Charmander

Charmander
National Pokédex Venusaur - Charmander (#4) - Charmeleon
Series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue
Designed by	Ken Sugimori
Voiced by (English)	Michael Haigney Emily Williams (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon special)
Voiced by (Japanese)	Shin'ichirō Miki (Ash's) Yūji Ueda (Ritchie's) Daisuke Sakaguchi (PMD special)

Charmander, known as Hitokage (ヒトカゲ^?) in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Charmander 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. The end of a Charmander's tail is alight with a flame, and the flame's size reflects both the physical health and the emotions of the individual. Charmander is a starter Pokémon the player can choose from at the beginning of Pokémon Red and Blue, and their remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. In the anime, Ash acquires a Charmander early in the series, and it became one of Ash's most used Pokémon. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Blue receives a Charmander from his grandfather Professor Oak. Since it appeared in the Pokémon series, Charmander has received generally positive reception.

Charmander is the pre-evolved form of Charmeleon, which is the pre-evolved form of Charizard.

Charmander is also the nickname for Amanda Dobbins.

Design and characteristics

Charmander was one of several 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 of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.^[1][2] Originally called "Hitokage" in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.^[3] As a result, the species was renamed "Charmander", a combination of "char", meaning burnt, and "salamander".^[4]

Charmander is known as the Lizard Pokémon. Charmander are small, bipedal lizard-like Pokémon. Most have blue eyes, red-orange skin, three-clawed toes, yellow bellies, and yellow soles under its feet. The end of a Charmander's tail is alight with a flame, and the flame's size reflects both the physical health^[5] and the emotions of the individual.^[6] When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail.^[7] If the flame were to ever go out, the Charmander would die.^[8] When Charmander receives enough experience from battles, it evolves into Charmeleon, and later Charizard.

Appearances

In the video games

Charmander is a starter Pokémon the player can choose from at the beginning of Pokémon Red and Blue, and their remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Charmander and the other starters from Red and Blue are replaced by Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow, the only starter available in it. Instead, they are each obtained from certain NPCs. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, as a reward from Professor Oak after defeating the final boss, Red, the player can choose from Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Outside of the main series, Charmander has appeared in Hey You, Pikachu!, Pokémon Snap, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, and the Pokémon Ranger games. A stage in Super Smash Bros. called "Saffron City" features an area where various Pokémon pop out to attack players; one such Pokémon is a Charmander that sometimes uses Flamethrower.

In anime

In the anime, Ash acquires a Charmander early in the series. Ash's Charmander originally belonged to a trainer named Damien, who believed it was weak, and cruelly abandoned it, telling it to stay in one spot until he "returned". The Pokémon was very loyal to its trainer, and risked its life sitting in the rain, waiting for a trainer who'd never come back to it. Ash, Brock, and Misty had to rush it to a Pokémon Center to keep it alive. Upon seeing Damien's true colors, Charmander joined Ash.^[9] It was immediately one of Ash's most used Pokémon, defeating such opponents as Koga's Golbat, Erika's Weepinbell, and helping capture Ash's Primeape. Charmander evolved into Charmeleon during a battle against an army of Exeggutor, and his personality changed completely, becoming a disobedient Pokémon and fighting only when and how he pleased.^[10] Charmander is also a deuteragonist of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate!. Along with a female Chikorita, he works alongside a young boy who transformed into a Squirtle in helping fellow Pokémon.

In other media

In the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, the circumstances in which Ash captures a Charmander appear to be different. While Damian appears, he was separated from his Charmander because he was injured, not because he abandoned it. At the end of the chapter, the two reunite. Despite this difference, Ash is still seen owning a Charmander, whose capture is not shown. Later in the manga, Ash's Charmander reappears as a Charizard. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Blue receives a Charmander from his grandfather Professor Oak. Blue tried using it against Mew but failed and withdrew his Pokémon. It is later shown to have evolved into a Charmeleon. In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga series, Isamu Akai's rival, Kai Midorikawa, chose Charmander as his starter Pokémon. Kai's Charmander is mischievous and has a rivalry with Isamu Akai's Clefairy.

Reception

Since it appeared in the Pokémon series, Charmander has received generally positive reception. It has appeared in several pieces of merchandise, including figures, plush toys, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It has been noted as a popular Halloween costume for the year of 1999.^[11] Also in 1999, it was speculated by analysts that Pokémon species, in particular Charmander and others, would become sought-after toys.^[12]

Controversy arose when it was mistakenly believed that Charmander's name, while in actuality being a combination of "char" and "salamander", meant "life without God." This was met with negative response, with one mother hosting a party consisting of her child and his friends, encouraging them to pledge to not play Pokémon anymore.^[13] In the book Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry, author Ash Dekirk described Charmander as a "fire-breathing dragon".^[14] Author Loredana Lipperini cited Charmander as a popular Pokémon, suggesting that its popularity comes from its fiery tail.^[15] Author Mark Jacobson found the transition from Charmander to Charizard to be odd, questioning how a "baby" Pokémon can grow into a "two-hundred-pound monster whose breath can melt boulders."^[16] GamesRadar commented that while Charmander seems pitiful due to its flame tail, which burn more brightly depending on his mood/health, it grows into the cool-looking Charizard.^[17] GamesRadar editor Brett Elston stated that while it lacks the nuances of later similar starting Pokémon, it has "cutesy appeal" to it.^[18] In a humour article, GamesRadar editor Dave Meikleham listed Charmander as a video game creature who would make an "awesome pet", stating that it could serve as a makeshift campfire.^[19] IGN called Charmander a "great choice" for a player to choose; IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" in particular commented that while Charmander is at a disadvantage initially, it becomes great with patience. She added that it is popular amongst players who use it for its speed.^[4][20] The Escapist editor John Funk described Charmander as "cute", using its evolution into Charizard as an example of an extreme evolutionary change in the series.^[21] Chicago Tribune editor Darryl E. Owens described Charmander as "adorable".^[22] San Antonio-Express News editor Susan Yerkes described Charmander as "disgustingly cute".^[23] Teen Ink editor Kathryn J. called Charmander her favorite Pokémon.^[24]

References

1. ^ Staff. "2. 一新されたポケモンの世界" (in Japanese). Nintendo.com. Nintendo. p. 2. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/irbj/vol1/index2.html. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
2. ^ Stuart Bishop (2003-05-30). "Game Freak on Pokémon!". CVG. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. http://www.webcitation.org/5VSJaR6xT. Retrieved 2008-02-07. 
3. ^ Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". TIME. http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/1122/cover2.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Pokemon Strategy Guide - IGNguides". Guides.ign.com. http://guides.ign.com/guides/12045/charmander.html. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
5. ^ Pokédex: Charmander are obedient Pokémon. The flame on its tail indicates Chamander's life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly. Game Freak. Pokémon Silver. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (2000-10-15)
6. ^ Pokédex: The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when CHARMANDER is enjoying itself. If the POKéMON becomes enraged, the flame burns fiercely. Game Freak. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (2003-03-17)
7. ^ Pokédex: Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail. Game Freak. Pokémon Red and Blue. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (1998-09-30)
8. ^ Pokédex: From the time it is born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame were to go out. Game Freak. Pokémon Fire Red. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (2004-09-09)
9. ^ "Charmander – The Stray Pokémon". Junki Takegami (writer). Pokémon. Various. September 22, 1998. No. 11, season Indigo League.
10. ^ "The March of the Exeggutor Squad". Hideki Sonoda (writer). Pokémon. Various. October 30, 1998. No. 43, season Indigo League.
11. ^ "Greenville Daily Reflector". Nl.newsbank.com. 1999-10-28. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GVRB&p_theme=gvrb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=108DD61A464E0A3B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
12. ^ "STLtoday - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 1999-04-06. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB05185AA665947&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
13. ^ Anthropology & mass communication ... - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=wr5EX7kuvY0C. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
14. ^ Dragonlore: From the Archives of the ... - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=Gkn0fkhiwS0C. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
15. ^ Generazione Pókemon: i bambini e l ... - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=MOQc163-XCcC. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
16. ^ Teenage hipster in the modern world ... - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=iwzTVUMl6i4C. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
17. ^ "The Top 7... gut-wrenching choices". GamesRadar. 2009-05-04. http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-top-7-gut-wrenching-choices/a-2009050410717660001/p-4. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
18. ^ Brett Elston. "The complete Pokemon RBY pokedex, part 1, Pokemon Diamond / Pearl DS Features". GamesRadar. p. 4. http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/the-complete-pokemon-rby-pokedex-part-1/a-200708209459101025/g-2006100415372930075/p-4. 
19. ^ "10 video game creatures that would make awesome pets". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/f/10-video-game-creatures-that-would-make-awesome-pets/a-2010020316435584055. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
20. ^ "Pokemon Crystal Version Pokemon of the Day: Charmander (#4) - IGN FAQs". Faqs.ign.com. http://faqs.ign.com/articles/380/380290p1.html. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
21. ^ John Funk (2010-09-04). "The Escapist : News : [Update] Your Pokemon Black & White Starters Could Evolve Like This". Escapistmagazine.com. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/103180-Update-Your-Pokemon-Black-White-Starters-Could-Evolve-Like-This. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
22. ^ "Pokemon Epidemic Reaches American Tv". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1999-06-05. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/42144137.html?dids=42144137:42144137&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+05%2C+1999&author=Darryl+E+Owens%2C+Knight&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=POKEMON+EPIDEMIC+REACHES+AMERICAN+TV&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
23. ^ November 20, 1999  S.A. Life Page 1E (487 Words) (1999-11-20). "San Antonio Archives, News, Articles, Stories | mySA.com". Nl.newsbank.com. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE8F10B22E691&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 
24. ^ http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/all/article/50342/Toy-Story/

External links

• Official Pokémon website
• Charmander on Bulbapedia
• Charmander at the Internet Movie Database