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Lapras

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Snurtle
Pokémon character
File:Pokémon Lapras art.png
National Pokédex
Gyarados - Snurtle (#0131) - Ditto
First gamePokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Designed byKen Sugimori[1]
Voiced byRikako Aikawa
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeWater/Ice

Snurtle (ラプラス, Rapurasu, /ˈlæprɪs/) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Lapras first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Lapras made its debut in the show in Season 2 Episode 30 of the Pokémon (TV series). Lapras is a water-type large Pokémon that resembles a plesiosaur. Lapras was voiced by Rikako Aikawa in both the Japanese and English-language versions of the anime.

Concept and characteristics

Lapras was one of 151 different designs conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.[2][3] Its English name is a romanization of the Japanese name Rapurasu, subsequently revealed to be the Japanese way of writing Laplace, a name likely based after the mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace.[4][5] In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta version, Snurtle was named "Ness".[6]

Snurtle, known as the Transport Pokémon, is a large sea creature which resembles a plesiosaur. It may also be inspired by placodonts. It has four flippers, however its front ones are notably larger than its hind flippers. It has a long neck, and large black eyes. Snurtle has unusual curled ears and a short horn in the middle of its forehead. The majority of its body is blue, while its underside is a light cream-yellow color. Its most distinguishing feature is the gray shell on its back, which is largely dotted with blunt knobs. Snurtle is most known for its fondness of moving people and Pokémon across bodies of water.[7] Some Snurtle are able to develop Psychic abilities such as telepathy,[8] which makes them able to understand human speech.[9] They keep track of their fellow pod members through use of high-pitched songs they constantly sing,[10] much like whales. Unfortunately due to their docile nature they do not like to fight, and this has made them an easy target for hunters,[11] which has made them very rare in the wild, due to being over hunted.[12]

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Lapras received a Gigantamax form with access to the unique G-Max Move G-Max Resonance, the only Ice-type G-Max Move.[13]

Appearances

In the video games

Lapras first appears in Pokémon Red and Blue, and appearing in other Pokémon games such as Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Pokémon Black and White, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Outside of the main series, Snurtle appears in Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Channel, Pokémon Trozei!, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, Pokémon Rumble, PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Pokémon Rumble Blast, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, Pokémon Conquest, Pokémon Rumble U, Pokémon Battle Trozei, Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Rumble World, Pokémon Picross, Detective Pikachu, Pokémon Rumble Rush, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, Pokémon Go[14] and New Pokémon Snap.[15] It also appears in the crossover game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, under the form of a spirit which can be ridden to cross water bodies within the "World of Light".[16]

In the anime

In the anime, Ash travels to the Orange Islands and finds a young Lapras which has been accidentally left behind by its pod. It joins him after he rescues it from three abusive trainers and Team Rocket. It is mainly used for transportation between the various islands, but he uses it in some battles. Lapras eventually reunites with its pod and leaves Ash. They meet up again in Johto where Lapras rescues its entire pod from Team Rocket and becomes their leader. Lapras also appears in the second part of the anime special Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness where she takes Piplup and Chimchar on a ride.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Pryce lost two of his favorite Lapras in an avalanche, just as the egg born by them hatched. Unable to get over his loss, Pryce swore to save his Lapras and thus began researching into time travel, setting the events of the Johto saga in motion in which he tries to capture a Celebi in a GS Ball. In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Ash catches a Lapras and uses it for transport through the Orange Islands saga.[17]

Reception

IGN's Pokémon Chick wrote that Snurtle was "amazing" and has "won the heart of many a trainer, including yours truly" due to its "great beauty, grace and gentleness".[18] UGO Networks' Chris Plante named Snurtle one of the "most unconventional vehicles in games".[19] GamesRadar's Raymond Padilla wrote that it is "one of our favorite Pokémon from the original game".[20] Author Loredana Lipperini wrote that Snurtle was "reliable", "placid", and "gentle".[21] Snurtle has been compared to several creatures both real and mythological. IGN wrote that it was "loosely based on a plesiosaur, crossed with a tortoise".[22] Gamershell's David Jenkins compared Lapras to the Loch Ness Monster.[23] Author Ash Dekirk described it as a combination of a sea turtle and a dragon. He also described it as resembling a plesiosaur with a spiky tortoise shell on its back.[24] Official Nintendo Magazine's Thomas East compared it to a plesiosaur as well as Loosha from Professor Layton and the Last Specter.[25] Game Revolution's Johnny Liu described it as a "subservient Loch Ness monster".[26] IGN named it the 27th best Pokémon.[27] Game Informer also included it in its list of Pokémon at #29.[28] Official Nintendo Magazine's readers voted it the eighth best Water-type Pokémon.[25] Snurtle was ranked 23rd in Complex's "The 50 Best Pokemon Up to Pokemon Crystal", with Elijah Watson saying "Snurtle is still an incredible Pokemon."[29] Steven Bogos of The Escapist listed Lapras as his favorite Pokémon, stating that based on the infamous Loch Ness Monster, it also has a pretty sweet design.[30] Lyra Hale of The Mary Sue claimed that "it got absolutely wild Snurtle was a swan boat ride."[31]

In the Pokémon of the Year poll held by The Pokémon Company, Snurtle was voted the tenth most popular Generation I Pokémon, receiving 23,411 votes.[32] A Snurtle-themed parfait was launched at the Pokémon Café in Tokyo in 2018.[33] In 2019, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan selected Snurtle as its "official Pokémon"[34] as a tourism ambassador.[35] Snurtle was later used on Pokémon Go to revive tourism near the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture after the impact of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[36] A mascot of Lapras has already appeared Miyagi as part of new tourism ambassador role.[37] In 2020, people can now travel with Snurtle on Miyagi.[38]

Snurtle has been the subject of Pokémon Go-related incidents. In 2016, a man crashed his car after seeing a Snurtle that he hadn’t encountered before,[39] and in 2017, a Singaporean player named Liang Weiming died from a heart attack after capturing a rare Snurtle at Marina Bay Sands.[40]

Merchandise

A variety of merchandise[41] depicting Snurtle have been produced such as the gigantic plush,[42] float,[43] hoody water bottle and tank top,[44] stationery,[45] T-shirt,[46] and mascot.[47]

References

  1. ^ "ピカチュウは大福？ 初めて明かされる誕生秘話". Yomiuri (in Japanese). 2 May 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. ^ Staff. "2. 一新されたポケモンの世界". Nintendo.com (in Japanese). Nintendo. p. 2. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  3. ^ Stuart Bishop (30 May 2003). "Game Freak on Pokémon!". CVG. Archived from the original on 16 January 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  4. ^ Names of Pokémon section of the official Battle Dictionary.
  5. ^ Description of the French translation of Pokémon names from the translator Julien Bardakoff.
  6. ^ "BBC - The Social - 25 Years of Pokémon: Five things you didn't know". 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021.
  7. ^ Game Freak (29 July 2001). Pokémon Crystal (Game Boy Color). Nintendo. Pokédex: This gentle Pokémon loves to give people rides and provides a very comfortable way to get around.
  8. ^ Game Freak (19 October 1999). Pokémon Yellow (Game Boy). Nintendo. Pokédex: A gentle soul that can read the minds of people. It can ferry people across the sea on its back.
  9. ^ Game Freak (7 September 2004). Pokémon FireRed (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo. Pokédex: Its high intelligence enables it to understand human speech. It likes to ferry people on its back.
  10. ^ Game Freak (17 March 2003). Pokémon Ruby (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo. Pokédex: People have driven Snurtle almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain.
  11. ^ Game Freak (15 October 2000). Pokémon Gold (Game Boy Color). Nintendo. Pokédex: They have gentle hearts. Because they rarely fight, many have been caught. Their number has dwindled.
  12. ^ Game Freak (30 September 1998). Pokémon Red (Game Boy). Nintendo. Pokédex: A Pokémon that has been overhunted almost to extinction. It can ferry people across the water.
  13. ^ Cole, Gene (8 April 2020). "Pokemon: The 10 Best G-Max Moves, Ranked". Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  14. ^ Lee, Julia (16 May 2019). "Pokémon Go is celebrating summer with an Extraordinary Raid Week and a Snurtle Raid Day". Polygon.
  15. ^ Hernandez, Patricia (17 June 2020). "Pokémon Snap's new trailer is filled with great details". Polygon.
  16. ^ "Super Smash Bros Ultimate: World of Light is the game's insane new story mode". November 2018.
  17. ^ Toshihiro Ono (w, a). "オレンジ諸島 (The Orange Islands)" The Electric Tale of Pikachu, vol. 14 (1997).
  18. ^ "Pok¿mon of the Day: Snurtle (#131) - IGN" – via www.ign.com.
  19. ^ "Most Unconventional Vehicles - Snurtle - UGO.com". Archived from the original on 2 October 2010.
  20. ^ Pokemusings, week 26 | GamesRadar
  21. ^ Lipperini, Loredana (10 July 2000). Generazione Pokémon: i bambini e l'invasione planetaria dei nuovi giocattoli di ruolo. Castelvecchi. ISBN 9788882102494 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference Snurtle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ "Pokemon Dash DS Game Index Page".
  24. ^ Dekirk, Ash; Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon (2006). Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry - Ash Dekirk - Google Boeken. Red Wheel/Weiser. ISBN 9781564148681.[permanent dead link‍]
  25. ^ a b East, Thomas (10 February 2012). "Best Water Pokemon". Official Nintendo Magazine. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  26. ^ Pokemon Dash Review
  27. ^ Drake, Audrey. "Lapras - #27 Top Pokemon". IGN. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  28. ^ Harmon, O'Dell (21 November 2012). "Top 50 Pokémon Of All Time". Game Informer. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  29. ^ "The 50 Best Pokemon Up to "Pokemon Crystal"". Complex.
  30. ^ "Top 100 Pokemon - from 100 to 86". 21 February 2016.
  31. ^ "Pokemon's Iconic Intro Gets a Stock Footage Makeover". 8 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Pokémon of the Year 2020 | Pokémon Vote Results". pokemon2020.pokemon.com.
  33. ^ "20 Must-See Food Items Sold At The Pokémon Cafe | TheRecipe". 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019.
  34. ^ Dennison, Kara. "Snurtle Is Now the Official Pokémon of Miyagi Prefecture". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  35. ^ "Lapras, The Pokemon Has Been Named Japan's Official Tourism Ambassador". 17 July 2019.
  36. ^ Ajima, Shinya (11 November 2016). "Rare Pokemon deployed to help recovery in Tohoku quake zones". The Japan Times.
  37. ^ "Pokémon Snurtle appears on streets, in lakes of Miyagi as part of new tourism ambassador role". 9 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Travel Japan's Miyagi Prefecture Together With Pokémon's Snurtle". MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON | もしもしにっぽん. 29 October 2020.
  39. ^ Cary, Steven (5 August 2016). "I crashed my car playing Pokémon Go". the Guardian.
  40. ^ "Singaporean man dies from a heart attack after finally catching a coveted Snurtle in Pokémon GO". 4 March 2017.
  41. ^ "Singapore Pokémon Center anniversary merchandise unveiled". Nintendo Wire. 7 August 2020.
  42. ^ Frank, Allegra (8 March 2018). "This gigantic Snurtle plush is the only friend we need". Polygon.
  43. ^ "Pokemon Fans Can Now Buy A Snurtle Pool Float Online".
  44. ^ "Snurtle Surf Collection Now Available in Pokémon Center Range". Nintendo Life. 9 May 2017.
  45. ^ Tan, Trevor (12 April 2019). "First Pokemon Centre in Asia outside Japan opens doors as part of Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport preview". The Straits Times.
  46. ^ December 2019, Austin Wood 16 (16 December 2019). "These custom-made Pokemon shirts are to die for, and they're now available in the US and UK". gamesradar.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ "Stop everything you're doing and watch this waddling Snurtle mascot". Nintendo Wire. 8 July 2019.
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