Ash's Lapras
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Ash's Lapras (Japanese: サトシのラプラス Satoshi's Laplace) was the first Pokémon caught by Ash in the Orange Islands, and his thirteenth overall.
In animation
History
Pokémon the Series: The Beginning
Ash first met Lapras in The Lost Lapras. It had become separated from its family and washed onto the shores of Tangelo Island, where it was being abused by three boys. Pikachu's Thunder Shock quickly sent the trio running. Tracey examined Lapras and realized it needed help. He gave Ash some medicine for it, but Lapras refused to take it. Afterwards, they took Lapras to the local Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy explained that Lapras was afraid of humans. Soon, Ash gained Lapras's trust after he saved it from Team Rocket. Lapras later decided to become a part of Ash's team after Ash promised to reunite it with its family.
Lapras was used extensively as a means of transportation, with Ash, Misty, and Tracey often crossing the seas between the Orange Islands on its back.
In Fit To Be Tide, Ash rode on Lapras during a wave ride race against Cissy and her Blastoise at the Mikan Gym. Thanks to Lapras using its Ice Beam to create an icy track to slide on, Ash won the race and earned his first Orange League Badge.
In Navel Maneuvers, Ash used Lapras against Danny when competing for his second Orange League Badge at the Navel Gym. It had to use Ice Beam to freeze a geyser, but it lost to Danny's Nidoqueen.
In Hello, Pummelo!, Lapras was used in Ash's Full Battle against Drake, going up against his Gengar. The episode concluded with a collision between Lapras's Ice Beam and Gengar's Night Shade, creating a big explosion. In Enter The Dragonite, both Pokémon were revealed to have fainted simultaneously as a result. After Ash won the battle, Lapras was entered into the Orange League Hall of Fame with Ash's other Pokémon.
In Viva Las Lapras, Ash and his friends found the herd that Lapras had become separated from. However, its school wanted nothing to do with Lapras, as humans accompanied it. They gained a hatred towards humans because of Captain Crook, who hunted the Lapras. After Ash and his Lapras defeated the Captain's Tentacruel, the Lapras began to trust humans, and Ash's Lapras was able to rejoin the school, as well as its mother, tearfully parting ways with Ash in the process.
Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver
Ash was briefly reunited with Lapras at the Marine Pokémon Laboratory in Lapras of Luxury, where it was revealed to have matured into an adult. Ash spent some time with Lapras the following night, during which he also helped to save its herd from Team Rocket. Having witnessed Ash's Lapras help saving them, the original leader of the herd stepped down and let Ash's Lapras take the lead as the herd resumed its migration away from Johto.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In Partners in Time!, Lapras appeared as a vision to Pikachu during his battle against Leon's Charizard.
In Heroes Unite!, Lapras appeared in a fantasy while Ash reminisced about the Pokémon he'd caught on his journey.
In Ride, Lapras, Ride!, Lapras was reunited with Ash when it sought his help in freeing a trapped Wailmer. Despite Wailmer evolving into a Wailord and getting stuck again, they were able to free the Float Whale Pokémon. In the process, however, Ash ended up getting stuck in a cave as the tide began to rise. Working with Wailord, Lapras froze the water while Wailord carved a path through it with Weather Ball. Lapras then slid through to find Ash and bring him back to safety. With everyone now secure, Lapras said its goodbyes to the group and returned to its herd.
Personality and characteristics
Lapras was particularly afraid of all humans, namely because of the actions of three boys who quickly attacked it after it washed up on Tangelo Island. Ash and Lapras quickly formed a strong bond after Ash saved it from Team Rocket in The Lost Lapras. Lapras's speed was critical to Ash's success during his Orange League campaign, as it was used in half of his Gym challenges.
It is an empathetic and reliable Pokémon who gained confidence during its time with Ash. Its more playful personality outshone its initial shyness. Lapras was hesitant to rejoin its family in Viva Las Lapras, though Ash convinced it to do so. When Lapras later appeared in Johto, it was shown to have grown more mature, eventually even taking the leadership of its herd after helping to defeat Team Rocket and save the other Lapras they had stolen.
Appearance
| As a child |
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Moves used
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves. | |||||||||||||
Artwork
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| Poster for Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master |
Artwork from "After the story"[1] |
In the manga
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
Ash encountered Lapras on Valencia Island in The Orange Islands, where Pikachu found it being attacked by a group of Krabby. After Ash had managed to get rid of the Krabby with his Squirtle, Pikachu was able to convince Lapras to go into a Poké Ball, allowing Ash to take it to a Pokémon Center. While Lapras was being healed, Ash learned that Lapras had gotten separated from its herd. As such, once the healing was complete, he decided to take care of Lapras, with Pikachu convincing the Transport Pokémon that Ash was worthy of its trust. Since then, Ash used Lapras to transport himself from Orange Island to another.
Lapras also took part in Ash's dance battle with Rudy in You Bet Your Wife and his battle against Drake in Pikachu's Plan.
Trivia
- Lapras is the first Ice-type Pokémon owned by Ash.
- Lapras is Ash's only Pokémon:
- With fins.
- To be consistently used as a means of transportation.
- Out of all Pokémon to have been released by Ash, Lapras is:
- The only one to not be part of an evolutionary line.
- The first to have reunited with Ash, as well as the only one to have done so in more than one series.
- Lapras is tied with Muk for having used the least amount of moves out of any Pokémon that Ash has owned for longer than one episode, at two.
- Lapras is the only non-temporary Pokémon caught by Ash during the original series to have not used a Normal-type move.
- In Lapras of Luxury, Lapras was shown to have matured since it was released in Viva Las Lapras, to the point of Ash initially not recognizing it when they reunited. As such, Lapras is the only character to have been shown indisputably aging during the animated series's time frame.
- Lapras made a cameo appearance in the tenth Japanese opening theme, Spurt!. However, it did not return in any episodes aired with the opening.
References
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Lapras.
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| For a list of Pokémon Ash has temporarily owned, used, or commanded, see here | ||||||
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |