Pokémon Nicknames: Carvanha and Sharpedo.

You will look very stylish in Rio with this Carvanha purse!

Carvanha (in Japanese: キバニア “Kibanha”) is a combo Water/Dark type. Carvanha’s name is based on the words carnivore and piranha. Carvanha evolves into Sharpedo (In Japanese: サメハダー “Samehader”) at level 30, where it remains a dual Water and Dark type.

The name Sharpedo is a combination of the words shark and torpedo of course. Sharpedo can Mega Evolve into Mega Sharpedo using the Sharpedonite‎.

Trainers know that these Pokémon are fast, but their defense is weak. You had better defeat your opponent in as few moves as possible, as neither Carvanha or Sharpedo can take many hits. They can be trained to have good Attack stats, and I always like to teach it the “Bite” moves as well as the “Fang” moves (Ice Fang, etc.)

I like to name Carvanha “Cuba” or “Havana” after the Cuban capital, and “Carvanha” resonates the same as “Havana”. (Please, Baby … I’m not from Havana.) My favorite Carvanha name however is “Copacabana” after the famous Cuban nightclub, and the famous beach in Brazil. It is also the name of the 1978 Barry Manilow story-song “Copacabana”. Thank you, YouTube user Marina Camacho — but why did you make it a game with the boxes?

Ahem … far be it for a former punk-rocker like me to like Barry Manilow, but I think that this is a fun, and witty song. This song is also now part of my karaoke ensemble (I put it in my “greater than five rum-and-cokes level”). Please view this YouTube video! The user did a super job with the comic drawings to tell the story, and it is even sub-titled in SPANISH for even greater color and flavor.

Mmmmmm … color and flavor, just like a Carvanha at Carnival in Rio must taste.  (Denny rubs chin, sits back … goes into reverie …)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“music and fashion, were always the passion … at the Copa”

“Carnival” or “Rio”, or related names like “Samba”, “Janeiro”, etc  might be good names for Carvanha, but they might not work after it evolves into Sharpedo. Oh, right … I should probably work in some actual Pokémon cosplay at this point:

Names for Sharpedo? I know … you were thinking of names like “Jaws”, etc.

My favorite Sharpedo nickname is “Shyster” as in a shyster lawyer. Shyster-Lawyer … um, … would not that term actually be redundant? Sometimes lawyers are referred to as “Sharks”. There was even that James Woods TV series called “Shark” where he played a lawyer.

You may just have fun naming Sharpedo after famous lawyers – such as “F.Lee.Bailey”, or any of the O.J. Simpson legal team. Remember “Ally McBeal”? Female shysters might be given names like “Miranda” after the lesbian-lawyer on the old “Sex-and-the-City” TV show. “Miranda” however, brings to mind the late Carmen Miranda who starred in the Marx Brothers comedy Copacabana!

You were as colorful as Carvanha!

So, use Miranda for a Carvanha or evolved Sharpedo.

“JumpTheShark” has 12 letters, so it just makes the name size limit. Alternatively, you could use “Jump D.Shark”. I am old enough to remember the episode of “Happy Days” where Fonzie “jumped the shark” (clip linked here) and the phrase became part of American popular culture.

Oh no … has my Pokémon Nicknames series jumped the shark?

References: 1) My hazy memories, clouded with junior high hormones.

2) Bulbapedia  http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Main_Page

3) Serebii dot net   http://www.serebii.net/

“En la Copa… no te enamores … No te enamores”

Pokémon Nicknames: Vullaby and Mandibuzz

Image

Vultures and buzzards are not loveable birds. However, Vullaby and Mandibuzz were interesting additions to Pokémon Black’s lineup of new Pokémon in 2011. You know how it is with the two different versions: If you played Pokémon White you could catch Rufflet (and then evolve it to Baviary), but if you had Pokémon Black you had to catch Vullaby (and then raise it to Mandibuzz). If you wanted both you would have to trade between Black and White. Some Black players were disappointed that instead of getting an inspiring eagle (Rufflet/Bravairy) they got these ugly buzzards.

Vullaby and Mandibuzz are fun enough, especially if you give them a fun nickname (hence you are here now dear reader).

Mandibuzz (in Japanese: バルジーナ  “Vulgina”) is a Dark and Flying dual type Pokémon. Mandibuzz evolves from Vullaby (in Japanese: バルチャイ “Valchai”) starting (all the way up) at level 54, where it remains a Dark/Flying type. Both Pokémon are female only.

Pokémon Black/White was the first game that my son and I played together (He taught ME about the series BTW). He played PB version, but could not stand that Vullaby was in a diaper. He kept leveling it up, but it still would not evolve – not until 54!

They must not be well liked by Pokémon fans, as I have noticed that there is very little Pokémon cosplay for these vultures.

Here are some of my nicknames for Vullaby and Mandibuzz.

I named a Vullaby “Broadway” as in the “Lullaby of Broadway” song originally from the stage musical “42^nd Street”.

I have used “Sortie” or “Sorties” after the name for an aircraft mission (thus good for a flying type).

The Mandibuzz for my team was named “Curtains” as in – It is curtains for you! … if you fight this dark-death Pokémon. Curtains gave me the idea to name one “Drapes” … as in the phrase “Does the carpet match the drapes?” To “drape” can mean to cover something darkly.

Of course Mandibuzz could ne just nicknamed “Mandy” as in Barry Manilow’s famous song.

 

Ha Ha. Don’t tell me you are not a fan. (Actually, “Manilow” might be a good nickname.)

I have used “Vulgaria” after the fictional country in the Woody Allen movie “Don’t Drink the Water”.

A pretty cool name for Mandibuzz would be to just use its Japanese name “Vulgina”. I’m not making that up (see above).

Good wallpaper ad for “The Vulgina Monologues”

What is the name of your lady Buzzard?