Classified as both a Bug and Flying-type Pokémon, Butterfree is an insect which is based on a butterfly, while its previous forms are based on a caterpillar and chrysalis, respectively. It has white wings with black patterns, antennae, red compound eyes, and a purple two-segment body with blue hands and feet. Entomologist Rebecca M. Kittel argued that these Butterfree and its prior forms all take inspiration from different insects. Due to these dissimilarities, an urban legend was formed that suggested the Pokémon Venomoth originally evolved from Metapod and that Butterfree evolved from Venonat due to Butterfree's similarities to it.
In the Pokémon anime, Butterfree is a Pokémon of protagonist Ash Ketchum, evolving from a Caterpie he caught. Its departure in the anime has been considered one of the most touching moments in the series due to it being the first Pokémon he caught, as well as the fact that it did not return for most of the anime. It eventually returned in the finale of Ash's story, which was considered an impactful moment.
Conception and development
Butterfree is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998.[1] In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means.[2] Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.[3] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[2]
When making the games, the design first started as pixel art sprites by the development team, created with a single color identity chosen to work within the Super Game Boy hardware limitations.[4] While conceived as a group effort by multiple developers at Game Freak,[5] once development was complete Sugimori re-drew the species along with the others in his own artstyle in order to give the game a unified look and finalize any design elements, while also trying to maintain the original sprite artist's unique style.[6] When the games were localized for English-speaking audiences, Nintendo of America gave the various Pokémon species descriptive names related to their appearance or features as a means to make them more relatable to American children.[7]
Design
Butterfree is an insect-like Pokémon, resembling a butterfly. Its purple body features two segments, and its mouth, hands, and feet are blue. It features red compound eyes, a pair of antennae, small white fangs, and white wings with a black pattern. It evolves from Metapod, a green chrysalis form that evolves from Caterpie which has a nose-like protrusion. Caterpie is also green, resembling a caterpillar with a red protrusion from its head.[8] Author Rebecca M. Kittel discussed the growth of Caterpie into Butterfree, finding that Caterpie resembled an Asian swallowtail, while Metapod resembled a swallowtail chrysalis, specifically stating that its "nose-like protrusion" resembles a Polydamas swallowtail and pipevine swallowtail. For Butterfree, she argued that while it bore a resemblance to aporia crataegi, it had teeth instead of a proboscis like those butterflies have. She also described that Butterfree's two-segmented body differed from adult insects' three-segmented bodies.[8]
Appearances
First found in Pokémon Red and Blue,[9] Butterfree has appeared in many main series Pokémon titles since.[9][10][11][12] In Red and Blue, Butterfree is available early in the game through evolution from a Caterpie or Metapod caught in the wild, evolving at a lower level than most other Pokémon.[9] The games Pokémon Sword and Shield introduced a mechanic called Dynamax, which allowed Pokémon to grow to large sizes in battle, with some Pokémon, Butterfree included, getting exclusive new designs called Gigantamax forms associated with the phenomenon.[13][14] Butterfree is available in the mobile game Pokémon Go[15] and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.[16]
In the related anime, Caterpie is the first Pokémon Ash Ketchum caught. It eventually evolved into Metapod and then Butterfree,[17] and was at one point temporarily traded for a Raticate before Ash traded back for it.[18] Butterfree later finds a female Butterfree, who Ash helps him woo. At the end of the episode, Ash allows Butterfree to go with this other Butterfree, despite his sadness over his departure.[17] Butterfree and Ash eventually reunite twenty years later in the series finale at the end of Ash's journey.[19] Butterfree also appears in the anime film Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, a retelling of the original series with some differences.[20]
Reception
Butterfree has received generally positive reception, described as an iconic Pokémon and one that many players had used in their teams by Sports Illustrated writer Dave Aubrey.[18] In their Pokémon of the Day series, IGN stated that they appreciated the fact that Butterfree was a Pokémon that players could obtain early through evolution and who was useful against in-game opponents early in the game, but that it petered off eventually and largely became useless.[9] "Bye-Bye Butterfree" has been considered one of the most touching farewell episodes in the Pokémon anime, with Real Sound staff noting that it caused many fans to cry over Butterfree's departure.[21] Author Quentin Gervasoni believed that Butterfree was famous because of this episode, and that the scene of it departing became a meme due to its emotion.[22] The fact that it was the first Pokémon released by anyone in the anime series at that point was also a contributing factor to its departure's impact according to IGN.[23]Anime News Network writer Jacob Chapman stated that, despite not being as torn up over Butterfree's departure as others, the scene was "burned into [his] brain." He also suggested that this scene mirrored the first experience of loss for many children.[24]TheGamer writer Brandon Howard expressed a desire for Butterfree to return to the anime upon hearing that Ash's story was nearing its conclusion; he felt that releasing Butterfree was one of Ash's most difficult decisions in the series, stating that it would be a good send-off for Ash for him and Butterfree to reunite.[25]
The return of Butterfree in the finale of the anime was considered an emotionally impactful moment by CBR writer Jae Choi, who felt that the end of Ash's journey having him meet up with Butterfree again made the moment more poignant. Butterfree, unlike other Pokémon who left Ash's party, had never returned during the anime up until that point, which made Choi feel that Butterfree's departure and eventual return was more impactful as a result. He also suggested it served as a good benchmark, showing Butterfree's departure as "Ash's first real moment of growing up" with Butterfree's return showing how far Ash has come since releasing him.[19] Dave Aubrey reflected on the end of the series, stating that one of his "main memories" of it was of Butterfree. He felt it was more memorable in the anime than the games due to its role in Ash's team, discussing how much the anime shows how much he cares for Butterfree, including him trading back for Butterfree after regretting doing so. He considered it the most emotional moment for a 10-year-old at the time, and the first time he had cried watching something, adding that the reunion between the two was the series' most memorable.[18]Crunchyroll writer Daniel Dockery argued that the episode was the saddest episode of television, discussing how Butterfree's departure deviates from how Pokémon works - namely, that players can store Pokémon they don't use, which he argued contrasted with the "uncontrolled destiny" of Butterfree's. He also argued that Ash and Butterfree's relationship is like a father-son one, noting how Butterfree was the only Pokémon that actually grew through evolution at the time, and thus the only one he watched grow up.[26] This idea was also exploded by author Tim Jordan, who concurred that Butterfree being his first Pokémon caught emphasized the emotion for Ash.[27]
Butterfree's design, particularly in relation to its previous forms, has been the subject of discussion by critics. An urban legend for the Pokémon franchise exists which argues that Butterfree and Venomoth were originally meant to be part of each other's respective evolutionary lines. GamesRadar+ writer Ashley Reed suggested that the theory had credence due to dissimilarities between Butterfree and Metapod, as well as similarities between it and Venonat, the first form of Venomoth. In particular, she argued that the similar color and compound eyes between Butterfree and Venonat demonstrates this apparent connection.[28]Magmix staff agreed on this, stating that certain features of Butterfree's, including its fangs, antennae, eyes, and hand shape are nearly identical to Venonat's, while Venomoth's three-pronged horn and eyes seemed to relate more to Butterfree's previous forms.[29] According to Inside Games writer Sawadee Otsuka, people have speculated that the similarities between them caused them to not be featured in the same game together after appearing together in Gold and Silver.[30]
^ピカチュウは大福？ 初めて明かされる誕生秘話 [Is Pikachu Daifuku? The Secret Story Behind its Creation Revealed for the First Time]. Yomiuri (in Japanese). May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024. English transcript of interview available at "Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu". Pokemon.com. July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
^Ken Sugimori Works (in Japanese). Tankobon Softcover. January 2014. pp. 342–343. ISBN9784198638061.
^Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". Time. Archived from the original on February 20, 2001. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
^Jordan, Tim (2004). "The pleasures and pains of Pikachu". European Journal of Cultural Studies. SAGE Publications. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
