Pokémon Piplup gets a bop, “Piplup Step”

So, because FUCK IT, the Pokémon people decided to create this special project for 4th generation Pokémon Piplup, who was introduced as a starter Pokémon for the Nintendo DS (y’all remember that?) games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This special project is similar to what Nintendo debuted with Project Eevee when Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee released back in 2018 - where-by collaborators are brought in to offer twists and unique takes on the pocket monster across different medias.

‘Okay. But J. Why are you talking about Pokémon on a music blog though?’. First of all, this blog is random as all hell. My Twitter handle and this blog title ain’t no lie y’all. Also, this special project for Piplup comes with a cool song, courtesy of Japanese producer Serph (who would be a great producer for Perfume) and a cute music video animated by the super talented coalowl.

Because Japan is Japan, the website for this project is only available in Japanese, and all of the video content is only on the Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel. Because it’s not like Pokémon is popular anywhere else. *Looks into the camera* What’s even more weird about the Pokémon posse and Nintendo not pushing this video on their global channels, is that “Piplup Step” is in English. The damn Pokémon that the song is about even goes by their non Japanese name; as Piplup is known in Japan as Pochama. And because Nintendo are Nintendo, the song isn’t available on streaming platforms. At least not here in the UK. So nothing about any of this makes any sense. 

HENNYWAY.

This is a really cute song and video. The animation is amazing. And the girl’s outfit is hitting. I’m biased though, because I live for an oversized sweatshirt, and oddly enough bought one in mint green just last week.

Project Piplup: “Piplup Step” animation | © 2022 Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / Game Freak Inc.

The January 2022 Nintendo Switch release Pokémon Legends: Arceus hasn’t taken the world by storm the way a Pokémon game usually does. But Nintendo haven’t promoted it anywhere near as extensively as they do main entries into the series. But despite this, fans seem to like it and are singing its praises. I have no idea what ultimately makes Pokémon Legends: Arceus different to 2019’s Pokémon Sword and Shield, as I’ve not really read or seen much on it. But another Pokémon game was just announced in February, to be releasing at the end of this year. 

TWO Pokémon games in a year!? 

Nintendo be rolling these games out like Call of Duty, and they all look the damn same to me. Like Call of Duty. Every time I see a Pokémon game, I’m like ‘Nintendo couldn’t have given more than this!?’. No bitch. Because Nintendo just be trotting them out. But, d’ya know what? With the way Nintendo give us one (MAYBE two) Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda games per console / generation, and take their time with everything else - I say let them have a game they can just trot out to make the fiscal target. As long as the fans are happy. 

The new starter Pokémon for the upcoming game(s) Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have already been revealed, and Fuecoco is already a favourite amongst fans. So expect him to get a project too. I might have to keep my eye on this Pokémon project shit. There’s some really cool and creative stuff that comes out of it.

🌏 Project Piplup: Official website