Birthday
- This article is about the concept of a birthday. For the music video on Netflix, seePokémon: Happy Birthday to You!.
 | This article is missing one or more images. Please feel free to add any missing images to this article. Needed images can beuploaded to the Bulbagarden Archives. Reason: images of birthday celebrations in core series games |
Thebirthday (Japanese:誕生日birthday) of theplayer can be used to trigger certain in-game events. Birthdays are also prevalent in other Pokémon media and are of great importance to people.
In the core series games
Beginning with the originalNintendo DS's birthday function, the vast majority of core series Pokémon games have had something inclusive for just this function. The most well-known of these integrations is the appearance ofdiamond dust inSnowpoint City onJunichi Masuda's birthday (January 12).
Generations I and III
Thejournals found in thePokémon Mansion onCinnabar Island reveal thatMewtwo was born on February 6.
Generation IV
The description ofGracidea states that it is sometimes given out in bouquets for birthdays.
InDiamond, Pearl, andPlatinum:
- After entering theHall of Fame,Lucas/Dawn inSandgem Town will ask the player if it is their birthday.
- Diamond dust appears inSnowpoint City on January 12,Junichi Masuda's birthday.
- Hayley's birthday is November 18.
- In the Platinum-Compatible Version, a new toy was added for when it is the player's birthday, the Birthday Cake. When activated, confetti falls from the sky around it.
- In the Platinum-Compatible Version, Miis will have party hats on their back rather than the usual rancher hat during their birthday.
Generation V
InPokémon Black and White andBlack 2 and White 2:
- The owner of thePokémon Musical Theater will give the player theProp Toy Cake if it has not already been received.
- The nurse in thePokémon Center will ask the player if it is their birthday every time she is spoken to.
- The mist onRoute 14 andRoute 15 will clear.
- InIcirrus City,Aha, Wye, and Ditoh will give a special quiz.
- From December 1, 2010 until the closure of the Global Link service on February 24, 2020, Japanese players could obtainTogekiss on the day registered as their birthday on thePokémon Daisuki Club.
- From September 1, 2011 until the closure of the Global Link service, international players could obtainTogekiss on the day registered as their birthday on theirPokémon Trainer Club account.
Generation VI
In bothPokémon X and Y andPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:
- Upon entering aPokémon Center for the first time on a birthday, the lights are dimmed, a party popper goes off and confetti falls from the ceiling.
- In all Pokémon Centers, a birthday cake will be shown on the screen above the counter and a special version of the Pokémon Center theme will play. Every time a player goes to heal Pokémon, the nurse again wishes the player a happy birthday and states that she hopes the player will continue visiting for many years to come. In the Japanese versions of the games, the music is a version of the traditionalHappy Birthday to You song.
- Other players will see a birthday cake marker beside the player's icon in thePSS. After tapping the player's icon, they may give birthday wishes by pressing a button on the touch screen that replaces the "Nice!" button with a "Congrats!" message. AMedal can be awarded for being wished a happy birthday on the PSS.
- Visitors to the player'sPokémon-Amie space will leave up to three Supreme WishPoké Puffs.
InPokémon X and Y only:
- Diamond dust falls on the area near the entrance ofFrost Cavern.
- ThePoké Radar will have a 4% chance to play the alternate music that boosts the shiny patch rate to 1/100 after an encounter, increased from the usual 2% chance.
If a player has their birthday set to February 29 and the current year is not a leap year, thePokémon Center lady will wish the player a happy birthday on February 28 while acknowledging that it's a day early.[1]
Generation VII
InPokémon Sun and Moon,Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon:
- Upon entering aPokémon Center for the first time on a birthday, the lights are dimmed, a party popper goes off andPikachu and flower-shaped confetti falls from the ceiling.
- In all Pokémon Centers, a birthday cake will be shown on the screen above the counter and a special version of the Pokémon Center theme plays. Every time the player talks to the Pokémon Center nurse, she wishes the player a happy birthday.
- Diamond dust falls on the outside and summit ofMount Lanakila.
As Switch profiles do not have birthdays associated with them, there is no acknowledgement of birthdays inPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, nor any associated in-game effects.
Generation VIII
InPokémon Sword and Shield andPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, due toNintendo Switch profiles' lack of a birthday setting, the player must speak to the lady outside theWedgehurstPokémon Center or the lady outside theGWS building inJubilife City to set their birthday.There is no NPC or menu to enter a birthday inPokémon Legends: Arceus, nor any associated in-game effects.
In Sword and Shield:
- Upon entering aPokémon Center for the first time on a birthday, the lights are dimmed, a party popper goes off andPikachu and assorted confetti falls from the ceiling.
- In all Pokémon Centers, a birthday cake will be shown on the screen above the counter and the tutorial music will play from the start of the game. Every time the player talks to the Pokémon Center nurse, she wishes the player a happy birthday.
- After cookingcurry, the Trainer's portion will be served with a birthday candle in it.
In Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl:
- After entering theHall of Fame,Lucas/Dawn inSandgem Town will ask the player if it is their birthday.
Generation IX
InPokémon Scarlet and Violet, due toNintendo Switch profiles' lack of a birthday setting, the player must speak to the nurse in anyPokémon Center to set their birthday.
- Upon entering aPokémon Center for the first time on a birthday, the lights are dimmed, a party popper goes off andPikachu and assorted confetti falls from the ceiling.
- In all Pokémon Centers, a birthday cake will be shown on the screen above the counter, along with a scrolling background that shows several balloons,Drifloon,Greavard, and all three forms ofTatsugiri. Every time the player talks to the Pokémon Center nurse, she wishes the player a happy birthday.
- Wild Pokémon generated on the date registered as the player's birthday have a chance to have the DestinyMark.
- There are some notable exceptions (seethis list for excluded types of encounters and other details).
If a player has their birthday set to February 29, these effects are given out on February 28 instead in non-leap years.[2]
InPokémon Legends: Z-A, due toNintendo Switch profiles' lack of a birthday setting, the player must speak to the nurse in any Pokémon Center to set their birthday. Upon entering a Pokémon Center for the first time on their birthday, generic confetti and streamers will shoot from the lower corners of the screen, and the nurse wishes the player a happy birthday. Uniquely to this game, if the player's language is set to English, the nurse's greeting includes the French text "Joyeux anniversaire!" Other languages simply give their own language's version of the greeting.
Events
In an event ongoing sinceGeneration IV, players who visit aPokémon Center store in Japan with an eligible Pokémon game can download a gift Pokémon on or near their birthday. SinceGeneration V, there is a specialBirthday Ribbon which is exclusively for Pokémon received as birthday presents from Pokémon Center stores. SinceGeneration VI, they all know the event-exclusive moveCelebrate, which congratulates the player when used in battle.
| Pokémon | Start date | End date | Gen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Birthday Charmander | July 20, 2007 | July 19, 2008 | IV |
| Birthday Charmander | July 20, 2008 | July 19, 2009 | IV |
 | Birthday Pikachu | December 26, 2008 | December 25, 2009 | IV |
| Birthday Charmander | July 20, 2009 | July 19, 2010 | IV |
 | Birthday Chimchar | September 12, 2009 | September 11, 2010 | IV |
| Birthday Pikachu | December 26, 2009 | November 3, 2010 | IV |
| Birthday Charmander | July 20, 2010 | November 3, 2010 | IV |
| Birthday Chimchar | September 12, 2010 | November 3, 2010 | IV |
 | Birthday Audino | November 4, 2010 | November 3, 2011 | V |
 | Birthday Togekiss | December 1, 2010 | ??? | V |
| Birthday Togekiss | August 25, 2011 | September 30, 2011 | V |
| Birthday Togekiss | September 1, 2011 | August ??, 2012 | V |
| Birthday Audino | November 4, 2011* December 4, 2011* | November 3, 2012 | V |
| Birthday Audino | November 4, 2012 | October 11, 2013 | V |
| Birthday Pikachu | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Eevee | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Vaporeon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Jolteon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Flareon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Espeon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Umbreon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Leafeon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Glaceon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
 | Birthday Sylveon | October 12, 2013 | December 31, 2016 | VI |
| Birthday Pikachu | November 18, 2016 | November 15, 2018 | VII |
| Birthday Eevee | November 18, 2016 | November 15, 2018 | VII |
 | Birthday Comfey | November 18, 2016 | November 15, 2018 | VII |
 | Birthday Chansey | November 16, 2018 | November 14, 2019* | VII |
| ポケセン Birthday Pikachu | November 15, 2019 | October 31, 2020* | VIII |
| ポケセン Birthday Eevee | November 15, 2019 | October 31, 2020* | VIII |
| PCSG Birthday Pikachu | March 7, 2020 | November 5, 2020* | VIII |
| PCSG Birthday Eevee | March 7, 2020 | November 5, 2020* | VIII |
 | ポケセン Birthday Milcery | November 1, 2020 | October 31, 2021* | VIII |
| PCSG Birthday Milcery | November 6, 2020 | October 31, 2021* | VIII |
 | Birthday Happiny (SwSh) | November 1, 2021 | October 31, 2022* | VIII |
| Birthday Happiny (BDSP) | November 19, 2021 | October 31, 2022* | VIII |
| Birthday Happiny (LA) | January 28, 2022 | October 31, 2022* | VIII |
 | Birthday Flabébé | November 1, 2022 | October 31, 2023* | IX |
 | Birthday Pawmi | November 1, 2023 | October 31, 2024* | IX |
 | Birthday Charcadet | November 1, 2023 | October 31, 2024* | IX |
 | Birthday Tandemaus | November 1, 2024 | October 31, 2025* | IX |
 | Birthday Fidough | November 1, 2025 | October 31, 2026* | IX |
| Birthday Audino | November 1, 2025 | October 31, 2026* | IX |
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Project Studio
In thePokémon Project Studio computer design programs, there are various images and templates for birthday cards and invitations.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
InPokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia:
- It is revealed over the course of the game that onBlake Hall's sixteenth birthday he drove his father,Brighton Hall, from Altru.
- TheGo-Rock Quads rehearse on the grandstand atAltru Park for a performance to celebrate the opening ofAltru Tower on Altru's Birthday.
- After the ending,Melody asks the player to bring her musical Pokémon to help her perform a song to her brotherIsaac for his birthday.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
InPokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky:
- One of the personality questions that can be presented at the beginning of the game asks,The people at the next table are singing for someone's birthday. What do you do?
Pokémon Friends
- The player receives bonusyarn immediately after logging in on their birthday.
- Celebratory flags are hung from the ceiling of the main room.
- When the player puts a stamp on the calendar after untangling yarn for the first time on their birthday, they use a special Birthday Pikachu stamp that is not available on any other day.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
On a youth's tenth birthday or at any point after, they can register for aPokédex and pick up afirst partner Pokémon from theregionalPokémon Professor or the localPokémon Center free of charge.
In the dub,Jessie's Arbok was revealed to be a birthday gift inIsland of the Giant Pokémon. In the Japanese version, it was achūgen gift.
The Japanese ending theme forMewtwo Strikes Back,Together With the Wind, makes a reference to birthday candles.
Brock tellsMax inHaving a Wailord of a Time that he received hisOnix as agift for his tenth birthday, from his fatherFlint.
In the dub ofWhere No Togepi Has Gone Before!,James reveals he received a rocket for his tenth birthday.
During theboss fantasy inAn Elite Coverup!,Meowth says that they would stealMagby to lightthe boss's birthday candles, among other things.
In thePikachu shortPK20,Bellossom's birthday present is missing, andPikachu andPiplup helpSmoochum and theSpiky-eared Pichu find it. They are racing againstMeowth andWobbuffet, who try to find it first.
Layla mentions inGiratina and the Sky Warrior that her great-grandmother recently celebrated her hundredth birthday.
The plot ofCelebi and Joy!! revolves around the birthday of both aNurse Joy and the opening of aPokémon Center. The plots for bothHi Ho Silver... Away! andRough, Tough Jigglypuff also revolve around the birthday of one of thecharacters of the day.
InA Festival Trade! A Festival Farewell?, Jessie mentions thatPumpkaboo was the only one who remembered her birthday.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
In thePokémon Adventuresmanga,Norman moved his sonRuby over toHoenn on his birthday to allow him to take part inPokémon Contests. Along with this gift, Norman also presented him with a pair ofRunning Shoes and aPokéblock Case. This is also the first day of Ruby andSapphire's80-day challenge which is to last through to Sapphire's birthday, both birthdays are celebrated inThe Final Battle VIII.
Hugh gives aPurrloin to his sister for her birthday.
The main characters all have their birthdays revealed throughout the series in their biographies.
|
Magical Pokémon Journey
InEven an Arbok Falls in Love!,Arbok and his friends build a statue ofWigglytuff and cover it in roses for her birthday. During thethird bonus chapter, just beforeAlmond's birthday party,Hazel and Almond have a fight, and the Pokémon have to get them back together.
The main characters birthdays are revealed throughout the series in their biographies.
|
How I Became a Pokémon Card
InAkari and Pikachu's Birthday,Akari received aPikachu for his birthday from his mother. Deciding it wasn't cool enough, he stormed out of his house and into a forest where he stumbled across a herd ofAriados. They were consequently defeated by Pikachu who had followed him inside. Impressed, Akari decided Pikachu was cool after all.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team
Inthe first chapterGinji is transported to the Pokémon world when he falls asleep while searching for his birthday presents.
W Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger - the Comic
The main characters of this manga had their birthdays listed in their profile.
|
Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia
The main characters of this manga had their birthdays listed in their profile.
|
Pokémon Newspaper Strip
In theStrip 52,Gary mentions that his grandfatherProfessor Oak gave him aCharizard for his birthday.
In the novels
Pocket Monsters: The Animation
InPocket Monsters: The Animation, Pokémon Trainers obtain their first Pokémon in April of the year following their 10th birthday.
This may be a reference toPokémon the Series. Thefirst episode was released on April 1st, 1997 in Japan, featuringAsh beginning his journey on his 10th birthday. This may suggest that Ash's birthday would also be on April 1.
Pokémon Tales
InDiglett's Birthday Party,Nidorina,Clefable,Growlithe, andSnorlax, visitDiglett's dark underground home and attend Diglett's birthday party with its family. Diglett's friends give it a toy airplane as a birthday gift.
In the board games
Pokémon Master Trainer
In the manual of the 2005 gamePokémon Master Trainer, it is suggested that the player whose birthday is closest goes first.
In the TCG
Three cards exist, two of them jumbo sized, called_____'s Pikachu, first released in 1999 in Japan. The nature of their attacks are mostly related to birthdays, and they can deal more damage if it is the user's birthday. Due to this, they are commonly referred to as "Birthday Pikachu" cards. These cards are nottournament legal, likely due to the fact a player can claim any given day is their birthday.
| Related cards Cards listed with ablue background are only legal to use in the currentExpanded format. Cards listed with agreen background are legal to use in both the currentStandard andExpanded formats. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card | Type | English Expansion | Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion | Rarity | # |
| _____'s Pikachu |  | Wizards Black Star Promos | 24 | Unnumbered Promotional cards | |||
| _____'s Pikachu | | Unnumbered Promotional cards | |||||
| _____'s Pikachu | | Unnumbered Promotional cards | |||||
In other media
In thePokémon Learning League, one of theScience lessons deals with heredity, in the presentation,May andMax are heading home, whereNorman is setting up a surprise birthday party for his wifeCaroline.
TheNintendo DS on the player's birthday will have a different start up chime, instead of a piano with an echo effect it is a glockenspiel with an echo effect.
During thePokémon Live! stage show, a large part of the plot revolves aroundAsh missingMisty's birthday.
ThePokémon Project Studio Red and Blue lets people create Pokémon themed mini-projects, such as calendars and cards, one of the templates for a project is calledBirthday Kits and has templates for birthday invitations.
Bakery Crafts released a set ofbirthday rings to be placed on the top of cakes as decorations, and given to guests to take home.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | Cantonese | 生日Sāangyaht |
| Mandarin | 生日Shēngrì | |
| French | Anniversaire | |
| German | Geburtstag | |
| Italian | Compleanno | |
| Korean | 생일Saeng-il | |
| Spanish | Cumpleaños | |
| Vietnamese | Ngày sinh Sinh nhật | |
References
 | This game mechanic article is part ofProject Games, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on thePokémon games. |
