Zorua and Zoroark
Encyclopedia
and are two fictional species of Pokémon creatures, linked by evolution, in Nintendo
's and Game Freak
's Pokémon
media franchise. They are two Dark-type Pokémon resembling fox
es. They first appeared in the film Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions, and were directly obtainable by attendees to that film in the games Pokémon Black and White
.
Zorua and Zoroark were first shown in CoroCoro Comic
and Pokémon Sunday. As the first fifth-generation Pokémon to be introduced, the news of their introduction spread quickly. They have been well-received by the video game press.
es as well as elements of kabuki
and noh
theatre makeup. They are recognized by the National Pokédex as the "Tricky Fox Pokémon" and "Illusion Fox Pokémon" respectively. Zoroark is bipedal, and has a long, thick mane which resembles a fox's tail at its termination. Zorua evolves into Zoroark at Level 30. The characters are able to transform into different Pokémon at will using their "Illusion" abilities.
Zorua frightens opponents by assuming their appearance. It seems to often take on the guise of a silent child. It protects itself from danger by keeping its own true form hidden. Zoroark protects its pack
by deluding opponents. Unity among the group is strong. It has the power to delude many people at one time. It protects its den by displaying an illusory landscape.
is needed to activate Zorua in-game, while Zoroark is activated by obtaining event shiny Entei
, Raikou, or Suicune
or directly obtained through the Wifi-event. After obtaining either Celebi or the legendary trio, they can be transferred to Black or White
to activate the events that allow for capture. A feature in the games called the Relocator is used exclusively to transfer these event Pokémon to Black and White. It is usable early in the game so the player can obtain Zorua and Zoroark, and use them in their team.
Zoroark is one of the Pokémon used by N in the player's final battle against him.
, Platinum
, HeartGold, or SoulSilver
were able to directly download a Celebi
to their game. If the attendees to Phantom Ruler: Zoroark bought an pre-order ticket, they could obtain a shiny Entei
, Raikou, or Suicune
.
Zoroark was also directly obtainable in Japanese version directly through Wifi for a limited period of time, as a part of the campaign of TV Programme Pokémon Smash!
To promote the North American release of Black and White, players were able to download the shiny Entei, Raikou, and Suicune from GameStop
stores during various weeks in January and February 2011. Celebi was available for download from GameStop stores during February 21 to March 6, 2011.
, and Suicune
after Zoroark is shown a projection of an abused Zorua. Little does Zoroark know, Zorua is safe and sound with Ash and his friends. As Zoroark attacks the city as she was ordered to, Grings sends out lies to the people of Crown City about Zoroark saying that she is evil and has gained control over the legendary beasts.
Zorua also appears from the episode "Zorua the Movie!Legend of the Pokemon Knight" to "Decisive Don Battle! Ash vs. Iris" as the Pokémon for a film-maker named Luke.
. They were the first Pokémon introduced from the fifth generation and from Phantom Ruler: Zoroark. News quickly circulated online that the total number of Pokémon had risen to 495.
staff writer JC Fletcher called Zorua "smaller and cuter, but evil" compared to Zoroark. He also expressed pleasure that Zoroark was not a werehog
creature as some fans had speculated. IGN
writer Jack DeVries also identified Zorua as small and cute, and speculated that the pair would not be Legendary Pokémon, but would probably serve as antagonists in Phantom Ruler: Zoroark. Staff of Kotaku
called Zorua "adorable" and "small, fluffy, and thoroughly evil, much like a Pekingese
." They also compared Zoroark's hairstyle to those of Gary Glitter
, Kishidan
's lead singer Show Ayanocozey
, and Angelina Jolie
. Shortly after the Pokémon's introduction, Official Nintendo Magazine writer Thomas East remarked that Zorua "looks quite cute" but that Zoroark's appearance is more menacing: "[i]f Zorua is described as an angry fox what does that make Zoroark?" East later commented that Zoroark's transformation ability could make it "one of the coolest Pokémon ever". Game Informer
s Jeff Marchiafava stated "Zorua is another example of the original form being cooler than the evolved form". In a poll by Official Nintendo Magazine, Zoroark was voted as one of the best Pokémon from Black and White. Editor Thomas East stated that "We remember the reaction to Zoroark being (mostly) positive and it's good to see that it still remains popular to this day".
s, keychain
s, and wristwatches. A lunch box
promoting Phantom Ruler: Zoroark features Zoroark and other film characters such as Ash Ketchum
and Pikachu
.
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....
's 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...
media franchise. They are two Dark-type Pokémon resembling fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es. They first appeared in the film Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions, and were directly obtainable by attendees to that film in the games 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...
.
Zorua and Zoroark were first shown in CoroCoro Comic
CoroCoro Comic
is a Japanese monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan, starting on May 15, 1977. Its main target is elementary school aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga...
and Pokémon Sunday. As the first fifth-generation Pokémon to be introduced, the news of their introduction spread quickly. They have been well-received by the video game press.
Design and characteristics
Zorua and Zoroark are two Pokémon linked by evolution. They are of the Dark type, and resemble foxFox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es as well as elements of kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
and noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
theatre makeup. They are recognized by the National Pokédex as the "Tricky Fox Pokémon" and "Illusion Fox Pokémon" respectively. Zoroark is bipedal, and has a long, thick mane which resembles a fox's tail at its termination. Zorua evolves into Zoroark at Level 30. The characters are able to transform into different Pokémon at will using their "Illusion" abilities.
Zorua frightens opponents by assuming their appearance. It seems to often take on the guise of a silent child. It protects itself from danger by keeping its own true form hidden. Zoroark protects its pack
Pack (canine)
Pack is a social group of conspecific canids. Not all species of canids - notably the red fox - form packs. Pack size and social behaviour within packs varies across species.-Species which exhibit pack behavior:...
by deluding opponents. Unity among the group is strong. It has the power to delude many people at one time. It protects its den by displaying an illusory landscape.
Appearances
In the video games
Zorua and Zoroark can be both obtainable through normal gameplay, although, not directly obtainable without the involvement of promotional events. A special CelebiCelebi (Pokémon)
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...
is needed to activate Zorua in-game, while Zoroark is activated by obtaining event shiny Entei
Entei
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Entei 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...
, Raikou, or 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...
or directly obtained through the Wifi-event. After obtaining either Celebi or the legendary trio, they can be transferred to Black or 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...
to activate the events that allow for capture. A feature in the games called the Relocator is used exclusively to transfer these event Pokémon to Black and White. It is usable early in the game so the player can obtain Zorua and Zoroark, and use them in their team.
Zoroark is one of the Pokémon used by N in the player's final battle against him.
Events
Attendees to the Japanese film Phantom Ruler: Zoroark who owned a copy of Pokémon Diamond, PearlPokémon 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...
, Platinum
Pokémon Platinum
is a title in the Pokémon series of video games. It was developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is an enhanced remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl in the same vein as Pokémon Yellow, Crystal, and Emerald were for their respective games...
, HeartGold, or 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...
were able to directly download a Celebi
Celebi (Pokémon)
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...
to their game. If the attendees to Phantom Ruler: Zoroark bought an pre-order ticket, they could obtain a shiny Entei
Entei
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Entei 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...
, Raikou, or 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...
.
Zoroark was also directly obtainable in Japanese version directly through Wifi for a limited period of time, as a part of the campaign of TV Programme Pokémon Smash!
To promote the North American release of Black and White, players were able to download the shiny Entei, Raikou, and Suicune from GameStop
GameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
stores during various weeks in January and February 2011. Celebi was available for download from GameStop stores during February 21 to March 6, 2011.
In the anime
Zorua and Zoroark play prominent roles in the film Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Zoroark, tricked by Grings Kodai, attacks Crown City while transformed as Raikou, EnteiEntei
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Entei 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...
, and 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...
after Zoroark is shown a projection of an abused Zorua. Little does Zoroark know, Zorua is safe and sound with Ash and his friends. As Zoroark attacks the city as she was ordered to, Grings sends out lies to the people of Crown City about Zoroark saying that she is evil and has gained control over the legendary beasts.
Zorua also appears from the episode "Zorua the Movie!Legend of the Pokemon Knight" to "Decisive Don Battle! Ash vs. Iris" as the Pokémon for a film-maker named Luke.
Exposition
Zorua's and Zoroark's silhouettes were shown in on Pokémon Sunday. The Pokémon's full bodies were first shown in the February 2010 issue of CoroCoro ComicCoroCoro Comic
is a Japanese monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan, starting on May 15, 1977. Its main target is elementary school aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga...
. They were the first Pokémon introduced from the fifth generation and from Phantom Ruler: Zoroark. News quickly circulated online that the total number of Pokémon had risen to 495.
Critical reception
The characters have been generally well-received by the video game press. JoystiqJoystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
staff writer JC Fletcher called Zorua "smaller and cuter, but evil" compared to Zoroark. He also expressed pleasure that Zoroark was not a werehog
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic Unleashed , is a video game and the 11th installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for multiple platforms...
creature as some fans had speculated. 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...
writer Jack DeVries also identified Zorua as small and cute, and speculated that the pair would not be Legendary Pokémon, but would probably serve as antagonists in Phantom Ruler: Zoroark. Staff of Kotaku
Kotaku
Kotaku is a video games-focused blog. It is part of Gawker Media's "Gawker" network of sites, which also includes Gizmodo, Deadspin, Lifehacker, io9 and Jezebel. Named to CNET News' Blog 100, Kotaku is consistently listed in the top 40 of Technorati's Top 100...
called Zorua "adorable" and "small, fluffy, and thoroughly evil, much like a Pekingese
Pekingese
The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides...
." They also compared Zoroark's hairstyle to those of Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
, Kishidan
Kishidan
, which means "The Knights", are a J-pop band. They have a retro image, wearing Japanese school uniforms in the style of bōsōzoku. The lead singer, Show Ayanocozey, was DJ OZMA, until the persona was "retired" in December 2008. Kishidan announced a "comeback", after a three year break, on January...
's lead singer Show Ayanocozey
DJ Ozma
DJ OZMA, born as on April 26 in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, and legally known as , is a Japanese pop singer and musical artist. He first came to prominence in early 2006 and is notorious for his performance at the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, during which his female dancers stripped themselves of...
, and Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
. Shortly after the Pokémon's introduction, Official Nintendo Magazine writer Thomas East remarked that Zorua "looks quite cute" but that Zoroark's appearance is more menacing: "[i]f Zorua is described as an angry fox what does that make Zoroark?" East later commented that Zoroark's transformation ability could make it "one of the coolest Pokémon ever". Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
s Jeff Marchiafava stated "Zorua is another example of the original form being cooler than the evolved form". In a poll by Official Nintendo Magazine, Zoroark was voted as one of the best Pokémon from Black and White. Editor Thomas East stated that "We remember the reaction to Zoroark being (mostly) positive and it's good to see that it still remains popular to this day".
Merchandising
Zorua- and Zoroark-designed plush dolls have been manufactured as part of the Diamond and Pearl line. Other Zoroark merchandise includes action figureAction figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s, keychain
Keychain
A keychain or key chain is a small chain, usually made from metal or plastic, that connects a small item to a keyring. The length of a keychain allows an item to be used more easily than if connected directly to a keyring...
s, and wristwatches. A lunch box
Lunch box
The lunch box, also referred to as a lunch pail or lunch kit, is used to store food to be taken to work or school. The concept of a food container has existed for a long time, but it wasn't until people began using tobacco tins to haul meals in the early 20th century, followed by the use of...
promoting Phantom Ruler: Zoroark features Zoroark and other film characters such as 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...
and Pikachu
Pikachu
is one of the species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. As do all Pokémon, Pikachu fight other Pokémon in battles central to the anime, manga, and games of the series...
.
External links
- Zorua at Bulbapedia
- Zoroark at Bulbapedia