Jirachi has such short legs becuase it spends most of its time floating and rarely walks.
Physiology
Jirachi is a small, white humanoid Pokémon. Jirachi has short, stubby legs like Cleffa and arms that makes Jirachi look like it's wearing a long-sleeved shirt. There is a curved line on Jirachi's stomach which, in the anime, conceals a third eye. Jirachi has two yellow streamers on its back. Jirachi appears to be wearing a yellow headdress that resembles a star. Three of the points have a teal-colored tag on them. Jirachi has smooth skin that apparently has the hardness of steel.
Jirachi spends most of its time asleep and is only awake for seven days once every 1,000 years when a voice of purity sings to it. During this time, Jirachi has the power to grant wishes. It has a child-like personality.
Jirachi's only anime appearance was in Jirachi: Wish Maker. Jirachi will only awaken during the week of the thousand-year comet and if there is a partner that can be its friend. Max filled that role in the movie. However, The Great Butler wanted to use Jirachi's powers to awaken Groudon. It is interesting to note that Jirachi appears to be a masculine Pokémon referred to as "he" in the English dub. It is referred as "she" in the Brazilian Portuguese dub. Jirachi is also in the opening sequence of The Rise of Darkrai.
In the manga
The seven days Jirachi was awake coincided with the seven days of the opening ceremonies for the Battle Frontier. At the request of Professor Oak, Emerald tried to capture Jirachi while he was there. However, Guille Hideout managed to capture Jirachi first. Jirachi is supposed to be captured to revive the five petrified Pokédex Holders.
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: While in the Ruins, one of the slot machine prizes is the chance to capture Jirachi. Jirachi will move around and must be hit three times in 30 seconds for the capture to be successful. There is only one chance per game.
Jirachi appears as a rare Poké Ball Pokémon in its first appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series. The chance of it appearing is 1 in 493. Like the other "secret" Pokémon, it drops rare items instead of just flying away. In Jirachi's case, the items are stickers.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
A legend states that Jirachi will make true any wish that is written on the notes attached to head when it awakens. If this Pokémon senses danger, it will fight without awakening.
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Jirachi shares similarities with the Beanstar from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, they both can only be awoken when sung to with a voice of purity, and both grant wishes.
In the anime, it is one of the few Pokémon who can talk.
Jirachi and Manaphy have never been given an in-game location. As well, they were both stars in a Pokémon movie where they bonded with Max and May, respectively.
Jirachi's Generation III sprites show its true eye opened. However, in its Diamond and Pearl sprites, its true eye is closed.
Jirachi grants wishes during the seven days it is awake, this is similar to how once seven Dragon Balls are collected, you can make a wish in the anime Dragonball Z.
Origin
Jirachi's design and ability of granting wishes probably refer to the habit of "wishing upon a star", so that the wish will come true. Considering its humanoid appearance and ability to grant wishes, it is also possible that it was inspired by Arabic myths about genies, or djinn. In some myths, imprisoned genies would grant wishes to the person who released them. The tags of paper on its head are a reference toward Tanabata.
Name origin
Jirachi gets its name from желать zhelatʹ, which is Russian for "to desire". It could also be from the Japanese word 幸 sachi, which means wish, happiness, or fortune.
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.
For other sprites and images, please see Jirachi images on Bulbagarden Archives.
