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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 Trubbish.
Environmentalism has always been a big part of Pokémon. One of the reasons the game exists was Tajiri Satoshi lamenting the disappearance of the rural areas around Tokyo in which he once caught bugs. In that very first generation we had pollution-based monsters in Grimer and Muk, and Koffing and Weezing. At one point, considered localized names for the latter pair were La and Ny, for Los Angeles and New York respectively.
Another common source of Pokémon designs are inanimate objects come to life- a common trope of Japanese yokai collectively called Tsukumogami. Umbrellas, sandals and so on in folklore, Pokéballs, eggs and magnets already in the first generation of Pokémon.
So with all that being said, it’s a shame that some Generation five Pokémon are constantly accused of being “lazy designs” because they’re based on inanimate objects.
Trubbish is a small poison-type Pokémon which resembles a bag of trash, the bow tied at the top to keep it closed making a pair of ears, and a little face with fangs completing the cat image.
White
The combination of garbage bags and industrial waste caused the chemical reaction that created this Pokémon.
Black 2
Wanting more garbage, they follow people who litter. They always belch poison gas.
Trubbish is cute, in its own way, and even if you find it gross, a little garbage-eater that does stinky belches may not sound so dangerous.
Moon
It gorges on trash until its stomach is full. Then it belches toxic gas. An unlucky whiff of gas will put a person in the hospital.
Ultra Moon
If a young Pokémon or child breathes in the toxic gas that Trubbish belches out, it could be a life-threatening situation.
The Japanese name for this Pokémon is Yabukuron, which means torn-up bag or loose bag. The English name combines trash and rubbish, two words which more or less mean the same thing but are more common in the US or UK respectively.
At level 36, the Pokémon upgrades from accidental belches to powerful attacks when it evolves into Garbodor.
Garbodor is a lurching animated pile of trash, the green bag that once contained it now shredded and worn as a hood. Two round ears explode through the top of the hood, so the overall silhouette is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s Totoro.
Perhaps ironically, what with gen five kind of replacing the first generation’s pokédex, both Trubbish and Garbodor’s pokédex entries reference the very monster they were created to replace.
Ultra Moon
Some say the reason Garbodor in Alola are a little stronger than their counterparts elsewhere is the presence of Muk, their natural enemy.
With much more pronounced arms, big bulk, and an even sharper fanged mouth, its no surprise Garbodor’s Pokédex entries are more aggressive.
Black
It clenches opponents with its left arm and finishes them off with foul-smelling poison gas belched from its mouth.
White
They absorb garbage and make it part of their bodies. They shoot a poisonous liquid from their right-hand fingertips.
This is all backed up, with Garbodor having substantial bulk and a mastery of poisons that give it a clear competitive niche. As if that weren’t enough, Garbodor has another form: in Galar, it can Gigantamax, beoming a tidal wave of refuse, with trains and boats caught up in the squall.
Gigantamax Garbodor
Sword
Due to Gigantamax energy, this Pokémon's toxic gas has become much thicker, congealing into masses shaped like discarded toys.
Shield
It sprays toxic gas from its mouth and fingers. If the gas engulfs you, the toxins will seep in all the way down to your bones.
On closer inspection, the vehicles caught in Giganatamax Garbodor’s body are just toys, joined by cute cameos from the Pokédoll and substitute doll. Presumably they grew alongside the monster when it Gigantamaxed.
Gigantamax Garbodor was the signature monster of Oleanna in Pokémon Sword and Shield, perhaps owing to her humble beginnings or the dirty dealings behind the squeaky clean image she helps Chairman Rose to maintain.
The English name combines garbage, a third word for trash or rubbish, with odor, owing to its smell. The Japanese name is Dusdas, meaning “take out the trash”. The Japanese word for trash, dust, is borrowed from the English word, perhaps due to the word “dustbox” being a way to say bin or trash can.
I can’t say I blame Andy. For all the hate this Pokémon gets, I think it’s a solid design that fits New York and is totally within Pokémon’s themes. Maybe this isn’t a lazy design, it just received lazy criticism.
Music for Luke Loves Pokémon is composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Writing, Producing and Editing is by me, Luke Summerhayes. Funding is provided by my lovely listeners. If you’d like to join them, to help keep the show online and find other podcasts by me and my pals, head over to Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius.
Coming up are Zorua and Mincinno, so if you have thoughts about those or any other monsters, hit me up with a DM @LukeLovesPKMN or an email to LukeLovesPKMN@Gmail.com. And of course, I’d love if you could leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Trubbish. And remember. I love you too.