Anime physics: Difference between revisions

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
m (→‎Other examples: Won't unhide until I finish most of the page.... wish I had more time, but I gotta get off for a while.)
Line 5: Line 5:


==Examples==
==Examples==
* Many [[move]]s, [[elemental type]]s and [[Ability|abilities]] rely on phenomena that are impossible in real-world physics. For example, {{m|Water Gun}} is depicted as spitting water, but usually the Pokémon spits much more water than its body could hold.  
* The working mechanics of [[Poké Ball]]s, as well as many [[move]]s, [[elemental type]]s and [[Ability|abilities]] rely on phenomena that are impossible in real-world physics. For example, {{m|Water Gun}} is depicted as spitting water, but usually the Pokémon spits much more water than its body could hold.  
* Everything explodes in the anime. Most attacks explode when they connect with an opposing attack, even if the attacks would not normally do so. (even, and some would say especially, non-flammable substances such as leaves or water)
* Everything explodes in the anime. Most attacks explode when they connect with an opposing attack, even if the attacks would not normally do so. (even, and some would say especially, non-flammable substances such as leaves or water)
**In contests, almost every move will explode and send a shower of sparkles down into the crowd.
**In contests, almost every move will explode and send a shower of sparkles down into the crowd.

Revision as of 08:51, 23 December 2009

0572Minccino.png This article does not yet meet the quality standards of Bulbapedia. Please feel free to edit this article to make it conform to Bulbapedia norms and conventions.

Anime physics is a fanon term used to describe all the unusual, impossible, and sometimes absurd moments in the anime where real-world physics do not seem to apply. At times, the term can also be used to describe when an attack works differently in the anime than it would in the games. Some common examples are unusual feats of strength and agility, surviving lethal attacks, and the magic satchel theory (the ability to hold innumerable items in one bag).

Anime physics are often caused by several factors. The anime is generally more focused on telling a story in one or several episodes than getting the details right, so sometimes the writers will twist or bend physics so the episode can unfold the way they want it so. Sometimes it is a case of oversight; anime physics do not seem unusual unless someone stops to think about how a situation would work in the real world.

Examples

  • The working mechanics of Poké Balls, as well as many moves, elemental types and abilities rely on phenomena that are impossible in real-world physics. For example, Water Gun is depicted as spitting water, but usually the Pokémon spits much more water than its body could hold.
  • Everything explodes in the anime. Most attacks explode when they connect with an opposing attack, even if the attacks would not normally do so. (even, and some would say especially, non-flammable substances such as leaves or water)
    • In contests, almost every move will explode and send a shower of sparkles down into the crowd.
    • Some moves explode when they clearly cannot, such as a Bite attack.
    • Sometimes moves are amplified in power and even made to explode just to enable them to blast off Team Rocket.
  • Any Pokémon, regardless of its evolution stage, can beat any other Pokémon, seemingly regardless of how much training it has. Seemingly, if a Pokémon "believes in itself" enough, it can overcome any obstacle.
  • Some Pokémon ignore their method's of evolution, and can evolve without the use of an item they may need to evolve (like an evolutionary stone). Pokémon that evolve via level can also break this rule where they can evolve after extremely minor training. A notable example being the Paras seen in The Problem with Paras which couldn't withstand even the weakest attacks, but after only "defeating" a few Pokémon (all the battles were thrown) and "defeating" Ash's Charizard (the only Pokémon it actually used an attack on), it evolves into a Parasect.
  • Ash and his friends seem to have an unlimited amount of space in their bags or pockets, especially Brock, from a sleeping bag to the things he uses to cook.
    • In A Tent Situation, Tracey brings out around 40–50 sketch books to show Professor Oak and then put them back in the same bag that they should not have fit into in the first place.
  • Very often, Pokémon will be affected by moves they would be immune to, due to their type, according to the games. This is shown many times when Ash's Pikachu fights a Template:Type2 Pokémon, it uses an Template:Type2 move and it works well.
  • Some type advantages/weaknesses are shown in Anime while some are overlooked or completely ignored.
  • In anime, some Pokémon's abilities are shown, or even exaggerated, while some are overlooked or ignored.
    • Most notably, many Pokémon possess the ability Intimidate, but this ability does not seem to have any effect in the anime.
  • Many Pokémon know moves they cannot learn in the games.
  • Ash was able to pick up Larvitar despite it weighing more than 150 lbs (70 kg), according to game data. Hippopotas is also similar, due to the fact that there are 109 lbs (49 kg) of weight is bearing down on Ash's head and neck. Someone of similar stature in the real world would be prone to serious (if not irreparable) head, back, and/or neck injuries. Similarly, May's Beautifly has often landed on people's heads with no adverse effects despite the species weighing 62 lbs (24 kg).
  • Pokémon surviving one-hit KO attacks, like Horn Drill, without fainting.
  • In Sweet Baby James, when Jessie picks up May's Munchlax and puts it in a bag, despite it weighing over 220 lbs (100kg). On another note of this, in Off the Unbeaten Path, Max was able to carry it on his back despite Munchlax weighing four times as much as Max.
  • Many Pokémon are able to dodge moves that are sure to hit, such as when Ash's Squirtle was able to dodge an Aerial Ace from Brandon's Ninjask. In the games, Aerial Ace never misses as long as the Pokémon is on the screen. Another example is in Duels of the Jungle when a Weavile dodges Ash's Aipom's Swift.
  • Ash's Turtwig was hurt by Gardenia's Turtwig's Leech Seed. However, in the games, Template:Type2s are immune to this move.
  • Water does not seem to conduct electricity in some cases. The combined attacks of both Dawn's Pachirisu and Ash's Pikachu were unable to harm the Rotom (in its Wash form) that was using Hydro Pump.
  • Pikachu appears to receive a power-down at the beginning of every saga, meaning it appears to have just as much skill as the new beginners on Ash's team despite being shown to be very powerful in some of the matches towards the end of each saga.
  • During some of the battles in the anime, the Pokémon stay in the air longer than usual despite their weight, either when using attacks or receiving attacks (not including Pokémon that fly naturally). This is evident in Dealing With Defensive Types! when Ash's Chimchar battles against Byron's Bronzor and actually can be seen floating.
  • Some moves that Pokémon in the anime learn are actually improvised from weaker moves. For example Dawn's Aipom learned Double Hit by using Focus Punch so quick that they made Aipom's tail look like it was split in two. Also, Ash's Pikachu learned Volt Tackle by adding electricity to a Quick Attack even though this isn't how Volt Tackle is learned by Pokémon in the games.
  • In To Thine Own Pokémon Be True, there were a couple of times when a normal ping-pong ball did things a normal ping-pong ball couldn't do, such as breaking a paddle.
  • It is also seen frequently that protective moves, such as Reflect and Light Screen, give the same protection that Protect and Detect would, blocking almost any attack and their effects. In the games, Reflect raises Defense, while Light Screen raises Special Defense. Barrier also creates an actual barrier that is impenetrable.
  • In Pillars of Friendship, Brandon's Regis continuously use Hyper Beam, without having to recharge.

Other examples

An additional use of anime physics is for humorous purposes; it is common in animated media to have characters do things that would cause harm to or be impossible for a live actor for the sake of entertainment.

  • Pikachu often shocks people (mostly Ash himself and members of Team Rocket) to the point where they appear scorched or blackened by the electrocution, yet soon afterward (often as soon as the next scene), they appear perfectly normal, without any lasting damage. Similarly, Meowth often scratches Jessie, James, and sometimes Ash, and soon afterward the scratch marks disappear.
  • In almost every episode, Jessie, James, and Meowth manage to get launched hundreds of feet into the air, sometimes crashing through the roof of a building or a cave wall, by various means (usually a Pokémon attack). However, others standing near them will not be moved or even affected, and Team Rocket never gets seriously hurt from the flight, which would surely kill a normal person. They also are in a stationary position during the first part of their flight, and then start suddenly spinning, normally after making a humorous comment.
  • Whenever Muk smothers somebody in the anime, they don't have any side effects, despite what Muk's Pokédex entries say about its highly toxic body.
Project Fandom logo.png This article is a part of Project Fandom, a Bulbapedia Project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every aspect of the Pokémon Fandom.