I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Litten.
The Alolan Region, where the seventh generation takes place, is based on the real world’s Hawaiian Islands. It also incorporates the cultures of Polynesia more broadly, especially in the form of professional wrestling. Some of Pro Wrestling’s biggest stars have come from Hawaii and Samoa.
Another place that has produced countless legendary wrestlers is Japan – none more so than Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask was originally an anime about a heel wrestler who turns face to protect an orphanage. The character was so popular that real wrestlers began to don the mask, and a lineage of champions across Japan and the USA have now donned the mask.
Litten is not yet a tiger, but merely a black, fire-type kitty-cat Pokémon with some red stripes. Most of Litten’s Pokédex entries read like descriptions from real cat owners.
Moon
It doesn't allow its emotions to be easily seen. Earning its trust takes time. It prefers solitude.
Ultra Sun
If you try too hard to get close to it, it won't open up to you. Even if you do grow close, giving it too much affection is still a no-no.

Shield
Trying to pet Litten before it trusts you will result in a nasty scratch from its sharp claws. Be careful.*

But this isn’t just a cat, this is a fire starter, and the rest of its entries deal with that.
Sun
While grooming itself, it builds up fur inside its stomach. It sets the fur alight and spews fiery attacks, which change based on how it coughs.

ltra Moon
Its coat regrows twice a year. When the time comes, Litten sets its own body on fire and burns away the old fur.

Cat fur can catch alight – often with the cat remaining oddly calm – but its to be avoided in the real world. Normal kittens should not be lit, unlike litten. The Japanese name is Nyabby, from the onomatopoeia for a cat sound, nyan, and the word tabby. It may also be deliberate that the bi sound in Japanese is a similar character to hi, for fire, and that the word is close to the English Baby. Weather a baby tabby or a lit kitten, it won’t stay that way forever and at level 17 Litten evolves into Torracat.
Torracat is a full-sized house cat with a much more red color scheme and some exaggerated fur beginning to allude to the oversized persona it will develop.
Ultra Moon
When its mane is standing on end, you can tell it's feeling good. When it isn't feeling well, its fur will lie down flat.

Sun
At its throat, it bears a bell of fire. The bell rings brightly whenever this Pokémon spits fire.
Moon
It boasts powerful front legs. With a single punch, it can bend an iron bar right over.

Despite this firepower and strength, Torracat is still a cat at heart.
Ultra Sun
It can act spoiled if it grows close to its Trainer. A powerful Pokémon, its sharp claws can leave its Trainer's whole body covered in scratches.
Ultra Moon
When its mane is standing on end, you can tell it's feeling good. When it isn't feeling well, its fur will lie down flat.

The torra part of Torracat could come from Portugese, to roast, or possibly the Japanese for tiger. The Japanese name, on the other hand, takes a little English, becoming Nyaheat.
The third, fourth and fifth generation’s starters all evolved into fire and fighting final forms. The sixth generation was a brief respite, but when the seventh rolled around, all eyes were on Torracat. Memes spread of the cat with its front paws taped down, fans begging it not to stand up and learn karate. The Pokémon team at Game Freak were very aware of this, and willing to have a little fun, so at Level 34, Torracat evolves into Incineroar.
Incineroar is a muscular, humanoid cat with a wrestling belt made of flames and a fierce face not dissimilar to the Tiger Mask of wrestling legend. Despite appearances, though, this is not a fourth fire and fighting starter. In fact, like the original Tiger Mask before his turn, this is a heel wrestler, and our first Fire and Dark starter Pokémon.
Sun
This Pokémon has a violent, selfish disposition. If it's not in the mood to listen, it will ignore its Trainer's orders with complete nonchalance.
Moon
After hurling ferocious punches and flinging furious kicks, it finishes opponents off by spewing fire from around its navel.

A common misconception is that the Dark type has to refer to some supernatural evil, similar to the Ghost type, but it’s more about the fighting dirty equivalent to the Fighting type’s honor. Incineroar is a heel wrestler, a cheat, a troll, a perfect little joke from the developers on the players.
Ultra Sun
Although it's rough mannered and egotistical, it finds beating down unworthy opponents boring. It gets motivated for stronger opponents.

Sword
It excels at violent, no-holds-barred battles. The temperature of the flames that issue from its navel exceeds 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit.*

Violet
After hurling ferocious punches and flinging furious kicks, it finishes opponents off by spewing fire from around its navel.

Incineroar backs up the claims of the Pokedex. In the official videogame competitive format, where two-on-two battles are standard, Incineroar is, without a doubt, the greatest Pokemon of all time. Its typing, stats and moves got it part of the way there, with wrestling specials like signature move Darkest Lariat and fire advantages like dishes out burns, but what really put Incineroar on the map was its perfect usage of the ability intimidate, lowering the opposing team’s attack when switched into battle. Since gaining this ability, Incineroar has been on the winning team in every year in which it was legal, barring one.
Incineroar’s competitive dominance was referenced in the games, when doubles Champion Kieran had one on his team, and in the anime, where Ash himself took one all the way to his first ever championship. It even appears as a playable character in Smash Bros, pulling off all manner of Pro wrestling moves and showboating in the ring.
Both the English name and the Japanese, Gaogaen, combine some form of fire, incinerate in English and Kaen in Japanese, and roaring, the onomatopoeia Gao in Japanese.
Of course, Tiger Mask isn’t just known for being a champion and a heel – he also had a heart of gold.
Shield
Incineroar's rough and aggressive behavior is its most notable trait, but the way it helps out small Pokémon shows that it has a kind side as well.*

I’m a fan of a bit of wrestling, and like many British fans I have a soft spot for a good heel. Incineroar might have been a trick on the players, but it was a treat for me.
Music for Luke Loves Pokemon was composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Funding is by supporters at patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch on youtube, social media or email and let me know about your favorite monsters. Coming up next are Poplio and Pikipek, so let me know your thoughts about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much for listening.
I love Litten. And remember, I love you too.