Meowth

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Meowth
Image:Meowth.png
National Pokédex
Dugtrio - Meowth (#52) - Persian
Johto Pokédex
Primeape - Meowth (#136) - Persian
Japanese name Nyarth
Evolves from None
Evolves into Persian
Generation First
Species Scratchcat Pokémon
Type Normal
Height 1 ft 4 in (0.4 m)
Weight 9.0 pounds (4.1 kg)
Ability Pickup / Technician (the latter from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl onward)

Meowth (ニャース Nyāsu?, Nyarth in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of Meowth, in the games, anime, and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[2] It is one of the more popular Pokémon species, largely thanks to the Pokémon anime, which features a Meowth as a main character. This particular Meowth, belonging to Team Rocket, the anime's major antagonists, is one of the few Pokémon that can speak.

Contents

[edit] Biological characteristics

Meowth has a distinctly feline appearance, resembling a small housecat. It has cream-colored fur, which turns brown at its paws and tail tip. Its oval-shaped head features prominent whiskers, black-and-brown ears, and a koban, a gold oval coin (also known as "charm") embedded in its forehead. Meowth's coloration, its love of coins (see below) and its charm indicate that Meowth is based on the Japanese Maneki Neko, a cat-shaped figurine that is said to bring good luck and money to its owner.

Meowth is an urban nocturnal Pokémon. It spends most of the daytime sleeping and prowls the city streets at night. When hunting, Meowth organize themselves in groups that act like gangs, foraging or stealing food from people. They are aided in their mischief by their eyes which allow them night vision. They also retract their claws back into their paws, which grants them silent movement and protecting them from leaving distinctively incriminating pawprints that alert people to their actions.

Like the bowerbird, Meowth is attracted to certain objects that catch its attention, which it collects at every opportunity and hoards in its nest. Murkrow, a Pokémon which is even more like the bowerbird, exhibits similar behavior and members of the two species have been known to steal from the collections of the other. Meowth loves round objects, as well as shiny, glittering things. The item it adores collecting the most, however, are coins, since they are both round and shiny. Meowth is known to scour the pavements for dropped loose change and even to openly steal money from people to add to its collection.

[edit] In the anime

Main article: Team Rocket

Meowth has made an appearance in almost every episode in the anime because one is the constant companion of Team Rocket agents Jessie and James, the show's main bungling antagonists. However, other Meowth have appeared in the series, often much stronger than Team Rocket's Meowth.

Meowth appeared in the short Gotta Dance on Jirachi Wish Maker, being the brains behind the party.

Despite his ability to communicate with both Pokémon and humans, Jessie and James have yet to see the financial benefit of this (Meowth being the only potential translator of Pokémon). He is the best friend of Wobbuffet.

[edit] In the video games

Meowth appears as a wild Pokémon in the Red, Blue, Yellow, LeafGreen, FireRed, Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions of the games, though they can be transferred to the other versions through FireRed and LeafGreen.

Meowth is also a playable character in both Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games. NOTE~ Mewoth cannot be selected as a partner, only as the main character

Meowth also appears in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap. It also has minor cameos in the Super Smash Bros. series (excluding Melee), usually as a Pokémon summoned via a Pokéball item.

In the Nintendo GameCube game Pokémon Channel, Meowth is the on-scene reporter for Psyduck's newscast, and conducts interviews with other Pokémon. This Meowth is able to speak normal English, and has a New York accent like the Meowth from Team Rocket in the anime. Meowth is also a confirmed character in the upcoming Arcade Game, Pokémon Battrio.

[edit] In other media

Meowth has appeared in the Pokémon Trading Card Game first in the Jungle series. A special Meowth card was available with purchase of Pokémon Trading Card Video Game. It also appeared on The Norm Show.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold. PR Newswire. Retrieved on 2006-02-28.
  2. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
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 Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version 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

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Pokémon species
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