Snorlax

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snorlax
Pokémon character
Snorlax artwork by Ken Sugimori
First gamePokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Based onKōji Nishino[1]
Designed byKen Sugimori[2]
Voiced byMichael Haigney
Katsuyuki Konishi
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeNormal

Snorlax (/ˈsnɔːrlæks/), known in Japan as Kabigon (カビゴン), is a Pokémon species, a type of Pocket Monster, in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Snorlax first appeared in the Game Boy video game Pokémon Red and Blue, and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spin-off titles, and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Snorlax is a large, blueish creature, notable for constantly sleeping.

Snorlax is voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi in the Japanese versions of the Pokémon anime and the Super Smash Bros. series of video games, and 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, Ted Lewis and currently James Carter Cathcart. Snorlax has received a mostly positive response since its debut. It is the main mascot of the mobile game Pokémon Sleep.

Conception and characteristics[edit]

Snorlax is a fictional species of Pokémon created for the Pokémon franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the series began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy.[3] In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train creatures called Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution.[4]

"Kabiin," a Pokémon planned for Pokémon Red and Blue. It bears various naming and visual similarities to Snorlax, most notably in their resemblance to Nishino.

Designed by Ken Sugimori for the first generation of Pokémon games, the species was inspired in behavior and appearance by veteran Pokémon game designer Kōji Nishino.[2] Nishino was exceptionally pleased by it,[1] and an in interview with Famitsu stated Snorlax "is like my son!"[5] According to Game Freak co-founder Junichi Masuda, Nishino had a habit of eating heavily then going to sleep. This behavior earned Nishino the nickname "Kirby" by Game Freak's staff as a nod to the Nintendo character, which in turn served as the basis for the Pokémon's Japanese name, "Kabigon".[6] An earlier design, nicknamed "Kabiin," highly resembles Snorlax and Nishino, and is thus believed to be a beta version of Snorlax.[7] When translating the Pokémon games for western audiences, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.[8] Basing the name off of the esquilax, a fictional rabbit creature from the Simpsons episode "Lisa's Wedding", localizer Bill Giese renamed the species Snorlax, a portmanteau of the words "snore" and "lax". Localizer Sara Bush on the other hand remembered the naming process differently, suggesting it was a combination of "lackadaisical" and "snore".[9]

Snorlax is a highly sleepy Pokémon, known for constantly sleeping.[10] Thanks to its extremely strong digestive juices, Snorlax's stomach can dissolve any kind of poison. As a result, it can eat tainted food without worry.[11] Despite its size, Snorlax is such a docile Pokémon that children use its large belly as a place to play.[12] Snorlax evolves from the Pokémon Munchlax, which is obtainable via breeding a Snorlax that is holding Full Incense. Munchlax also sports a voracious appetite, and evolves into a Snorlax when it has a sufficiently high level of friendship with its Trainer.[11] Pokémon Sword and Shield introduced Snorlax's Gigantamax form. When Gigantamaxed, Snorlax grows significantly larger and changes appearance, with various trees and plants appearing on its belly, having grown from seeds that fell from the plants it had eaten.[13] Snorlax was voiced by Michael Haigney[14] in English and by Katsuyuki Konishi[15] in Japanese.

Appearances[edit]

In video games[edit]

Snorlax's most notable role in the Pokémon games has been that of an inadvertent roadblock. In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, and their remakes, the player must obtain the Poké Flute in order to wake up two Snorlax that block various routes in-game.[16] Snorlax reprises this role in Pokémon Gold, Silver, their "upper version" and remakes. In these games, the player must play the radio's Poké Flute channel in front of Snorlax in order to awaken it.[17] Although there is only one Snorlax available to catch,[17] another is used by Red, the protagonist of Red and Blue who acts as these games' final boss.[18] In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a pre-evolution of Snorlax named Munchlax was introduced; however, Munchlax remained unobtainable until the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.[19] In Pokémon Sun, Moon and their "upper versions", Snorlax is among the handful of Pokemon to possess a unique Z-Move. In Snorlax's case, it can use Pulverizing Pancake as long as it is holding Snorlium Z and knows Giga Impact.[10] In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Snorlax gained a "Gigantamax form," which could be used in battle.[13]

Snorlax appears in several spin-offs, such as PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure,[20] Pokémon Go,[21] Pokémon UNITE[22] and New Pokémon Snap.[23] In Pokémon Sleep, the player helps Snorlax by feeding it berries and meals throughout the day, and helping it fall asleep, boosting their "drowsy power" in the process.[24] Snorlax also appears in the Super Smash Bros. series.[25]

In other media[edit]

A notable Snorlax appears in the Pokémon anime, where series protagonist Ash Ketchum captures one.[26] He uses it sporadically, due to its constant sleeping and eating habits,[27][28] but it is a particularly strong battler, netting several major wins for Ash throughout the series.[28][29] In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red catches a Snorlax, which he nicknames "Snor". Red caught Snor because he was blocking the road during a bicycle race. Snorlax has since played a major role in his team.[30] A Snorlax also appeared in the film Pokémon Detective Pikachu, sleeping on a road in Ryme City.[31]

Promotion and reception[edit]

A variety of merchandise depicting Snorlax has been produced such as cushions,[32] beds,[33] bean bag chairs,[34] toys,[35] and lounge chairs.[36] In 2002, a contest was held to design a card for the Pokemon Trading Card Game, with Snorlax as the focus. Twenty entries were selected and posted to the Wizards of the Coast website, where the winner could be decided. Submitter Craig Turvey ended up winning the competition.[37] In 2023, "Project Snorlax" was announced, which promoted Snorlax in a variety of ways throughout the year.[38] These included animated shorts, music videos,[39] manga series,[40] and special artwork for the Pokémon.[41] A road in Las Vegas was named after Snorlax.[42] Following earthquakes, Niantic boosted the spawn rates of Snorlax in affected prefectures in order to boost tourism in the area.[43]

Snorlax has received generally positive reception from the media, and has been cited as one of the franchise' most recognizable characters.[44][45] Nadine Manske of Dot eSports attributed their appeal to being "so relatable. Who doesn’t want to just eat and sleep all day?" She further described it as having a "classic, simple design that makes it a lovable, staple Pokémon in every generation since the beginning."[46] Ryan Woodrow for Sports Illustrated stated that one would be hard pressed to find anyone that hated Snorlax, also calling it a simple design but yet "such a lovable cuddly teddy bear that everyone who lays eyes on it falls in love with it."[47] IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" called Snorlax the "single most popular non-evolver that isn't also a legendary out there".[48] Elijah Watson of Complex stated that while Snorlax was extremely lazy, they were also extremely powerful, despite their slow speed. He further added "We should all strive to be Snorlax: lazy as hell but surprisingly awesome."[49] A video released for Project Snorlax, depicting Cubone and Snorlax- two normally solitary Pokémon- bonding received positive reviews from critics, with many highlighting it as heartwarming.[50][51]

Media and the Make-believe Worlds of Children found that children could relate to Snorlax and interpret aspects of themselves in a positive light, describing it as an icon for a state of regression, but also symbolizing powerful characteristics for children.[52] Scientific papers have also been published analyzing Snorlax, both in regards to their eating habits and to calculate the strength of their "Body Slam" attack.[53][54]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Interview Mr. Nishino About...POCKET MONSTERS?!". Game Freak (in Japanese). 1997. Archived from the original on October 3, 1999. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "ピカチュウは大福？ 初めて明かされる誕生秘話". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
  5. ^ Creatures, Inc. (April 1996). Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia. Famitsu. p. 143. ISBN 4893664948.
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  7. ^ Valente, Adriano (October 11, 2020). "Pokémon: 10 Beta Pokémon Designs That Turned Into Something Else". TheGamer. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". Time. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  9. ^ Dockery, Daniel (October 4, 2022). Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All. Running Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0762479504.
  10. ^ a b Frank, Allegra (September 1, 2016). "It took 20 years, but Snorlax is finally taking a stand in Pokémon Sun and Moon". Polygon. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Snorlax's exclusive Z-Move: Pulverizing Pancake! - Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon". Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  12. ^ Game Freak (May 1, 2005). Pokémon Emerald (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo. 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.
  13. ^ a b "Get yourself a Gigantamax Snorlax in December". Polygon. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Michael Haigney on Twitter
  15. ^ www.crunchyroll.com https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2023/12/29/snorlax-and-cubone-become-friends-in-official-pokemon-digest-video. Retrieved May 21, 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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  19. ^ Mullen, Hayley (March 23, 2020). "How To Evolve Munchlax (& 9 Other Facts About The Pokémon)". TheGamer. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Sahdev, Ishaan (November 14, 2010). "PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure Playtest: A Virtual Playground". Siliconera. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Dwyer, Theo (June 10, 2021). "Snorlax Raid Guide For Pokémon GO Players: June 2021". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  22. ^ "Pokemon Unite Shows Off Charizard and Snorlax's Movesets". GAMING. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  23. ^ "10 Funniest Tweets About New Pokémon Snap". ScreenRant. June 10, 2021. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
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  26. ^ Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (writer) (March 25, 2000). "Snack Attack". Pokémon. Season Adventures on the Orange Islands. Episode 94. Various.
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  28. ^ a b Edmundson, Carlyle (March 11, 2023). "Ash's 12 Strongest Pokémon (Other Than Pikachu)". ScreenRant. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  29. ^ Tahir, Saad (February 1, 2023). "Ash Ketchum's 20 Strongest Pokemon, Ranked". Game Rant. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  30. ^ Kurten, Guillermo (December 21, 2023). "Red's Best Pokémon From The Pokémon Adventures Manga". CBR. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  31. ^ "Every live-action Pokémon in Detective Pikachu". Polygon. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  32. ^ Frank, Allegra (February 26, 2016). "Pokémon fans can get cuddly with gigantic Snorlax cushion". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  33. ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (October 24, 2014). "Your Pokémon dreams of sleeping on a Snorlax can be real". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  34. ^ Frank, Allegra (July 28, 2016). "Pokémon fans can finally sit on Snorlax's face this winter". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  35. ^ "Toy Fair 2020: New Pokemon Toys Let You Interact With Eevee And Snorlax". Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
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  38. ^ Life, Nintendo (March 20, 2023). "Snorlax Is The Next Pokémon To Get Its Own Official Website". Nintendo Life. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  39. ^ Stenbuck, Kite (February 16, 2024). "New Pokemon Music Video Features Ai Fairouz Snorlax Song". Siliconera. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  40. ^ Cimaglio, Zachary (January 21, 2024). "Pokémon's Snorlax's Dream Gourmet Manga Is Being Serialized Online for Free". CBR. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  41. ^ Liu, Stephanie (January 23, 2024). "New Project Snorlax Illustrations Focus on Its Threatening Side". Siliconera. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  42. ^ "Pokémon-inspired Las Vegas street names feature Jigglypuff Place, Snorlax Lane". Eurogamer.net. May 23, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  43. ^ "Pokemon GO、熊本地震の被災地で「カビゴン」出現率アップ". ITmedia NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved April 4, 2024.
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  46. ^ Manske, Nadine (June 16, 2022). "The best Normal-type Pokémon, ranked". Dot eSports. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  47. ^ Woodrow, Ryan (May 6, 2023). "The 10 best Normal Pokemon of all time". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  48. ^ "Pokemon of the Day: Snorlax (#143)". IGN. February 10, 2003. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  49. ^ Watson, Elijah. "8. Snorlax — The 50 Best Pokemon Up to "Pokemon Crystal"". Complex. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  50. ^ Cimaglio, Zachary (December 30, 2023). "Newly-Released Snorlax Pokémon Series "Too Adorable" for the Internet". CBR. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  51. ^ Haze, Roxxy (January 5, 2024). "Why Pokemon Fans Are Loving This Unlikely Friendship". Game Rant. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  52. ^ 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.
  53. ^ Tennant, Frances (2016). "Snorlax: The Unhealthiest Pokémon?". Journal of Interdisciplinary Science Topics. 5: 54. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  54. ^ Yeomans, K.; Jupp, M.; Cobley, D.; Fenlon-Smith, D. (2016). "P4_4 Snorlax used Body Slam". Physics Special Topics. 15 (1). Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.

External links[edit]

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