Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion

Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion
Series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Gold and Silver
Designed by	Ken Sugimori
Voiced by (English)	Cyndaquil: Kayzie Rogers Quilava: Eric Stuart(4Kids) Bill Rogers(TPCI) Typhlosion: Susumu Chiba
Voiced by (Japanese)	Yuji Ueda (Ash's) Kiyotaka Furushima (Dawn's) Susumu Chiba (Jimmy's Typhlosion/Kenta's Bakufūn)

Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion, known in Japan as Hinoarashi (ヒノアラシ^?), Magumarashi (マグマラシ^?), and Bakufūn (バクフーン^?) are three Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.

Concept and characteristics

Cyndaquil, known as the Fire Mouse Pokémon, is the Fire-type Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, and its remakes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Its fur is bluish on top of its body, but a milky color on the underside. Although called the Fire Mouse Pokémon, Cyndaquil seems to be a composite of features from a echidna and a hedgehog, seen in the flames erupting from its back, and the shrew, a rat and a mouse, the general shape of its body. Its eyes are often closed, as it is still young. It has four red spots on its back from which its flames erupt. Cyndaquil is usually timid, but is capable of defending itself by using the fire on its back.^[1] The fire grows more powerful as the Cyndaquil becomes more angry or defensive.^[2]

Quilava, known as the Volcano Pokémon, is the evolution of Cyndaquil. Like its pre-evolution, the top half of its body is blue; however, its entire body is slimmer. It also seems to have ears and to have lost its snout that it had as Cyndaquil, and its eyes are open. Its fur is non-flammable, so it can withstand flame attacks.^[3] The fire coming from its head and back, which are stronger than Cyndaquil's, can be launched as a flame attack.^[4] Quilava is known to be less timid than Cyndaquil, though its behavior appears to be affected by its surroundings. A very common occurrence during evolution is an increase in aggression. Quilava has been known to adapt to many habitats; however, it is usually found in the care of Trainers.

Typhlosion, known as the Volcano Pokémon, is the final form of the Cyndaquil evolutionary line. Unlike Cyndaquil, Typhlosion bears no relation to the echidna, instead based on a combination on a wolverine, a badger, a weasel and a rat. The number of special vents it possesses has dropped to the row on its upper back; however, it can put forth a tremendous amount of heat. Typhlosion carries the same coloration of its lower forms. Its yellow fur is brighter than it is on Quilava, yet still duller than Cyndaquil. Its fur is incredibly coarse, dry, and somewhat shaggy, but still fire-proof. This fur, when rubbed together by Typhlosion, can be used to create huge explosions. Far more aggressive than either Cyndaquil or Quilava, Typhlosion are exceedingly hard to find out in the plains. They are a common cause of grass fires as the heat they expel is hot enough to cause the air around them to shimmer. It viciously assaults its opponents, reducing them to ashes with its incredibly hot flames. Though not color-blind, Typhlosion have slightly poorer eyesight than Quilava due to having smaller pupils. They make up for it with a keen sense of smell and remarkable hearing. It creates heat shimmers with intense fire to hide itself.^[5]

Appearances

In the video games

Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion first appear in the Game Boy Color video games Pokémon Gold, Silver and its remakes Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver. It was one of the three starter Pokémon along with Totodile and Chikorita. Cyndaquil eventually evolves into Quilava, which eventually evolves into Typhlosion. They have appeared in each subsequent main Pokémon title since, including Pokémon Emerald where it was given as a bonus for obtaining every Pokémon in the Hoenn Dex. Outside of the main series, they also appear in Pokémon Trozei!, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon titles, and the Pokémon Ranger titles. By itself, Cyndaquil appears in Pokémon Channel, and it and Quilava both appear in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Cyndaquil appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a Pokémon that players can summon from Poké Balls as items. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl it appears as a collectible trophy.

In the anime

Cyndaquil has made numerous appearances in the Pokémon anime, most notably, one under the control of Ash. His Cyndaquil often seemed to be very shy and relaxed, often sleeping. It evolved right before the Sinnoh League into Quilava in order to save itself and the rest of Ash's Pokémon from Team Rocket's machine. Dawn also owns a Cyndaquil, which she got as an egg as a prize for defeating Lyra. Later in the episode, the egg hatches and Dawn is greeted with a fiery blast from Cyndaquil.^[6] It has a tendency to flare up its back when it's happy or when it's showing affection.

Quilava first appeared as a cameo where Ash witnessed a trainer training with his Quilava for the Silver Conference and also considered for a short time of getting his Cyndaquil to evolve as a way of training it for the Silver Conference following Cyndaquil's defeat against Satchel's Magby. A Typhlosion owned by Jimmy is featured in The Legend of Thunder!; it tries to help save the Legendary Pokémon Raikou from being cruelly exploited by Team Rocket associates. In the Sinnoh episode, An Old Family Blend. Ash's Cydaquil evolved into Quilava while training for the Sinnoh League and defending Ash from Team Rocket.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Gold took the Cyndaquil from Professor Elm's lab to try to catch the thief Silver. He named the Cyndaquil "Explotaro"(Exbo in VIZ media) for the explosive fire from its back. Explotaro evolved into a Quilava at the Goldenrod Daycare Center. It later evolved into its final stage, Typhlosion, battling Lugia at the Whirl Islands. As a Typhlosion, it gave Gold the upper hand while fighting the Mask of Ice at the end of the Gold, Silver, and Crystal arc. Around the end of the Emerald arc, it learns the ultimate move, Blast Burn, which it used against Guile Hideout.

Reception

A special edition Game Boy Color was released featuring Cyndaquil, Totodile, Chikorita, Pikachu, and Pichu, though the first three were removed in the United States release.^[7] 1UP.com's Kat Bailey wrote that she would have picked Cyndaquil to follow behind her in HeartGold and SoulSilver.^[8] GamesRadar's Raymond Padilla described Cyndaquil as "super cute".^[9] IGN's Pokémon Chick chose Cyndaquil as her starter Pokémon in an attempt to make the game challenging since the previous Fire type Pokémon Charmander was the most difficult Pokémon to start with in Red and Blue according to her. However, she wrote that it turned out to be the easiest. In addition to becoming a powerful Pokémon when it reached its final form, she found it to be "one of the cuter Pokemon out there".^[10]

A GamesRadar editor called Quilava a "solid early-game Fire Pokémon".^[11] Official Nintendo Magazine named Typhlosion one of the ten best Pokémon in the game as of 2010, stating "When choosing your starter Pokémon, Cyndaquil is the one to go for if you're looking for an easy ride through the first few gyms."^[12] Authors Josh Kaufeld and Jeremy Smith called it a "powerful new Pokémon".^[13] A GamesRadar editor wrote that while Typhlosion is based on a real life animal, it is "still cool" because the developers "added a creative element to the animals they were originally inspired by".^[14] A GamesRadar editor wrote that it is much more aggressive than earlier forms and the last Fire starter to be a pure Fire type.^[15] IGN's Pokémon Chick called Typhlosion "everyone's favorite flaming weasel" and wrote that it "had a heckuva lot to live up to, being the second Pokemon generation's Fire type starter after [Charizard] went on to become one of THE most popular Pokemon of all time, legendary or not". She also called it "unquestionably the most powerful and "easy" of the GSC starting Pokémon, Typhlosion has endeared himself to many a trainer".^[16] IGN also ranked Cyndaquil as the 70th best Pokémon,^[17] Quilava as the 63rd best Pokémon,^[18] and Typhlosion as the 22nd best Pokémon.^[18]

References

1. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Gold. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "It is timid, and always curls itself up in a ball. If attacked, it flares up its back for protection."
2. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Crystal. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2001-07-29) "The fire that spouts from its back burns hottest when it is angry. The flaring flames intimidate foes."
3. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Silver. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "This Pokémon is fully covered by nonflammable fur. It can withstand any kind of fire attack."
4. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Gold. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "Be careful if it turns its back during battle. It means that it will attack with the fire on its back."
5. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Pearl. (Nintendo). Nintendo DS. (2007-04-22) "It attacks using blasts of fire. It creates heat shimmers with intense fire to hide itself."
6. ^ "Johto Festival! Chikorita and Waninoko Appear!!". Masashi Sogo (writer). Pokémon. Various. September 17, 2009(Japan). No. 143, season Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles.
7. ^ http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/092/092129p1.html
8. ^ http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8988499
9. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/pokemusings-week-20/a-200710251592215087/g-2006100415372930075/p-6
10. ^ http://faqs.ign.com/articles/380/380646p1.html
11. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/the-complete-pokemon-gsc-pokedex-part-1/a-20070829121537713022/g-2006100415372930075/p-5
12. ^ Chris Scullion (24-Apr-2010). "Nintendo Feature: 10 Best Pokémon - Official Nintendo Magazine". Official Nintendo Magazine. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=16559. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
13. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=LtzjFS6Iiw0C
14. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/fugly-pokemon/a-20071010152314397000/g-2006100415372930075/p-6
15. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/the-complete-pokemon-gsc-pokedex-part-1/a-20070829121537713022/g-2006100415372930075/p-6
16. ^ http://faqs.ign.com/articles/390/390802p1.html
17. ^ http://www.ign.com/top/pokemon/70
18. ^ ^{a b} http://www.ign.com/top/pokemon/63