Staryu

Staryu (ヒトデマン, Hitodeman in original Japanese language versions) is a basic water-type Pokémon. Staryu's name probably comes from the words "Star" (due to its shape) and "You." Staryu's evolution, Starmie, fits this pattern, forming "Me" and "You".

Characteristics
Staryu is a star-shaped Pokémon that possess five completely symmetrical arm like appendages, that can bend and move at high speeds all individually. Its hide is chocolate brown but can change color on command, a trait which can be used to escape from possible predators. In the center of Staryu's body is a perfectly circular red gem, which is believed to be its core or heart. It also seems to link it to the cosmic entities of the Pokémon world. The gem is surrounded by a shimmering angular structure that seems to be made of a gold-like material. Staryu's gem is very valuable and is often made into expensive jewelry.

Staryu is a very enigmatic Pokémon that can effortlessly regenerate any appendage it loses in battle. As long as the gem-like center is unharmed, it can grow back fully, even if it has been chopped to bits. This trait is similar to that of real life starfish. One of the limbs has a hole in the tip; this limb is used for spraying water in attacks such as Water Gun or Hydro Pump.

Staryu appear in large numbers by Horsea. At night, the centre of its body slowly flickers with the same rhythm as a human heartbeat. When the stars twinkle, it floats up from the sea floor and its body's centre core also flickers just like the celestial bodies of the night sky. If you go to a beach towards the end of summer, the glowing cores look just like the stars in the clear night sky.

This Pokémon's symmetrical nature and connection to the cosmos leads many to believe it is from another galaxy (see also Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable and Starmie). Staryu's shiny form changes its chocolate brown hide to a shale grey and its crystalline core to an azure shade of blue.

Staryu evolves into Starmie with the aid of a Water Stone. Because it has no gender, it can only breed with Ditto, and can't learn any moves through breeding.

On an interesting note, Staryu looks similar to the starfish robot from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 seen in Metropolis Zone.

Appearances
In the first two generations, Staryu can be found commonly by fishing. In Red and Blue, they are found on Routes 19, 20, and the Seafoam Islands. In Yellow, they are found on Routes 19, 20, and 21, and also by surfing in the Seafoam Islands - the only place in the whole series where they can be found this way.

In Gold and Silver, they are found on Route 34, as well as in Olivine City, Mahogany Town, the pond inside Goldenrod Day Care Center and the Cerulean City Gym.

In the third generation, Staryu are uncommon, but can still only be found by fishing. In Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, they are found in Lilycove City. In Leaf Green, they are found on Route 25, Cinnabar Island, Lavender Town, One Island, Pallet Town, Icefall Cave, and the SS Anne.

Staryu can not be caught in Crystal, Fire Red, Colosseum, or XD.

Staryu are also found in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap in the Valley Course. They float in the air, and if successfully photographed, they will circle around the player’s vehicle until a large whirlpool in the course comes up, at which each photographed Staryu will enter the whirlpool and evolve into a Starmie.

Staryu, along with its evolution, can be found in Pokémon Channel as one of the random water Pokémon that can be fished at Secret Cove.

In Diamond and Pearl it can be found in Canalave City by fishing.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Staryu can come out of a Poké Ball and will attack an enemy with its signature move "Swift", replacing Starmie's role in the original Super Smash Bros. It first seeks the enemy before attacking. Staryu is also an unlockable trophy.

Anime
Staryu has a very recognizable personality in the anime to those familiar with Japanese pop culture. More than any other Pokémon in the anime, Staryu and Starmie share the mannerisms of their cultural basis, the 1960s television hero Ultraman (the original Japanese name Hitodeman is the ultimate clue as hitode is Japanese for starfish). Staryu's movement and "kiai" sound mimic Ultraman, but the most noticeable similarity between them is the jewel on their chests. When Staryu and Ultraman are low on energy, the jewel begins to blink and chime a warning alarm.

In the Pokémon Anime, Misty has a Staryu that she uses for battling. Staryu is one of the first Pokémon that Misty has in her possession, and is one of only two Pokémon that Misty carries with her for the entire series. She first used it in the episode "Clefairy and the Moon Stone" where it used a Swift Attack, depicted as a series of stars shot from the center crystal, on Meowth, who was attempting to take the Moon Stone afterwards Misty commanded Staryu to use Water Gun on Meowth, which went into his open mouth, while Meowth was still in the air. All this water started filling up his belly, then it shows him from the back, and we see his body slowly swelling until his belly is so distended that he has become spherical. Then after Staryu has finished, Meowth goes blasting off with water coming out of his mouth until he has gone out of view. Staryu is frequently used (throughout the seasons containing Misty as a member of the group) and became Misty's strongest Pokémon after leaving Starmie at Cerulean Gym. Now residing at the gym Staryu has been shown to be a strong asset to Misty's team during Gym Battles, second only to Corsola.

Manga
Staryu appears in chapters 6, 7, 65, 120, 207, 208, 211, and 232 of Pokémon Adventures. The first appearances are in the control of Misty. In Chapter 120, 12 attack Bill and are caught by Crystal. Later on, another one is owned by Jack, a swimmer and recurring character.

Staryu debuts in the Red, Green & Blue chapter as a Misty's Pokémon, defending her from an enraged Gyarados in Gyarados Splashes In! and from Koga's Rhydon in Raging Rhydon.

Crystal encounters a herd of twelve Staryu during her journey. The dozen Staryu hound after Bill in an attempt to play with him, encasing him and his Farfetch'd in a dodecahedral shell not even Crystal's Cubone could penetrate. Crystal was eventually able to capture and calm the Staryu down by breaking them up from the inside, using the new Pokémon Portable Transport System to send her Natu inside.

Trading Card game
Staryu has appeared on eleven trading cards, always as an uncommon water card. They are in Base Set, Base Set 2, Gym Heroes, Gym Challenge, Neo Revelations, Skyridge (twice), EX Hidden Legends, EX Deoxys, and EX Delta Species (twice as well).

In the Gym sets, Staryu is owned by Misty.