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A weekly Pokédex Podcast from Bald Man in Japan Luke Summerhayes. A different Pokémon family every week.
I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Passimian.
Apes and monkeys represent a paradox. Compared to many other animals, they seem much closer to human intelligence in their logical problem-solving and complex communication. They can be symbolic of wisdom. On the other hand, because of this closeness to the human condition, they can also suffer from those comparisons. Calling someone an ape or a monkey might be a way to insult their intelligence!
Another place where we might find this dichotomy between those used as a shorthand for high intelligence and those used as a shorthand for low is in university scholarships. People assume someone attending a prestigious school on an academic scholarship is wise beyond their years, and people are equally quick to assume someone on an athletic scholarship is unworthy of the education. Both assumptions are equally invalid, of course, but exist to this day.
If Oranguru was a wise ape with a career as a learned scholar ahead of it, Passimian is the meathead hired to play ball. A fighting type Pokemon, it resembles a large lemur wearing and wielding fruit shells like a football and armour.
Ultra Moon
Berries are its weapons as well as the staple of its diet. The one that can throw a berry the farthest is the boss of the troop.
Of course, this is a false dichotomy in human university students, it is a false dichotomy in real-life primates and it’s a false dichotomy here. Passimian are intelligent in their own way, with teamwork and tactics.
Moon
They battle with hard berries for weapons. Their techniques are passed from the boss to the group, generation upon generation.
Sword
Displaying amazing teamwork, they follow the orders of their boss as they all help out in the search for their favorite berries.
Shield
Passimian live in groups of about 20, with each member performing an assigned role. Through cooperation, the group survives.
The name Passimian combines Passing, the football skill, with Simian, as this is a monkey. It also sounds a little like persimmon, making a pair with Oranguru’s orange and reminding one of the Japanese tale of the Monkey and the Crab, in which the monkey kills the crab by throwing persimmons at it. The Japanese name Nagetukesaru combines the Japanese words for throw and monkey.
Scarlet
This Pokémon battles by throwing hard berries. It won’t obey a Trainer who throws Poké Balls without skill.
Passimian does play hard passes with its signature ability receiver, which is replaced by the ability of any fainting ally. While a little gimmicky, with passimian’s already high attack and speed stats boosted by certain other abilities, players could make a real monster.
Some of the smartest academics are ignorant in the ways of the world, while many athletes prove themselves to be intelligent and thoughtful individuals. And while most apes could not solve the complex mathematical and scientific problems humans can, they also aren’t destroying our world for a billionaire’s bottom line. Maybe Oranguru and Passimian aren’t so different after all.
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 Wimpod and Sandyghast, 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 Passimian. And remember, I love you too.