Special thanks to Hamada for helping with edits.
On Pokémon Day, we traveled back to the multimedia empire’s humble origins to discuss its original protagonist. Now we’re shifting our lens to one of the many creatures he could collect, examining how it aided in the maturation of new Pokémon Trainers.
Ken Sugimori art of Butterfree (Image: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
Pokémon is the brainchild of Satoshi Tajiri, who was an avid bug collector growing up. That hobby directly influenced his vision for Game Freak’s hit Game Boy RPG, one where kids trek across the countryside and collect animals, insects, and other sentient beings. One of the fifteen elemental classifications in the original Pokémon titles was even the Bug-type, which brings us to one of its most emblematic specimens.
Butterfree’s History
Caterpie, Metapod, and Butterfree were among the first batch of Pokémon introduced to the world; they were spotted together in the “Capsule Monsters” prototype and formally debuted in 1996’s Red and Green. Butterfree’s family tree has remained readily available in most subsequent core titles, with Hoenn and the Black and Black 2 incarnations of Unova being the only provinces they’re outright unobtainable in without trading. It’s currently unknown if Butterfree and its two pre-evolutions will roam the Galar region (although I suspect they will), but there will never be a shortage of ways for Trainers to catch them.
Butterfree appears in spin-offs too, sometimes in noteworthy roles. Ritchie fought with his in Puzzle League, and a Butterfree is the first NPC players assist in Rescue Team. (Image: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
In addition to the mainline games, Butterfree is a common sight in other Pokémon productions. Spin-off games feature it, merchandise modeled after the Butterfly Pokémon is bountiful, and it’s a recurring sight in the various manga publications. Masahiro Sakurai’s Super Smash Bros. series also allotted Butterfree a cameo in its Saffron City stage, where a swarm of them occasionally flies across the background.
However, the anime gave Butterfree its most poignant role. Protagonist Ash Ketchum’s first successful capture was a Caterpie, who became the first Pokémon Ash evolved and his first to fully evolve. As a Butterfree, it was the first Pokémon Ash traded away, traded back for, and the first companion Ash released. The latter event occured in the aptly titled “Bye Bye Butterfree,” the premise of which involved Ash’s teammate falling for a Pink Butterfree during the species’ mating season. Nevertheless, Ash’s Butterfree hasn’t been forgotten; homages and flashbacks periodically honor it, and its arc was recreated in the twentieth movie, I Choose You. Several other Butterfree have appeared throughout the long-running program (three owned by recurring characters), but none contributed more to its mythos than Ash’s.
The Pink Butterfree was the first alternately colored Pokémon to appear in animation, even before Gold and Silver codified the concept of shiny Pokémon. (Image: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
So, what’re my thoughts on Butterfree?
151 different Pokémon are indigenous to Kanto, but only a small sampling of them are encountered upon one’s departure from Pallet Town. Animals tenderfoot Trainers meet are smaller, less imposing critters symbolic of their own inexperience, Caterpie among them. However, one significant trait distinguishing Caterpie from its immediate peers (save for its Anthophila parallel in the Weedle line) is the expedited rate at which it evolves; Caterpie’s first evolution occurs at Level 7 and the second follows three Levels later. Consequently, a Butterfree will likely introduce the concept of evolution to new Trainers and grow to become their first fully evolved Pokémon.
Upon hitting its final metamorphosis, Butterfree teaches another series fundamental: its powder techniques introduce status ailments, demonstrating how effective and copious they are. Butterfree also eagerly proves itself as a vital asset at this early stage in the game, quickly gaining access to the Psychic-type Confusion attack. Those of us who received Charmander or Pikachu from Professor Oak in the series’ monochromatic installments especially had a compelling reason to raise a Butterfree, as our starters were stonewalled by Brock.
I grew attached to my bug and cheered when I saw this message. (Image: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
Nonetheless, reasonably balancing all 151 species was never a feasible goal (even if it’s one Game Freak earnestly attempted), and Butterfree’s usefulness plateaus around when players procure their second Badge. The pool of available Pokémon begins considerably expanding at this point and the airborne critter is vulnerable against Electric-type specialist Lt. Surge, encouraging players to experiment with new combatants. Butterfree’s further weighed down by its unremarkable stats; it’s readily capable of handling early-game weaklings but less prepared to stand against the more sophisticated challengers encountered afterwards. That’s of course not to say you can’t keep using Butterfree – you’re free to do so, especially as subsequent titles helped flesh out its movepool – but I found mine gradually phased out in favor of more efficient Pokémon.
Ash’s Butterfree was a surrogate for all of this (albeit to a greatly diminished extent in I Choose You‘s timeline), serving as a rite of passage for his Trainer just as my Blue Butterfree had for me. “Bye Bye Butterfree” was a concession to the species’ limitations by letting Ash’s go, and writer Yukiyoshi Ōhashi penned one of the show’s most seminal episodes for the occasion. It added a touch of maturity to a fairly saccharine program, laudably teaching Ash’s similarly-aged audience through his example that sometimes it’s necessary to say goodbye to a loved one if it’s for the betterment of their life.
Certain Pokémon began bearing cosmetic gender differences from Diamond and Pearl onward. I Choose You correspondingly adjusted the Pink Butterfree’s design to incorporate the black spots donned by female Butterfree. (Image: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
Some lament it when Ash releases one of his partners (Greninja’s fans long for his return, for example), yet his Butterfree flying off with its beau is the best fate it could have had. Butterfree’s personality and fighting prowess were never all that remarkable, and Ash’s battles in Kanto wound up revolving around the more marketable starters anyway. Departing in the emotional manner it had was far more beneficial to Ash’s growth than if it had remained on his team, doomed to an inevitable and unceremonious retirement to Oak’s backyard.
Several bugs in Butterfree’s mold have emerged in subsequent generations, carrying on its legacy. Kanto iconography, however, has been prominently highlighted in recent years, sometimes to the exclusion of later generations. That nevertheless speaks to the strength the original Pocket Monsters possess, and Butterfree’s earned its place as a beloved member of that coterie.
Congratulations, Butterfree! We’ll always remember you!
The episode’s Japanese and English versions overlay Buttefree’s goodbye with their respective themes. There’s a comical dissonance in the latter, where the lyrics chant “Gotta catch ‘em all!” as Ash performs his first release. (Image: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
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“one where kids trek across the countryside and collect animals, ***incests***, and other sentient beings”
Uh, you might wanna fix that…
Butterfree’s a real champ for being the go-to option when you need a team slot filled before many good Pokemon available. I tend to use one in many of my playthroughs for its awesome utility. Caterpie was also my first shiny Pokemon, found during my FireRed Nuzlocke. I didn’t use him during the run in fear of his death, but he’s a black Butterfree now.
Ha, thanks.
And yeah, Butterfree’s the MVP early in every Kanto run for me too; I raised one in Blue, Yellow, FireRed, Red, and now in Let’s Go, Pikachu. They’ve all gotten sidelined, generally around Vermilion City, but the butterflies are invaluable to someone who always begins with Charmander or Pikachu. Granted, FireRed/LeafGreen and Let’s Go both mitigated how ineffective those two are against Brock by giving Charmander Metal Claw and Pikachu Double Kick, but still.
It’s cool you have a shiny Butterfree! I had bad luck with shinies in FireRed; a shiny Graveler Selfdestructed before I could catch it, and a shiny I found in the Safari Zone ran away before I could do anything. 🙁
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Great post!
Not too many people do post like this, especially about Butterfree and its role in the Pokemon world, so thank you for taking the time to do so.
Some facts about Butterfree:
It’s also able to use Psychic Powers and shoot poisonous dust using its waterproof scales.
This adorable Pokemon also loves to hang out with its pal Caterpie in PokePark.
Butterfree and Beautifly belong to the same species.
Solar Beam and Hyper Beam are it’s best moves.
Hey, I’m glad you enjoyed the piece, Ogreatgames. I was still feeling nostalgic over Pokémon‘s early years and Butterfree was an important part of that period between the games and anime, so I figured I’d write a quick little tribute to the original Butterfly Pokémon. My next few “Character Chronicle” installments will cover different IPs for a needed change of pace, but I do intend to cover one more Kanto native this year, maybe in July.
Butterfree’s ability to learn Psychic-type moves was so invaluable as I was starting out, especially considering how overpowered that type was back in the Game Boy days. I think I taught my Blue Butterfree Solar Beam too since the anime made that move look so powerful.
How is PokéPark, by the way? I’ve always been curious to try it.