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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 Ducklett.
The ugly duckling is a timeless children’s story with a simple, positive message. A duck is born that looks unusual, bullied its whole childhood only to discover it’s actually a beautiful swan, the differences that it once considered ugly actually being strengths.
Like many popular children’s stories today, it was written by Danish children’s author Hans Christian Andersen. Unlike many of his stories, which adapted existing legends and fairytales, this one seems to be an original creation. The story is actually somewhat autobiographical, with Andersen being an awkward boy with an unpleasant childhood in which he was discouraged from pursuing his creativity, only to blossom into a hugely successful writing career.
Ducklett is a water and flying Pokémon that resembles a blue duck. It’s cute and rotund, with a darker belly that could be designed to look like swimming trunks or perhaps a flotation device.
Black 2
They are better at swimming than flying, and they happily eat their favorite food, peat moss, as they dive underwater.
White 2
Black
These bird Pokémon are excellent divers. They swim around in the water eating their favorite food--peat moss.
Ducklett is not an especially dangerous battling Pokémon, unsurprising based on its cute appearance.
White
When attacked, it uses its feathers to splash water, escaping under cover of the spray.
The name Ducklett combines duck with the -let suffix, usually used to denote babies or small versions. Similarly, the Japanese name for the Pokémon is Koaruhie, with ko meaning child or small and ahiru being a name for ducks.
Ducklett is pretty cute and pleasant looking by duck standards. Perhaps, instead, it is ugly by swan standards, though the metaphor doesn’t last as at level 35 it evolves into the beautiful Swanna.
Swanna is an elegant swan Pokémon with an arrangement of feathers like hair and, where Ducklett had its swimsuit, a blue feathered chest that could resemble a swimsuit or a ballet dancer’s outfit.
Black
Swanna start to dance at dusk. The one dancing in the middle is the leader of the flock.
Alpha Sapphire
Swanna start to dance at dusk. The one dancing in the middle is the leader of the flock.
Swan lake is one of the most famous ballets of all time, telling the story of the young lady Odette who is transformed into a swan by a vengeful sorceress. Perhaps some version exists in the Pokémon world too, inspired by Swanna.
Violet
It's said that many artists have taken inspiration from the sight of Swanna performing a beautiful dance in the light of dawn.
The Pokémon is beautiful, yes, but strong too. Alas, in competitive play, Swanna’s middling stats could never fully take advantage of its powerful Keen Eye ability, though some players have been able to make it work in low-tier competition. My main experience of Swanna and Ducklett in the videogames came from New Pokémon Snap, in which they were prominent and beautiful.
White
It administers sharp, powerful pecks with its bill. It whips its long neck to deliver forceful repeated strikes.
Black 2
Despite their elegant appearance, they can flap their wings strongly and fly for thousands of miles.
White 2
The name Swanna combines swan and ballerina, appropriately enough. I’ve always loved ducks, going to many parks and lakes to feed them. Once, when I was living in England, a duck imprinted on me and followed me home from a late shift at a restaurant. I had to chase away a fox. Long before that, I grew up in Wells, Somerset, near the world-famous swans at the Bishop’s Palace, who for generations have rung a bell to be fed. On top of all of that, I have a girlfriend who wrote a story about Swanna. How could I not love this Pokémon?
Original music for Luke Loves Pokémon is by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork is by Katie Groves. Funding is provided by listeners at Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius. For just a dollar a month, supporters can listen to episodes a week early and also help cover hosting and fees, making it possible for me to keep making episodes every week.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch about upcoming Pokémon on twitter or facebook at LukeLovesPKMN. Drop a comment if you’re watching the video, or a review on apple podcasts or spotify. Coming up are vanillite and deerling, so please get in touch about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Ducklett. And remember, I love you too.