Pokémon (species)

[[File:PSMD poster.png|thumb|250px|Several different species of Pokémon]] '''Pokémon''' (Japanese: '''ポケットモンスター''' ''Pocket Monsters''; '''ポケモン''' ''Pokémon'' for short) are fictional creatures that are central to the [[Pokémon]] franchise. ==Overview== There are currently [[List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number|{{numpkmn}} known species]] that inhabit the [[Pokémon world]]; however, it is implied that there are more waiting to be discovered. Inherent to them are several fantastic powers not demonstrated by most real animals, such as the manipulation of elements/aspects of life, such as {{t|electric}}ity or {{t|fire}}. While most Pokémon resemble animals and may behave like them, there are many that do not resemble animals at all, taking on other forms such as plants, inanimate objects, machines, human-like forms, or other more enigmatic and exotic appearances. Pokémon inhabit an extremely diverse range of habitats, ranging from the driest [[desert]]s to the lushest jungles, the deepest oceans to the highest {{cat|mountains}} and everything else in between, even [[Extraterrestrial Pokémon|outer space]] and other [[dimensions]]. Pokémon take up various ways of living in those places. However, all can be befriended and made into potential allies and share the ability to shrink down small enough to fit into a [[Poké Ball]]. Many Pokémon are able to [[evolution|evolve]] from or into other Pokémon, a process that typically makes them larger and stronger, and more closely resembles growth and development or metamorphosis rather than {{wp|evolution|evolution in the real world}}. Pokémon typically know several [[move|techniques]] that they can use in {{pkmn|battle}} or elsewhere, either to defend themselves or their Trainer, or to perform a task. In the anime, most Pokémon are known only to say their name. In the games, each Pokémon has a [[cry|distinct voice associated with each species]]. ==In the core series== [[File:Gen VII Pseudo Legendary Artwork.png|thumb|left|250px|Several [[pseudo-legendary Pokémon]] that are part of an evolutionary chain]] Pokémon have been, from the very beginning, spoken of as friends and partners to the [[human]]s of the [[Pokémon world]], helping them with various tasks from constructing buildings to exploration. Many people in the Pokémon world take Pokémon with them on a {{pkmn|journey}} to gather [[Badge]]s and compete in the various [[Pokémon League]]s as {{pkmn|Trainer}}s, using them in battles against Pokémon both owned by other Trainers and found in the {{pkmn2|wild}}. In the [[Alola]] [[region]], Pokémon and Trainers instead take on trials in the [[island challenge]] on their journey. In addition, there are many different {{cat|Pokémon competitions|tournaments}} in which Trainers can compete together with their Pokémon, such as [[Pokémon Contest]]s and the [[Pokéathlon]]. Across the nine [[generation]]s of {{pkmn|games}}, Pokémon are typically found in one of five manners: encountering them in [[tall grass]], finding them in [[cave]]s or {{cat|ruins}}, going [[fishing]] for them, {{m|surf}}ing on water, or [[In-game trade|trading]] with an [[Non-player character|NPC]]. These are often joined by several more ways in which to encounter Pokémon, such as {{m|headbutt}}ing trees, obtaining and hatching {{pkmn|Egg}}s, or using the [[Poké Radar]]. ===Construction=== In the games, Pokémon are no more than fragments of data, identifying certain characteristics inherent to them. As the games have progressed, more data is added to each Pokémon, typically to reference new features introduced in games of the new generation. The methodology for construction of Pokémon data changes across generations. For the different constructions, see the data structure explanations for [[Generation]]s {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation I|I}}, {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation II|II}}, {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation III|III}}, {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation IV|IV}}, {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation V|V}}, {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation VI|VI}}, {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation VII|VII}}, and {{OBP|Pokémon data structure|Generation VIII|VIII}}. ==In the spin-off games== ===Play It! series=== In [[Pokémon Play It!]] and [[Pokémon Play It! Version 2]], it is possible to play the {{pkmn|Trading Card Game}} rather than train Pokémon. However, at some point {{OBP|Julie|Play It!}} sees a {{p|Beedrill}} flying off-camera and its [[cry]] is heard, which is an indication that actual Pokémon exist in this universe.<ref>From the lesson "What's a Pokémon?", found in both [[Pokémon Play It!]] and [[Pokémon Play It! Version 2]].</ref> ==In the anime== In the {{pkmn|anime}}, Pokémon are shown to be creatures with distinctively more anthropomorphic qualities than real-world animals, with several even {{pkmn2|talking|able to speak}}. Some Pokémon have the ability to speak the dubbing language instead of their own names, such as {{MTR}} of {{TRT}}. They also seem to be able to mostly understand [[human]] language, while most humans cannot understand Pokémon speech, although there are a few who claim they can. Most species speak only one word: their own name, e.g. {{p|Pikachu}} saying "Pika! Pikachu!" and so forth, though some Pokémon only grunt or roar, such as {{p|Charizard}}. The anime takes a clear stance of right and wrong on the use of Pokémon: Trainers such as {{Ash}} are shown to treat their Pokémon with respect, as partners and friends, while evil organizations like [[Team Rocket]] are shown to use Pokémon as mere tools, keeping them in cages, making them fight to exhaustion—a stark contrast to Ash and [[Ash's Pikachu|his Pikachu]], who he treats as his best friend and keeps {{pkmn2|walking|on his shoulder}}, rather than in a [[Poké Ball]], because of its own preference. ===History=== The anime has given a more in-depth history of human interaction with Pokémon than is given by the games: In [[The Birth of Mewtwo]] radio drama, it is implied that Pokémon came into the world after the human species did. [[Poké Ball]]s have not existed forever, and are in reality an apparently recent development, with one owned by a young [[Sam|Professor Oak]] being shown to be vastly different than ones used in modern times. Prior to the invention and mass-production of Poké Balls, people tended to use hollowed-out [[Apricorn]]s, native to the [[Johto]] region, to catch Pokémon, while even further back, Pokémon were not known as "Pokémon" at all, but as "magical creatures" (Japanese: 魔獣 ''majuu''). In these times, many Pokémon were apparently feared because of their powers, sometimes so great that the most powerful of these monsters [[Myths and legends involving Legendary and Mythical Pokémon|passed into legend]] and were often seen as {{wp|deity|deities}} in their own right. Interestingly, Ash and his friends, through their interaction with history in ''[[M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]'', seemingly invented the term "Pokémon" to refer to these creatures. This, however, creates a {{wp|bootstrap paradox}}, as their knowledge and use of the word comes only from its wide use in their future time. What may remain true is that the term came into practice elsewhere on its own. The guidebook ''[[Pocket Monsters: The Animation]]'' gave a bit more detail on the Pokémon. Specifically, they were rumored to have been created by God on {{wp|Book of Genesis|the seventh day of creation}} as "doodles", and since they were created on holiday, they were commanded to neither rule over nor be ruled by humanity. It also inferred that they had some relation to merpeople and dragon myths, and that their species was discovered by a French nobleman named Count Tajirin (a subtle reference to franchise creator [[Satoshi Tajiri]]) during the 18th century. ==References== <references/> ==See also== * [[Human]] * [[Animals in the Pokémon world]] {{Pokémon individuality}}<br> {{Project Pokédex notice}} [[Category:Pokémon|*]] [[de:Pokémon (Spezies)]] [[es:Pokémon#¿Qué son los Pokémon?]] [[fr:Pokémon (créature)]] [[it:Pokémon (specie)]] [[ja:ポケットモンスター#生物としてのポケットモンスター]] [[zh:宝可梦（生物）]]