Squirtle Squad
Squirtle has been a constant in Pokémon for nearly 30 years. From the moment Red and Blue launched in Japan in February 1996, Squirtle was there — one of three choices, the cool water-type starter with the oversized head and the shell that would become iconic. But how did a cartoon turtle become one of the most beloved characters in the history of entertainment? Here's the full story.
The Creation of Squirtle
Squirtle was designed by Ken Sugimori, the artist behind the original 151 Pokémon. Sugimori and the Game Freak team were tasked with creating three starter Pokémon that would represent fire, water, and grass — the classic elemental triangle that would define the franchise.
The design philosophy for Squirtle was straightforward: cute, friendly, clearly aquatic, with an element of the fantastical. The turtle as a base creature was ideal — turtles are universally beloved, have built-in "armor" in their shells, and translate well to an elemental power fantasy. The giant eyes, stubby limbs, and curled tail gave Squirtle the chibi appeal that made original Pokémon so distinctive.
The name "Squirtle" is a portmanteau of "squirt" (as in squirt gun) and "turtle" — a naming convention that became standard for Pokémon: descriptive, fun to say, and immediately communicative of the creature's nature.
Pokémon Red and Blue (1996–1998)
When Pokémon Red and Blue launched in Japan in 1996 (and internationally in 1998), players faced their first major choice: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle?
The game framed this choice seriously — Professor Oak offered each starter as a genuinely considered gift, and your selection shaped your early game experience significantly. Squirtle's water typing made the first two gyms (Brock's rock-type gym and Misty's water-type gym) more manageable than Charmander's early struggles.
But Squirtle's popularity wasn't just about strategy. The character design resonated in a way that transcended competitive advantage. There was something inherently appealing about a small turtle who would evolve into Wartortle and ultimately Blastoise — one of the most powerful and visually impressive original Pokémon.
Blastoise's status as a Base Set Holo Rare and the featured Pokémon on the back of the original Pokémon Trading Card Game booster packs gave the Squirtle line a prestige that competitors didn't quite match. If Charizard was the powerhouse, Blastoise was the icon.
The Pokémon Anime and Ash's Squirtle
When the Pokémon anime launched in 1997, the writers made a significant creative choice: Ash would catch a Squirtle. Not just any Squirtle — a delinquent Squirtle who had been the leader of a gang of troublemaking Squirtles known as the Squirtle Squad.
This decision — to give Squirtle a backstory, a crew, and a moment of redemption — is what transformed Squirtle from a popular starter Pokémon into a cultural phenomenon. The Squirtle Squad episode (Episode 12 in the original series, "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad") introduced one of the most memorable recurring elements of the early anime.
Squirtle's Role in Competitive Play
Beyond its cultural status, Squirtle has maintained relevance in competitive Pokémon throughout the franchise's history. The introduction of its Hidden Ability, Rain Dish, gave Squirtle competitive utility in rain teams. Blastoise's Mega Evolution in X and Y added Shell Smash + Blizzard combinations that made the line genuinely threatening in competitive play.
The Pokémon TCG has treated the Squirtle line generously across all eras. From the original Base Set Blastoise Holo Rare (one of the most iconic cards in the game's history) to modern ex and VMAX cards, Blastoise has been a consistent competitive and collector presence.
Squirtle in Popular Culture
The Squirtle Squad sunglasses aesthetic — which originated in Episode 12 of the anime — became one of the most recognizable visual shorthand symbols in internet culture. The image of Squirtle (and the Squad) wearing tiny sunglasses became meme material, merchandise inspiration, and a consistent touchstone for Pokémon fans expressing a certain kind of laid-back cool.
This cultural staying power is unusual even within Pokémon, a franchise filled with beloved characters. Squirtle's "cool" aesthetic has aged particularly well — it reads as effortlessly stylish in a way that feels timeless rather than dated.
Squirtle in 2026
Nearly 30 years after its introduction, Squirtle remains one of the most popular Pokémon in the world. It consistently ranks in the top 5 in fan popularity polls, its vintage cards command premium prices, and new Squirtle merchandise sells out reliably.
The 2025 Pokémon Day celebrations featured Squirtle prominently, and the character's appearance in multiple Pokémon media releases over the past few years has kept its cultural presence strong.
For collectors, the Squirtle line represents one of the best long-term holds in vintage Pokémon cards. For fans, it's the character that defined what it meant to "choose a starter" — and for many people, that first choice shaped a lifelong relationship with the franchise.
Stay cool. The Squad endures.