Ludicolo is a bipedal plantPokémon that appears to be a mixture of a pineapple and a duck. There is a green, sombrero-like growth on its head that is similar to a lily pad. Growing out of the top of its head is a short brown stem with a yellow spiky upper portion. Ludicolo has black eyes surrounded by a patch of green and an orange bill. Its body is covered with shaggy yellow fur and has several zigzagging brown stripes. The female has thinner stripes than the male. Ludicolo has large, green hands with two black lines on its palms, and thick green legs with a black circle on the underside of its feet.
Ludicolo becomes more powerful when it hears festive music and will appear near laughing children on hikes. The reason is due to structures in Ludicolo's body that can produce energy when hit by sound waves with a cheerful rhythm. As it becomes more energetic and active, it will break into a dance. This allows Ludicolo to face enemies without fear. Being the result of evolution via Evolution stone, Ludicolo is rarely found in the wild, though they can be found near the water's edge.
Ludicolo debuted in Gotta Dance!. It kept showing up out of nowhere whenever the Poké-Baton was activated.
Ludicolo made its main series debut in Go Go Ludicolo!, under the ownership of Poncho. It battled Ash twice, defeating his Corphish with its defensive skills, and was also the target of one of Team Rocket's schemes.
In Like It or Lup It!, a trio of wild Ludicolo became involved in one of Team Rocket's schemes.
In Up to Your Neck!, Ash and Goh requested a Ludicolo for its help in freeing a Marshtomp stuck in the ground. It used Rain Dance to soften the mud and helped pull it free.
Minor appearances
A Ludicolo appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
Ludicolo, the Carefree Pokémon. Ludicolo becomes extremely active whenever it hears a cheery rhythm. This can also lead it to exert extreme power in battle.
Ludicolo begins dancing as soon as it hears cheerful, festive music. This Pokémon is said to appear when it hears the singing of children on hiking outings.
Upon hearing an upbeat and cheerful rhythm, the cells in Ludicolo's body become very energetic and active. Even in battle, this Pokémon will exhibit an amazing amount of power.
When it hears festive music, all the cells in its body become stimulated, and it begins moving in rhythm. It does not quail even when it faces a tough opponent.
Ludicolo begins dancing as soon as it hears cheerful, festive music. This Pokémon is said to appear when it hears the singing of children on hiking outings.
Upon hearing an upbeat and cheerful rhythm, the cells in Ludicolo's body become very energetic and active. Even in battle, this Pokémon will exhibit an amazing amount of power.
They are the only Pokémon that can have the AbilityRain Dish without it being their Hidden Ability.
They are the only Water-type Pokémon in the Grass Egg Group.
Ludicolo's evolutionary family can be seen as a parallel to Shiftry's family. Both of them are part Grass-type, they first evolve at level 14, and a respective Evolution stone is used to reach the final stage. Both are version-exclusive Pokémon between Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and are based on Japanese legendary creatures or yokai: Ludicolo's family are based on the kappa and Shiftry's is based on the tengu.
Ludicolo is one of the few Pokémon whose official artwork depicts the female form.
Origin
Ludicolo seems to be based on a lily pad and the kappa, a Japanese yōkai that has a water-filled dish on its head and a turtle-like beak (although Ludicolo's beak is closer to that of a duck or platypus). The colors and shape of its body are similar to various fruits such as a gourd, pineapple, or papaya. It also resembles a stereotypical Mexican folk dancer or mariachi performer with its sombrero-shaped head, poncho-like body hair, and dancing movements.
Name origin
Ludicolo may be a combination of ludic (aimlessly playful), ludicrous, ridiculous (absurd or silly), paludicolous (inhabiting a marsh), and colocynth (a plant that bears a round, green fruit). It may also involve an anagram of loco (Spanish for crazy).
Runpappa may be a combination of ルンルン runrun (happy or bouncy) or rumba (a Cuban dance) and 河童 kappa or papaya (a green fruit native to Mexico).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.