Brad Van Darn
Brad Van Darn (Japanese: ブラッド・キタオ Brad Kitao) is the character of the day in The Screen Actor's Guilt. His English voice actor is Marc Thompson and his Japanese voice actor is 神奈延年 Nobutoshi Canna.
Brad is an action movie star with many adoring female fans. Ash and his friends first meet the star when he approaches them in disguise and hands them a bundled up blanket. He asks them to watch it for him and then he leaves. Inside the blanket was a Smoochum. Later on he goes to get his Smoochum back, but can't find them anywhere due to an interference with Team Rocket. His manager, Vidso, soon finds him and orders him to go back to the set with him.
After dealing with Team Rocket, Ash and the gang learn where Brad was and go there to give Smoochum back to him. But they are confronted by his manager and he tells them that Brad doesn't want Smoochum anymore. When they were about to leave Brad heard Smoochum's voice and came running. He was overjoyed to have her back. Vidso suggested to him that he get rid of Smoochum because he feared that his reputation would be ruined. He wanted him to have a tough Pokémon such as Charizard or Houndoom. But Brad explained that he could never abandon Smoochum because it was because of her that he was able to get as far as he did in being a celebrity.
Completely unfazed by Brad's story, Vidso was still intent on getting rid of Smoochum. So he orders two security guards, which happen to be Team Rocket in disguise, to get rid of the kids and Smoochum. Team Rocket decided to put their own plans into play and attempted to steal Smoochum.
Seeing that Smoochum was in danger, Brad jumps into action and fights Team Rocket himself without the aid of any Pokémon to save her. Thinking that it was a show, Brad's fans cheered him on. Afterwards, Brad tells his fans that Smoochum is his real life Pokémon. Vidso believed that his career was over now. However, Brad's fans also loved Smoochum and she is now a star in his movies as well.
Pokémon
| Debut | The Screen Actor's Guilt |
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Smoochum is Brad Van Darn's only known Pokémon. He calls her pet names such as "Smoochy," "Smoochy-oochy," and "Smoochy-kins". She first appeared when Brad was crowded by a bunch of girls, Ash and his friends went to see what was up and Brad handed them Smoochum in a yellow towel. Suddenly, the group of girls reappears and Smoochum runs off with Togepi along with Pikachu. Then, Team Rocket captures Smoochum and Togepi but Ash and his friends arrive and send Team Rocket blasting off.
They try and find Brad and follow his limo to an arena and try to find a way in. Inside Brad is worried about where his Smoochum is. Finally, they give Smoochum back to Brad, Team Rocket are disguised as bodyguards and escort Ash and his friends including Smoochum out of the building and Team Rocket capture Smoochum. Team Rocket are backstage and suddenly the curtains open to reveal the trio trying to capture Smoochum. Brad sees Smoochum and tries to retrieve her when Team Rocket send out their Pokémon.
Ash and his friends arrive and send Team Rocket blasting off. In the end Brad stars in a film with his Smoochum.
Smoochum's only known move is Sweet Kiss.
Trivia
- Brad's name is a pun on real-life actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. "Darn" could have been chosen for his last name because "darn" often replaces "damn" when shows or movies are edited. Meanwhile, his Japanese name Brad Kitao is a reference to Brad Pitt.
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This article is part of Project COD, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each one-time character of the Pokémon animated series. |
