Azurill

Azurill (Ruriri in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 649 Pokémon from the Pokémon Franchise – a series of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri.

The purpose of Azurill in the games, anime, and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon&mdash;untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments&mdash;and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers. It was one of the first of the "preview" Pokémon to the third generation of games, cards, and anime, having been released before the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.

This Pokémon's name is merely a shortening of the name of its final evolution, Azumarill, the 'mar' having been taken out because 'mar' means the sea and Azurill unlike its evolved forms is not a Water-type but a Normal type. The 'azu' is derived from the word 'azure', in reference to its final evolution, as stated before, and its color. Rill may refer to a small river, or may be a slightly misspelled second half of Squirrel, a small rodent.

Biological Characteristics
Azurill appears to be a blue, blobby mouse-like Pokémon with no arms and a tail as large as its entire body, the tail which defines Azurill in many cases. Its circular tail is large and rubbery, and Azurill's playful nature causes it to often be seen bouncing and playing on its bouncy tail. In Pokemon Pinball Ruby and Sapphire, however, if you look at Azurill in the Pokedex, the tail looks small compared to the body. Also, on sunny days, Azurill routinely gather at the edge of water and splash about for fun.

The tail is vital both for survival in peacetime and self-defense in battle; It is packed full with nutrients that supply itself to Azurill's body in order for it to grow. It is also a flotation device in water, much like the tails of its evolutions Marill and Azumarill. Its tail is about 1.3x as large as its body.

Azurill's most intriguing habit with its tail involves spinning its tail as if it were a lasso, then hurling it out with intense force. The momentum of the throw sends its body flying, too. Using this unique mode of travel, one individual Azurill was seen to hurl itself a record 33 feet.

In battle, Azurill flings around its tail to whack the enemy in the face as if it were a flail.

In the video games
Azurill can only be obtained in any third-generation Pokémon game (such as Pokémon Ruby) by breeding a female Marill or Azumarill holding the Sea Incense item with a male Pokémon of Marill/Azumarill's Egg Group.

Azurill is the unevolved form of Marill (sometimes known as the 'Aqua Mouse' or 'Pikablu'), first introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver, and evolves into it through happiness. Azurill is notable for being the only Pokémon (apart from Eevee, which can evolve into one of seven completely different Pokemon through elemental stones or taming) whose type changes completely upon evolution (even dual-type Pokémon like Onix and Swablu keep at least one of their two types after evolution).

It is also the only Pokémon whose gender ratio is different from its evolved form and doesn't evolve according to gender (Excluding Shedinja, who has no gender at all), as the male:female ratio is 25:75 for Azurill, and 50:50 for Marill and Azumarill. This is almost certainly a mistake on the game's designers, as it causes one in every three female Azurill to inexplicably become male upon evolution.

At first, Azurill appears to exist only to fill up the Pokédex, as its evolutions instantly outclass it on all accounts. However, like most baby Pokémon, its list of egg moves is entirely different from those learned by its parent. For example, it can learn the moves Encore, Sing, Refresh, and Tickle. This allows a fully evolved Azumarill to know moves that it could not learn any other way. Azurill is also popular in Pokémon Contests, mainly the cute contest.

In the Pokémon anime


Azurill was one of the first third-generation Pokémon to be revealed, and as such it was in the Pikachu short accompanying the fourth movie, Pikachu's Pikaboo. Another one seen in anime format is the niece of the Azumarill in Millennium City.

It also appeared in the second Hoenn episode, when May was still unconfident, especially with Water Pokémon. She tried to capture one with her Torchic, but it ran off to a Marill and Azumarill, who all squirted May's Torchic with their Water Gun.

When Ash returns to Pallet Town after the Hoenn League, he meets Misty, who has an Azurill that was given to her by Tracey. It is the offspring of Tracey's Marill. This Azurill, no doubt, has taken over the role of being Misty's "baby" Pokémon with the departure of Misty's Togepi, now Togetic. Unlike Togepi, however, Misty's Azurill has shown a number of its attacks, with its bubble attack being strong enough to blow up a machine all by itself. It is shown to have a sweet and caring nature and loves to play with the other Pokémon.