October 22, 2010
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Koffing, I Choose You!
How different would the world be if Ash did not receive Pikachu as his starting Pokémon? The thought hit me yesterday morning and it has been nagging me throughout the day. Pikachu is nothing special in the games, so he owes his popularity solely to the anime.
Pikachu is essentially the emblem of the Pokémon empire. I think it is safe to assume that Pikachu's likeness has been posted on more objects than Jesus, or even The Beatles. But if the Pokémon series became popular and Ash received a different starter, would it be that one appearing on coffee mugs and lunch boxes the world over?
I had the most fun picturing Koffing in this role. Ash just left Oak's office with a somewhat rebellious Koffing hovering a metre behind him. Children would have Koffing-themed birthday parties. Lady geeks would cosplay as sexy Koffing. Internet polls would be swamped with fans declaring Koffing as their favorite. Nintendo would release all sorts of spin-off games based on Koffing. It's practically endless! Oh, and James would no longer have a Koffing. He would instead have a Pikachu who is vilified the world over as a symbol of disgust and excess.
It's odd, but profound.
Apparently, "Pokémon empire" is a proper noun. Microsoft Word has diplomatically recognized the ever-growing state of the Pokémon Empire.
Comments (2)
I would be in the Pokémon Empire.
No, perhaps Ash had the most worthless of all pokemon, the ditto. A pokemon so worthless it has to mimic any other pokemon just to be useful.