Snorlax

Snorlax
Pokémon series character

First game Pokémon Red and Blue
Designed by Ken Sugimori
Voiced by (English) Michael Haigney
Eric Stuart
Billy Beach
Voiced by (Japanese) Katsuyuki Konishi (Pokémon anime, Super Smash Bros. series)
Hitoshi Takagi (Pikachu's Rescue Adventure)
Mitsuru Ogata (Pikachu & Pichu)

Snorlax, known in Japan as Kabigon (カビゴン), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Snorlax 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. It is voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi in the Japanese versions of the Pokémon anime and the Super Smash Bros. series of video games, while the character was voiced by Hitoshi Takagi and Mitsuru Ogata in the animated shorts Pikachu's Rescue Adventure and Pikachu & Pichu respectively. In its English-language appearances, it was originally voiced by Michael Haigney, and later Eric Stuart.

Known as the Sleeping Pokémon, Snorlax has been said to weigh over 1,000 pounds and for a time was considered the heaviest known Pokémon.[1] Snorlax has been utilized by the anime series main character Ash Ketchum, and Pokémon Adventures main character Red. Snorlax has received mixed reception, GameSpy calling it "downright silly", while IGN says it is "by far the most powerful Pokémon of all".

Conception and characteristics

Snorlax 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 Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.[2][3] Called "Kabigon" 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.[4] Basing the name off its constant sleeping spells,[5] the species was renamed Snorlax, a combination of the words "snore" and "relax".[6]

Snorlax has a cream colored face, hands and feet, while the rest of its body is Teal in color. Its head is also large, and it has two small pointed teeth sticking out from its lower jaw. Its feet are extremely large compared to most Pokémon, assisting its balance when it chooses to stand. Its arms are short, but are long enough for Snorlax to grab its food and eat it. Snorlax has been said to weigh over 1,000 pounds and for a time was considered the heaviest known Pokémon.[7] Having an enormous appetite, it will devour almost anything, even moldy and rotten food.[8] The digestive juices in Snorlax's stomach can dissolve any kind of poison.[9] It is such a docile Pokémon that children use its large, expansive belly as a place to play.[10] Snorlax has a pre-evolution, Munchlax, which is obtained when breeding a Snorlax that is holding a certain item.

Appearances

In video games

Snorlax's main role in the games has been as a roadblock in the Kanto region. In Pokémon Red and Blue, and their remakes, the player must obtain the Poké-Flute to wake up Snorlax. In Pokémon Gold and Silver, and their remakes, the player must bring back the power to the radio tower, and then play the radio in front of Snorlax. In these games, Snorlax is used by Red, who acts as the games' final boss.[11] In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl a pre-evolution of Snorlax named Munchlax was introduced. In Pokémon X and Y, it is once again a roadblock, this time wandering to a bridge near Camphrier Town and sleeping there. One of Camphrier Town's locals mentions that it does this at least once a year. The Poké Flute must once again be obtained, but this time the player must give it to the owner of Shabboneau Castle so he can wake it up. In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Snorlax has a unique Z-Move called "Pulverizing Pancake."

In Pokémon Snap, when using the Pokéflute, Snorlax stands up and dances to the music, which is a very high scoring picture. In Pokémon Ranger, Snorlax is seen sleeping throughout the game, effectively cutting off certain areas until later on. It eventually remains in a cave until the player completes the Ranger Browser. Snorlax is an NPC in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure and its sequel, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond. Snorlax appears from a Poké Ball in the Super Smash Bros. series. Using Body Slam, it jumps up when it appears and slams whomever it hits. In Melee, Snorlax is seen as a Poké Float. It is lying down asleep and so fighting occurs on its head and belly.

In other media

In the Pokémon anime, they play various supporting roles in certain episodes. The first appearance of a Snorlax was in episode 41 - Wake Up Snorlax! where Snorlax becomes a roadblock to the next town Ash is traveling to.[12] Ash Ketchum also captures one in Snack Attack! that was eating the grapefruits of the Grapefruit Islands.[13] He uses it sporadically, mostly opting to use other Pokémon due to it constantly sleeping. Ash called upon it for the Sumo Conference in Ring Masters,[14] and later used it to defeat Clair's Kingdra in their rematch.[15] He also used Snorlax during the Johto League competition, first against Gary Oak where it quickly defeated Gary's Nidoqueen and Arcanine, but lost to Scizor.[16] Snorlax then fought during Ash's following match against Harrison, defeating his Steelix and Hypno, though in the end it fell to his Houndoom.[17] Snorlax later meets and gets to be friends with May's younger Munchlax.[18] Most recently, Snorlax helped Ash earn the Guts Symbol from Greta in Wheel of Frontier by defeating her Hariyama with an Ice Punch and flattening her Medicham with Body Slam.[19]

Snorlax is featured on a few of ANA Pokémon Jet

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red catches a Snorlax which he nicknames "Lax". Red caught Lax because he was blocking the road during a bicycle race. He is very gluttonous and is driven into a frenzy by the smell of honey. Later, after extensive training, Lax becomes one of the most physically powerful members of Red's team.

Promotion and reception

Despite being called "a cat with a glandular disorder" by USA Today and "downright silly" by GameSpy, Snorlax has been well received by the media.[20][21] IGN described Snorlax as "one of the most powerful Pokémon of all" in its own "peculiar way", noting its high strength and immobility when it decides to sleep.[22] IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" called Snorlax the "single most popular non-evolver that isn't also a legendary out there".[23] IGN also praised Snorlax as one of the best Normal types, alongside Tauros, calling it a "tank" and an effective Pokémon.[24] GamesRadar called the character a fan favorite, further describing it as "perhaps the most American of Pokemon [sic]".[25] Another editor called it "the greatest Pokemon of all time", and one of the most original cat Pokémon designs.[26] Media and the Make-believe Worlds of Children found that children could relate to the character and interpret aspects of themselves in a positive light, and described it as an icon for a state of regression, but also symbolizing powerful characteristics for children.[27] Author Loredana Lipperini called Snorlax the "laziest Pokémon known".[28] Author Maria S. Barbo compared Snorlax to the character Sleepy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. IGN ranked Snorlax as the 28th best Pokémon, with editor Lucas calling him "one of the most recognizable pokémon".[29] Snorlax was placed at eight in Complex's "The 50 Best Pokemon Up to Pokemon Crystal", with Elijah Watson saying Snorlax is "lazy as hell but surprisingly awesome".[30]

References

  1. ↑ Trophy: Snorlax love to sleep and love to eat: these portly Pokémon get grumpy if they don't get 888 pounds of food per day. After snacking out, they always nap. They have cast-iron stomachs and can eat moldy and even rotten food with no digestion problems. They are the heaviest Pokémon on record, weighing in at over 1,000 pounds. HAL Laboratory (December 2, 2001). Super Smash Bros. Melee. Gamecube. Nintendo.
  2. ↑ Staff. "2. 一新されたポケモンの世界". Nintendo.com (in Japanese). Nintendo. p. 2. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  3. ↑ Stuart Bishop (May 30, 2003). "Game Freak on Pokémon!". CVG. Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  4. ↑ Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". TIME. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  5. ↑ Staff (November 1999). "What's the Deal with Pokémon?". Electronic Gaming Monthly (124): 172.
  6. ↑ Staff. "#143 Snorlax". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  7. ↑ Trophy: Snorlax love to sleep and love to eat: these portly Pokémon get grumpy if they don't get 888 pounds of food per day. After snacking out, they always nap. They have cast-iron stomachs and can eat moldy and even rotten food with no digestion problems. They are the heaviest Pokémon on record, weighing in at over 1,000 pounds. HAL Laboratory (December 2, 2001). Super Smash Bros. Melee. Gamecube. Nintendo.
  8. ↑ Pokédex: Its stomach can digest any kind of food, even if it happens to be moldy or rotten. Game Freak (April 22, 2007). Pokémon Diamond. Nintendo DS. Nintendo.
  9. ↑ Pokédex: Its stomach's digestive juices can dissolve any kind of poison. It can even eat things off the ground. Game Freak (October 15, 2000). Pokémon Silver. Game Boy. Nintendo.
  10. ↑ Pokédex: Snorlax's typical day consists of nothing more than eating and sleeping. It is such a docile Pokémon that there are children who use its big belly as a place to play. Game Freak (May 1, 2005). Pokémon Emerald. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo.
  11. ↑ Game Freak (March 14, 2010). Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Nintendo DS. Nintendo.
  12. ↑ Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (writer) (October 28, 1998). "Wake Up Snorlax!". Pokémon. Season Indigo League. Episode 41. Various.
  13. ↑ Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (writer) (March 25, 2000). "Snack Attack". Pokémon. Season Adventures on the Orange Islands. Episode 94. Various.
  14. ↑ Atsuhiro Tomioka (writer) (March 16, 2002). "Ring Masters". Pokémon. Season Johto League Champions. Episode 194. Various.
  15. ↑ Shōji Yonemura (writer) (June 21, 2003). "Better Eight Than Never". Pokémon. Season Master Quest. Episode 254. Various.
  16. ↑ Atsuhiro Tomioka (writer) (September 27, 2003). "Can't Beat the Heat!". Pokémon. Season Master Quest. Episode 270. Various.
  17. ↑ Atsuhiro Tomioka (writer) (October 4, 2003). "Playing with Fire!". Pokémon. Season Master Quest. Episode 271. Various.
  18. ↑ Aya Matsui (writer) (April 15, 2006). "The Right Place and the Right Mime". Pokémon. Season Advanced Battle. Episode AG133. Various.
  19. ↑ Masashi Sogo (writer) (September 16, 2006). "Wheel of Frontier". Pokémon. Season Battle Frontier. Episode AG149. Various.
  20. ↑ Zoroya, Gregg (November 15, 1999). "Me, my kids & 'Pokmon' Father/reporter is a stranger in the film's strange land". USA Today. p. 1.D.
  21. ↑ Leeper, Justin (April 24, 2004). "Hall of Fame: Pokémon". GameSpy. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Snorlax Biography". IGN. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Pokemon Crystal Version Pokemon of the Day: Snorlax (#143) - IGN FAQs". Faqs.ign.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Video Games, Wikis, Cheats, Walkthroughs, Reviews, News & Videos - IGN". IGN. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  25. ↑ Vassar, Darryl. "PokemonRadar, Week 22". GamesRadar. Future Publishing. p. 4. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
  26. ↑ Carolyn Gudmundson (July 23, 2010). "The most overused Pokemon designs, Pokemon HeartGold / SoulSilver DS Features". GamesRadar. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  27. ↑ Götz, Maya; Lemish, Dafna; International Communication Association Conference; Aidman, Amy; Moon, Hyesung (2005). Media and the Make-believe Worlds of Children: When Harry Potter Meets Pokémon in Disneyland. Routledge. pp. 101–105, 108. ISBN 0-8058-5191-7.
  28. ↑ Lipperini, Loredana (2000). Generazione Pokémon: i bambini e l'invasione planetaria dei nuovi "giocattoli di ruolo". Castelvecchi. ISBN 9788882102494. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Snorlax". IGN. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  30. ↑ Watson, Elijah. "8. Snorlax — The 50 Best Pokemon Up to "Pokemon Crystal"". Complex. Retrieved March 11, 2014.

External links

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