. Kadabra's name is derived from the magician's parlance term, abracadabra. The Japanese name Yungerer is a reference to psychic Uri Geller, doubly so because of the spoon it always holds. The reference is so direct that Geller himself sued, albeit unsuccessfully, for use of his likeness. Its name in the English beta versions of the games was "Pocus".
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[edit] Biology and Appearance
Kadabra is a strong psychic pokémon that owes much of its power to the alpha waves it emits from its body at all times. These alpha waves are affected by Kadabra's current mental state - if it has a headache, the waves change. The psychic power it gives off can also trigger off headaches to nearby humans. It is also said to grow more powerful when faced with a difficult opponent. The silver spoon that Kadabra holds amplifies the waves' power - if it does not hold a spoon, it is said to be limited to half the usual amount of its telekinetic powers. It has been claimed (in a Pokédex entry) that one morning, a boy with extrasensory powers woke up to find that he had become a Kadabra, and although this has not been verified (it could possibly be an urban legend in the Pokémon world due the way it is told in the Pokédex), it is possible it could happened given the events in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon where a human is turned into a Pokémon (though it is not a Kadabra).
Kadabra is vaguely fox-like in appearance. It stands on two legs and always holds a silver spoon - this is a reference to alleged psychic Uri Geller, who claims to be able bend spoons with the power of his mind, although this claim has never been substantiated. Kadabra's coloring is gold and brown. It has wavy-lined patterns on its abdomen, and a pink star on its forehead, similar to patterns found on cards developed Karl Zenner, a psychic researcher, which were used to measure the psychic abilities of an individual. It wears a long, thin moustache, and has a thick tail. This mustache is smaller in the female than in the male.[1]
[edit] In the video games
Kadabra can be evolved from a level 16 Abra. Abra can be caught in the wild in Pokémon Red, Blue, Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald. In Cerulean Cave in FR/LG, wild Kadabra can be found ranging from L50-58 and on occasion, L67. It evolves into Alakazam by trading it. In FR/LG, wild Kababra can sometimes be found holding the Twistedspoon item, which boosts the power of Psychic-type attacks. Kadabra's Synchronize ability allows it to pass on any status problem it receives in battle while its Inner Focus ability prevents flinching, though these are only implemented in the Advance generation games.
Kadabra has an impressively high Special Attack statistic, along with high Speed and average Special Defense. Its other stats are very low though. Kadabra is generally overlooked in competitive battling for its evolved form, Alakazam, which has higher statistics overall.
[edit] In the animé
In episode #22, "Abra and the Psychic Showdown", Ash and his traveling party reach Saffron City and enter the mysterious Marsh gym. Ash immediately challenges Psychic gym leader Sabrina for a Marshbadge and choses his Pikachu to fight. In return, Sabrina sends an Abra, which seems to be sleeping. First Ash thinks Sabrina is making fun of him. But then, by an unknown power, the Abra evolves into a Kadabra, and mercilessly begins to beat Pikachu around with his Psychic forces. Ash is quickly defeated, after which Sabrina imprisons him and his friends. They eventually barely escape the gym with the help of a mysterious stranger.
After befriending a Haunter in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower in the next episode, "The Tower of Terror", Ash returns to Saffron City (in "Haunter versus Kadabra") and beats Sabrina, earning him the Marsh badge.
[edit] Uri Geller lawsuit (Geller v. Nintendo)
In November of 2000 it was reported that Uri Geller, an Israeli psychic-magician who claims to bend spoons with his mind, sued Nintendo over the Pokémon "Yungerer" (renamed Kadabra in English localizations) which he claimed was an unauthorized appropriation of his identity.[1][2] The Pokémon in question has psychic abilities and carries bent spoons. He also claimed that the star on Kadabra's forehead, and the lightning patterns on its abdomen, are symbolisms popular with the Waffen SS of Nazi Germany, and was outraged at the connotations that Nintendo had supposedly made. Although the symbols are derived from Zener cards, the name is a pun; the katakana n (ン) resembles the kana ri (リ) (the translation of Mr. Geller's name into Katakana would be ユリゲラー Yurigerā). Geller sued for the equivalent of $100 million, but lost.
[edit] In other media
Kadabra appears in the Pokémon Trading Card Game first in the Base set. It has not yet appeared in the EX expansions. It should also be noted that some people believe that the Kadabra on the card is "flipping people off", though a closer look reveals that it only has three fingers.
In the Nintendo 64 videogame Pokémon Stadium, the rental Kadabra is recommended as a frequently used Pokémon in the tournaments.
A statue of Kadabra is seen on the President's desk in the seventh episode of The Super Milk-chan Show, "Ra-Ra-Racoon Dog, Heisei Pig Wars Oink Oink."
[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 Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version 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 Kadabra as a species
- Kadabra’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry on Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
- BBC News report on the Uri Geller vs. Nintendo lawsuit
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Kadabra Previously hosted by Wikibooks
