It's the latest craze sweeping America. It's already taking complete control over Japan. It is threatening to take over the world. Is is Godzilla? Is it Aliens from outer space? Is it Bill Gates? No, it's a 1 foot tall rodent named Pikachu.
Just when you thought cartoon mania was dead, (thanks to the state of Saturday morning cartoons in the '90s) along comes an electrical rat to shake things up again. Pikachu is the star of a new show named Pokemon,(forget the humans, they're the real sidekicks).
For those of you who have been living in caves, Pokemon is a Japanese cartoon that started airing in the U.S. last year. Japanese cartoons seem to be slowly getting on American T.V., with Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z having already finished airing, but with Pokemon we now have a show that seems to have the possibility of taking off in the states. The fact that it is based on a hit GameBoy game doesn't hurt either.
Pokemon, (which means Pocket Monster in English) is a cartoon about a boy named Ash Catchem, (yes, his last name is Catchem) and his quest to catch all the Pokemon in the world. Pokemon are little monsters which can be caught and trained to fight other Pokemon. Needless to say, on this fantasy Earth, Pokemon fighting is THE premiere sport and form of entertainment. Ash's first Pokemon is Pikachu, a bizaar electrical rat, and also perhaps the cutest Pokemon on the show. Each of the 150 Pokemon have a unique power, and a different way to attack. The show has an endless possibility of stories to tell with all of the variations of Pokemon.
The target audience of the show is young children, ages 6-12, probably to match the age group of Gameboy players. Like Sailor Moon though, this doesn't keep older groups from watching the show. Once again, a show meant for kids in Japan seems to be much more interesting then shows meant for kids in the U.S.(take Rugrats for example).
Don't look for indepth plot and diabolical villians on the show however. There are no giant sized aliens or any dark overlord ninja's anywhere to be seen on this show. The best the show could come up with for villians is the "born to lose" Team Rocket. This rival team ends up fighting Ash and friends in just about every episode, and they get stomped on by the good guys every time. The three members of this team of losers are Jesse, James, and Meowth, the only talking Pokemon. They seem to be a call back to the days when villians were doomed to stupidity, (like Bepop and Rocksteady from the Ninja Turtles) but they make for interesting characters in their own rights. More often then not, you find yourself cheering for Team Rocket as well; you wish that they just once could pull of a plot that works. They deserve there day in the sun as well.
So, if your wanting to watch a cartoon with excitement, fun, and a little zanniness, Pokemon just might be the cartoon for you. New episodes are now broadcasting every Saturday morning on the Warner Bros. network, and with the popularity of the show rising, this phenomenon might become as big as such cartoon hits like Ninja Turtles and Batman. So be on the lookout for that little Pikachu. He just might conquer the world after all.
LINKS:
The premiere Pokemon sight is www.pokemon.com
Just when you thought cartoon mania was dead, (thanks to the state of Saturday morning cartoons in the '90s) along comes an electrical rat to shake things up again. Pikachu is the star of a new show named Pokemon,(forget the humans, they're the real sidekicks).
For those of you who have been living in caves, Pokemon is a Japanese cartoon that started airing in the U.S. last year. Japanese cartoons seem to be slowly getting on American T.V., with Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z having already finished airing, but with Pokemon we now have a show that seems to have the possibility of taking off in the states. The fact that it is based on a hit GameBoy game doesn't hurt either.
Pokemon, (which means Pocket Monster in English) is a cartoon about a boy named Ash Catchem, (yes, his last name is Catchem) and his quest to catch all the Pokemon in the world. Pokemon are little monsters which can be caught and trained to fight other Pokemon. Needless to say, on this fantasy Earth, Pokemon fighting is THE premiere sport and form of entertainment. Ash's first Pokemon is Pikachu, a bizaar electrical rat, and also perhaps the cutest Pokemon on the show. Each of the 150 Pokemon have a unique power, and a different way to attack. The show has an endless possibility of stories to tell with all of the variations of Pokemon.
Don't look for indepth plot and diabolical villians on the show however. There are no giant sized aliens or any dark overlord ninja's anywhere to be seen on this show. The best the show could come up with for villians is the "born to lose" Team Rocket. This rival team ends up fighting Ash and friends in just about every episode, and they get stomped on by the good guys every time. The three members of this team of losers are Jesse, James, and Meowth, the only talking Pokemon. They seem to be a call back to the days when villians were doomed to stupidity, (like Bepop and Rocksteady from the Ninja Turtles) but they make for interesting characters in their own rights. More often then not, you find yourself cheering for Team Rocket as well; you wish that they just once could pull of a plot that works. They deserve there day in the sun as well.
The premiere Pokemon sight is www.pokemon.com
