Ash's Bulbasaur character analysis

I was hesitant to post this but after being inspired by seeing a post about another of Ash's pokemon in this sub I thought I would do a similar post for another Pokemon I think it's worth talking about.

During my pokemon anime marathon rewatch, Ash's Bulbasaur caught my interest and I found it to be a really great character in the anime and since Bulbasaur itself doesn't get much enough recognition or attention, I thought I should make this thread to say why Ash's Bulabsaur was an amazing pokemon and giving a bit of deserved love.

Just be warned that there are spoilers ahead.

Grumpy ol' Bulbasaur:

Bulbasaur's debuted in The Mysterious Village where unlike Charmander and Squirtle, Bulbasaur appeared way more serious and mature here. He appeared to have some kinda despise towards pokemon trainers because they abandon other pokemon as seen with his aggressive actions against Misty and Ash, even going far attacking both of them., he wasn't abandoned himself but he developed hate towards trainers because of the abandoned pokemon at the village.

Ash used Bulbasaur in a lot of battles and Bulbasaur was always ready for Ash's commands, but what is interesting is that Bulbasaur shown disliking and distrust for Ash. This was strongly implied in the Giant Island episode where he kept telling the other Pokemon that Ash abandoned them and he doesn't care about them while the others kept telling him that Ash isn't a bad guy for him to ignore these statements. Unlike Pikachu and Charizard where they gave Ash a lot of trouble to like Ash back and accepting him as a trainer, Bulbasaur as a captured Pokemon was more obedient towards Ash despite being extremely doubtful against him.

I found out that to be weird from that pokemon. But it makes sense since Bulbasaur came from an a village full of abandoned Pokemon he used to care of. His dislike towards Ash was shown when he thought Ash abandoned his Pokemon like the other trainers like it's something to be expected. Even Charmander and Squirtle who came from abandoning background didn't doubt Ash, while Bulbasaur did. This was either personal or for his friends.

Many episodes later, we have the episode where Bulbasaur refuses his evolution. As a kid, I remember seeing that as stupid for not evolving, why would anyone refuse to be stronger? This is also one of the episodes that made me like Ash. Ash keeps getting shit that he sucks or a moron or whatever, but this episode made me respect Ash for something which is that he never forces his Pokemon into anything.

Ash was very happy when he found out that Bulbasaur was about to evolve, but when he found out that the later doesn't want to, he didn't even question his Pokemon "Why?" Bulbasaur at this point clearly changed his opinion on Ash. Ash also protected Bulbasaur from Venusaur's Vine Whips while trying to convince Venusaur that he shouldn't force Bulbasaur into evolving as well.

After this episode, Bulbasaur's character was drastically changed, he became more joyful and less grumpy as seen in the Gloom episode where he fell in love with her and the Orange Island league and he became less edgy towards the end of his anime role (Best Wishes season).

Not just a battler:

While Bulbasaur didn't get much in battles in the Johto season, Bulbasaur had a more stable presence in the anime, he stayed for 5 seasons which the longest than all of Ash's Pokemon except Pikachu. During that time, Bulbasaur acted more like a veteran to Ash's Johto Pokemon. This trait wasn't common between Ash's other pokemon either in the show.

He made friends with most of Ash's Johto pokemon and even taking care of them as seen at one episode where Team Rocket were tricking Ash's Johto starters into a trap in which Bulbasaur acted quickly alone to save them, though he got captured with them in the process.

Squirtle was his very best friend and in the "Pikachu's specials" episodes, these two always were together, heck Squirtle was the first Pokemon that made Bulbasaur get out of his very serious nature and making him being childish sometimes and you clearly can see how sad Bulbasaur when Squirtle left. Bulbasaur reminded me of the 2003 TMNT's Raphael for being dead serious but appears to have a childish nature sometimes when it's involve Michael Angelo.

As you can see, Bulbasaur had more fleshed out presense and interactions with the other pokemon than the others, which all came from his nature of helping other pokemon whenever he can. He isn't there just to participate in Ash's battles.

Oak's lab hero:

let's skip to season 5, after a lot of his friends being "Oak'd" it was Bulbasaur's turn to leave Ash. Professor Oak called Ash and told him that there's a conflict between his Pokemon in the lab, Bulbasaur overheard that while eating and instantly left his plate and went to check the matter. Oak eventually asked Ash to borrow his Bulbasaur for his past experience in taking care of and solving issues between Pokemon, before Ash deciding on an answer, Bulbasaur was already excited and ready to help.

The conflict was serious in the lab, as all the grass and water pokemon were in a "war" for the land and water. Despite many efforts from Oak, Tracey and Pokemon like Azumarill, all of them failed to solve the issue until Bulbasaur scared the crap out of them with his Solar Beam, and that was after getting attacked by all of them at once. He showed them that he is a totally different game than Oak and Tracey while showing them a friendly smile and that was really awesome.

The rest of the episode showed Bulbasaur's diplomatic, social and negotiation skills as he making a new pond with the other Pokemon, even asking other pokemon types to help him out and all of them quickly became under his role and leadership all to get Tracey's attention and saying "Bulbasaur is a Pokemon Genius!"

Bulbasaur almost lost his life in this episode to save a Pokemon from a falling boulder. Bulbasaur miraculously survived by learning a move that he can't learn in the video games at all! Tracey's noticed that and asked how did he learn a move he can't learn? That's Bulbasaur and his stubborn nature. His stubbornness is amazing that he would do the impossible to survive.

Bulbasaur gained the respect from everyone around him, not because of some shades or because of his solar beam, but by his actions. And that was quickly escalated when all the Pokemon in the lab protested when Bulbasaur was about to leave and return to Ash which made him forced to stay, but he wasn't sad about it, only Ash was. Bulbasaur showed more interest in helping those Pokemon more than fighting.

Bulbasaur's life in the lab got several episodes where it showed him being a leader and protector, saving many Pokemon lives like Totodile, Cyndaquil and fresh Kanto starters and even feeding other pokemon. The Pokemon there all report to him about suspicious activity and other issues too. which is seriously impressing, considering even fully evolved Pokemon work under his rule. And hey that's not all he does! During his time in the lab, Bulbasaur took May's Bulbasaur under his wings when May left her to be trained by Ash's. Bulbasaur went a full Pokemon trainer off-screen on her, and some episodes later, May's Bulbasaur became a fully grown Venusaur. Ash could have take notes from him.

In one episode, Bulbasaur refused to let a scared Squirtle to get into its pokeball before making it calm down and feel safe. Gilbert who was watching asked Oak why Bulbasaur care too much? Oak explained that Bulbasaur love to help others and he knows Squirtle won't feel better inside the pokeball in such a state. Ash's Bulbasaur seriously had an amazing personality and character.

The Pokemon wonder

Bulbasaur is a grass Pokemon, he never evolved, he didn't want to become stronger, he didn't want to impress his trainer by evolving, but despite all that, he kept being a very reliable Pokemon during Ash's journey.

Ash's Bulbasaur defeated many Pokemon at disadvantages (either by type or level disadvantage). Venonat, Exeggutor, Vileplume, Scyther and Beedril (in row), Magneton (which defeated Pikachu and Cyndaquil in row with no damage, and after defeating Magneton he went on and took down and tied with Meganium (a fully evolved Pokemon). For a small unevolved pokemon, this is quite impressive.

The last episode where Ash used Bulbasaur in battle showed the pinnacle of Bulbasaur's power. Ash challenged Brandon in the "Gathering of the Gang of Four" where he used his 3-seasons-trained Charizard against Brandon's Dusclops and was quickly defeated despite no type or level disadvantage. Ash then sent out Bulbasaur, who quickly got barraged by Fire attacks (the same move that damaged even Charizard). In this battle alone, Bulbasaur got 2 direct Fire moves, got confused and attacked himself for a long time, and despite all these disadvantages, Bulbasaur managed to win with Solar Beam after a painful fight. Seriously what the hell with that little thing?

Bulbasaur went back to his ball and it was then Squirtle's turn which was also defeated by Solrock's Solar Beam, a grass type move, then Ash sent out the already battle-torn Bulbasaur to everyone's surprise ("Bulbasaur again????") Similar to Dusclops battle, Bulbasaur again took a barrage of attacks which he's weak to, it's Psychic this time plus another confusion and he got to taste his own Razor Leaf. Bulbasaur at the end was able to take down Solrock and fainting with him in the process.

Unevolved + multiple direct Fire and Psychic moves + confusion + defeating 2 Pokemon in bad shape = This was something so remarkable and really outstanding.

I mean that battle was so unreal I can't imagine its power if he evolved to Venusaur, or even just Ivysaur. Bulbasaur in its current stage surpassed Ash's Charizard itself in battle, and that without heavy training unlike Charizard's training in that valley for 3 seasons, in fact he should have been rusty for staying too long time at Oak's lab. While I'm not saying that Bulbasaur can defeat anything, but his stubborness and determination is unmatched.

Add that thing about learning moves he doesn't learn in the games on its own with that...

And according to this from the pokemon sub, Bulbasaur has the highest win+draw rate out of all Ash's Kanto pokemon (unless you include Lapras's only one battle into account).

What's so beautiful about all of this all is that it felt like Bulbasaur kept a promise here. It reminds of the episode where he refused to evolve out of Ash's decision. It's like he was returning the favor

"Hey Ash, I don't want to evolve and you can't force me to, but I promise I will be as strong and useful to you in your journey" or something like that. Bulbausar was happy to fight for Ash once again in this episode and he did not let him down.

Another instance where confronted a large group of Primape to help a boy and a baby Bulbasaur from their attacks. Despite being outnumbered, he successfully fended them off with 1 attack only.

Bulbasaur also appears to be full of himself and he trusts his power as seen during a conflict between him and Ash's Charizard. In that moment, Ash's Charizard was about to attack Squirtle, and even though he has type advantage, Squirtle escaped and Bulbasaur attacked Charizard with his Vine Whips (against a Pokemon with 4x resistance to Grass). Another instance of this is in the 2nd movie, everyone shown fear of Moltres except Bulbasaur

Ash's Bulbasaur was a born leader, a warrior, a trainer, a guardian, a brother and much more made me respect Bulbasaur and putting him at the very top of my favorite Pokemon of all time. And it was a like more like a cool character than just a Pokemon for battles. He was the perfect balance between Pikachu and Charizard to Ash. He Has his own freewill and character but still very loyal and always go for what he believes in.

Ash's Bulbasaur was a reason that made me love the pokemon itself so much. He was a star in the anime that felt the most unique in his own ways.

I hope you all enjoyed this reading and sorry for the long post and the crappy English here and there.