Wooloo

Wooloo (ウールー, Ūrū) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. It is first introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield, directed by Shigeru Ohmori. Wooloo is a friendly Normal-type sheep-like Pokémon from the Galar region, which is based on the United Kingdom.[2] Wooloo has appeared in the anime: in the main series, and the web miniseries Pokémon: Twilight Wings. Wooloo has received positive reviews and has been regarded as the cutest Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Wooloo
Pokémon series character
National Pokédex
Eldegoss - Wooloo (#831) - Dubwool
First appearancePokémon Sword and Shield
Voiced byRikako Aikawa (Japanese)
Erica Mendez (English)[1]
In-universe information
Species
Gender♂ Male / ♀ Female
OriginGalar (Generation VIII)
TypeNormal

Concept and characteristics

Wooloo is a Normal-type sheep-like Pokémon from the Galar region. Its dark body is mostly covered in a fluffy white fleece, with only its head, legs, horns and tail visible. Its ears poke behind gray strings of wool that resemble braided pigtails. Wooloo's fleece functions as a cushion, allowing it to survive even a fall from a cliff without any injuries.[3] The fleece grows continuously throughout Wooloo's life, and it will grow back in just three months after completely shaved.[4][5] If Wooloo's fleece grows too long, it will be unable to move.[6] The fleece is popular as a specialty product in Galar, being used for clothing and carpets. Wooloo live in herds and are known to mimic the actions of their herd leader or Trainer. They have a friendly disposition and dislike conflict, and can escape from enemies by simply rolling away.[4][5][7][8]

Appearances

Wooloo is first introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield.[9]

In anime

A Trainer's Wooloo has appeared in a flashback of Sword and Shield: From Here to Eternatus!. Later on in the show, Hop is revealed to own a Wooloo when introduced in the Masters 8 tournament. Hop tried to battle Ash using a Wooloo only to get easily defeated by Pikachu's Iron Tail in one hit.

In Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Wooloo debuted in the episode "Letter", as it appeared under the ownership of Hop.[10] Wooloo reappeared in "Training", where it was seen watching TV with its Trainer.[11] It appeared again in "Buddy", where it became jealous of Hop's appreciation of Leon's Charizard, and ran away from home.[12][13][14] By the time of "The Gathering of Stars", Hop's Wooloo had evolved into Dubwool.[15]

Reception

Wooloo proved popular with fans, with many of them creating fan art of it.[14] Michael McWhertor of Polygon described Wooloo as "perfect in every way".[7] Game director Shigeru Ohmori said that "it definitely caught [him] by surprise just how popular it became".[2] Kotaku,[16] GamesRadar,[17] GameSpot,[18] GameRevolution and Screen Rant all described Wooloo as an adorable sheep Pokémon, and one of the cutest Pokémon.[19][20] Janet Garcia of IGN saw it as the cutest Pokémon from Sword and Shield, stating, "I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect Pokémon but this might be it."[21] Tumblr’s year-end gaming lists of 2019 included a newly added category for the most buzzed about Pokémon, which puts Wooloo in second place, right behind Pikachu. According to Amanda Brennan, head of content insights on Tumblr, the category was added specifically because of the popular response regarding Wooloo on the website.[22] Julia Lee of Polygon also described Wooloo as the best Pokémon of the decade, stating that "I want to bury my face in the Wooloo wool."[23]

After Wooloo's major role in the Pokémon: Twilight Wings episode "Buddy", Robert Adams of GameRevolution has claimed that "Wooloo memes are the best new thing about Twilight Wings."[24] Patricia Hernandez of Polygon mentions that "the fluffy sheep-like creature is definitely cute" and that the short "humanizes" Wooloo,[13] and Austin Wood of GamesRadar said that Wooloo in the episode is "the cutest and exceedingly adorable."[14]

PETA made a controversial statement on Twitter about sheep shearing depicting Wooloo. The organization later received criticism and backlash from Pokémon fans for spreading misinformation about sheep shearing.[25]

A variety of merchandise depicting Wooloo has been made such as plushes,[26] figurines,[27] and toys.[28]

References
  1. @tsunderica (March 17, 2020). "I'm Wooloo" (Tweet). Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. "We Interview Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori about Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield". The Pokémon Company. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  3. Game Freak (2019-11-15). Pokémon Sword (Nintendo Switch). Nintendo. Pokédex: Its curly fleece is such an effective cushion that this Pokémon could fall off a cliff and stand right back up at the bottom, unharmed.
  4. "Wooloo – Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Official Website". 2019.
  5. McWhertor, Michael (June 5, 2019). "Meet the newest Pokémon of Pokémon Sword and Shield". Polygon.
  6. Game Freak (2019-11-15). Pokémon Shield (Nintendo Switch). Nintendo. Pokédex: If its fleece grows too long, Wooloo won't be able to move. Cloth made with the wool of this Pokémon is surprisingly strong.
  7. McWhertor, Michael (June 5, 2019). "Everyone loves Wooloo, the perfect new Pokémon". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  8. Oxford, Nadia (June 5, 2019). "All the New Pokemon We Saw in Today's Pokemon Direct". USgamer. Gamer Network.
  9. Carpenter, Nicole (November 19, 2019). "Pokémon player beats Sword and Shield with nothing but a humble Wooloo". Polygon.
  10. "Pokémon: Twilight Wings Episode 1 Letter". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. January 15, 2020.
  11. "Pokémon: Twilight Wings Episode 2 Training". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. February 18, 2020.
  12. "Pokémon: Twilight Wings Episode 3 Buddy". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. March 17, 2020.
  13. Hernandez, Patricia (March 17, 2020). "Pokémon short cements Wooloo as a top Sword and Shield monster". Polygon.
  14. Wood, Austin (March 17, 2020). "Wooloo stars in the cutest episode of Pokemon: Twilight Wings yet". gamesradar.
  15. "Pokémon: Twilight Wings—The Gathering of Stars". The Pokémon Company via YouTube. November 17, 2020.
  16. "The Weird, Funny Things That Make Pokémon Sword and Shield So Delightful". Kotaku. 9 February 2020.
  17. Loveridge, Sam; James, Ford; Wald, Heather (October 9, 2019). "Gen 8 Pokemon: All of the critters revealed so far, including the three starters and legendaries". gamesradar.
  18. Knezevic, Kevin (June 7, 2019). "Here Are Seven New Gen 8 Pokemon From Sword And Shield". GameSpot. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  19. Jones, Camden; Saunders, Toby (October 16, 2019). "All New Pokemon in Sword and Shield | Galar Region Pokemon". GameRevolution.
  20. Caballero, David (March 3, 2021). "Pokémon: The 10 Cutest Normal-Types". ScreenRant.
  21. "Top 10 Cutest Pokemon from Sword and Shield". IGN Southeast Asia. August 8, 2019.
  22. Radulovic, Petrana (December 2, 2019). "Tumblr's year-end gaming lists reveal a Minecraft boom, Wooloo love, and the power of dating sims". Polygon.
  23. Lee, Julia (November 6, 2019). "The best Pokémon of the decade". Polygon.
  24. "Pokemon Wooloo memes are the best new thing about Twilight Wings". GameRevolution. March 17, 2020.
  25. Doolan, Liam (June 9, 2019). "Random: PETA Makes Woolly Statement About Sheep Pokémon Wooloo, Backlash Ensues". Nintendo Life.
  26. Craddock, Ryan (November 29, 2019). "New Pokémon Sword And Shield Galar Plush Release Next Month, Including Wooloo". Nintendo Life.
  27. "Pokemon 2020 Wooloo Yamper Alcremie Bandai Pokemon Scale World Galar Region Figure". Pokevault. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  28. Craddock, Ryan (December 19, 2019). "Bandai Reveals New Galar Pokémon Toys". Nintendo Life.
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