Kangaskhan

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Kangaskhan
Image:Kangaskhan.png
National Pokédex
Tangela - Kangaskhan (#115) - Horsea
Johto Pokédex
Marowak - Kangaskhan (#205) - Rhyhorn
Japanese name Garura
Evolves from None
Evolves into None
Generation First
Species Parent Pokémon
Type Normal
Height 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m)
Weight 176.0 lb (80.0 kg)
Ability Early Bird/Bravery(the latter from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl onwards)

Kangaskhan (ガルーラ Garūra?, Garura in original Japanese language versions) is a fictional character of the Pokémon franchise.

The name "Kangaskhan" is a combination of the word kangaroo and the name of the famous ruler of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan. Its Japanese name is derived from "kangaroo" (カンガルー kangarū?) and "ruler" (ルーラー rūrā?).

Contents

[edit] Biological characteristics

Kangaskhan resembles a roughly man-sized dinosaur. Like a marsupial, it sports a pouch in its front (from which its name comes), but actually has a much stouter build than a kangaroo, and is closer in shape to a dinosaur. Its body is colored in tones of brown, but its child has a grayish-blue colored hide. Kangaskhan's paws and feet are clawed, and its head has a helmet-like formation on top of it. Kangaskhan also has fangs, which seem to clash with the kangaroo's herbivore diet. However, it may only use its fangs for defensive purposes, much like gorillas or mouse-deer which are strict herbivores.

All Kangaskhan are of the female gender. According to the breeding principles in the video games, this means that a Kangaskhan's children are always female Kangaskhan. A Kangaskhan is extremely devoted to its children. It carries them in its pouch, keeping them protected until they can find food for themselves, which usually takes them three years to manage. Kangaskhan continues keeping its child in its pouch even during sleep, but it remains upright while doing so to avoid crushing it.

Kangaskhan will let its child out of the pouch only when it believes it is absolutely safe to do so. Even then, it is always close by, keeping an eye on it. Anyone who tries to capture a lone Kangaskhan child is extremely foolhardy, as its mother is certain to appear in seconds and attack in a violent rage to protect its offspring, no matter how tough the fight.

Despite its appearance in every game sprite, the Kangaskhan infant is not available as a Pokémon in the game, probably because it is impossible to separate it from its mother. It is not known whether it belongs to the Kangaskhan species or is a pre-evolved form in the style of Pichu or Igglybuff. Many believe that Missingno or 'M was intended to be a baby Kangaskhan before Red and Blue were released.

[edit] In the Pokémon video games

In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen Kangaskhan is found in the Safari Zone. While in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal it is obtainable in the Rock Tunnel.

Kangaskhan has slightly above-average stats in all attributes except for the (somewhat irrelevant, given Kangaskhan's Normal type) Special Attack stat. Kangaskhan learns several powerful moves, like Mega Punch, Dizzy Punch, Endure and Reversal. The last two attacks make a good combination, as the first ensures Kangaskhan will survive an otherwise fatal attack with one Hit Point remaining, while the second's power increases the lower Kangaskhan's health is. Kangaskhan can also learn from TMs some skills that compliment its ineffectiveness against Rock, Steel and Ghost types, such as Brick Break and Shadow Ball. Kangaskhan can also learn Stomp, Crush Claw, Substitute, and Foresight (which gives Kangaskhan the ability to use Normal-type and Fighting-type moves on Ghost-types) as Egg Moves. Finally, Kangaskhan's Early Bird ability, which awakens it quickly from a sleep condition, can prove useful when using the Rest move (which restores all Hit Points but puts the user to sleep). Kangaskhan's other ability, Bravery (found only in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl), allows it to successfully use a Normal/Fighting type attack and deal damage. This makes Kangaskhan (along with Miltank) an excellent counter against Sableye and Mikaruge, the only known Pokemon without a type weakness.

Even though Kangaskhan officially has no evolutions, in Pokémon Red and Blue, the glitch 'M (or M Block) will evolve into Kangaskhan as soon as it gains experience points or uses a Rare Candy. This leads some to believe that a Kangaskhan's baby was originally planned to be a separate Pokémon, but the idea was scrapped at the last second, after the slot had already been put in the game. However, 'M learns techniques that would not be associated with a baby Kangaskhan, such as Sky Attack, 2 copies of Water Gun and Fly. The glitch is often abused to get a Kangaskhan with a strange moveset like this.

A Kangaskhan is also found in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap in the Beach Course. It initially is seen with the back turned to the camera at a cliff’s edge. If knocked on the head by Pokémon Food, it will turn to the player and roar, presenting a great photo op. It will afterwards dance if the Poke flute is played.

Another Kangaskhan functions as the mistress overseeing the Storage Centre in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, allowing the player to store their vital items without the risk of losing them in dungeons.

[edit] In the animé

Kangaskhan appeared in episode #34 (The Kangaskhan Kid) in which a child named Tommy had been "adopted" by a Kangaskhan and carried in her pouch. Tommy, now calling himself "Tommo", had to defend the Kangaskhan from Team Rocket, with the help from Ash and company and Officer Jenny. The theme of children being raised by creatures of the wild as if they were their own is also encountered in the stories of Tarzan and Mowgli.

Kangaskhan also appeared in the animated short Pikachu's Winter Vacation where Pikachu and some other Pokémon play with a baby Kangaskhan.

Another Kangaskhan appeared in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate! who was named Auntie Kangaskhan by Team Go-Getters with her son in her pouch. She gave scarves and Corsola twigs to the rescue team at her shop.

[edit] In the manga

In the manga Pikachu Shocks Back, a lost Pikachu, Charmander, and Squirtle befriend a Kangaskhan that has adopted a human child (the manga's version of the boy from the anime episode). They travel to a Pokémon sanctuary, along with an equally-lost Team Rocket. When Team Rocket tries to capture all the Pokémon at the sanctuary, Pikachu and Kangaskhan fight them off.

In Pokemon Adventures, a Kangaskhan appears very early in the manga. Blue finds a wild Kangaskhan and attempts to catch it, but it keeps knocking away Blue's Pokeballs but doesn't attack Blue. Red notices what's wrong and attacks Blue's Charmander, then rushes over to Kangaskhan. It is revealed that the Kangaskhan's baby was injured in a prevoius battle, so Red heals it using an Antidote and the Kangaskhan returns to the forest.

[edit] In the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Kangaskhan, as seen in the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Kangaskhan, as seen in the Pokémon Trading Card Game

Kangaskhan has made four Basic, colorless appearances in the Pokémon Trading Card Game:

  • Jungle
  • Gym Heroes (as Blaine's Kangaskhan)
  • Aquapolis
  • EX Firered & Leafgreen

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Jungle and EX Firered & Leafgreen Kangaskhan are considered to be potent walls. Their high HP and Basic class combined with their ability to allow players to draw extra cards make them among the better walls in the game.

[edit] References

Publications
  • Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
  • Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
  • Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../k/a/n/Kangaskhan.html"
In other languages