A word typically reserved for stoic World War II posters and modern Russian cable TV takes on new meaning with the delightful Pokémon-themed Twitter account Bulbasaur Propaganda.
@BulbaGanda is a nonstop feed of Bulbasaur, Ivysaur and Venusaur facts, fan art, memes, heartwarming images, and general cheerleading for Pokémon’s vegetation-based starting monster. If ever you had a friend—as many of us do—who doesn’t understand why Bulbasaur is a great starter Pokemon, simply direct them to BulbaGanda’s seemingly endless outpouring of love and affection for the bulb-wearing dinosaur-frog whose Japanese name, Fushigidane, means “Isn’t that weird.”
The account’s owner, a 26-year-old IT worker who prefers to remain anonymous, says Bulbasaur wasn’t even his first starter. It was Charmander. It wasn’t until a decade later, in an argument with a Bulbasaur-loving friend over the best Pokémon starter, that BulbaGanda’s owner was directed to Bulbasaur’s Bulbapedia page. “There were a lot of things about Bulbasaur I never knew,” he told me in a Twitter DM. “I decided to rewatch the anime and read the manga. . . It took me years to understand its character.”
In creating the account, he wanted to “make a change in the Pokémon community,” he said. “I want for Bulbasaur to not be ignored anymore, or disliked unfairly.”
Bulbaganda’s writer describes Bulbasaur as “loyal,” “tough,” and “mature,” but not everyone shares his opinions, he said. Even when he points out that Bulbasaur once protected the Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab, or when Venusaur turned into a giant god in the manga, his protests often fall on deaf ears. “To this day, the general opinion doesn’t accept Bulbasaur as really good,” he said. “Most… gaming articles, YouTube videos, or memes online make fun of Bulbasaur,” he said, going so far as to call it a “bias.”
A quick scroll through @BulbaGanda shows his efforts to change all that.
There are the memes…
You have 5 seconds to explain why you don't like Ivysaur. pic.twitter.com/m2HkRL1dF4
— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) December 1, 2018
"Where's your homework?" pic.twitter.com/HJnRfmeIbt
— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) November 17, 2018
Only works if you are the number #001 pic.twitter.com/JsBhKzpA47
— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) November 8, 2018
There are interesting facts…
Since you guys love Pokemon facts, here's a very obscure one.
There's a creature in the @StarWars universe that appeared in one novel called "Bulba" and while it's not a frog/dinosaur, but the entire concept from their nature to anatomy is inspired by Bulbasaur. pic.twitter.com/U8XmGUt1HM— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) January 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/embed/status/1077627018106335232
Heartwarming images…
When Ivysaur go to sleep, their flower also sleep.
This is blessed! pic.twitter.com/rAdbaUAsAb— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) December 18, 2018
Cabbages singing pic.twitter.com/kUFKDSlLbh
— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) December 17, 2018
There's a Bulbasaur statue standing by a grave of a kid who died loving his partner till the end.
Rest in peace, trainer, Bulbasaur will miss you 😢 pic.twitter.com/7Jy99AbkaB— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) January 15, 2019
And, of course, miscellaneous Bulbasaur propaganda.
This adorable little robot is designed to make sure its photosynthesising passenger is well taken care of. It moves towards brighter light if it needs, or hides in the shade to keep cool. When in the light, it rotates to make sure the plant gets plenty of illumination. pic.twitter.com/K87CSVXnkI
— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) January 14, 2019
During a reunion between Ash's Kanto starters, Bulbasaur stood on two legs to welcome his old friend Squirtle with open arms even though Bulbasaur walks on 4 all the time.
If this isn't the purest kind of friendship, then I don't know what is. pic.twitter.com/Gg5kIB3ieJ— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) November 30, 2018
Ash and his starters won the sled race with an amateur-made sled made by Bulbasaur and Pikachu. pic.twitter.com/baBRQjsjU5
— Bulbasaur Propaganda (@BulbaGanda) December 8, 2018
Hopefully, BulbaGanda will turn things around for this maligned starter. For now, its writer is still working on changing minds. “People still don’t give it any justice,” he said, “and quickly push him out with ‘Worst starter’ or ‘it’s just a useless lettuce.’”
