Poké-Crafts Made out of Paper

Papercraft is an amazing thing. To turn paper into lifelike creations is impressive and almost unreal. That is exactly what I felt when I was introduced to the craft a few years ago at a local Japanese event, and of course when it was displayed, it came with Pokémon in tow, which delighted the Pokémon fan in me. It was also this that inspired me to actually use papercraft in my cosplay efforts as the complements of my Pokémon cosplay.

At this point, I have to give credit where credit is due. The papercraft that I used then came from a site called Paperpokés, and they have lots of great Pokémon papercraft models. Interestingly, the models are not just of the Pokémon themselves, but also objects such as Poké Balls and even Poké Doll replicas. Their Pikachu v2 model is what became the basis for the old Pikachu I used and its translation into a doll form. As for their other models, I've tried building Pichu, and it's real nice; I also built Jolteon for an online friend, who appreciated the gesture. I already have Charmander printed out and ready to build anytime, though it is waiting for time and space. It seems those two things hinder me from making their models, for which otherwise I would have a lineup of paper models by now.

It wouldn't be a craft if I didn't apply my own spin, my modifications to their models. That is what I did when I worked with their Pikachu v2 model. After trying a test build at the original size, I doubled the size for my old paper Pikachu, and quadrupled it for the translation into a doll. An interesting thing happened when I printed out the parts for my old Pikachu; the print shop made an error and accidentally printed the parts on translucent paper before they printed the parts correctly; I took the mistake prints and built the model anyway, which resulted in a purely translucent Pikachu. Additionally, for the paper models for cosplay, I strengthened them with a foam backing on the inside. For my paper models, I also asked for the parts to be printed on art paper, which made for a glossy appearance. In the future, I could foresee experimenting further with their models.

I have to thank papercraft (and more specifically, the Paperpokés team) for taking my Pokémon attraction in a wildly different direction. This is really an area where I could express some creativity in changing up existing models to suit my purposes, as I did for both cosplay and display. Papercraft may appear seemingly unreal in realizing fantasies, but when Pokémon is involved, it might as well be the most accessible way to make things real.

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

Don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
-- "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing", Aerosmith

Recently, I haven't been able to get back to watching the Pokémon anime due to other things taking up my time. So you can say I'm on a withdrawal right now. Even so, I'm interested to get back to watching as soon as possible, and that is where the memory of this song comes in. Forget about the end-of-the-world situation for which this song is often associated with; for me, the song always evokes Pokémon, or at least its anime adaptation.

This song to me speaks of the experiences I get when I watch the anime. There are happy times, sad times, pleasant times, unpleasant times, and times of just about any emotion that can be felt under a rainbow. They're all something that I feel as I watch certain episodes of the anime, and most of the time they're something to be cherished and experienced again and again, which ties into the "inescapableness" that the verses of the song suggest.

As for the chorus, it really does capture how I feel, in a way. When I'm not watching the anime, I long to watch it again. And occasionally I do imagine and dream about the anime, but the fantasy is not enough, resulting in a greater longing for the reality of it. The point is that the anime is something that I want to watch time and again since my feelings are carried away by it. It's truly something that I don't want to miss, at least before I have to.

Now I want to find that sliver of time when I can watch the Pokémon anime again.

Red on a Bike

I like bicycles as much as I do motorcycles. I'm fortunate to be able to ride the former, which obviously gives a leg up on the latter. I also like the character Red for his proximity to and duplicity of Ash. So when I see the illustration of Red riding a green bike, I get a sense of delight and excitement out of it. It is something that I can really see myself doing, in part because the vibe is really appropriate for the character.

Bikes (and by extension motorcycles) demand a serious nature, so this definitely befits the character of Red. It's hard not to be serious when riding something with two wheels, and I speak from experience. The focus needed to ride something with two wheels is close to that needed for a Pokémon battle, so I can understand Red being on one. To show the same drive and determination in a Pokémon battle and on a bicycle is quite admirable and is a total inspiration.

As a matter of fact, I'm inspired to replicate the illustration in cosplay, since I have the costume and can ride a bike. The only thing is that I have a bike, but it's not green, so this would be the hardest part to replicate, since I'm not compelled to go out and find (and own) a green bike. The alternative is that I could play with this concept and use a different kind of bike: a dirt bike, which coincidentally certain ones are also often green-colored in my area. This would also mean having the chops for it, which I don't mind having, but it would take time. These are still interesting prospects.

That this illustration of Red and his bike was made is a wonder in itself. I can't help but feel the way Red does when he is on that bike. It makes me want to have the same feelings for Pokémon (in part by replicating the illustration) as well as in whatever else I do. I'm really taken by this illustration; it really does satisfy my inner Pokémon and bicycling spirit, both of which I am fortunate to have.

On Skateboards and Pokémon

As I've mentioned in my post about Pokémon and conventional sports, it is not strange to think that both can go together. Skateboards too belong in that vein of sports, so there is no reason that the two can't go together. Trainers represent the most natural people in the Pokémon world to ride skateboards. Of course, with the recent developments in Alola, it might seem apt to think that some Team Skull members are riders of skateboards. Even so, the most hippie of Trainers might have a penchant for this equipment. One of them is not exactly that, but nonetheless is very familiar.

That Trainer is Ash. In the Johto saga episode for which its English title is "Extreme Pokémon", he divulged that he had some boarding experiences on the grassy hills near Pallet Town. It is this experience that led him to win a sled-skateboarding challenge in the very same episode with Bayleef. I think this is nothing short of impressive and admirable. Though I can't ride a skateboard, I'm interested in owning one and learning how to ride it because of this. It would seem like I'm getting to know his character more.

As for skateboards themselves, I don't mind riding any old plain skateboard. But based on the above, it would be thrilling to have and ride a Pokémon skateboard. I can already think up of possible Pokémon that could be on one. Pikachu is a given, of course, but some of the more down-to-earth Pokémon could be put on a skateboard. Treecko could be one of them, as could be Chimchar and Totodile, for example, to round up the starters. It could very well be exciting to ride a skateboard with motifs of these Pokémon.

Skateboarding tends toward the extreme side of conventional sports, but it is one nevertheless and therefore could still be complemented with Pokémon. There's already a precedent for it in the anime with Ash riding a skateboard, and to have a skateboard decorated with Pokémon is an intriguing prospect. All these connections are seemingly affirmative that skateboarding belongs in the world of Pokémon as any other conventional sport, enough to make me want to ride one right now and realize a "Pokéskateboard" fantasy.

Pokémon and Sports

There are many things that go well with Pokémon. Photography is one of them (Pokémon Snap) and art (Pokémon Art Academy) is another. But I would also argue that sports - in particular conventional sports - also goes well with Pokémon. After all, in a world that is similar to ours, sports could also be similar. Granted, there's a line of reasoning that states Pokémon battling is a sport, or rather the sport. But when closely considered, it is actually possible that conventional sports are also present in the world of Pokémon.

The most telltale sports equipment in the world of Pokémon is, of course, the bicycle. Anything that a bicycle can do in the real world, bicycles in the Pokémon world can do. This is no more true than in the third-generation games, where there are two bikes to choose from: the Mach Bike and the Acro Bike. The Mach Bike goes fast, akin to the real-world road bike, and the Acro Bike goes anywhere, akin to the real-world mountain or trials bike. It is not too much of a stretch to think there could be competitions with these bikes in the Pokémon world, much like we do in ours.

The sport that isn't a sport, which is spectator sport, would conceivably also be present alongside conventional sports. Certainly Pokémon battles are shown live in front of an audience and broadcast all over (if the very first episode of the anime would have you believe), and that makes it a spectator sport as well. Again, what holds true in the real world and is (or could be) similar in aspect in the Pokémon world might very well be true, so all the conventional sports may similarly become spectator sports.

So it seems that sports are a given when it comes to Pokémon. Battling itself could be considered a sport, and the prime one at that. The existence of equipment that is typically used in real-world sports like the bicycle practically hints at other sports in the Pokémon world. And all of these can be viewed and watched by everyone, making them spectator sports. I'd say it wouldn't be hard to believe that Pokémon lends itself well to sports, just like it does to many of our real-world things.

A Faraway Tournament and a Charitable Spirit

While my VGC skills are somewhat lacking, I try to participate in as many tournaments as possible. Unfortunately, with all the business I had going on, this meant that I could effectively participate in only one, and that was the one at the beginning of this year. All the other tournaments were either held in a faraway location, which made it impractical for me to go, or clashed with something that I needed to do. The result was that I had little choice but not partake in them, lest I abandon my business, which would be far worse than giving up the tournaments.

Many of those tournaments that I could not participate in were organized by the national group of which I am a member, but as I've noted in my post about Pokéfriends, "national" is only half of the description. And they have plans for holding one more major tournament to cap off what has been a thrilling ride in the eight-plus months since the release of Sun and Moon late last year. That tournament will be a live one, and it automatically means I will be far removed in location from it. Moreover, you have to qualify for it based on the previous tournaments or by a pre-tournament "last chance" qualifier. If you're familiar with the Pokémon World Championships, you'll no doubt note that it's quite similar to that.

The tournament is not for another two months, but due to my unpredictable schedules, it adds to the impracticality. However, in order to support the tournament, the national group has decided to hold a fundraiser in a way that is reminiscent of Kickstarter-style campaigns. And the best part? I don't have to attend the tournament after participating in the fundraiser. Plus, as it so happens, the current time of year where I live is in a merry kind of mood where giving is just one part of the equation that makes it merry. So you know what? I'm going to contribute and put into the fundraiser some of my money.

I don't have VGC skills on par with some of the players that will be in the tournament, but that doesn't mean I enjoy Pokémon any less than they do. At this point, I'm happy to throw some of my money to support those going into the tournament and make sure that the tournament proceeds for them. The timing is also right with a time where it is important to make other people happy, one way of which is through giving. Thus I have nothing to lose by putting some of my money into this fundraiser, and unlike a Pokémon battle, we would be all winners. I hope that in the future I can do the same on the VGC battlefield.

Poor Zygarde

Discussing third games and how things are changing brings to mind one particular Pokémon whose fate appears destined but instead meets a demise. That Pokémon is Zygarde, the "odd one out" of the XYZ trio of the sixth generation. Although it is almost as well-known as its X and Y counterparts, Xerneas and Yveltal, Zygarde has remained secondary to the other two. This is quite odd given its complementary role and intriguing development.

Like Rayquaza outside of Emerald and the remade third generation games, Zygarde is not really part of the main storyline proper. Zygarde is found in a cave with the three orbs for the fourth-generation "box legends" and only in the post-game. Zygarde's ability is Aura Break, which makes it obvious that it is meant to counter the Fairy Aura and Dark Aura abilities of Xerneas and Yveltal respectively. Zygarde gained new Formes by way of the anime and this soon appeared in Shuffle and Picross as well, but not in the main series.

Zygarde seemed to have things going good, and everything was pointing to signs of a "third game" (Z) or at least a second pair of games (speculated as XZ, YZ). But then this didn't happen, and Sun and Moon were announced instead. Instead of being put in the spotlight, Zygarde was relegated only to a Pokémon that was just purely obtainable in those games. The consolation was that it was possible to obtain the new Formes in the main series of games as well for the first time. Zygarde's role by this point was closed up.

Zygarde could have been the fodder for an epic third game like Rayquaza or a fusion-style game like Black 2 and White 2 (and most likely the upcoming Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon). Coincidentally, Zygarde and Rayquaza are both green, pitted against other contemporary legends that are red and blue, so Zygarde's roles could have been envisaged in the same way as Rayquaza. Therefore, the relegation of Zygarde in Sun and Moon seems like a total waste of effort and not giving enough "credit where credit is due", which is disappointing. Of course, this could all be changed in the future should Generation VI be revisited, though it would have to be a long one indeed for a Pokémon whose game fate is pretty much set.

Poor Zygarde. Here's to wishing that your honors may still be received in the future.