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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 Komala.
Koalas are marsupials native to Australia who live in trees. They live almost entirely on a diet of Eucalyptus leaves, a very low-calorie and low nutrient foodstuff. Because of this, they have little energy to do anything else, usually sleeping for around twenty hours a day.
This lethargic lifestyle, alongside colonialist chauvinism towards Australia’s so-called “primitive” animals, led to Koalas becoming a shorthand for useless animals. To make matters worse, they are not social, and they are riddled with diseases. They aren’t even regularly eaten by anything else. It really is easy to ask yourself, what is the point of these animals? But then, maybe that is the point. Koalas are just vibing, not bothering anyone, and looking cute.
Komala is a normal-type Pokemon that resembles a bluish koala clinging to a little tree stump. It is perpetually asleep, a natural exaggeration to go from real-life animal to fantasy Pocket Monster.
Sun
It is born asleep, and it dies asleep. All its movements are apparently no more than the results of it tossing and turning in its dreams.
Ultra Moon
It remains asleep from birth to death as a result of the sedative properties of the leaves that form its diet.
Violet
A potent anesthetic can be made by diluting Komala's drool. This anesthetic was used for surgeries in the past.
Just as the real koala raises a philosophical question as to whether a creature needs a reason to live, or if being here is simply enough, Komala brings us back to age-old debates about consciousness and dreams. What is the difference between a dream world and the real one? How do we know any of us are awake?
The English name, Komala, refers to the coma in which this Pokemon exists. The Japanese name is Nekkoara, with Nekko referring to a tree stump.
Moon
The log it holds was given to it by its parents at birth. It has also been known to cling to the arm of a friendly Trainer.
In game, Komala has the ability Comatose, which treats it as though it were asleep at all times, though still able to attack. This lets it use moves like snore, and prevents it from being subjected to most other status ailments. It also makes Komala especially weak to moves like dream eater. The costs and benefits of this ability are all very niche.
Komala is a unique and slightly weird Pokemon, yet not in a way that makes it useful in gameplay or do anything cool in an anime. Does that mean the Pokemon shouldn’t exist? Surely not! The real world is big enough for Koalas to relax in their corner, just as the Pokemon world is big enough for Komala to just vibe.
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 Pokemon. Coming up next are Turtonator and Togedemaru, 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 Komala. And remember, I love you too.