Jigglypuff (/ˈdʒɪɡlipʌf/ JIG-lee-puf), known in Japan as Purin (プリン),[1] is a Pokémon species. Jigglypuff first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Jigglypuff is voiced by Rachael Lillis in English and by Mika Kanai in Japanese. In the live-action musical Pokémon Live!, Jigglypuff is portrayed by Leah Smith. Jigglypuff is also very well known for singing a lullaby in the Pokémon anime series.
Jigglypuff was one of 151 different Generation I Pokémon designs conceived by Game Freak’s character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori, for the first-generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.[2][3] Its Japanese name “Purin”, derives from the Japanese loanword for custard or pudding.[4] Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species “clever and descriptive names” related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.[5] Deciding to use a name better suited for its jelly-like appearance, the species was renamed “Jigglypuff”, a combination of the words “jiggly” and “puff”.[6] When a Jigglypuff is exposed to a Moon Stone, it evolves into Wigglytuff. It has a pre-evolution, Igglybuff, which evolves when it reaches a certain point of happiness.[7]
Known as the Balloon Pokémon, Jigglypuff is shaped like a round ball with pink skin, large blue or green eyes, pointy ears, and a tuft of fur on its forehead. It can inflate its body like a balloon (usually when it becomes angry; this is accompanied by a distinctive “honk” sound), or flatten its body, much like fellow Nintendo character Kirby. An exact limit to the size it can grow to in this manner is unknown. Jigglypuff are characterized by putting their enemies to sleep by singing a lullaby.[8] Before beginning to sing, they mesmerize the opponent with their soft, glowing eyes and, if they inflate themselves, they can sing for longer periods of time.[8][9] They can easily adjust the wavelength of their voices to that of the brain waves of a sleeping being, allowing for their pleasing melody to put its audience to sleep.[10] They sing without pausing to take a breath, so if the opponent is resistant to sleeping, they potentially run out of air.[11] Game Freak‘s staff have noted Jigglypuff as both one of their and the public’s favorite Pokémon, in terms of both anime and video game appearances.[12]
