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Munchlax

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Template:Future


Munchlax
File:Munchlax.png
Japanese nameGonbe
Evolves fromNone
Evolves intoSnorlax
GenerationFourth
SpeciesBig Eater Pokémon
TypeNormal
Height2'00" (0.6 m)
Weight232 pounds (105 kg)
AbilityThick Fat/Pick Up

Munchlax (ゴンベ, Gonbe) are one of the Template:Pokenum 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. The purpose of Munchlax in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[2] It was the first of the “preview” Pokémon to the fourth generation of games, cards and anime, having been released prior to the release of the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl versions for Nintendo DS.

Munchlax is a portmanteau of munch and lax. "Munch" comes from the English word "munch." To munch is to bite or chew noisily. "Lax" comes from another English word, "lax." Its synonyms are listed as careless, casual and easygoing.

Its Japanese name, Gonbe, is thought to be a combination of the final sylable of Snorlax (Kabigon) and a be (pronounced "bay") possibly standing for baby (Kabigon baby).

Also, Gombei is a very old-fashioned Japanese given name for a man. A person whose name is not known (a John Doe) is Na-nashi no Gombei in Japanese. Many names ending in be (or bei) were common in the Edo period and afterward. Examples include Jimbei, Kambei, and (without the rendaku) Jihei, and Mohei. [3]

Characteristics

Munchlax behaves quite opposite of its evolution, Snorlax, as it is somewhat hyperactive, though it is very similar with its eating patterns. It does not mind walking and running from place to place as it looks for food. It is generally seen in urban city streets where it scrounges for food, even in trash cans. It is similar to Snorlax in this respect; it is almost always hungry. [3]

Many have speculated that its design origins come from Baby P, the main protagonist of the movie Dawl. [citation needed]

In Coro Coro Magazine, an article stated that Munchlax will be able to obtain a move called Nature Spurt, which deals damage based on the type of berry held (if any). [citation needed]

In the video games

Unlike the other fourth-generation preview Pokémon, Munchlax has already been seen in several video games released in both sides of the Pacific. The first was in Pokémon Dash, as a racing opponent in normal GP. Next, in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, one particular Munchlax sometimes eats the Poké Snacks the player leaves to lure wild Pokémon. If it does this, the owner will give you more Poké Snacks as well as other items. [citation needed]

Munchlax is promised to be among the slew of new Pokémon to be found in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. As the baby form of Snorlax, it is expected to be obtained by breeding Snorlax, probably under special circumstances not seen in previous games. (To compare, the second-generation Pokémon Marill can be bred to create the third-generation Pokémon Azurill in the third generation of games, but only if the female Marill is holding an item found in these particular games).

In the anime

File:Munchlax in Destiny Deoxys.jpg
Munchlax about to kick trash as seen in Destiny Deoxys

Munchlax’s official debut, long before the release of Diamond and Pearl, was in the seventh Pokémon movie, Destiny Deoxys. In it, a lone Munchlax lives among the alleyways and meadows of LaRousse City and occupies itself by playing a kicking variation of basketball with bottles and trash cans. It steals the picnic food of Ash and his friends during the night before Deoxys attacks. Later, when the security system of the city goes haywire and everyone inside is swarmed by security cubes, Munchlax evolves into Snorlax to keep itself afloat. Its belly then serves as a physical stepping stone for Ash to climb up to the chief robot that controls the system in order to shut it down. The movie seems to claim Munchlax can learn Mega Kick, and Bounce.

Later on in the anime series, Ash and the gang find a wild Munchlax, which May captures, in "Berry, Berry Interesting." It is also the only Pokémon that wasn't affected by and actually liked May's Purple Surprise (a pokeblock which caused May to pursue and succeed in catching Munchlax). When May saw Munchlax busy and tried to catch it, it almost ate the Poké Ball. A second later, the Poké Ball activated from inside Munchlax's mouth and was caught. In the episode following it, May receives Professor Oak's special Snorlax pokéblock recipe. Now rechristened May's Pink Surprise, it will, when fed to Munchlax, makes it bloated and satiated. It doesn't often obey May. Once it comes out of its Poké Ball it always scrounges for food, even in the middle of a battle. Munchlax seems to pay homage to the behavioral issues of Skitty (one of May's other Pokémon), the Wobbuffet owned by Team Rocket's Jessie and Misty's Psyduck, albeit with a higher level of intelligence. It learned Focus Punch in the same episode Ash Ketchum's Pikachu learned Volt Tackle. This one appears in the eighth movie Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.[4] [5]

In other media

Although Munchlax has not appeared yet in a localized card game expansion, it has appeared several times on Japanese promotional cards, including one appearance each in two promotional Japanese half-decks that have been released alongside the seventh and eighth Pokémon movies. [citation needed]


References

Notes
  1. ^ "Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2006-02-28.
  2. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
  3. ^ a b Pokémon Diamond/Pearl - Pokémon Serebii.net URL Accessed July 12, 2006
  4. ^ Episode 394 - Berry, Berry Interesting! Serebii.net URL accessed July 12, 2006
  5. ^ Lucario & The Mystery of Mew Serebii.net URL accessed July 12, 2006
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
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