Interview with Bulbasaur
[In this interview, I discuss a number of features of Pokémon
language with my Bulbasaur, who has since evolved into an Ivysaur. The originally
lengthy interview, which took place on October 23, 2001 has been edited for
content that is outside the scope of my research]
DAVIN: Before I captured you, what kind of life were you living?
BULBASAUR: Bulba bulbasaur
DAVIN: Yes, I know. Professor Oak was the one gave you to me. But before that,
were you living with other Pokémon? Working? In training with another
trainer?
BULBASAUR: Bul bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba bulba bul ba bulbasaur
bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba bulba bul ba ba bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bul ba
bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bulba
DAVIN: Ah. And your first trainer? How was the adjustment to living inside a
pokeball, in a trainer’s care?
BULBASAUR: Bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba
DAVIN: Haha! Yes. What about the language barrier? Did you find that you could
understand what it was your trainer was telling you?
BULBASAUR: Bulba bul bulba bul ba ba bulbasaur bulbasaur bul ba saur bul bulba
bul ba ba bulbasaur bulbasaur bul ba saur
DAVIN: Really!? How was it that you were able to understand? I mean, let’s
face it, there is a big difference in the languages we speak? Not to mention
the difference between your language the language of Pikachu.
BULBASAUR: Bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb bul ba bulbasaur bulba saur
bulbasaur bulba saur bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba
DAVIN: I see. Yes, that makes sense. Some people have described the relationship
between a pokémon and its trainer as exploitative—master and slave,
pimp and prostitute, etc. Are there legitimate parallels?
BULBASAUR: Bulba
DAVIN: At one point, Ekans claimed something to the effect that there are no
bad pokémon, only bad masters. Is this true? Are all pokémon“good”?
BULBASAUR: Bulba bulbasaur
DAVIN: I mean good in human terms.
BULBASAUR: Bulba
DAVIN: So in the wild, pokémon are peaceful? They don’t fight?
BULBASAUR: Bulba bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb bul ba
bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba saur bulba bulb bul ba bulbasaur bulba
saur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba
DAVIN: And how do you feel about this change in lifestyle?
BULBASAUR: Bulbasaur bulba bul ba saur bulba bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb
bul ba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulbasaur saur bulbasaur bulba saur bulba bulb
DAVIN: I can’t help but notice that you are saying your name over and over
again.
BULBASAUR: Bulbasaur
DAVIN: Beyond the game aspect of Pokémon, and into the cartoons,
films, merchandise, books, etc. How do you feel about being part of a cultural
phenomenon? How have you and the other pokémon handled this fame and
success?
BULBASAUR: Bulba bul bulbasaur
DAVIN: As you are aware, Clefable’s been in and out of the Viridion City
Pokémon Center several times in the past month, and then last week it
fainted during a party on the S.S. Anne and was flown to the Pokémon
Center in Lavender City. People are talking.
BULBASAUR: Bulba bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb bul ba
bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba
bulb bul ba bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb bul ba bulbasaur
bulba saur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba
DAVIN: I know, but rumors spread quickly once you achieve such a high level
of prominence. And it’s impossible not to expect that fans will be concerned...I
mean Clefable, for all its shyness, has a very dedicated fan following.
BULBASAUR: Bulbasaur
DAVIN: Are you familiar with the work of Deleuze and Guattari?
BULBASAUR: Bulba
DAVIN: So then you must have some opinion on “Nomadism.” And...well
to state the obvious...you live the nomadic life. Do you feel that seizing
these lines of flight has been a positive experience? I mean what is it like
to be on the road with a trainer? Is it all it’s cracked up to be?
BULBASAUR: Bulbasaur bulba bulbasaur bulbasaur bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulbasaur
bulba bulba bulb bul ba bulbasaur bulba bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb bul ba bulbasaur
bulba saur bulbasaur bulba saur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba
bulb bul ba bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulb bul ba bulbasaur
bulba saur bulbasaur bulba bulba bulba bulbasaur bulba saur bulbasaur bulba
DAVIN: Fascinating! This is definitely going in my paper! So you see a new sort
of State emerging then...a unique kind of capitalist war machine?
BULBASUAR: Bulba bulba bulbasaur
DAVIN: Yes...I guess pokémon aren’t the only things that evolve.
Thank you. This interview has proven most enlightening.
BULBASAUR: Bulba