Chinchou is a small, round, blue fish-like Pokémon with a pair of tiny white fins and two small blue feet. Chinchou's eyes have unique pupils that are shaped like plus signs. It has two antennae that are positioned on its rear like two tails. There is a yellow teardrop-shaped orb at the end of each antenna.
Its antennae were once fins. The electricity-generating cells in these antennae create so much electrical power that they even make Chinchou tingle slightly. Chinchou charges up its electric attacks by absorbing energy through its two antennae, and flashes its electric lights to exchange signals with others or claim turf. These antennae also glow softly which lure in prey, which it stuns with its antennae before attacking. Chinchou tends to lurk on the dark ocean floors, rarely ever coming up to the surface. However, it has demonstrated the ability to walk on land.
In the main series
Major appearances
Chinchou's first major appearance was in Takin' it on the Chinchou, under the ownership of Dayton where it had the nickname Bright.
Trinity used a Chinchou in her battle against Misty in the Whirl Cup in The Perfect Match!. It was able to defeat Corsola. It reappeared in a flashback in Espeon, Not Included.
Minor appearances
Chinchou debuted in Pikachu And Pichu.
Two Chinchou appeared in The Legend of Thunder!. One was swimming in a lake, while the other one was swimming in a pool in a Pokémon Center.
Chinchou is one of the Electric-type Pokémon that was seen in the lake with crystal in As Clear As Crystal.
Multiple Chinchou were among the Pokémon living in Lake Slowpoke in Enlighten Up!.
A school of Chinchou appeared in Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias. Also, two Chinchou along with a Mantine escorted Latias over to Ash and his friends' boat and another one competed in the Tour de Alto Mare.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in the opening of Destiny Deoxys.
Juan has a Chinchou that appeared in The Great Eight Fate!.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. They briefly reappeared in a montage in The Rise of Darkrai, which chronicled the preceding nine movies.
A Chinchou appeared in One Big Happiny Family! in Jessie's fantasy.
Multiple Chinchou made cameo appearances in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
A Chinchou appeared in Up Close and Personable!.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in An Undersea Place to Call Home!. They were among the Pokémon who made their home in the wreck of the S.S. Cussler.
Three Chinchou appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
A Chinchou appeared in Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!, in a fantasy.
A Chinchou appeared in The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
A Chinchou appeared in SM067, where it was briefly attacked by Poipole and was forced to defend itself.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP212
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Chinchou
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Ash's Pokédex
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Chinchou, the Angler Pokémon, have the ability to conduct electrical currents from their two tentacles, which flow positive from one end and negative from the other. Chinchou can also communicate underwater by flashing its tentacles.
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In Pokémon Generations
Two wild Chinchou appeared in the waters that surrounded the Seafloor Cavern in The Cavern.
- Although Chinchou is shown to have the ability to walk on land in the anime, in the games it can only be caught in water and it lacks a footprint.
- The vowel sounds in Chinchou's English name are reverse of the vowels in its Japanese name.
Origin
Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:
It is based on an anglerfish, more specifically the footballfish.
Name origin
Chinchou is a play on 提灯 chōchin (lantern).
Chonchie is a corruption of 提灯 chōchin (lantern). Also, チョウチンアンコウ chōchin-ankō is the name of the footballfish, a deep-sea fish similar to Chinchou's evolution, Lanturn. Notably, 調和 chōwa is Japanese for harmony, describing the balance of Chinchou's water and electric types.