Celebrity Favorites for "Pokémon 30"

Ideally, the post I write up for today should have come (a lot) sooner - perhaps applicable in more ways than one - but it is what it is. Earlier this year, I had written up about the "What's Your Favorite?" campaign, which is also effectively a star-studded commemoration for this year's big Pokémon anniversary. For that, I do want to identify the celebrities that are part of the campaign, along with the species they state as their favorite, and to give a personal breakdown of their selections - in particular, those that were featured on the Instagram post.

Some of the featured celebrities are those who deal with the world of music, one of them being the aforementioned Lady Gaga (whose favorite is Jigglypuff); the Pokémon is known for its 12-octave range and it therefore meshes with her musical style. Then, there are Jisoo of K-pop girl band Blackpink fame (whose favorite is Eevee) who has cited the transformative nature of the species, perhaps much like the girl band itself, and Young Miko (whose favorite is Gengar), a Caribbean rapper who could be construed to have a sharp and distinct style, and so does the Pokémon species of choice. They're all well-liked for these well-liked artists.

Then, there are a couple of featured athletes. Charles Leclerc (whose favorite is Arcanine) is known for his prowess behind the wheel of an F1 car; it's speedy, but so is that very Pokémon, who might just be able to stand in for the vehicle if he lets it - which could seem to be the case. Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal (whose favorite is Zygarde in its Complete Forme) had just recently helped Spain to earn a soccer world champ title, and both are particularly known for their abilities - extreme ones at that, both off and on the pitch. If these two athletes have something to say, it may be that their favorite species also define themselves and back.

As for the rest of the featured celebrities, they may be considered "offbeat" ones. Comedy fans will likely recognize Trevor Noah (whose favorite is Psyduck) from his show ventures, especially one on the air; the choice of the Pokémon may be one of bewilderment, with particular regard to psychic and comedic power. Then there's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (whose favorite is Luxray), an actress who is likely recognizable from some contemporary roles, including one for an animation in a neighboring universe... which might partially explain the choice of the species in addition to its Electric-type personality. They're "offbeat" yet so are their complements.

With these celebrities, the selection represents a great swath of pop culture media and lifestyle, which can be said to be the same for Pokémon nowadays in all its forms. Whether or not Pokémon can be verified to have an impact on said celebrities, the impact of their stated favorites may just be very effective for existing fans and captivating for those for whom Pokémon may be only a cursory interest. They make their favorites especially attractive for themselves and fans in general, and that is definitely worth it for this year's big anniversary.

One year ago: Sharing Results in (and from) Pokémon Unite

Two years ago: On Getting Rained Out and Rained On with Pokémon

Three years ago: The Persistence of Theia Sky Ruins in Pokémon Unite

Four years ago: Like a Headless Torchic... or Pokémon

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Multiple Pokédexes, Realized

Six years ago: Pokémon Documentaries?

Seven years ago: The New Flavors of Pokémon

Eight years ago: Other Uses of Pokémon Go

Nine years ago: Incubators in Pokémon Go

My Interests on the PokémonXP Schedule

Having explained what PokémonXP is (being essentially a Pokémon convention), now I want to discuss what actually goes on at the convention. Specifically, I also want to discuss which of the happenings - panels and others - on the schedule that I would like to attend if I was (or could be) actually present for that very convention, which again is obviously too late for me at this point in time. But of course, I can state my interests regardless of time and space.

In the Garden Stage, the happenings are pretty much uniform for the three days (Friday to Sunday), so it's just a matter of choosing which ones I'd like to attend and when. The 9 AM yoga session is quite appealing, though I'd probably could only make the Saturday session. The rest (meet and greet, story time, and dance class) are trivial stuff, which I may be interested in if I happen to be less interested in a specific panel on a particular time and day.

Then there are the main stage happenings. On Friday, the Opening Ceremonies are a can't-miss, as is the panel for the new stop-motion series from Aardman. The full art card panel could be the one I'm least interested in for the day and I might be tempted to skip that one in favor of a Garden Stage happening, but the other two panels are of great interest, extremely so for the entire day. It makes for a great start to both events as a whole on the Friday.

On Saturday, it seems the morning to midday panels (Pokémon Go, TCG artist, Bracket Bonanza) are of greater interest for me personally, while the later panels are of the "rich or classy" kind, and I could perhaps ignore them. Of course, that means making my way after the yoga session from the Garden Stage as above and then possibly back after the panels of interest as I mentioned to the Garden Stage - and perhaps external outings afterwards.

Sunday is where things would come together, as the Cosplay Showcase is in the afternoon and you can bet that I'd be bringing my cosplay for that. The game show that follows would be pretty good too, and so would the closing run for the grand events. The "visualization" panel in the morning would be the only one of interest since I'd be skipping the Horizons panel for... reasons. Like others, I'd need to be putting out my best (and more) on this ultimate day.

As can be seen, there is much to see and do at PokémonXP, just like at any other pop culture convention - only this time it all pertains to Pokémon, which would be awesome for fans who can indeed go there. That would be the case for me as well, if only I could attend and had the necessary means for doing so. Still, Pokémon has all the necessary means for me anytime and anywhere, and that reflects much of my interests for PokémonXP and beyond it somehow.

One year ago: The FOMO Aspect and Pokémon

Two years ago: The Matter of "Specific Evolution" in Unite

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2023 (Global), Day 2

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2022 (Global), Finale

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/27/2021

Six years ago: Road to the 25th Anniversary

Seven years ago: Blogging on Blogs: The Pokémon Go Official Blog

Eight years ago: My Pokémon Groups on Facebook

Nine years ago: In-Town vs. Out-of-Town Events

PokémonXP: From Tournament to Convention

The end of August is drawing near, and so is in fact the Pokémon World Championships, which will in fact be discussed soon. Along with that, I also want to discuss something that very much pertains to the grand event, at least as far as this year's edition is concerned. It is known that the tournament has attracted the appeal of non-competing fans to come and visit (yours truly would be one of them), so along with the tournament this year, something new is (was) introduced that can be said to take it from a tournament to a convention.

For that purpose, that something is a special event called PokémonXP, for which the name might evoke some memories of (by now) a popular but eventually deprecated operating system. It's not that, of course, but both are certainly based on the same root of "experience", which this something new is intended to deliver, especially for those who aren't competing. While the competitors are duking it out as they are expected to in the World Championships, visiting fans can check this out instead to get their Pokémon enjoyment in other ways.

Now, the event is composed of interactive workshops for attendees with some special things for them, as well as (primarily) happenings on two stages, a main one for the event itself as well as another one as a "garden stage". As a brief summary, the latter is composed of more fun and involved activities with Pokémon, while the former is composed primarily of many panels, each running about one and a half hours long, with some other fun stuff interspersed. I'll have more on these happenings in a separate post, which I had intended to make much sooner, but now is appropriate and relevant anyhow since I've explained the background.

With the schedule, it can be seen that it's very much a convention, as it's structured in similar ways and has similar content to what one would expect at pop culture conventions - especially ones in the United States, for those familiar with them. Being a convention person myself (obviously with some detailed on this blog through my Pokémon cosplay), it also drives my interest to go to it - although evidently it's too late at this point in time. And while it may or may not be present next year, the World Championships are surely so even then.

PokémonXP is certainly not a replacement, but rather a complement to the grand tournament that has persisted for many years now. Depending on its chance of persistence or appearance in later years, it may also become its own thing, if its content as above doesn't already suggest that it could in fact be considered its own thing. Whether together or separate, its potential to draw Pokémon fans without needing them to be competitive is a wonderful thing, just like any pop culture convention in its most exacting form should be.

One year ago: Seeking Salvation for Me and Others

Two years ago: Network Connections

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2023 (Global), Day 1

Four years ago: Pre-Puzzle and Mid-Puzzle Items in Café Remix

Five years ago: Go Battle Night Burnout

Six years ago: Continuous Inspiration

Seven years ago: Making Others (and Myself) Happy

Eight years ago: Figure Gathering, Again

Nine years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2017 - Yume no Tobira

A Tale of Some Psychic Pokémon, Part 2

I'm still in the mood to bring back a discussion topic from the past year, so now I've chosen this one. At that time, I brought up some Pokémon of the Psychic type and a "tale" involving them. Well, that tale has continued to the present day, although with a few twists and turns along the way. It's still a neat "tale" to be told in Pokémon terms, so given that it has come to my recollection, I have to tell (or retell) its continuance.

Now, those Pokémon (Gallade, Mr. Mime, and Gardevoir) are still around, but not as frequently as they used to be, becoming only once a week now. For some time, even only Mr. Mime was present, and the Gardevoir was of different ones - meaning, not the same individual. It made for a different "peering" experience with them in their own ways, especially with the more "errant" Mr. Mime - until the Gallade came back.

Speaking of "peering", there is still the process of taking things and punching them up, along with adding the sound of a Mightyena, but things certainly now have changed. For example, there is a greater emphasis on things that apply as a "general interest", ones that other Pokémon will certainly be able to relate to. Beyond that, they'll have to work with both and old new constraints in all the "peering" they do.

For all that they do, however, they also still only seemingly attract the same old, same old crowd. Yet they also know that they have many Pokémon (and maybe people) who become their followers. Their next step, then, would be to gather up all those followers and have a grand old time, much like certain mass meetings of Pokémon species. Realizing that would be a big step in their "peering" efforts to reach more lives.

A tale like the one told by the three Psychic type Pokémon is one that they'll keep telling according to what they do, the "peering". That tale has evidently continued for another year, and it took a fascinating turn for the ones involved. It also might still remain a "stretch", something I mentioned last year, but if their "peering" has a way, then their presence has a will - whether or not that's described in Pokémon terms.

One year ago: Quickies: The Fancy of Pokémon Leaves

Two years ago: Alternative Communities for Pokémon Fans

Three years ago: Contemporary Issues with Pokémon Games

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/17/2022

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2021, Day 1

Six years ago: Catch Me If...

Seven years ago: The First Johto Saga Japanese Opening Theme

Eight years ago: Rearranged Pokémon Music

Nine years ago: How Far Do People Know Pokémon?

A Life Truly Alive

Allow your dreams to dance

Upon the earth that you walk on

Strike and break the mirror

That shows your hatred in the reflection

Chase after all your dreams

Even though you are not adept

Feel the strength of life

With your entire body and spirit

-- "Alive A Life", Rica Matsumoto (interpretive translation)

After Ash's supposed "special day" this year, I want to cover this actually long overdue topic. A couple of years ago, I brought up a song about "life" as a tribute to the new Pokémon anime, and I titled it in a way that it referenced another song about "life" with closer Pokémon ties yet still quite far off. That referenced song is now the focus of this post, and given the lyrics (the first chorus, specifically) as quoted above, those ties are rather evident.

Several years ago, I also alluded how Rica Matsumoto is well-known beyond Pokémon, and the song above is one of those aspects. It's a song for a tokusatsu series - one that involves heroes in suits and riding motorcycles, I trust fans know which one - and it's the opening theme for an iteration of that series. Given the interpretive translation as above, it can be seen how it might be a little "dark", as I've said before above - particularly with the word "hatred".

Yet after giving the song a listen and following that up with many more since the first one, I remain under the impression that Ash is singing it, and not just because the singer is the voice talent. The timbre of the voice is very close to Ash's and is almost indistinguishable in that regard. Certain other fans familiar with the artist might share the same viewpoint, even if yet others may still dispute that by maintaining that the song belongs in its different realm.

Faithful readers will note that I've performed the song (through Ash himself) on two occasions some two years ago, the former non-competitively and the latter competitively, but I've yet to perform the song again since then. It may be a good time to bring back the song at some point, something that I'll decide at a later time and when the opportunity presents itself as good enough for that purpose - in summary, it'll be a "good point" in life.

It may be considered that any life worth living has its ups and downs, for which this other Rica Matsumoto song seems to suggest, and extremely at that. The same could also be considered for Ash during his time appearing on the Pokémon anime, and this song would then carry over as such by virtue of the voice talent singing it almost with the same mannerisms. That then would make that, as indicated by this post's title, a life that's really and truly alive.

One year ago: Pokémon Things on TV Screens

Two years ago: The New State of Pokémon Go Item Boxes

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 5/21/2023

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies

Five years ago: The Laissez-Faire Approach to Pokémon

Six years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 4

Seven years ago: A Friend and Fellow Pokétaku

Eight years ago: Favorite LINE Pokémon Stickers, Again

Nine years ago: Becoming a Connoisseur

Let's Talk About Heavens and the Earth

Me: It's that time of year again.

Ash: It's a great day!

Goh: It's "your" day.

Me: As usual, it might be a "guesstimate", but as far as certain things are concerned, it might very well be true in some way.

Goh: Yeah, why not. 

Ash: And we always have something to talk about today.

Pikachu: Pika! ["Right!"]

Goh: So, what's the theme today? 

Me: Well, last year (see below) we talked about wild things, but then there was one wild thing I only mentioned at the end.

Ash: Oh, uh... It was the "blue" thing!

Me: Right. The "wild blue yonder" then refers to... can you guess?

Goh: I'm pretty sure you're talking about the sky.

Ash: Sounds about right.

Me: I am. So that's what we're talking about - and I want to couple that with what we're standing on.

Goh: The earth! Totally makes sense.

Ash: There's a lot of Pokémon in both.

Pikachu: Pika... ["A lot..."]

Goh: When I think of the sky, I think of Rayquaza, the one who lives all the way up there.

Ash: We passed by when we were in a city once.

Goh: Oh, I heard about that. There was a chaos with a Pokémon from out of nowhere.

Ash: I think it came from beyond the sky.

Goh: Well. So you never know.

Me: But closer to the earth, there are more familiar ones... say, two siblings?

Ash: Latias and Latios!

Me: Yeah, you know them all too well.

Goh: Besides the one that you helped, like last year?

Ash: There were two in a watery city, but then... there was one...

Pikachu: Pika, pika! ["Wait, wait!"]

Goh: Oh, um... I think we might have to hold off for this one.

Me: So, let's talk about the earth, then. 

Ash: That's easy. Everyone's right here.

Goh: But then there are the really "earthy" ones, of the Rock and Ground types.

Ash: There's also a lot of that, from the little Geodude...

Goh: ...to the big Regirock, and even bigger Groudon. 

Me: Yeah, you get the gist. Of course, the earth supports plants, water, and so on...

Goh: So, a lot of Pokémon - and people is supported by the earth.

Ash: Where would we be without it? 

Me: Very true. 

Pikachu: Chu pika. ["So true."]

Me: Now, philosophically, those who have left us are said to go into the heavens, while their remains become part of the earth.

Goh: There you go - I guess that's why you picked this theme today (aside from mentioning it last year).

Me: Yeah, and like Ash was about to say, it can pertain to Pokémon too. Latios, right?

Ash: Uh-huh.

Goh: Mm-hmm.

Me: And then... there's the lasting impression of "my Delia" who's gone there, which I think we've talked about.

Ash, Goh: Yeah.

Goh: Don't worry, you have us, and you'll have great things too.

Ash: I second that!

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["Third for me!"]

Me: So, there's a certain relevance for "heavens and the earth" in our lives, especially our Pokémon lives.

Goh: I can see that. 

Me: And with today being "your" day, I think there's a special sense for it, don't you think? 

Ash: I think that's great.

Goh: It can be special for you too - everyone, in fact.  

Ash: I'm sure it is. We all make it that way.

Me: On that note, there's something to be said about making our glory reach as high as the heavens - even with us still being on the solid ground of the earth.

Ash, Goh: Yeah!

One year ago: Let's Talk About The Wild Yonder

Two years ago: Let's Talk About Remembrance

Three years ago: Let's Talk About Perpetual Connections

Four years ago: Let's Talk About Meaningful Things

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Filling in Things

Six years ago: Let's Talk About Some Moments

Seven years ago: After All These Years

Eight years ago: GiRL (Gyms in Real Life)

Nine years ago: To Japan and Beyond

Let's Talk About Our Favorite Snacks

Goh: Oh, just a plain talk today?

Ash: Well, we did talk on Sundays all this month for conventions...

Me: That's one way of looking at it. Another is me just wanting to get my (and our) ideas out there.

Goh: Yeah, I guess that's not too bad. 

Ash: So, I heard we're going to talk about food today!

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["Good stuff!"]

Me: Yes - we're talking about food, specifically snacks, the stuff we eat between meals and the like.

Goh: I'm sure you have your own for that.

Me: Certainly. Potato chips are a big thing for me. I can hardly resist a bag of them.

Ash: You must like chip-type snacks a lot too.

Me: Depends on the chip, but yeah. I'm big on chips. How about you two?

Ash: I guess sometimes we see it and have it, but other than that...

Goh: ...we don't see it all that often. Isn't that right?

Ash: When we're out on the wild and stuff, we just snack on what's there.

Goh: Right - it's when we get to cities and towns that we get "people food".

Ash: Oh, like the snacks from the different regions. Lava Cookies, Castelia Cones, Malasadas...

Pikachu: Pi pika pika... ["Hey, hold on there..."]

Goh: All the stuff from the regions! Now those are snacks we could really get our hands on when we're there.

Ash: Yeah!

Goh: But then again, we like Berries and Apples from the wild...

Ash: Sure. We all need to eat fruits every so often.

Goh: Don't you (our friend) eat fruits too?

Ash: Well, I heard he ate Pinap Berries in juice form (or drank it, it seems)...

Me: Good ear. I like Pinap Berries - not just to give to Pokémon to get more Candy for them. And then there are others too.

Goh: I guess you're selective about them.

Me: I guess I am. Even for things like the previous ones above, I'm a bit selective of those too - but I'll give some things a try on the first go.

Ash: But we can all say that there's so many different kinds of snacks.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["So many."]

Goh: The question is having the patience to try them.

Me: I'll say. Like this one chip snack that's sort of like a waffle, which is good but also a little "oily".

Ash: Wow.

Me: And recently, that's been pushing Pokémon stuff too.

Goh: Interesting. Aren't you going to get some?

Me: Actually, I have gotten some - but I'll need to deal with them later. And today...

Goh: Oh, I see it now. I think?

Ash: Hmm.

Me: Maybe we don't have to bring it up too much.

Goh: OK... 

Pikachu: Pi... ka? [in a curious sound]

Me: As Ash said, we make our point - lots of snacks out there, even Pokémon ones.

Ash: Something we could try every now and then.

Goh: And sometimes makes us happy.

Me: What would life be like without food - even little bites - to keep our spirits up?

One year ago: The Evolution of Community Day Times and Scheduling

Two years ago: Animation Settings for Café Remix?

Three years ago: Slow Living with Pokémon

Four years ago: Forced Updates to Pokémon Games

Five years ago: (Re-)Join for Good

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Voyager Cup

Seven years ago: Raising the Pokémon Go Level Cap

Eight years ago: Working with Shuffle's Item Limits

Nine years ago: In Pursuit of Collections

Pokémon Night Out: An Electronic Celebration

As part of this year's anniversary celebrations for Pokémon, some special events are being held for that purpose to please fans of all ages, both the young and familial and the old and hip. For the latter, the celebration is to go in a very electronic direction and a wild one at that, one that is familiar to music fans who really like to jam, and especially so during the later hours of the day. Appropriately, the celebratory event is to be carried out in such a manner, and thus it's called "Pokémon Night Out" for all that it offers.

Essentially, the event boils down to an EDM concert (two of them, in fact), but it will be combined with a lot of Pokémon visuals - especially if the e-mail newsletter bulletin is of any indication - that complement the music and make use of advanced technology. The musical acts planned for these concerts are of the extraordinary level as well, with Marshmello as the main act and Alison Wonderland as the secondary act. It seems to promise an amazing time for fans of these artists, their genre, and Pokémon.

Now, the two concerts are slated for later this year - specifically on October 24 and November 16. The former will take place in Los Angeles in Intuit Dome, and the latter will take place in London in London in O2 Arena... which should please the American and European fans while those in Asia will have to make an effort to go to them. In fact, tickets began to be offered for sale close to a week ago, so they'll all have to reserve the money for it and the plans to go there starting right now before the concerts happen.

For the initial impressions, the concerts are definitely a stunning collaboration, more so with the artists that will be featured in them. The execution remains to be seen, and especially so with the technology, and the Pokémon element as the visuals will certainly be the key to make things alive, given that it is a Pokémon project after all. EDM may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a respectable current music genre that even many older Pokémon fans enjoy, so the "Night Out" moniker makes complete sense here.

The Pokémon anniversary celebration, as stated, is a special one with Pokémon having gone through three decades. A lot has also happened within that time, including the development of the music genre that becomes the focus of the special event as above. It is inevitable for the two to cross over in big ways, and the special event represents what may be the biggest yet, at least for the old and hip fans of this franchise. That may just be the key to keeping Pokémon hip as it continues to last into a truly wild future.

One year ago: Like a Dragon (...Or Not)

Two years ago: Cosplay: Biznet Festival

Three years ago: Keeping Relationships Real with Pokémon

Four years ago: Let's Talk About The Ways of People and Pokémon

Five years ago: Ideas for Pokémon Vehicles

Six years ago: Reading the Signs

Seven years ago: PokéMania and WhatMania

Eight years ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 7

Nine years ago: Costume Issues

It's All About You

Regular readers might notice - aside from the recent pacing of posts - that apart from those made in "conversation" style and/or with special addressing, I've seemingly shied away from usage of the word "you" to refer to other Pokémon fans, players, and/or any other relevant parties. Yet it's such a vital way of referring to others not only textually but also personally. To that end, I've decided to take a post to regroup my thoughts on the matter while also still including the necessary Pokémon references for support.

The "seemingly" part may be due to my attempts of shifting tones on posts to try to discuss the matters in them in a more authoritative (in a way, formal) manner, even if the matters are more liberal (again in a way, casual). Pokémon matters are expected to be more of the latter than the former, so it might be unusual or even a little nonsensical to try to make things out as the former if it's not completely necessary to do so. The bottom line is that there is room for interpretation in either direction regarding the discussion of Pokémon matters.

What may be just as important is to consider the feelings and relevance toward the parties I might potentially refer with the word "you", which might involve any or all of the ones whom I had already mentioned above. In that regard, something like the aspects of Pokémon Go that occasionally causes trouble for some of you (ahem) players out there or the merchandise items that you (ahem) collectors obtain might provide an opportunity for sentimental connections to be made by inciting the reference with the word.

Given the above considerations, there might still be room for the usage of "you" in various non-conversation and non-special discussions on the posts of this blog, even if I might still shy away from its usage from time to time. In order to try to reach out to others in a more relaxed manner, the usage of the word - perhaps in the ways that I have put forth as above - might be necessary. Pokémon remains something that is personal to many people (including yours truly), and that personal connection may be needed for you and me - us. 

So, as the final word: you (Pokémon fans, fellows, friends, or whoever) are awesome, and you are you - and Pokémon makes all of us who we are.

One year ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 9.5

Two years ago: AFA ID Returns

Three years ago: You're Everything... I Like You

Four years ago: Good Builds for Unite?

Five years ago: The (Un)Popularity of Legendary Raid Bosses

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Rose Cup

Seven years ago: Let's Go Take Pictures

Eight years ago: Community Days!

Nine years ago: Competitive or Non-Competitive?

Valentine's Day 2026: Creature Comforts

Another year, and Valentine's Day comes by almost imperceptibly. Of course, for those who really feel (perceive) it, this day is all about the best of things for the best of people... and of course Pokémon as the core subject of this blog and those who feel a connection to it. For this year's occasion, then, I'd like to bring up the feeling of "comfort", for which some say it could be tied to certain beings or creatures - and thus the phrase mentioned in the title. It also becomes relevant to Pokémon, given the "creature" aspect.

For the phrase, many fans of Pokémon will no doubt feel comfort with their favorite creatures beside them in both action (through the games and such) and inaction (by just being there, like with merchandise). That may have some romantic overtones in some cases, given the penchants of some fans and especially for this particular day, but otherwise the pleasurable aspect may be the only thing that is apparent, and that seems fine for them.

Then there is the aspect of creatures seeking comfort with one another. Some Pokémon species are evidently related to others, and aside from the potential conflicts that may arise, it is possible that at least some harmony can also manifest by their presence in togetherness. That's something ideal to see on any given day, but even more so for this particular day.

If there is any suggestion from both cases above, it is that comfort is important for both creatures and people. In that case, the feeling is one that may just manifest in all the right ways when the Pokémon and the people allow that to come to be.

On this day and even with the state of the (Pokémon) world, there is no time - better and/or more at that - to seek comfort and rightfully so for people and Pokémon alike.

Happy Valentine's Day, and may fans (and creatures) find some comfort wherever they are.

One year ago: Valentine's Day 2025: All Your Love, Awesome

Two years ago: Valentine's Day 2024: Pick What You Love

Three years ago: Valentine's Day 2023: A Batty Heart

Four years ago: Valentine's Day 2022: Within Attraction

Five years ago: Valentine's Day 2021: No Love, Only Love

Six years ago: Valentine's Day 2020: In Pursuit of Love

Seven years ago: Valentine's Day 2019: Think Pink

Eight years ago: Valentine's Day 2018: Address to a Luvdisc

Nine years ago: It's Valentine's Day!

"What's Your Favorite?"

This year's Pokémon anniversary is coming up fast, so this is a good time as any to deal with its particulars. One of them is a recently launched campaign that deals with the species that fans like and enjoy, which would of course be their favorites; accordingly, the campaign is called "What's Your Favorite?" to reflect the breadth of possibilities for all kinds of Pokémon fans. It also has a few niceties all around, so it deserves a discussion for all the things that it offers and how they're relevant to fans and the upcoming anniversary.

Kicking off the campaign was a promotional video and essentially an advertisement, as it was shown during the prime spectacle of American football that is the Super Bowl - a rarity for Pokémon itself. The video is star-studded with all kinds of celebrities showing off their favorite Pokémon species, including Lady Gaga, Charles Leclerc, and Tyler Norton. After the occasion, the video became available to be viewed through social media for fans around the world to enjoy and delight along with their favorite celebrity of choice.

Another way that fans can enjoy the campaign is through participating in it, by using Pokémon Go. The game now has a function that allows a Trainer to take snapshots with whatever their favorite Pokémon may be and to add a tag for that purpose. Doing so also awards bonuses through a Special Research set, which can be claimed after perusing the function... which can only happen for those whose devices support AR+, so those who don't have such devices may not necessarily be able to make their contributions for this.

Outside of Pokémon Go, Pokémon Center is gearing up for the campaign by allowing online store users to have avatars of their favorite Pokémon, and the store itself is also promoting merchandise related to the favorites. For example, Lady Gaga's chosen favorite Pokémon is Jigglypuff, so all kinds of Jigglypuff merchandise are being promoted through the online newsletter edition that features her and her favorite. Of course, fans can and will surely shop for goodies that feature whatever their favorites may be.

Everyone and anyone who likes Pokémon will surely have their favorite Pokémon, especially so for as long as Pokémon has been around, with this year being a bit of a significant number of years for that concern. With that in mind, the concept of promoting fan favorites - particularly major fans among the very well-known of people - becomes very much relevant for the occasion of this anniversary (if not for any Pokémon anniversary in general), and fans will be able to fashion that relevance in any way they like.

One year ago: Different Regions, Different Strokes

Two years ago: Pokémon Figures for the Rest of Us

Three years ago: Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 17

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/12/2022

Five years ago: Fourth Anniversary of My Regional Figure Group

Six years ago: Pokémon as a Study Aid

Seven years ago: A Pikachu Pillow Keychain

Eight years ago: Anywhere Is

Nine years ago: My Essential Pokémon Cosplay Equipment

Smashing the Pidgey Alarm

Something that I struggle with sometimes is waking up at specific times, even with alarms that are set for that purpose. At times I'd wake up as intended and be ready for those times, but at other times I'd miss the alarm completely, perhaps even by going back to sleep. This problem would certainly not be unique to me, as I'm sure others experience it as well. In fact, for those who know, it has a Pokémon instance with a very well-known character, being of course Ash from the anime - and it relates to a key element with a certain Pokémon flavor.

Ash has an alarm clock with a Pidgey motif, and as seen in two episodes of the anime, it was apparent that some vision in a dream caused him to think that it was a Poké Ball, leading him to pick it up and throw it against the wall as if it were one. The result is that the clock gets smashed, which invariably leads him to miss something important; the first time was the Pokémon camp, and the second was the first day of his Trainer career as the selection of his first partner. In some ways, it was as fortunate as it was grave.

In the times where I don't wake up as intended, I feel like I have effectively "smashed the Pidgey alarm" in both literal and figurative manners of speaking, even if the alarm doesn't have a physical manifestation like the alarm clock as mentioned above. Solutions to the problem may not come easily, although I can always prepare them preventively and curatively. Nevertheless, the end result of having a "smashed alarm" beside me just like Ash did with his in those situations can still present itself even imaginatively.

For as long as I need to wake up at precise times to do certain things, there's always the chance that I'd miss it by a little, for which I can easily regroup, or by a lot, for which the "smashed alarm" situation applies. It's a real struggle for many things, even some Pokémon things in real life, and it's a struggle that continues to manifest in different situations and ways related to them. Still, thinking about it in a Pokémon perspective just shows how universally applicable the situation is, even in its fantasy that may just translate to the reality.

One year ago: Go Tour: True and Ideal Representations

Two years ago: The Colors of the Flabébé Species Family

Three years ago: Catching Up on GBL Happenings

Four years ago: All Star, All Pokémon

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/7/2021

Six years ago: Turning Around and Back

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (with "Friend Boost"), 2/7/2019

Eight years ago: An Eye for Pokémon

Nine years ago: Conserve and Cooperate

The New Park Is Open

Good news for Pokémon fans: the new PokéPark Kanto, the actual real-life version in Japan as compared to games that bear the first word, is now open and fans are really enjoying it. I had already discussed many of its previewed details nearly half a year ago, and now I want to supplement those details by putting in additional tidbits that further highlight the attraction, certainly for the purpose of attracting more fans (and even me) to be able to go there.

Now, one novelty that has been recently highlighted for the new park is the park's own Pokémon Center - as in the facility that fans recognize for healing Pokémon. It's a model of the same facility found in the games, and it even comes with its own Nurse Joy and the interactive electronics that make the facility realistic as well as an experience by itself. Yet it's certainly part of the experience of the park, so one can't forget to enjoy the rest of the park along with this.

As for Pokémon merchandise that is encapsulated under the common modern understanding of Pokémon Center, the park has no short supply of them. But what might be in short supply is the cash that Trainers may have for and/or after buying them, since the merchandise has been reported to be somewhat expensive, even more so compared to a regular Pokémon Center. It seems prospective fans will need to reserve at least some cash to get at all the good stuff.

In order to enter the park, one needs to reserve tickets by the usage of a smartphone app designed for that very purpose. Yet it looks like fans will only be able to reserve tickets for the times farther ahead, since the times closer are already pretty much booked. And then there's all the necessary travel arrangements that are quite obvious even if left unsaid. Prospective fans will surely need to plan ahead in one way or another if they want to enjoy the park.

Celebrations for the new park are also in the games. Pokémon Unite has a Special Kanto Battle mode and event featuring a map that forces usage of Unite Licenses from Kanto, and Pokémon Go has raids that are to reward Trainers with special location backgrounds... or supposed to, as in typical fashion, there is a bit of a "kerfuffle" with it. Some form of in-game celebration is always in order, given the game roots of Pokémon and its continued appeal.

Of course, the real treat is certainly being able to make it to the park in person, which could be a little hard to come by, given the current circumstances and necessities for being able to do so. But once there, enjoyment is certainly the order of the day through the attraction that is the park and the goodies that can be obtained from being there. The park looks set to be a defining feature of Pokémon in real life, always something to seek for its most diehard fans.

One year ago: Best Ways to Shop for PokéCoins and Items

Two years ago: Living on Pokémon Islands

Three years ago: Rise of the Watery Naiads

Four years ago: Go Tour, Next Age and Next Stage

Five years ago: Movie Manga, Local (Re) Edition

Six years ago: In My Full Time

Seven years ago: The Feeling of Disaggregation

Eight years ago: Life with My Raid Group

Nine years ago: Alola-Exeggutor - From Humanoid to Coconut Tree Dragon

Getting "Nutty" with Pokémon

For those in the know, there is a certain thing from the U.S. that is actually very popular around the world, including quite so in Japan and in a way sort-of rivaling Pokémon there. I'm not too involved with it, but just enough to know and be entertained by it. Even so, it might seem possible to discuss it in terms of Pokémon and the other way around - to discuss Pokémon in terms of it. So, I thought I'd go and do just that.

A key part of the "certain thing" is a boy and his dog, which I don't have to say is quite similar to the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. They certainly care about each other in many ways, and I mean that for both cases above. Yet they might differ at times and in some ways, but everything still works out in the end - at least mostly in the former case. The bond is evident in both, and so are the implications that arise.

In a way, the former's pair has been described to be the combination of the "everyman and ideal self", albeit separately. Retaining this line of reasoning for Pokémon, any character in its world, beyond Ash and Pikachu, can be taken as measures of both - although it has to be admitted that Ash does have a lot of that "everyman" quality and Pikachu shows a lot of "idealism" for what anyone, person or creature, can be.

Of course, the "certain thing" is not solely about them. They have their friends, and likewise for Pokémon, there are friends and comrades for every situation. The former can be likened to a smaller, close-knit version of Pokémon Masters EX that doesn't really expand but still has a lot of what is going on in that game. And what goes on is a lot of bonding as well as some friction, as is expected in any human life and relation.

Getting back to Ash and Pikachu, the former has a shirt that bears resemblance to one that is owned by the aforementioned boy, in a way furthering the connection between the two. And though the imagination of Pikachu isn't too unusual - aside from an attraction involving a certain kind of red bottle - the Pokémon benefits from the imagination of his Trainer, achieving feats in battle that may just be unbelievable for others.

The "certain thing" remains a fascination for those in Japan, just like how Pokémon has in turn become a fascination for those in the U.S. and all around the world. Behind that fascination (for either or both of these), it seems easy to draw some parallels between the two things to understand them by way of each other. That's not a "nutty" thing, even if that "certain thing" is, in a way, for all the (Pokémon) kids at heart in a "peanut gallery".

One year ago: Filling the Week with Pokémon Go Activities

Two years ago: The Plush Dolls That Sit Pretty

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/5/2023

Four years ago: The Little Intricacies of PvP

Five years ago: Get Your Game On, Go Tour

Six years ago: It's (All) About Time

Seven years ago: First-Generation Glitches... Plus My Experience

Eight years ago: I Need a Laugh - Pokémon Humor

Nine years ago: Itasha Revisited

Pokémon in 60 Seconds?

Nowadays, Pokémon has a lot going for its numerous aspects, if many of the posts on this blog are of any indication. It can be pretty hard to condense anything that pertains to them into a very short amount of time (like 60 seconds or 1 minute) for certain purposes (like to show off the franchise to the uninitiated). Yet if that were to happen, the results could be rather varied in form but remain attractive for all those who are concerned. With that, I thought I'd make a discussion out of it to see how things might just work out for the effort.

Part of the inspiration for this is that a real long time ago, certain campaigns got creative by including the concept for "60-second movies". They claimed that the people receiving them would get the gist of a movie (or even a show) with relevant dialogue within that stretch of time. This might be something that one could try to apply for the episodes and movies of the Pokémon anime, and the results could be interesting, at least for those who only need the gist - while the rest of the people and fans would probably prefer to watch them in full instead.

Meanwhile, closer to the present, challenges were given to two people to see who could point out specific things appropriately and answer certain questions correctly. The same challenges could be adapted for Pokémon with its multitude of aspects, and the result has to be as entertaining as the challenges in their original form. It might also resemble a certain newly established Pokémon game show and could be made an offshoot of that game show... although it may be more appropriate to let the challenges stand on their own for their sake.

In the simplest of ways to encapsulate Pokémon within 60 seconds, descriptions could be made for certain aspects about them. For example, a question like "what is Pokémon really all about" could demand that an answer be given within that time, and a viable part of that answer - at least based on my views - could involve the "four pillars" that I described such a long time ago, while also including the relevant points about the eponymous species and any other features that can stand to be included within that short (or not) amount of time.

A certain famous figure once said that of timespans that are seemingly very short, they can still be longer than one thinks they are. This certainly might apply well to a span of 60 seconds, which might conceivably fit a lot of things from actions to explanations. With all the things that it has going on, Pokémon could be construed to have a lot of them, and several different kinds of them could be made to fit within 60 seconds, if any of the above points may be considered. For the short and long of it, 60 seconds for Pokémon may just be enough for its multitude.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/29/2025

Two years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 26

Three years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 7.5

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/29/2022

Five years ago: Road to 25th Anniversary: One More Month

Six years ago: Expecting the Contrary

Seven years ago: Color Me (Shiny) Groudon

Eight years ago: More Pokémon Hanging Things

Nine years ago: Fire Power!

The Year of Plush?

It has come to my attention that Pokémon is also wanting to try out a little something new for this year, much like as they did last year with the "Year of Eevee". This time, though, it seems to be more specifically focused on a particular area of Pokémon, being merchandise: according to Pokémon Center, this will be the "Year of Plush", which could mean a lot of things given that the subset of Pokémon merchandise (and itself as an area of merchandise) can be broader than one might think it is. That's the reason for the added question mark in the title, which also becomes the prompt for further exploration of the topic in a post.

The announcement should also have come to the attention of a great deal of fans, since those who subscribe to the e-mail newsletters for all things Pokémon (which includes the one for Pokémon Center) should have received an edition of the newsletter containing that very announcement. Something prominent within this edition, one that comes up when one opens it, is the illustration containing a number of Pikachu and Ditto prominently along with a few other Pokémon in different moods and situations. For those who don't subscribe, the same illustration may be found on different social media accounts for Pokémon.

As far as merchandise content goes, the e-mail newsletter edition suggests that in fact Ditto and Pikachu will figure in prominently, given the associated promotion for Pokémon Natures plush featuring the two Pokémon species, including how they appear in the illustration. Then there's the new entry of a Pokédex Plush for Mimikyu, which of course means a life-size edition of this niche but highly appreciated Pokémon species (ahem) for fans to appreciate as well. The present offerings are quite fascinating and are surely to be accompanied by others throughout the year, given that the announcement is for that very period.

Plush dolls for Pokémon are pretty common by now, so technically there doesn't need to be a full, entire year for celebrating them. Still, the upcoming Pokémon anniversary of this year, as I've already hinted about in my actual "yearly theme" post, actually has something special going for it, so it seems to be quite pertinent to celebrate that alongside even the most common matters for Pokémon... which include plush dolls. With that, the "Year of Plush" can be construed to be a totally ambitious premise of a common matter that is made even more special by all kinds of circumstances for Pokémon and all its fans.

One year ago: Searching for New Pokémon Meetups

Two years ago: Adapting More of Ash's Outfits?

Three years ago: The Present Trouble with Indonesian VGC

Four years ago: My Superstar Type Teams in Pokémon Shuffle

Five years ago: Getting Measured for Costumes

Six years ago: Faults in Some Stars

Seven years ago: Pokédex Texts and Information

Eight years ago: A Song for the Lonely, et Cetera

Nine years ago: My Path Through the Main Series

On Timelines That Float

Certain universes have what's called "floating timelines", where the characters in said universes don't change in age and/or appearance even though they progress just as the world around them does, which includes the coming and going of other characters. The "timeline" thus "floats" because the characters progress on their own, like they are on a vessel floating upon the "sea of time". It becomes clear that some perspective shift is involved here.

Now, if this sounds like something that does occur in Pokémon, that's because it does (or did): the anime is said to do this when Ash was still around. The change in the regions and the addition of more Pokémon species were indications that the Pokémon world continued to progress, despite that Ash and other people in connection remained pretty much the same. Their progressions "float" and "cruise" upon that of the world itself.

The "floating timeline" aspect in turn contributes or gives rise to a "relevance" aspect, by which the stories and adventures remain pertinent to both old and new fans. This has obviously worked quite well for the Pokémon anime during the time it had Ash - perhaps a bit too well, since he is still quite cemented to the anime even well after his departure. It only means that the connection to the character and related adventures is extremely established.

Speaking of all this matter about time(lines) and how they float, it is also known that time itself may be the only thing that can provide answers to its progressions. That's the essence behind a certain popular song by one of my favorite artists (nonetheless), which I also thought about as I examined the matter about "floating timelines". With that, the discussion becomes the perfect entry point for finally mentioning the song on this blog:

Who can say if your love grows

As your heart chose?

Only time

And who can say where the road goes?

Where the day flows?

Only time

Who knows? Only time

Who knows? Only time

-- "Only Time", Enya 

Just like how time may hold all the answers to life - and possibly the universe and everything - the progression of people in that life and characters in adventures and stories may have all the answers for all kinds of people who enjoy them, regardless of what time they are living in. That becomes something that "floating timelines" enable, for even without apparent change, there is still something to be gained where they are of concern, for Pokémon or otherwise.

One year ago: The (Personal) Importance of In-Game Trainer Appearance

Two years ago: In Pursuit of Unite Licenses

Three years ago: The Present Trouble with Silph Arena

Four years ago: More Evolution Stages for Pokémon Species?

Five years ago: Pokémon SM KFC Family Meal Toy: Mimikyu & Ultra Ball

Six years ago: Renewed Oaths: Pokémon Direct, 1/9/2020

Seven years ago: Custom Pokémon Merchandise

Eight years ago: A Pokémon-Pikachu Balloon

Nine years ago: Where It All Started

Triangulation in Pokémon Terms

The term I mention in the title of this post - "triangulation" - might only be heard in certain advanced contexts, ones that also likely don't or won't involve Pokémon. Yet I also feel that Pokémon can somehow be involved in demonstrating how the term can manifest itself in those contexts and furthermore beyond. It's also a bit of a mental exercise for me as a blogger to try and do that, certainly then to present the results here in a post all its own. 

Basically, the term involves ascertaining things. For a possibly half-realistic and half-Pokémon example, to determine where a disturbance in the ground may be coming from, two Diglett can be employed to sense the vibrations. Where their vibrations intersect with that from the ground, that would be where the disturbance is, and that's what "triangulation" is. The realistic part of this is certainly not having to use Diglett to accomplish the objective.

Meanwhile, I myself benefit from the "triangulation" process for this blog. I'm effectively doing that when I'm gathering information for a post, like from the separate infographics for certain Pokémon Go events as well as from the official web site and from the experiences of others and my own. In doing so, I'm able to write up something with a certain weight to it, and others can benefit from the information contained in that writeup.

Now, those advanced contexts might involve research of some kind, and that definitely invokes the Pokémon Professors as something they'd do all the time, and might even require the help of aides, as Ash and Goh did for Professor Cerise. In fact, their efforts are essentially invoking the "triangulation" process, synthesizing all their data to something that would let them understand "the whole" of things, the point of the process in general.

Some terms like "triangulation" sound advanced, particularly in the contexts they're usually used in, but when they're considered to a certain depth as with that term above, they might not sound all that advanced and in fact turn out rather pedestrian and necessary for some everyday matters. Of course, a little bit of Pokémon might just help in that regard, and that can serve well for those whose dealings are always somehow linked with the franchise.

One year ago: Club Campfire Rewards in Pokémon Go

Two years ago: The Outdoor Tea Party in Café Remix

Three years ago: The Post URLs on This Blog

Four years ago: Streaming Pokémon Anime Episodes

Five years ago: Introducing Collection Challenges

Six years ago: (Finally, Another) Local EX Raid, 1/9/2020

Seven years ago: Pokémon Ceramics

Eight years ago: Hitching a Raid Ride

Nine years ago: A Tale of Two Shirts

Bigger on the Inside

Fans of certain fictional series might recognize a concept related to certain things in those series, in that they are "bigger on the inside". The concept is obvious enough, suggesting that those things are internally more spacious than their outsides - in particular with regard to size - would suggest. This concept may be considered to have a place in Pokémon as well, with the way that certain small things here can (do) or may just encapsulate bigger things.

As expected, one of those things is the Poké Ball. Like a certain encapsulating time travel device, there is the thought that its inside portion is actually much bigger - otherwise species behemoths like Rayquaza and Eternatus won't be able to fit. Else (or perhaps in addition), there is also a "compression" factor in play that allows Pokémon and environments to fit in such a small space, much like archive files on a computer. Whatever happens, there is some universal agreement that the Poké Ball is definitely "bigger on the inside" somehow.

Then, there are the dungeons in different Pokémon regions. Often, from the outside and in particular their entry points, they might appear to be pretty small. However, as soon as one steps into and navigates them, one realizes that they're actually pretty big. In fact, it could also be considered that the actual dungeon, if it were to actually exist, would also be quite big by actual standards. This too is similar in regard to a different game outside of Pokémon, for which the "bigger on the inside" is also a hallmark of some of its areas.

In similar fashion, the regions of the Pokémon world can be considered to be a lot bigger than their illustrations and manifestations would suggest. If their real-life models have anything to say, it may be that they're similar in size and in scope, and one would definitely be dealing with something major. In this case, the "inside" is the true nature of things, and that true nature is being able to fit all the Pokémon, people, and other things within that true expanse. The "bigger on the inside" concept thus has its own way of manifesting here. 

Something to be gained from the "bigger on the inside" concept is that not everything that is depicted is true to their scales, furthermore if they have things that lay hidden within them. So it is that the fictional series have big things inside seemingly little compartments - and for that matter, so does Pokémon. In some sense, size does matter... and yet that size may also depend on things as they are on the outside followed by what really goes inside them.

One year ago: Make Like Pokémon Leaves and...

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies: Extras and All

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

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

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

Six years ago: A Cosplay Departure

Seven years ago: Screenplay Writing

Eight years ago: Good (Life)Times, Again

Quickies: On Donuts, Rings, and Lords

It was a few years ago that I brought up a few local Pokémon donuts that are the result of a fascinating collaboration. The longing I felt for them a year later is still felt even today to some extent. Aside from these special donuts that are solid, though, most donuts are in the shape of rings with a hollow center, a characteristic shape that allows heat to penetrate and cook the pastry. Of course, rings will allow other things to pass through their middles, as any person can attest, and for Pokémon, a particular ringbearer comes to mind.

That ringbearer is certainly none other than Hoopa, whose rings have passed through quite a few particularly powerful Pokémon, many of the Legendary sort. I sometimes refer to the Pokémon as the "lord of the rings" (with apologies to a certain author of a famous fantasy series) because with such powers, it does seem rather appropriate to consider the Pokémon as a kind of "lord" with certain divinations - or powers - that enable the rings to manifest and then pass through those specific Pokémon.

Meanwhile, the ringbearer is known for another whimsy that goes back to the first of the mentioned topics for this post. The whimsy concerns donuts, certainly, and the Pokémon is linked to them by a certain kind of fascination, one that obviously has something to do with shape. The latest Legends game (ZA) furthers the connection with donuts in its expansion DLC, while going somewhat further back, Pokémon Unite had its Hoopa event with a donut baking aspect that further cements its fascination link.

A lord with such a whimsy might not sound too "lord-like" in one sense. Yet given that it is still possible for it to get a lot of what it wishes for, it's still a "lord" in many ways. And if the "lord" wishes for donuts, then it is likely that it is what it shall have. As for me, now I feel interested in getting donuts just by the virtue of writing up this post, though they may never hold a candle to the Pokémon donuts I covered so long ago. Still, their ring shape is a testament for passing things through, and at least one of them might be hunger.

One year ago: My Most Frequent Flops in Café Remix

Two years ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu Mini Event III

Three years ago: Performance Critique: CHoCoDays 2022 Fun Karaoke Challenge

Four years ago: Salim Group and Pokémon

Five years ago: Perking up Holidays, Pokémon Style

Six years ago: PvP: After One Year

Seven years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, Waves 3 and 4

Eight years ago: Balanced Systems Stimulate Civilization