Totodile, Croconaw, and Feraligatr

Totodile, Croconaw, and Feraligatr
Series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Gold and Silver
Designed by	Ken Sugimori
Voiced by (English)	Kayzie Rogers (Ash's Totodile) Eric Stuart (Croconaw and Feraligatr)
Voiced by (Japanese)	Chinami Nishimura (Satoshi's Waninoko)

Totodile, Croconaw, and Feraligatr, known in Japan as Waninoko (ワニノコ^?), Arigeitsu (アリゲイツ^?), and Ōdairu (オーダイル^?), are three Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, they first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.

Concept and characteristics

Totodile resembles a small crocodile and has a short blue body with a yellow band on its chest. On its back and tail are four red spikes. Totodile has a big and prominent jaw, filled with many sharp teeth; it is strong enough to cut down a tree.^[1] It's very energetic, cheerful and rowdy, and occasionally can be seen running through swampy areas, coastal waters and rainforest waters, biting and chomping at everything that moves.^[2]

Croconaw is the evolution of Totodile. It opens its huge jaws wide when attacking. If it loses any fangs while biting, new ones will quickly grow back in its place so that it always has 48 fangs. The tips of these fangs are slanted backward. Once Croconaw has clamped its jaws on its foe, it will absolutely not let go. Because the tips of its fangs are forked back like barbed fishhooks, they become impossible to remove when they have sunk in. This means that the prey has no hope of escape. The pattern on Croconaw's belly vaguely resembles a jungle tunic or loincloth. Croconaw live in or around swamps, rainforests and oceans. When they evolve into Feraligatr, they move into an area where there is a waterfall.

Feraligatr is the final form of the Totodile evolutionary line. Feraligatrs are massive, crocodiles and alligators with long, blue bodies and four legs, although they can stand and even walk upright on land. Their appendages have sharp claws at the ends, and its jaw is lined with teeth. On its head, back, and tail there are red, jagged scales. As stated in the Pokédex in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, "Feraligatr intimidates its foes by opening its huge mouth. In battle, it will kick the ground hard with its thick and powerful hind legs to charge at the foe with incredible speed." Feraligatr is ferocious and have a tendency to lash out at those that come too close. They eat Magikarp and other fish-like Pokémon, as well as larger prey (such as Stantler and Tauros) when they come close enough to the water.

Appearances

In the video games

Totodile, Croconaw, and Feraligatr first appear in the Game Boy Color video games Pokémon Gold, Silver and its remakes Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver. It was one of the three starter Pokémon along with Cyndaquil and Chikorita. Totodile eventually evolves into Croconaw, which eventually evolves into Feraligatr. They have appeared in each subsequent main Pokémon title since, including Pokémon Emerald where it was given as a bonus for obtaining every Pokémon in the Hoenn Dex. Outside of the main series, they also appear in Pokémon Trozei!, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon titles, and the Pokémon Ranger titles. By itself, Chikorita appears in Pokémon Channel, and it and Feraligatr both appear in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Totodile appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a collectible trophy.

In other media

In the anime, Ash acquires a Totodile after a duel with Misty to determine its rightful owner. Ash's Totodile is rather carefree, fun loving, and loves to dance. Ash used Totodile in many battles throughout Johto, including the Johto League. A Totodile seen in the very first episode of the Johto series was very attached to Jessie's hair. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Silver stole a Totodile from Professor Elm. It refused to return when Gold attempted to bring it back to Prof. Elm. It soon evolved into a Croconaw after defeating a trap together with Gold's Cyndaquil in the Sprout Tower.

Reception

A special edition Game Boy Color was released featuring Totodile, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Pikachu, and Pichu, though the first three were removed in the United States release.^[3] IGN's Pokémon Chick found Totodile to be her least favourite of the starter Pokémon in Gold and Silver due to the abundance of superior Water type Pokémon though she found it to have "personality to spare".^[4] Official Nintendo Magazine's Tom East called Totodile a "star veteran" of the series.^[5] Authors Tracey West and Katherine Noll called it "happy and energetic" and that it has been "making us smile ever since Ash first caught it". They added that "Totodile is a reminder that not only big things come in small packages, but powerful ones, too!".^[6] An editor for GamesRadar called called it a "cute and cuddly critter".^[7] GamesRadar's Raymond Padilla called it "spunky".^[8] GameSpot's Frank Provo called Totodile a "wily alligator".^[9] After drawing a Croconaw for a group of fans in an effort to draw a minor Pokémon, Tsunekazu Ishihara found that almost no one knew what it was.^[10] IGN's Pokémon Chick called it a "decent Pokémon" though noted that it had "screwy stats".^[11] She also noted Feraligatr as one of the more inferior starter Pokémon.^[12] A GamesRadar editor called Feraligatr "monstrous".^[13] Authors of The official pokémon handbook praised it for its "great water attacks".^[14] IGN also ranked Feraligatr as the 26th best Pokémon commenting that it not only does it have "the best portmanteau name in all of Pokémon, but he's also freaking awesome for other reasons, not least of which that he'll kick your Pokémon's ass" and "the greatest crocodilian Pokémon around."^[15]

References

1. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Gold. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "Its well-developed jaws are powerful and capable of crushing anything. Even its trainer must be careful."
2. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Silver. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "It is small but rough and tough. It won't hesitate to take a bite out of anything that moves."
3. ^ http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/092/092129p1.html
4. ^ http://faqs.ign.com/articles/380/380804p1.html
5. ^ http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/4735/news/new-pokmon-mystery-dungeon-screens/
6. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=L9dz4A6HLmYC
7. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/the-complete-pokemon-gsc-pokedex-part-1/a-20070829121537713022/g-2006100415372930075/p-7
8. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox/f/pokemusings-week-20/a-200710251592215087/g-2006100415372930075/p-6
9. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/gbc/rpg/pokemongold/review.html
10. ^ http://wwww.1up.com/news/pokemon-head-heard-croconawz
11. ^ http://faqs.ign.com/articles/374/374280p1.html
12. ^ http://faqs.ign.com/articles/421/421923p1.html
13. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/the-complete-pokemon-gsc-pokedex-part-1/a-20070829121537713022/g-2006100415372930075/p-9
14. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=ltg7dwkXeR0C
15. ^ http://www.ign.com/top/pokemon/26