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Pokémon: An international cultural phenomenon (view source)
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Notoriety has also had a great deal to do with the referencing of the franchise. Perhaps the most infamous ''Pokémon'' episode of all, "{{bp|EP038|Dennō Senshi Porigon}}" has been the butt of numerous jokes. In ''The Simpsons'' episode "{{wp|Thirty Minutes over Tokyo}}", Bart turns on the television and finds a children’s program. He has just enough time to exclaim that this is the program which gives people seizures before the robot character’s eyes start flashing on screen, causing the entire family to collapse and convulse. The ''{{wp|South Park}}'' episode "{{wp|Chinpokomon}}" features a Japanese Pokémon-like phenomenon which brainwashes almost all of the children. Kenny, while playing one of the ''Chinpokomon'' games, suffers a seizure and dies. Both episodes were aired in 1999, shortly after the incident. {{wp|Ling-Ling}}, a character from Comedy Central's ''{{wp|Drawn Together}}'' is a clear parody of Pikachu, being able to generate "beam" attacks and having a previous history with a trainer. Again referencing "Dennō Senshi Porigon", at one point in time he states that his goal in life is to give children seizures. A brief reference was also given in the 2004 novel ''{{wp|So Yesterday (novel)|So Yesterday}}'' by science fiction author {{wp|Scott Westerfeld}}; one of the characters has a seizure when watching the episode. | Notoriety has also had a great deal to do with the referencing of the franchise. Perhaps the most infamous ''Pokémon'' episode of all, "{{bp|EP038|Dennō Senshi Porigon}}" has been the butt of numerous jokes. In ''The Simpsons'' episode "{{wp|Thirty Minutes over Tokyo}}", Bart turns on the television and finds a children’s program. He has just enough time to exclaim that this is the program which gives people seizures before the robot character’s eyes start flashing on screen, causing the entire family to collapse and convulse. The ''{{wp|South Park}}'' episode "{{wp|Chinpokomon}}" features a Japanese Pokémon-like phenomenon which brainwashes almost all of the children. Kenny, while playing one of the ''Chinpokomon'' games, suffers a seizure and dies. Both episodes were aired in 1999, shortly after the incident. {{wp|Ling-Ling}}, a character from Comedy Central's ''{{wp|Drawn Together}}'' is a clear parody of Pikachu, being able to generate "beam" attacks and having a previous history with a trainer. Again referencing "Dennō Senshi Porigon", at one point in time he states that his goal in life is to give children seizures. A brief reference was also given in the 2004 novel ''{{wp|So Yesterday (novel)|So Yesterday}}'' by science fiction author {{wp|Scott Westerfeld}}; one of the characters has a seizure when watching the episode. | ||
[[File:TopGearPikachu.png|250px|thumb|right|Richard Hammond points out the design similarities between the Tata Nano and Pikachu.]] | [[File:TopGearPikachu.png|250px|thumb|right|Richard Hammond points out the design similarities between the Tata Nano and Pikachu.]] | ||
Pokémon has been referenced in more than just comedy programs, however. The Japanese manga and anime ''Koharu Biyori'' (serialized in North America as ''{{wp|Indian Summer (manga)|Indian Summer}}'') features a brief sequence where two mikos (Ran and Sumire) and their octopus are blasted off in parody of Team Rocket's frequent anime episode exits. In 2008, {{wp|Richard Hammond}} compared the design of the Indian {{wp|Tata Nano}} to that of Pikachu on the British motoring program ''{{wp|Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear}}'', | Pokémon has been referenced in more than just comedy programs, however. The Japanese manga and anime ''Koharu Biyori'' (serialized in North America as ''{{wp|Indian Summer (manga)|Indian Summer}}'') features a brief sequence where two mikos (Ran and Sumire) and their octopus are blasted off in parody of Team Rocket's frequent anime episode exits. In 2008, {{wp|Richard Hammond}} compared the design of the Indian {{wp|Tata Nano}} to that of Pikachu on the British motoring program ''{{wp|Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear}}'', leading {{wp|Jeremy Clarkson}} to query if it was a "Punkawalla", much to the studio audience's hilarity. And then there is the 2008 discovery of a ligand named {{wp|Pikachurin}}, a type of vision protein which can help to improve eyesight. It takes its name from the most famous Pokémon of all due to the speed of its electrical impulses; without the protein, it can take up to three times as long for the brain to register what is seen by the eyes. Other brief references are found in the final episode of ''{{wp|ER (television series)|ER}}'', three times in ''{{wp|Lucky Star (manga)#Anime|Lucky Star}}'', and in the films ''{{wp|Austin Powers in Goldmember}}'', and ''{{wp|Bad Santa}}'', among others. | ||
The Pokémon franchise has left an indelible and humourous imprint on our society. It has been referenced so many times that it is impossible to cover all the occurances in just a single article. From parodies to passing mentions, from automotive designs to biochemical processes, the phenomenom that is Pokémon has left a lasting impression on culture all across the globe. One can only eagerly anticipate how it will be referenced again in the future. | The Pokémon franchise has left an indelible and humourous imprint on our society. It has been referenced so many times that it is impossible to cover all the occurances in just a single article. From parodies to passing mentions, from automotive designs to biochemical processes, the phenomenom that is Pokémon has left a lasting impression on culture all across the globe. One can only eagerly anticipate how it will be referenced again in the future. | ||