Giving Pokémon Gifts... with Santa Included

Prof. Oak: I'm giving Santa a Pikachu this Christmas

Ash: Wow! Just like the one you gave to me?

Prof. Oak: That's right-

I'll hide it in my stocking

And he'll find it rather shocking

Ash: Ha ha ha!

Prof. Oak: 'Cause giving gifts to Santa's quite a novelty...

-- "I'm Giving Santa a Pikachu This Christmas", from Pokémon Christmas Bash

As I brought up last year (see below), the giving of gifts on Christmas is rooted in part thanks to a certain poem and otherwise by tradition. Considering what is involved, there is also the party of a certain "big red guy" (also see below, two years ago) in play as the giver. But what if the tables were turned, and the giver also becomes the given? This song from the Pokémon Christmas Bash album attempts to shed light on that matter, certainly with a Pokémon perspective.

The song is mostly a duet of Ash and Professor Oak, voiced by the then-current talents of Veronica Taylor and Stan Hart, with some background vocals thrown in. Its verses all begin with the phrase that makes up the title of this song, leading both characters to discuss what makes Pikachu such a wonder and how that wonder might just assist the "big red guy". And as noted way back near the beginning of this blog, it has a karaoke version, one of the only two tracks on the album with this property.

Now, for that perspective, the statement of Professor Oak as above captures what might be the sentiments of most people, that it is a "novelty" or unusual thing to give a gift to the "big red guy". But in the vein of Pokémon, it may be not all that strange if Pokémon and all people related to it (including fans) want to "give back" somehow to the figure, and that leads to the conception of the song. After all, Pokémon gifts are still somehow involved on the occasion of the holiday.

Of course, as further noted in the preceding post, certain people consider the song as being "kooky" or even "cheesy", an oddity among today's Christmas songs and classics. Still, I'm inclined to think that those who have such considerations haven't embraced the perspective presented by the song or Pokémon elements, or maybe even both. Beyond this apparent consideration, the song may just make both Pokémon fans and people celebrating this occasion think about what it all means.

Regardless of certain perspectives, gifts will always be given somehow on this particular occasion, whether from a certain "big red guy" or from one another. As noted, some of those gifts might just pertain to Pokémon, particularly among those in the know. And to get more people in the know, it might just be necessary to do something as wild and radical as suggested by Ash and Professor Oak in this song to make the (Pokémon) world more cheery and bright, for both a "big red guy" and everyone.

I'm coming down to the wire of songs that I can pull from this album for discussion - and in fact, there are two left, which should fill the voids in the next two years, assuming that I can still keep up discussions for that long. To close the current discussion, however, it's fitting to quote the final set of lyrics from this song to make things come together for this particular occasion. With that, gift giving for everyone on the occasion may just become something that is inherently pertinent. So...

Prof. Oak: I'm giving Santa a Pikachu this Christmas

It's just the perfect thing to do

Ash: And as his sleigh pulls out of sight

We'll hear him calling through the night

All: With a ho-ho-ho

And a "Merry Christmas!"

Pi-ka-chu...

One year ago: The Pokémon Intrigue Before Christmas

Two years ago: It's Gotta Be... A Big and Red Guy

Three years ago: The Mistletoe Dangled Over...

Four years ago: Christmas Song, Really

Five years ago: Let's Go Play with Buddies

Six years ago: Keeping Homes in Hearts

Seven years ago: Cool Wintry Song

Quickies: Delivering Punches and Kicks

Within a short time, I'm going to have to be delivering my best at something important - not related to Pokémon, but it might very well open the doors for other Pokémon ventures. That said, the process of delivery might involve throwing some kicks and punches just like some martial arts athletes... or the Pokémon that resemble them in their forms and capacity. With that, I thought about discussing about these punches and kicks, their delivery or throw, and how they all pertain to the current situation that I briefly mentioned above.

Many moves that Pokémon can use do indicate that they're punching and kicking moves by virtue of them having the word in their moves, and they're delivered as such, with modification by other words that the moves might have (as with Mega Punch, Blaze Kick, and so on). Yet even in and with that sense, they are literal punches and kicks, and they're the moves that strike as they need to strike. The Pokémon that use them may also be of the literal (humanoid) sort, though their appearances have no bearing on their capacity for these moves.

Other moves, meanwhile, are less literally indicative of kicking or punching, but they could still be delivered in much the same manner. In this category, Aura Sphere (as a "punch") comes to mind as delivered by arguably its most famous user Lucario, though as delivered by Togekiss, it might still be indicative of that, even if just a little. Then there's the recent Triple Axel move, a "kick" delivered by a figure skating technique regardless of whoever executes the move. It may not take too much perceptive interpretation to consider these "punches" and "kicks".

It won't be long now before I'm going to start to make that delivery that's likely going to involve a bit of punching and kicking - albeit in less literal forms - but just thinking about punching and kicking as it applies to Pokémon species and the related moves that they use seems to give me a general idea of what to do with that delivery of mine. That said, it seems that other Pokémon species will continue to be delivering punches and kicks in our own, individual styles in whatever situations or battles we might be involved in.

One year ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays 2023 - 10th Anniversary

Two years ago: Café Remix: Pay to Win?

Three years ago: 2021 Pokémon Center Merchandise Highlights

Four years ago: Playing Pokémon on the Quick

Five years ago: December for Love

Six years ago: Quick Ball Tin and Pokémon Coin

Seven years ago: Perspective

Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/21/2024 and 12/22/2024

Me: So, catching Pokémon and meeting people obviously means Community Day.

Goh: Right, it's the recap edition, like the one we talked about two years ago.

Me: Indeed it is. It could be a festive celebration for some, or it could be a "last chance" thing for others.

Ash: All the Pokémon from this year were interesting!

Pikachu: Pi pika! ["True that!"]

Me: So they were - we had Rowlet, Chansey, Litten, Bellsprout, Bounsweet, and Goomy from January to June, and Tynamo, Popplio, Ponyta (Kanto and Galarian), Sewaddle, and Mankey from July to November. They started appearing in the wild from 9 AM yesterday to 9 PM today, and during the usual main hours (2 AM to 5 PM), both sets appeared more often. New this year, there were two Collection Challenges, one for each set, for everyone to catch and complete.

Ash: I got them both!

Me: I know you did. Great work. Oh, and just like last year, during the last 10 minutes of each hour during main hours, the ones from Community Day Classic this year (Porygon, Bagon, Cyndaquil, and Beldum) also appeared more often. 

Ash: I got them too - just what you and I needed.

Goh: Nice. That is an improvement from back then.

Ash: I sometimes found the ones from last year too.

Me: Sure. You must have found them - Chespin, Noibat, Slowpoke and Galarian Slowpoke, Togetic, Fennekin, Axew, Poliwag, Froakie, Grubbin, Timburr, and Wooper (Johto and Paldean) - mostly by hatching 2 km Eggs.

Ash: And they all had their special moves if I evolved them.

Goh: Which you did, hopefully.

Ash: Yeah, for a few that our friend and I got outside Community Day. But it was mostly complete other than that.

Goh: You two did good work. 

Me: Well, we try our best. And, let's see... oh yes, there were all the usual bonuses (double XP, Stardust, Candy, and Candy XL chance, plus halved hatching distance, and extended Lure Modules and Incense) during the main hours, which you should have taken advantage of. There had to be discounted trades and extra Special Trades across the entire weekend too.

Ash: Not all, but as many as I could.

Me: That's fine. Then, for Research, you might have grabbed Unova Stones and a Rainy Lure Module for evolution to Eelektross and Goodra from timed tasks, and you found more Pokémon from this year from field tasks.

Ash: But there were other tasks too! 

Goh: What's the intel on this?

Me: Oh, yes! There were other timed tasks and some rare field tasks for Pokémon of this year's editions with special card images, something else new this year... but the timed tasks are completed each day, so I'll have to take care the rest of this myself. At least you might have found a few of the rare field tasks.

Ash: I did. You might need to work on them for me. 

Me: Sure enough. And the usual Special Research ("December Community Day 2024") has more Pokémon of this year's editions with special card images and other items... but I wound up not getting it because I'm a little pushed.

Goh: Aww.

Ash: That's fine! I don't think we need many more than we need.

Me: Finally, all the stickers from this year came back, there might have been a few showcases, and there were shop bundles.

Pikachu: Pi pika... ["That's a lot..."]

Goh: Doesn't it seem like this is all a lot to take in?

Me: It does, doesn't it. But then Community Day is now a lot of things itself.

Ash: Like the meetups you sent me to. 

Me: Sure, the one that was far away - the side agenda from ChibiCon yesterday - and the nearer one today in lieu of said convention.

Ash: I really liked the faraway one! The people were so friendly and nice. 

Goh: You might just meet them more often.

Me: Given they're far away, actually not very often, but if push comes to shove, I think we may need to make it happen.

Ash: The near one was OK, but good to meet our friend's old friends.

Goh: But of course.

Me: I think this one will happen one way or another, even if things happen. 

Goh: They might happen more often than you think?

Me: Outside of Community Day once a month (two if there's also a Classic edition), Pokémon (Go) things will happen, but at least there's a guarantee of regularity for Community Day.

Ash: I hope we can always have fun with it! 

Goh: A celebration - without it being too much of a "last chance", like you said.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Of course."]

Me: All things considered, many things are many - especially for Community Day - but at least a few can still be gotten.

One year ago: Performance Critique: Toys & Hobbies Week 2023 Anisong

Two years ago: Mixing In and Out of GBL

Three years ago: Getting in the Mood with Pikachu

Four years ago: Muscle Memory and Pokémon Games

Five years ago: Cosplay: Chibi Daisuki! Japan Fest 2019

Six years ago: A Pikachu Hand Puppet

Seven years ago: I Claimed My Team

Cosplay: ChibiCon 5 x ICGP Regionals 2024-2025

Me: OK, this is going to be one strange weekend, and it starts with this convention.

Goh: You're telling us! Another second one in a year. 

Ash: And didn't they already do ICGP?

Me: They did, but that was for this year's competition - qualifications and all. This one is for next year's, and since they're planning on doing it early, it bleeds into this year.

Ash: OK, that makes sense.

Goh: And that's why we have it again.

Me: Indeed. So, most of this is going to be the same as last time this year. And we're not going to focus on that too much.

Ash: Er... Yeah. The booths and stage were like last time! And in the same place too.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu pi. ["Exactly like that."]

Goh: Well, there you go.

Me: Instead, going back to the strange things, I need you to go off to a mall farther away to meet a few people and catch a lot of Pokémon... and get other things.

Ash: Sure. I know what you want me to do.

Me: But... we'll save all those details for tomorrow, along with things outside the convention. After that, you are of course coming back there.

Goh: Well, I guess Ash will miss a few things by doing so. 

Ash: Yeah - one of them is the character parade, our friend told me. 

Goh: Oh, I'm sorry.

Me: Yeah, I regret that too. But for simplicity's sake, it had to be done.

Goh: I'm looking at the schedule, though, and I don't think Ash will miss much of the entertainment if he's already seen them some place else.

Ash: I have, so I guess you're right. 

Pikachu: Pika. ["Sure."]

Me: Absolutely, so that's a thing. Now, the next strange things are... you getting in for free and me needing you to supply your formal outfit instead of a Trainer outfit.

Goh: Free entry? Formal outfit?? Of course - "Weeb's Choice Awards"!

Ash: Yeah, just like last year.

Me: Same nomination, same category, the whole nine yards.

Goh: So, this convention is substituting for the other one.

Me: Looks like it. And it looks like we're going to have either one at this time of year if this is going to be an annual thing. 

Goh: So, how'd things go?

Ash: Um... not so hot. I didn't win it this time. 

Goh: Aww. Sorry about that.

Pikachu: Pi... ["Aww..."]

Me: Actually, I should have suspected this. Some of my friends told me that the local community of characters would be in full force for this edition of the awards since they took it lightly last time.

Ash: You know, I think so! I saw the winner celebrating with them. 

Goh: I think we can believe they're one and the same.

Me: I do believe that could be, in fact, the case. 

Goh: There must have been a bright spot, though.

Ash: I got to sing "Mezase Pokémon Master" with the band who played during the awards!

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yeah!"]

Goh: Oh? And would this be a band we know? 

Ash: It's the "new" Otaku Band! 

Me: Awesome! That's a pretty good "consolation" prize, I'd say.

Ash: That's not all - I got "honorable mention" for being second place in the voting. It was how the one who won, well... won.

Goh: Wait, was this the case last year too?

Me: I can confirm it was. So you know that's the "fun" aspect.

Goh: And I guess that was all for the convention.

Me: Not quite. As you know, this is a two-day convention, and this is the first day; more of the same happens tomorrow on the second day - including the ICGP part. But Ash can't partake in any of that. 

Goh: Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that.

Ash: I guess that's not so strange. But I also met one of your Pokémon friends and caught Pokémon and battled cards together.

Me: Hey, that's strange, but in a good way. So altogether, this day alone was filled with strangeness.

Goh: I see what you mean.

Ash: And the catching Pokémon part too? 

Pikachu: Chu? ["Hmm?"]

Me: For that, if you're uninitiated, then it would be strange, but if not, then it would be familiar. Regardless, all of that is for tomorrow - hopefully it won't be so strange.

One year ago: Reclaiming Lifelong Truths

Two years ago: My New Current Pokémon Unite Role Preferences

Three years ago: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Uptake

Four years ago: What If Pokémon Didn't Exist?

Five years ago: New Innovation, New Problems

Six years ago: Dreaming Big, Making an Impact

Seven years ago: Friend Faves

Pokémon Through the Ages: The Expansive Era

Two "eras" down, two more to go for this month's "four fours" on the topic. As I've hinted, the previous era paved a path for Pokémon games to become greater in number and variety, which would be the key happening of this "era". Fittingly, I've dubbed it as the "Expansive Era" for that key happening, something that is simultaneously like and unlike that of previous "eras" - although the one that comes after this one (to be detailed last) might have another answer to this and previous ones. Anyway, the plot thickens.

Representative of this "era" are the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations and their respective main series games. The first of these is known for resembling an "attempted reboot" of sorts, and the latter two are known to be relatively fractional in the number of new species compared to previous ones, and for that reason I take them together in their "expansive" role in this "era". Though restrained in the latter two, the attempt to expand the world of Pokémon with these games is still something remarkable.

As for expansions in other ways, the most significant one from this "era" is Pokémon Go, as a venture of the franchise beyond its traditional console game foray. It's still successful even today, even with all its ups and downs. Other efforts to expand in this manner were also up and down and not necessarily successful, but they still helped to make this "era" what it is. This also goes for the games beyond the main series on consoles at that time, which all constitute the wonder that is its expansive power.

Nonetheless, the "expansive" quality of this era is also represented by its timespan, given the generations above, but that quality also goes for all the games that Pokémon conceived during the time, including with respect to platform and by extension fan base. It was a natural thing to expand, like in previous "eras", but the process was quite unlike what transpired before. The expanded state of Pokémon today has a lot to thank from the contributions of this "era" in addition to all the other ones I've discussed.

One year ago: Let's Talk About When Money Talks

Two years ago: The Contribution and the Results

Three years ago: Merchandise over Games?

Four years ago: Pokémon Go: Tap... Tap... Tappity-Tap...

Five years ago: Sitting Pikachu Keychain

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/20/2018

Seven years ago: Movie Manga!

TCGP: Expanding into the Mythical Island

Fans of the Pokémon TCG who play on the Pocket platform now have something new to handle with their pack-opening hands. Until recently, players were only able to deal with one expansion (albeit divided into three sub-expansions) in the game and all the cards obtained from that. Now, the game has a second expansion - a little one, but it's an expansion nonetheless - and it's called Mythical Island, a title that suggests quite a few of its properties.

This "mini" expansion is only about one-third in size compared to the only other present expansion, Genetic Apex, but its cards are no less enthralling than that first expansion. Still, the game dubs it as a "Themed Booster Pack" while fitting it with similar missions for card collection, deck creation, and theme compilation. The card wrapper has a shade of turquoise, indicating the expansion's verdant nature, and it also features the Mythical Pokémon of Mew, exactly indicating its highlight aspect.

Yet, the Mythical Pokémon that may just "steal the stage" for this expansion is Celebi, as it has an immersive card and an apparently vicious combo with another Pokémon in the expansion. Also "stealing the stage" for this expansion are a few familiar Trainer faces that are found as Supporter cards, one of which has a themed deck mission and list of his own with Pidgeot (that's a very big clue). Overall, while the new cards are fewer in number, their surprises are something to watch out for in battle.

Many players are already eager to obtain cards for this new expansion, especially for the two Mythical Pokémon already mentioned and the high-rarity cards, including the immersive card as above. Battle gameplay is also changing due to this effort, although it seems that players will face similar challenges as before with the Genetic Apex expansion - something that some are becoming fond of and others are becoming less so about. The expansion's true nature might just already be known at this point.

Like the physical paper version of the TCG, there's always a bit of excitement when a new expansion of some kind drops, and for TCGP, that first moment after its initial launch is here with the Mythical Island expansion. With it, TCGP is now really starting to give players, both prospective and entrenched, a lot of things to work on, which will remain true with further expansions, starting with this first addition and stop of an island with Mythical wonder.

One year ago: The TCGL Experience... From My End

Two years ago: Scarlet and Violet Uptake

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/18/2021 and 12/19/2021

Four years ago: What It Takes to Contribute

Five years ago: Creations Without Drama: Cosplay Teaser for 12/22/2019

Six years ago: The Four Pillars of Pokémon

Seven years ago: Nostalgic Returns

Make Like Pokémon Leaves and...

Some Pokémon moves of the Grass type are known to feature leaves, a commonly recognized botanical element that is also its own type designator in the TCG realm. Besides the Pokémon delivering the attacks using these moves, it may be recognized that these Pokémon leaves have a "force" of their own that is just as intense and wild as the Pokémon. I thought of gathering up a few of these moves and attacks and identify their "forces" that make them so, while taking inspiration from them for other life purposes.

Many will surely recognize Razor Leaf as one of these attacks or moves, and by its name, it certainly has a cutting "force" that slices into other Pokémon. Meanwhile, there is the attack or move of Leaf Storm, which implies a "force" of drowning other Pokémon, just like falling water from an intense real storm. These attacks or moves can be considered to have the aspect of strength about them, showing off an inherent power that is only matched by the realistic things they allude to and resemble.

Then there are the attacks or moves of Magical Leaf and Leafage, the latter of these being more recently recognized. Their "forces", respectively, are the colors and styles with which the leaves might strike an opposing Pokémon; as such, they might be taken to represent an aspect of "wonderment" or beauty about them. The aspect, as presented by the attacks and moves as they are executed, bring out a sense of fanciness and playfulness, in addition to them dealing damage as is expected of any attack or move.

Pokémon have many fascinating moves, and the ones with "Leaf" in them are of no exception. They're of diverse names (aside from the "Leaf" part), and while they play off and use the same botanical element, they also play off of other aspects and show off unique "forces" in their execution. It could then be said that if one wanted to make themselves like these Pokémon leaves, that would be a prompt for them to demonstrate something that's innately and uniquely themselves as these "leaves" are wont to do.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies: Extras and All

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/17/2022 and 12/18/2022

Three years ago: Let's Talk About Making Teams Work

Four years ago: "Seasonal" or "Occasional" Gamers

Five years ago: A Cosplay Departure

Six years ago: Screenplay Writing

Seven years ago: Good (Life)Times, Again