Torchic

Torchic
Pokémon series character
National Pokédex Sceptile - Torchic (#255) - Combusken
First game	Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Designed by	Ken Sugimori
Voiced by (English)	Rachael Lillis
Voiced by (Japanese)	Chinami Nishimura

Torchic, known in Japan as Achamo (アチャモ), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, it first appeared in the video games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.

The name Torchic is a portmanteau of the words torch, a flame or light used to see in darkness, and chick, a common name for infant chickens.^[1] The Japanese name for Torchic, Achamo (アチャモ), is a portmanteau of aka (アカ), a term for baby, and shamo (シャモ ), a breed of Japanese bird, originally bred for fighting or hunting.^[2] The name Torchic refers to both the overall species, and to individual Torchic within the games, anime and manga series.

Concept and characteristics

Torchic, known as the Chick Pokémon, are small, clumsy birds with yellowish feathers and orange bodies. Torchic dislike darkness because it prevents them from seeing their surroundings,^[3] regardless of their proficiency with fire techniques which can illuminate the dark. Before Torchic's legs develop fully, they stay with their Pokémon trainer, following behind with unsteady, hopping steps while they learn to walk properly.^[4] They also have a sac filled with churning fire deep within their stomach, allowing them to give literal "warm hugs" to their trainers.^[5] This powerful fire also serves as their "ammunition" in battles; when attacked, they retaliate by spitting fire,^[3] at temperatures of over 1,800 degrees.^[4]

Appearances

In the video games

Torchic first appears in the Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and in their remake Pokémon Emerald. Torchic is one of the three starting Pokémon that players get to choose from along with Treecko and Mudkip. Torchic evolves into Combusken and then into Blaziken when it gains enough experience in battle. It has appeared in every main Pokémon title since. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Torchic can be obtained from the character Steven Stone after obtaining all 16 badges and beating the final boss, Red. Torchic is an event-exclusive Pokémon for Pokémon X and Y, where its final form, Blaziken, acquires a Mega Evolution.

Outside of the main series, Torchic has been featured in Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, Pokémon Trozei!, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon titles, the Pokémon Ranger titles, Pokémon Channel, and PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Torchic was featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a Pokémon that can be released from a Poké Ball during a battle.^[6]

In other media

In the anime, May chooses a playful Torchic as her starter Pokémon because she considers it to be cute. She often uses it in battles, but avoids using it in Pokémon Contests until it evolves. It evolved into Combusken in A Shroomish Skirmish to protect Ash's Corphish. Combusken evolves into a Blaziken during the break of a Pokémon Contest when they were trying to stop Team Rocket from stealing Pikachu and other Pokémon. May then used Blaziken in the Battle Phase against Ash's Sceptile.^[7]

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Sapphire received a Torchic (nicknamed Toro) from her father, Professor Birch. Toro evolved before a battle against Brawly along with Rono, her Aron. After several concussive battles against Team Aqua and gym leader Flannery, it evolved again to Blaziken in a bout against Winona. It is Sapphire's most trusted team member, and was used in almost every single major battle she had.

In Pocket Monsters Chamo-Chamo ★ Pretty ♪ manga, a sequel to Magical Pokémon Journey, Haruka also chooses Torchic as her starter Pokémon due to the Pokémon's cuteness. The Torchic later falls in love with Mightyena, and had a fight with Gardevoir gang during Valentine's Day. She believes that Combusken and Blaziken are ugly, and can't stand the thought of not being cute and adorable anymore, so she refuses to evolve.

Reception

In 2004, two Torchic design toys, the "Torchic Plush Keychain" and "Plush Bean Bag Torchic", were part of a major recall by Tomy of 13 plush Pokémon toys. Due to a manufacturing fault, tips of needles were left in the stuffing, causing makers to replace the toys with compensation or replacements.^[8] A Torchic-themed Game Boy Advance SP was released exclusively in Japan at the Japanese Pokémon Center.^[9] GameSpot's Greg Kasavin wrote that Torchic "fit in well with the tried-and-true classics like Pikachu, Psyduck, and Koffing".^[10] GameSpy's Gerald Villoria called Torchic a "fan-favorite".^[11] East called Torchic a "star veteran".^[12] IGN's Pokémon Chick wrote that "everyone who chose Torchic as their starter is just tickled to death with it while everyone who didn't wishes they had".^[13] She wrote in another article that while she chose Mudkip, she "now join[s] the huddled masses in keening "why, oh why didn't I choose Torchic?!"^[14] She also wrote that if players don't choose Torchic, they have a limited choice for Fire type Pokémon otherwise.^[15] IGN's Lucas M. Thomas wrote that the Pokémon Chimchar would be good for fans of Torchic.^[16] Official Nintendo Magazine's Thomas East wrote that "it's hard to see that Blaziken evolved from Torchic".^[17]

References

External links

• Official Pokémon website
• Torchic on Bulbapedia
• Torchic on PokeDream
• Torchic at the Internet Movie Database