Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
A weekly Pokédex Podcast from Bald Man in Japan Luke Summerhayes. A different Pokémon family every week.
I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Oricorio.
Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, and the theory of evolution by natural selection which it espoused, was in part or in whole inspired by observations made while touring the Galapagos islands aboard the Beagle. Darwin observed that on each island, a slightly different variation of finch used a very specialized beak to extract nectar from the local flowers.
This phenomena is not, of course, unique to finches in the Galapagos. Writ large, it accounts for every deviation, great or small, between every living thing on Earth. In a more direct comparison, it also applies to the different breeds of honeycreepers across the Hawaiian islands.
In Alola, Oricorio is a bird Pokemon with four forms, all of them flying type but each with a different secondary typing – as well as a coloration and a distinctive dance style.
Pa’u style Oricorio, are psychic in type and pink in color, with a skirt that resembles the classic image of a Hawaiian Hula dancer.
Moon
This Oricorio has sipped pink nectar. Its enemies' hearts melt at the sight of its gently swaying hips.
Ultra Sun
It relaxes its opponents with its elegant dancing. When they let their guard down, it showers them with psychic energy.
Sensu style is a purple bird with a secondary ghost type and feathers which form a haircut like a Japanese geisha and a hand fan, the sensu used in Japanese dance like Kabuki or Noh.
Moon
It summons the dead with its dreamy dancing. From their malice, it draws power with which to curse its enemies.
Ultra Sun
It charms its opponents with its refined dancing. When they let their guard down, it places a curse on them that will bring on their demise.
A little closer to Hawaii, Pom Pom style resembles an American sports cheerleader, becoming a yellow bird with a secondary electric type.
Moon
It creates an electric charge by rubbing its feathers together. It dances over to its enemies and delivers shocking electrical punches.
Ultra Sun
It lifts its opponents' spirits with its cheerful dance moves. When they let their guard down, it electrocutes them with a jolt.
The first Oricorio most players will meet in the game is the red, part fire type Baille form, with the style and moves of a Flamenco dancer. Spain has less connection to Hawaii than Japan or the USA – perhaps this was our first hint of the Paldea region?
Ultra Sun
It wins the hearts of its enemies with its passionate dancing and then uses the opening it creates to burn them up with blazing flames.
Scarlet
This Pokémon is incredibly popular, possibly because its passionate dancing is a great match with the temperament of Paldean people.
The name Oricorio combines choreography with Oriole, the group of birds to which Hawaiian Honeycreepers belong. The Japanese name, Odoridori combines odori, dance, with tori, bird, while sounding a bit like irotoridori, meaning a variety of flavors.
This variety is interesting, for sure, and the ability dancer makes Oricorio an amusing partner for doubles Pokemon with their own dance moves. After the partner does a dnace move, Oricorio can use its own regardless of speed. Of course, this isn’t enough to make it a competitive monster, but it was boosted even further in the ninth generation.
Oricorio has always had the move Revelation Dance, which changes type to match Oricorio’s type. This was one thing when Oricorio could change between its four forms between battles, but in the ninth gen, the addition of the Tera type made this move an even stronger version of Tera Blast. On top of this, Oricorio gained Quiver Dance, an extremely good boosting move. This combination makes Oricorio a powerful monster at certain competitive tiers – in fact, it makes it so powerful it has been banned and unbanned by the community repeatedly!
Oricorio is a pretty bird with an interesting mix of lore and designs. Add an amusing history among the competitive section of the community, and it’s a Pokemon that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Music for Luke Loves Pokemon was composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Funding is by supporters at patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch on youtube, social media or email and let me know about your favorite monsters. Coming up next are Cutiefly and Rockruff, so let me know your thoughts about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much for listening.
I love Oricorio. And remember, I love you too.