Who's That Pokémon?

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
(Redirected from Dare Da)
Jump to navigationJump to search
The first English "Who's That Pokémon?"
It's Pikachu!
The first Pokémon: Black & White "Who's That Pokémon?"
It's Pidove!

Who's That Pokémon? (Japanese: だれだ？ Who is it?) is a question-and-answer segment that is featured in numerous episodes of Pokémon the Series. Following its introduction, challenges with a similar premise have been used across the Pokémon franchise.

List

Main article: List of Who's That Pokémon? segments

History

English dub

In the English dub, Who's That Pokémon? was originally used from the episodes Pokémon - I Choose You! to Watt's with Wattson?; the segment later returned in In the Shadow of Zekrom!, after an almost seven-year absence. It occurs before and after the main commercial break during the episode. The silhouette of a Pokémon is shown, with someone usually asking the audience to guess the Pokémon that belongs to the given outline. After the commercial break, the name of the Pokémon is revealed, usually with the current main characters shouting the name of the Pokémon, as well as the cry of the Pokémon shown. The segment was retired at the end of the sixth season of Pokémon the Series and was replaced with Pokémon Trainer's Choice, which was dropped from the dub after two seasons. At the beginning of Pokémon the Series: Black & White, it did not initially feature the Pokémon's cry after being revealed, although this returned in Triple Leaders, Team Threats!. For unknown reasons, Who's That Pokémon? was removed from the CITV airings of the first two episodes of Pokémon the Series: Black & White, and all following episodes use a slight international variation, showing the silhouette of the Pokémon at the mid-way point of the episode (as would be expected), and then revealing the Pokémon just before the end credits.

Early in its run, Who's That Pokémon? would feature a Pokémon who played a major role in that episode. In late Kanto it switched to featuring a Pokémon that played a major role in the following episode, although this wasn't always the case. When Johto League Champions began, Who's That Pokémon? became random, with the featured Pokémon playing a prominent role in that episode being a very rare occasion. Usually, the Pokémon featured would not appear in the episode at all, nor would it ever indicate a Pokémon being featured in a following episode. Also beginning with that season, the dub added a short hint onscreen to aid in the identification of the Pokémon until the end of the sixth season. When the feature returned in Pokémon the Series: Black & White, it originally featured a Pokémon that played a prominent role in the following episode before later switching to a Pokémon with a prominent role in that episode, beginning with A Sandile Gusher of Change!.

In line with the original Japanese version, the segment was slightly altered in Journeys, where instead of seeing the silhouette of a Pokémon, the viewer is shown a magnified part of their body. Ash Ketchum reads out the segment, but does not exclaim the answer.

Original Japanese version

Pocket Monster TV version one
Pocket Monster TV version two

In the original Japanese version, Who's That Pokémon? was used from EP001 to EP274 and then returned in BW061. In this version, it almost always featured a Pokémon that played a major role in that episode.

Starting in EP192, the segment was renamed Pocket Monster TV (written in English from EP211). There was no functional difference; however, the kids' voices were replaced with a computerized voice, the background was changed, and it showed the featured Pokémon's National Pokédex number. From EP211, the segment was revamped again, with the following segments being in widescreen. EP192 through EP210 were later altered to the updated version of Pocket Monster TV when released on VHS.

The segment was retired at the end of the original series, and was replaced in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire with a generic eyecatch showing the main characters. This continued into Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl and long into Pokémon the Series: Black & White. Who's That Pokémon? returned to Japanese television in BW061. In this version, all of the types that the Pokémon is weak against are listed along with its name. Pikachu will use Thunderbolt to light up parts of the silhouetted Pokémon as a hint, as with Pocket Monster TV.

In Pokémon the Series: XY, the segment is slightly modified. Now called Pokémon Quiz, the segment presents the viewer with four flashcards bearing different silhouettes and asks them to identify the correct Pokémon. Usually, one card is Team Rocket as a decoy choice. The segment once again returned to the typical Who's That Pokémon? in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon and lasting until the end of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

Other uses of Who's That Pokémon?

Guessing the identities of Pokémon based on their silhouette has since become a common refrain in Pokémon media. Sorted here are further appearances, grouped by if they use the branding of "Who's That Pokémon" or not.

Named usages

  • In Pokémon X and Y, the puzzle for the Lumiose Gym is based on Who's That Pokémon. It is run by Bonnie, who says "Who's that Pokémon" as a prompt for each question, and it uses silhouettes of the Pokémon's in-game models. It uses multiple choice questions instead of open answer questions, with each of the three possible answer being accompanied by the name of the Pokémon. There are four questions, the last of which changes the format by showing three Pokémon silhouettes and then asking the player to pick the silhouette that matches the name of the provided Pokémon. The player must get each question correct to proceed in the Gym, though they can attempt the same question any number of times.
  • In the Alternative Play Handbook for the Trading Card Game, one of the Booster Fun games is named Who's That Pokémon, though it is not a reimplementation of the bonus segment. Two players, each with a number of secretly picked Pokémon cards, participate. In each round, one player reads the Pokédex entry of one of their cards. If the entry has the Pokémon's name, then they should not say the name of the Pokémon while reading the rest of the text. The other player has to guess the species of Pokémon on the card, and has three chances to do so. A correct guess ends the round and earns that player a point, and then they switch roles for the next round. After all cards are used, the player with the most points wins.
  • The Quiz quest! Who’s that cube-shaped Pokémon? skill quiz on Play Nintendo presents users with screenshot of a cube-shaped Pokémon entering the Base camp, which depicts the Pokémon in silhouette. The questions are multiple choice, with four possible answers that are each accompanied by an image. There are four questions, and each question has the same pool of answers. The results screens use renders of the Pokémon, rather than versions of the screenshots with the Pokémon out of silhouette.
  • The Pokémon Company International's social media accounts, such as the ones for Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), have made posts using Who's That Pokémon's premise. Some of them subvert the base concept, such as this X post which uses a screenshot from Pokémon Concierge depicting Haru drawing a Pikachu with inaccurate proportions. The Pikachu is not in silhouette. Niantic's Pokémon GO X account has done similar posts.

Unnamed references

Trivia

Errors

In other languages

Related articles

Bonus segments of the Pokémon animated series
The Beginning Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture
English dub: Kanto Pokérap • Pikachu's Jukebox
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
Gold and Silver Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture • Pokémon de English
English dub: Pokémon Karaokémon
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
Ruby and Sapphire Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture • Pokémon Trivia Quiz
English dub: Who's That Pokémon? • Pokémon Trainer's Choice
Diamond and Pearl Japanese version: Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia • Pikachu the Movie Memorial • Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Examination
Black & White Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster • Team Rocket Live Caster
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
XY Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster • Poké TV • Pokémon Quiz
English dub: Who's That Pokémon?
Both: Mega Evolution Pokédex
Sun & Moon Japanese version: Poké Problem
Both: Who's That Pokémon? • Where Are You Going, Eevee?
Journeys Japanese version: Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!! • Team Rocket Expedition which stands by the evils of love and truth
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
Horizons Japanese version: Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar • Terapagos's Exploration Diary • Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution
This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.
Retrieved from "https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/w/index.php?title=Who%27s_That_Pokémon%3F&oldid=4355066"