Zippo

Zippo ジッポ Zippo

Zippo

Debuts in A Friend in Deed Caught at Kanto Evolves in Prior to A Parent Trapped! Gender Unknown Ability Unknown Current location With Ritchie

→ This Pokémon spent between 3 and 143 episodes as Charmander.

Voice actor Japanese English As Charmander Yūji Ueda Michael Haigney As Charmeleon Yūji Ueda Eric Stuart

Zippo (Japanese: ジッポ Zippo) was the first Pokémon introduced on Ritchie's team. It is unclear whether Zippo or Sparky was Ritchie's first Pokémon. It first appeared in A Friend in Deed.

In animation

History

Pokémon the Series: The Beginning

Zippo was introduced as a Charmander during the Indigo Plateau Conference in A Friend In Deed, breaking open a wall in a van Team Rocket trapped Ritchie and Ash in with Slash when Ash's Bulbasaur couldn't do it on its own. In the next episode, during Ritchie's battle with Ash, Zippo was sent out against Ash's Pikachu when Ritchie's Butterfree, Happy, was defeated. Even though Pikachu dodged multiple Flamethrowers, he wasn't able to keep up and lost to Zippo's Tackle. Zippo's next opponent was Charizard. Zippo ran away from Charizard's far stronger Flamethrower after using Flamethrower itself. This caused Ritchie to recall it.

In Friends to the End, it was briefly shown battling Assunta's Rhydon. It was revealed to have been knocked out later when Ritchie's last Pokémon was shown to be Sparky. In that same episode, it saved Ash's Pikachu along with Sparky when they were captured by Team Rocket.

Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver

In A Parent Trapped!, during the Whirl Islands, Zippo was revealed to have evolved into a Charmeleon. It was sent out along with Ash's Cyndaquil to take on Butch's Hitmontop and Cassidy's Houndour. It wasn't able to match up with the opposing Pokémon as the headgear they were wearing made them more powerful.

Pokémon Chronicles

In Oaknapped!, Zippo was sent out to take on Butch's Mightyena. It used Flamethrower on Mightyena but some of the flames landed in Professor Oak's hair. Zippo then used Fire Spin on it, also hitting Cassidy's Sableye. The opposing Pokémon landed on their Trainers, leaving Sparky a chance to blast them off with Thunder.

In Celebi and Joy!, Ritchie used Zippo along with Sparky and Rose to defeat the Pokémon of a group of workers who were trying to demolish a Pokémon Center.

Personality and characteristics

Zippo, as a Charmander, was willing to battle any opponent, including ones that have evolved as shown when it was battling Charizard.

Appearance

As a Charmander

Moves used

Using Fire Spin	Move First Used In Slash A Friend in Deed Flamethrower Friend and Foe Alike Tackle × Friend and Foe Alike Fire Spin Oaknapped!
An × shows that the move cannot be legitimately known by this Pokémon in the games.
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Indigo Finals, Zippo, a fully evolved Charizard in this adaptation, fought against Ash's Charizard in the Indigo Plateau Conference. Out of disobedience, Ash's Charizard ended up severely injuring Zippo, forcing Ash to recall Charizard and forfeit.

In the original Japanese version, it retains its nickname of Zippo. However, in the VIZ Media English translation, it is renamed Charley.

Moves used

Using Swords Dance	Move First Used In Swords Dance The Indigo Finals
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the games

Pokémon Puzzle League

Zippo (as a Charmander) is one of Ritchie's three Pokémon in Pokémon Puzzle League.

Trivia

• Zippo's name is a reference to the real-world brand of metal lighters.

Related articles

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard.

Ritchie's Pokémon
On hand:		Sparky	Happy	Cruise	Rose
Status unknown:	Spearow	Tentacool
Borrowed:	Ponyta

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.