Physics of the Pokémon Anime

[Archaic]

The simple fact that Satoshi didn't die in the first episode seems to suggest to me that the physics for Pokémon are significantly different to the real world. Well, either that, or the measurement of a volt has significantly changed over time (assuming Pokémon is set in a future earth rather than an alternate one).

Can anyone come up with some examples of events that, by real world physical laws, could not happen? Do we have any consistancy of physics within the show?

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

Can anyone come up with some examples of events that, by real world physical laws, could not happen?

I'll sum it up for you in one simple phrase.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaaaaaaiiiiin!"

 

[Jo-Jo]

^ XD

For some reason, Team Rocket seem capable of bending the laws of physics far more than the twerps. I remember one episode where Ash is clinging to the TR balloon, and the others all freak out because they're afraid he'll die if he falls. But when JJ&M undergo the routine blast-off, they fly much higher, and nobody worries about them at all.

 

[ZoraJolteon]

Maybe it's more biological, with humans getting an increased electrical tolorence?

Other examples include Clefairy's space ship managing to get off the ground, the structural integrity of TR's numerous mechas, and the ability of everything to jump 10 feet into the air.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Maybe it's more biological, with humans getting an increased electrical tolorence?

It has been made a point of that Ash and TR both have stronger resistance to Electricity because of Pikachu. Ash being the only one shocked more than anyone else besides TR by Pikachu.

Also, think Movie 1, if tears can reinstate your biology and bring you back to life - it's a pretty obvious indication that physics is a bit different.

But then again, what cartoon/anime etc DOESN'T have such silly laws broken constantly? It's by far the most common factor of anything animated and often the reason why people go for animation of live-action. Especially when you think of CG 'Actors' doing stunts not physically possible for Live ones.

It's something you just strangely accept. I mean, if it were live action you'd consider it a lot more "Why isn't TR dead after that fall?" But in the anime.... somehow... you just accept it as is.

I wouldn't mind living in a world with Pokemon Physics. ^^

 

[Barb]

With respect to TR, in the Shuppet episode, they enter the stratosphere and come crashing down again with nary a scratch. I believe Bugs Bunny put it best: "I know this breaks all the known laws of physics, but I never studied law."

Based on other threads in this forum, we've established that there is some supernatural element to the Pokémon world with respect to the various creatures' abilities. The fact that these creatures can control the elements of fire, water, and wind to suit their or their trainers' purposes would suggest that the laws of physics are different there.

 

[fruitsmoothierevenge]

Yeah, TR's physics would be interesting to live with. People could jump off buildings without a scratch. How about the one ep w/ Magma and Aqua? Where they just compressed all the air out of their bodies to escape? LMAO. They've been flat a couple of times,too...

::agrees with Barb:: It seems that, in all respects, the bodies of people in the Pokemon world are much more resistant to any elementals, and, in fact, may be able to control them. At least, the animals are... So do you think it's the water? XD

 

[Nekusagi]

How about Mewtwo Returns? Rocket grunt has blowtorch, Rocket grunt drops blowtorch, blowtorch falls to ground and starts massive chain reaction of explosions that somehow breaks open the cell that Ashtachi is imprisoned in.

 

[Zhen Lin]

I believe he dropped it into a set of fuel tanks...

 

[Barb]

How many times has Ash and/or Team Rocket been electrocuted by Pikachu? We know Pikachu's stronger than others of his kind, so either they've built up quite a resistance to electrical shock, or they do measure voltage differently in the Pokémon world.

 

[fruitsmoothierevenge]

How many times has Ash and/or Team Rocket been electrocuted by Pikachu? We know Pikachu's stronger than others of his kind, so either they've built up quite a resistance to electrical shock, or they do measure voltage differently in the Pokémon world.

Team Rocket has been electrocuted well over 300 times, I'd guess.

And we all have to remember the fact that being electrocuted is known to cause random explosions that send people flying. Even if there's nothing around to catch fire or explode...

 

[Barb]

Think about the Flamethrower attack. Wouldn't that be the equivalent of being hit by napalm? Even the Water Gun attack could be deadly, depending on the water pressure involved. A Hyper Beam attack appears to be the equivalent of a small hydrogen bomb.

 

[Dark Fire]

Not only have the characters developed resitences to electricity, but to fire as well. There has been countless times when people get scorched with blazing fires, yet nothing really happens to them aside from becoming chared.

Not only that, but as Barb had stated all attacks seem to be powerful enough to hurt the average human. Physical attacks are extremely powerful [ie. Mega Punch, Iron Tail, etc.]. They're strong enough to destroy trees, rocks, and other various things. But when they hit a pokemon or a human [who would seem a lot more fragile than trees] it's merely a small amount of pain.

And also I really don't get the whole pokemon turning into energy and simply dissapearing into their pokeballs. This might not be physics, but yet it seems odd. I know for a fact that cannot be done in modern days. Then again neither can breathing fire, or summoning thunder out of nowhere.

Well, it is a cartoon. It's not supposed to make sense.

 

[Argy]

Perhaps the elemental attacks that Pokémon use are not made of the real elements on which they are based. For example, when was the last time you saw anyone drinking the water that comes out of a Water Pokémon's mouth? The fire Pokémon produce might be cooler than real fire, or perhaps the Pokémon can control the temperature depending on what it is trying to hit.

 

[Dark Fire]

It has a flame bag inside its body. After inhaling deeply, it blows out flames of nearly 3,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The above is reffering to Flareon.

There is no way in hell a human can possibly survive that. Yet Ash never ceases to amaze. I'm sure other fire types have the same intensity of heat in their flames.

 

[Kadabra]

Lets just say that Pokemon wasn't intended to be watched by people who know a thing or two about physics.

Think about the Flamethrower attack. Wouldn't that be the equivalent of being hit by napalm? Even the Water Gun attack could be deadly, depending on the water pressure involved. A Hyper Beam attack appears to be the equivalent of a small hydrogen bomb.

From the looks of it, the Pokemon version of "flamethrower" doesn't work like the genuine weapon. The water pressure, as Argy said, could be controlled depending on how powerful the Pokemon wants its shot to be. It probably couldn't create enough pressure to kill someone, even if it tried to. As for the hydrogen bomb comment...I have a feeling that you don't know what you're talking about. :-D

 

[Nekusagi]

I believe he dropped it into a set of fuel tanks...

Yes, but one would think the blowtorch would have extinguished itself before hitting said tanks, given it had fallen a good 200 feet or so.

 

[Kadabra]

Yes, but one would think the blowtorch would have extinguished itself before hitting said tanks, given it had fallen a good 200 feet or so.

Blowtorch...as in ones used for welding? Those won't extinguish that easily, I can assure you.

 

[Murgatroyd]

Yes, but one would think the blowtorch would have extinguished itself before hitting said tanks, given it had fallen a good 200 feet or so.

Team Rocket was obviously too cheap to buy fail-safe switches for their equipment.

It has a flame bag inside its body. After inhaling deeply, it blows out flames of nearly 3,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The above is reffering to Flareon.

There is no way in hell a human can possibly survive that. Yet Ash never ceases to amaze. I'm sure other fire types have the same intensity of heat in their flames.

I just assume that anything in a game 'dex entry is folklore, and may bear no resemblance to reality.

 

[Barb]

Lets just say that Pokemon wasn't intended to be watched by people who know a thing or two about physics.

Um, we know it's a cartoon and has no bearing on reality.

From the looks of it, the Pokemon version of "flamethrower" doesn't work like the genuine weapon.

Then how would you describe it?

The water pressure, as Argy said, could be controlled depending on how powerful the Pokemon wants its shot to be. It probably couldn't create enough pressure to kill someone, even if it tried to.

Or the Pokémon's level. A Water Gun from a Blastoise would obviously be more powerful than one from a Squirtle. I found this tidbit from an article on firefighting: "A typical hose nozzle can spray up to 1,893 liters (500 gallons) of water per minute. But at that rate, the gushing water would create enough reaction force, or backward pushing force, on the hose to lift a 113 kg (250 lb)-man clear off the ground!" Why couldn't we assume that a Water Gun attack from a Wartortle is at least equal to that?

As for the hydrogen bomb comment...I have a feeling that you don't know what you're talking about. :-D

Then again I ask: how would you describe what a Hyper Beam does? In the anime, it appears to be a concentrated mass of energy that, when released, causes devastating results. What would you describe the attack on New Island as being caused by? Mewtwo destroyed the island and everything on it with at least one powerful psychic energy blast.