List of references to popular culture in Pokémon: Difference between revisions

References to other franchises in the Pokémon franchise are occasionally made.

In the games

• In the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, in the Copycat's room there is a television connected to a Super Nintendo Entertainment System running "A game with Mario wearing a bucket on his head!", referring to the Japan-exclusive game Mario & Wario, also developed by Game Freak.
• In the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Hiker Eric in the Rock Tunnel makes a reference to the song Hit Me with Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar, saying "Hit me with your best shot!" prior to battle, and "Fired away!" after being defeated.
• In the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, PokéManiac Ashton in the Rock Tunnel makes a reference to Mobile Fighter G Gundam, saying "Pokémon Fight! Ready, Go!" prior to battle. Official Gundam Fights in the series began with both participants declaring "Gundam Fight! Ready, Go!"
• In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the television has two references depending on which gender the player chose. If the player chose male, the TV says, "There's a movie on TV. Four boys are walking on railroad tracks. ...I'd better go, too." a reference to the film, Stand by Me. If the player chose female, the TV says, "There's a movie on TV. A girl in pigtails is walking down a yellow brick road. ...I'd better go, too." a reference to the Wizard of Oz film.

In the anime

Zorua mimicking MGM's logo

• In EP035, Kaiser's appearance, demeanor and handgun bear a resemblance to a character portrayed by Clint Eastwood in the Spaghetti Western Man with No Name.
• The plot of Showdown at Dark City is based on the events of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo
• In Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, Brock mentions that Cleavon Schpielbunk directed I Saw What You Ate Last Tuesday, a reference to I Know What You Did Last Summer.
• The plot of Pokémon in Love, which was first mentioned in Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, is based on Romeo and Juliet.
• In Go West Young Meowth, the movie That Darn Meowth! is shown at Camp Pokéhearst, a reference to That Darn Cat!.
• In The Superhero Secret , Gligarman is based on Batman. His civilian name, Mr. Parker, is likely based on Peter Parker, the alter ego of the superhero Spider-Man. When the video of Gligarman is shown, "Look up in the sky, is it a Pidgeotto, a Charizard a Dragonite? No it's the crime fighting superhero Gligarman." is heard, a reference to Superman.
• In Lights, Camerupt, Action!, May describes a movie about a luxurious spaceship with a Natu and Xatu in love who are separated because of an ice asteroid, which is a parody of the movie Titanic, while the ship displayed in the film is similar in design to the titular spaceship from Space Battleship Yamato.
• In Lights, Camerupt, Action!, Max describes a movie about a giant Meowth destroying a city and battling against Pichu fighter pilots and a giant Marshtomp, which is based on the Japanese television show Ultraman.
• In Movie Time! Zorua in "The Legend of the Pokémon Knight"!, Cilan mentioned Yamask of the Opera, a reference to The Phantom of the Opera.
• In The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue!, Charles has the alter ego of The Mighty Accelguard (Japanese: 快傑ア☆ギルダー Kaiketsu A☆Gilder), which most likely draws inspiration from Kaiketsu Zubat. Certain other aspects of his alter ego, like his A☆Gilder Kick attack, draw inspiration from the titular characters of the Kamen Rider Series.
• In A Call for Brotherly Love, during Pansear's training montage, it is seen running up a flight of stairs and throwing its arms into the air in victory. This is a reference to the film Rocky where Sylvester Stallone's character does the exact same thing.
• In An Epic Defense Force, there is a parody of the MGM logo, with Zorua in place of the lion.

In the manga

In the TCG

In the books

See also

• List of references to Pokémon in popular culture
• List of references to Pulseman
• Pokémon world in relation to the real world