Celebi (Pokémon)
Encyclopedia
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo
and Game Freak
's Pokémon
franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori
, they first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver
and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Celebi appears with central roles in the anime movies Pokémon 4Ever
and Zoroark: Master of Illusions. In the Pokémon Adventures
manga, one of the main antagonists, Pryce, seeks Celebi so he can travel back in time.
, Celebi is a green fairy-like creature. Celebi has round toe-less feet, three-fingered hands, and clear wings on its back. Celebi has a round head that comes to a point and sticks upward in the back. It has large baby-blue eyes, with thick black rings around them, and a pair of green antennae that are tipped blue. Celebi is a time travel
ing legendary Pokémon that first debuted in Pokémon Gold
and Pokémon Silver
. It is known as the guardian of the forest, where it is worshipped as a god. It wanders through time, visiting various undisturbed old-growth forests during peaceful times, leaving behind flourishing grass and trees. It often leaves behind an egg that it brought from the future. Celebi's continuing existence signifies a good future.
bonus disc, which was available with pre-orders. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
, Celebi activates an event in the game, which takes the player back in time to battle Giovanni. Celebi was distributed at screenings of Phantom Ruler: Zoroark
in Japan. In Pokémon Black and White
, Celebi activates the chance to catch Zorua. In North America, Celebi will be distributed through GameStop stores from February 21 to March 6, 2011, or it can be acquired from the tour promoting the Black and White games that began on February 5, 2011.
Outside of the main series, Celebi has appeared in Pokémon Colosseum
, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
games, the Pokémon Ranger
games, and Super Smash Bros. Melee
and Brawl
. Celebi has major roles in both Colosseum and Explorers of Time
.
. In this movie, Celebi is running away from a hunter. It crashes into young Samuel Oak who protects it, and in return, Celebi transports them forty years into the future, where Sam teams up with Ash Ketchum
to save Celebi from a Team Rocket member who turns it into a Dark Celebi by capturing it in a Dark Poké Ball. Near the end of the movie, several dozen Celebi appear from all sorts of different eras in time to help out. It also makes appearances in various episodes. Celebi appeared in a central role again in Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Grings Kodai was after the Pokémon in order to restore his ability to see the future, which he got on a previous encounter with it. In the anime, Celebi has made many small appearances, the most notable being in Pokémon Chronicles
. In Celebi and Joy, Celebi took Ritchie back in time to help stop the destruction of a Pokémon Center.
In Pokémon Adventures
, Pryce aimed to capture Celebi and use its time-traveling powers to save his two Lapras
, which he had lost years prior to the storyline. He failed numerous times throughout his reign, and would injure himself on each day of the month in which Celebi would show itself in the Ilex shrine, so Green and Silver took this opportunity to steal his items and escape. Near the end of the RS
Saga, Ruby is revealed to have a Celebi. He explains that due to the lack of information he had on it, he rarely uses Celebi at all. Celebi was used to retrieve the Red and Blue Orbs from Maxie and Archie, to prevent them from ever controlling Groudon and Kyogre again. Then, it revived Norman, Steven, and Courtney by sending them through an altered future.
series, Celebi has been met with generally positive reception. It has been featured in numerous pieces of merchandise, including figures, plush toys, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game
. A Game Boy Advance
featuring art of Celebi on its box as well as two white silhouettes of it on the unit itself was released as a promotion. The system changes colors depending on how it is held. A promotional e-Card was released at Space World 2001
that, when scanned, would feature Celebi floating around on the player's Game Boy Advance
screen eating apples off of a tree. Some people likened it to a dryad
because of the way it lives in the forest and heals the trees.
TV Guide
editor Angel Cohn described Celebi as a "diminutive, onion-shaped creature", stating that the resemblance between Celebi and Dr. Seuss
' The Lorax
was "striking". SPIN
magazine also described it as resembling an onion. Variety
editor Robert Koehler stated that Celebi appeared to appeal to young girls, describing it as an "Anime teardrop of a critter, with enormous, aquamarine eyes". Rotten Tomatoes
editor Jeffrey Westhoff described Celebi as looking like "Tinkerbell with an onion for a head" as well as having many of E.T.'s tricks. Canoe.ca editor Liz Braun similarly compared Celebi to Tinkerbell
, also describing its appearance as being similar to a goldfish's. The Dallas Morning News
editor Nancy Churnin described Celebi as "lovable", while Post-Gazette editor Sharon Eberson called it "cute". The Daily Herald editor Dann Gire described Celebi as a "teardrop-shaped entity with big puppy dog eyes", commenting that its words sound like the "goo-gooey utterances of an infant".
GamesRadar
called Celebi one of its favourite Pokémon, along with Suicune
. They also describe it as "cute" and the "gem of any collection." They compare Celebi to Shaymin, a Pokémon from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
, describing both of them as "diminutive" and "super cute". IGN
editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" commented that Celebi was the "crappiest solo" legendary, explaining solo to mean a legendary Pokémon without counterparts (i.e. Articuno
, Zapdos
, and Moltres
). She adds that she feels the "slightest twinge of pity" for Celebi. Authors Tracey West and Katherine Noll called Celebi the seventh best Pokémon overall and wrote that it had a "sweet appearance" that belied its "amazing power".
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
and Game Freak
Game Freak
is a Japanese video game developer that currently creates games exclusively for Nintendo. It has developed the Pokémon series of role-playing games and several other games.-History:...
's Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori
Ken Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
, they first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Celebi appears with central roles in the anime movies Pokémon 4Ever
Pokémon 4Ever
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest, originally released in Japan as , is a 2001 Japanese anime film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and based on the television series Pokémon. It is the fourth official Pokémon film. It was released in Japan on July 14, 2001. The film was directed in Japan by...
and Zoroark: Master of Illusions. In the Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures, released in Japan as , is a Pokémon-related manga based on the video games. Satoshi Tajiri once stated that the Pocket Monsters Special series is closest to what he imagined the Pokémon world to be:...
manga, one of the main antagonists, Pryce, seeks Celebi so he can travel back in time.
Design and characteristics
Created by Ken SugimoriKen Sugimori
is a Japanese video game designer, illustrator, manga artist, and director. He is most famous as the character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. Sugimori is also credited with the art direction for other titles, including Pulseman. Sugimori drew all of the original 151 Pokémon...
, Celebi is a green fairy-like creature. Celebi has round toe-less feet, three-fingered hands, and clear wings on its back. Celebi has a round head that comes to a point and sticks upward in the back. It has large baby-blue eyes, with thick black rings around them, and a pair of green antennae that are tipped blue. Celebi is a time travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
ing legendary Pokémon that first debuted in Pokémon Gold
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
and Pokémon Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
. It is known as the guardian of the forest, where it is worshipped as a god. It wanders through time, visiting various undisturbed old-growth forests during peaceful times, leaving behind flourishing grass and trees. It often leaves behind an egg that it brought from the future. Celebi's continuing existence signifies a good future.
In the video games
In the video games, Celebi is an event-only Pokémon, only available by being distributed from an event. In Pokémon Crystal, Celebi could be found by the use of a GS Ball, which was obtainable by using the Pokémon Mobile System GB. Celebi was obtainable from the Japanese Pokémon ColosseumPokémon Colosseum
is a role-playing video game developed by Genius Sonority and published by Nintendo as part of the Pokémon series. It was released exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube on November 21, 2003 in Japan; March 22, 2004 in North America; and May 14, 2004 in Europe...
bonus disc, which was available with pre-orders. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver. The games are part of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS...
, Celebi activates an event in the game, which takes the player back in time to battle Giovanni. Celebi was distributed at screenings of Phantom Ruler: Zoroark
Phantom Ruler: Zoroark
Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions, originally released in Japan as , is a Pokémon anime film, the thirteenth in the meta series franchise history and the fourth in the Diamond & Pearl series arc. It was released in Japan on July 10, 2010...
in Japan. In Pokémon Black and White
Pokémon Black and White
are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They are the first installments in the fifth generation of the Pokémon series of role-playing games...
, Celebi activates the chance to catch Zorua. In North America, Celebi will be distributed through GameStop stores from February 21 to March 6, 2011, or it can be acquired from the tour promoting the Black and White games that began on February 5, 2011.
Outside of the main series, Celebi has appeared in Pokémon Colosseum
Pokémon Colosseum
is a role-playing video game developed by Genius Sonority and published by Nintendo as part of the Pokémon series. It was released exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube on November 21, 2003 in Japan; March 22, 2004 in North America; and May 14, 2004 in Europe...
, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
- Manga :*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team*Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team, manga adaption of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky.-...
games, the Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger
is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released at various dates, varying between continents. The game was first released in Japan on March 22, 2006 and was later released in North America and...
games, and Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
and Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
. Celebi has major roles in both Colosseum and Explorers of Time
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
and are a matched pair of Pokémon games for the Nintendo DS. The two games were released in Japan on September 13, 2007, and were released in North America on April 20, 2008...
.
In other media
In the anime, Celebi is represented as a generally weak Pokémon that constantly needs protection. Celebi is one of the main characters in the movie Pokémon 4EverPokémon 4Ever
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest, originally released in Japan as , is a 2001 Japanese anime film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and based on the television series Pokémon. It is the fourth official Pokémon film. It was released in Japan on July 14, 2001. The film was directed in Japan by...
. In this movie, Celebi is running away from a hunter. It crashes into young Samuel Oak who protects it, and in return, Celebi transports them forty years into the future, where Sam teams up with Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum
Ash Ketchum, known as for all appearances in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise owned by Nintendo. He was created by, and named after, Satoshi Tajiri as the protagonist of the anime and manga series, as well as on various merchandise related to the franchise...
to save Celebi from a Team Rocket member who turns it into a Dark Celebi by capturing it in a Dark Poké Ball. Near the end of the movie, several dozen Celebi appear from all sorts of different eras in time to help out. It also makes appearances in various episodes. Celebi appeared in a central role again in Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Grings Kodai was after the Pokémon in order to restore his ability to see the future, which he got on a previous encounter with it. In the anime, Celebi has made many small appearances, the most notable being in Pokémon Chronicles
Pokémon Chronicles
Pokémon Chronicles, known in Japan as , is a spin-off series of the Pokémon anime, revolving around characters other than Ash Ketchum.It first aired in Britain on Toonami, where the initial run has now finished. The only places where episodes are currently airing for the first time are the...
. In Celebi and Joy, Celebi took Ritchie back in time to help stop the destruction of a Pokémon Center.
In Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures, released in Japan as , is a Pokémon-related manga based on the video games. Satoshi Tajiri once stated that the Pocket Monsters Special series is closest to what he imagined the Pokémon world to be:...
, Pryce aimed to capture Celebi and use its time-traveling powers to save his two Lapras
Lapras
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Lapras first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.-Concept...
, which he had lost years prior to the storyline. He failed numerous times throughout his reign, and would injure himself on each day of the month in which Celebi would show itself in the Ilex shrine, so Green and Silver took this opportunity to steal his items and escape. Near the end of the RS
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
are the third installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing games, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The games were first released in Japan in late 2002 and later released to the rest of the world in 2003 . Pokémon Emerald, a special edition version,...
Saga, Ruby is revealed to have a Celebi. He explains that due to the lack of information he had on it, he rarely uses Celebi at all. Celebi was used to retrieve the Red and Blue Orbs from Maxie and Archie, to prevent them from ever controlling Groudon and Kyogre again. Then, it revived Norman, Steven, and Courtney by sending them through an altered future.
Reception
Since it appeared in the PokémonPokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
series, Celebi has been met with generally positive reception. It has been featured in numerous pieces of merchandise, including figures, plush toys, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...
. A Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
featuring art of Celebi on its box as well as two white silhouettes of it on the unit itself was released as a promotion. The system changes colors depending on how it is held. A promotional e-Card was released at Space World 2001
Space World
is a theme park in Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyūshū, Japan. Created in 1990 by Nippon Steel when the company was downsizing its steel plant in the ward, it is currently operated by Space World Inc., a subsidiary of Kamori Kankō....
that, when scanned, would feature Celebi floating around on the player's Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
screen eating apples off of a tree. Some people likened it to a dryad
Dryad
Dryads are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo-European root *derew- 'tree' or 'wood'. Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general...
because of the way it lives in the forest and heals the trees.
TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
editor Angel Cohn described Celebi as a "diminutive, onion-shaped creature", stating that the resemblance between Celebi and Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
' The Lorax
The Lorax
The Lorax is a children's book written by Dr. Seuss and first published in 1971. It chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax, who speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler. As in most Dr...
was "striking". SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
magazine also described it as resembling an onion. Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
editor Robert Koehler stated that Celebi appeared to appeal to young girls, describing it as an "Anime teardrop of a critter, with enormous, aquamarine eyes". Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
editor Jeffrey Westhoff described Celebi as looking like "Tinkerbell with an onion for a head" as well as having many of E.T.'s tricks. Canoe.ca editor Liz Braun similarly compared Celebi to Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell
Tinker Bell , is a fictional character from J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and its 1911 novelization Peter and Wendy. She has appeared in multiple film and television adaptations of the Peter Pan stories, in particular the 1953 animated Walt Disney picture Peter Pan...
, also describing its appearance as being similar to a goldfish's. The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
editor Nancy Churnin described Celebi as "lovable", while Post-Gazette editor Sharon Eberson called it "cute". The Daily Herald editor Dann Gire described Celebi as a "teardrop-shaped entity with big puppy dog eyes", commenting that its words sound like the "goo-gooey utterances of an infant".
GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
called Celebi one of its favourite Pokémon, along with Suicune
Suicune
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Suicune first appeared in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles, animated adaptations, and printed adaptations of the...
. They also describe it as "cute" and the "gem of any collection." They compare Celebi to Shaymin, a Pokémon from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. With the enhanced remake Pokémon Platinum, the games comprise the fifth installment and fourth generation of the Pokémon series of RPGs...
, describing both of them as "diminutive" and "super cute". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" commented that Celebi was the "crappiest solo" legendary, explaining solo to mean a legendary Pokémon without counterparts (i.e. Articuno
Articuno
Articuno, known as in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise. Articuno is one of the three winged mirages, along with Zapdos and Moltres. It is a large bird, noted for its ability to control cold. Articuno was one of many designs conceived by Game Freak and finalized by Ken...
, Zapdos
Zapdos
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Zapdos is one of the three winged mirages along with Articuno and Moltres. It was originally conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori...
, and Moltres
Moltres
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Moltres first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and later in subsequent sequels. Moltres is one of the three winged mirages, along with Articuno and Zapdos...
). She adds that she feels the "slightest twinge of pity" for Celebi. Authors Tracey West and Katherine Noll called Celebi the seventh best Pokémon overall and wrote that it had a "sweet appearance" that belied its "amazing power".