ThePokémonanime’s reputation among general audiences usually isn’t that great; it’s often accused of being formulaic and repetitive, and there’s some truth to that. However, when thePokémonanime is at its best, it offers some surprisingly insightful episodes, and “The Crystal Onix” is undoubtedly one of them.
“The Crystal Onix” has been one of my favorite episodes since I was a kid and watched it for the first time. The idea of a rare variant of a common Pokémon was enticing, and this waslong before Shiny Pokémon existed. I’ve long hoped that it would one day be added to the games, so that I could catch one for myself. However, as I’ve gotten older, the episode has remained a favorite, although for very different reasons. Those reasons, of course, have to do with the actual story of the episode, which centers on something that’s unfortunately very familiar to myself and many others: artist’s block.
The Crystal Onix Tackles a Tough Issue
The Episode’s Focus on Creating Art Speaks to Artists Everywhere
In the episode, Ash and friends are traveling between islands when they find a message in a bottle. It’s from a little girl, asking for information ona mysterious Pokémon known as the Crystal Onix. Tracey has heard of it, and so the group make a detour to Sunburst Island nearby. There, they discover a town of glassblowers and crystal smiths, eventually finding their way to a shop that’s oddly empty of pieces. The little girl, Marissa, happens to be in this shop, and introduces Ash and friends to her brother, Mateo. Mateo is a glassblower, but he’s had trouble producing art recently due to how he’s feeling.
Mateo tells a story about their grandfather, the shop’s former owner, who claimed to once have seen the Crystal Onix, stating that it provided him with endless inspiration. Marissa and Mateo hope that catching the Crystal Onix will help him to create again, and so Ash, Misty, and Tracey agree to help track down this rumored Pokémon. Afterrunning into Team Rocket, they find their way to a tidal island, and discover the Crystal Onix in a cave. Mateo attempts to battle and capture it, but as he attacks it with his Charmeleon, he’s struck by the beauty of the Crystal Onix’s form. He defeats it, but opts not to catch it; he’s gotten all the inspiration he needed from just seeing it, and produces a special Pikachu sculpture just for Ash as thanks.
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As a fellow artist, Mateo’s struggles to create really speak to me. In the scene where Ash and Mateo meet, Ash and Misty comment on some of the sculptures he has recently made, stating that they look pretty good, but Mateo is unhappy with his work, and destroys a sculpture of Poliwhirl. That feeling of working hard on something, but being so disappointed with the end result that you feel compelled to destroy it… it’s a feeling every artist, no matter their medium, has experienced before.
Inspiration is a Fickle Mistress
Mateo’s Struggle for Inspiration is a Familiar Feeling
For myself as a writer, it’s easy to fall into a funk where you just can’t quite produce any writing that feels worth reading. I’ve written entire books before, but each time there was a point where it felt like finishing that book would be impossible. The story hits a certain point, and then I’m stuck. What should happen now? No one else has the answer; only I can decide that, but how? Forcing yourself to continue to write will only result in drivel, so often times the best move, for me at least, is to stop for a little while, like Mateo. Yet, stopping and hoping for inspiration to strike can be risky.
One thing that I think is particularly poignant about this episode is Mateo’s decision not to capture the Crystal Onix. He thought he knew what he needed to get past this artist’s block, but he wasn’t quite right. Owning the Crystal Onix wouldn’t have helped him to make better sculptures. Simply experiencing it, seeing it with his own eyes… that was what he needed. And I often find that’s the case for myself as well, that sometimes the best inspiration is simply experiencing life. Artist’s block can feel like the only thing in your life that matters when it hits, but seeing past that and being reminded of the beauty in the world is essential to getting over it.
The Crystal Onix is Pokémon At Its Creative Best
The Episode Perfectly Captures the Experience of Artist’s Block
The best part about “The Crystal Onix” is that it carries this message within it. No doubt the original writer of the episode (Yukiyoshi Ohashi, in this case) was also well acquainted with artist’s block in their own lives, so they were presenting this story from personal experience. Every artist will experience this feeling sooner or later, and each one will need to find their own way to overcome it. There’s a certain beautiful irony in writing about artist’s block, in turning that which stands in your way into the very inspiration you need to overcome it.
There’s a certain beautiful irony in writing about artist’s block, in turning that which stands in your way into the very inspiration you need to overcome it.
The episode is creative in numerous other ways as well; the idea of artists using Fire-type Pokémon to aid in their glassblowing, for example, is a very unique sort of thing that couldn’t be done in any other franchise. The Crystal Onix itself is like an urban legend brought to life, and the fact that the creature is made of the very material that Mateo works with draws a greater connection between himself and the Pokémon. Even Tracey’s use of Venonat and Marill (who debuts in this episode) to track the Crystal Onix are creative uses of Pokémon abilities.
All told,the Crystal Onix is a symbolic representation of creativity itself. It’s not something one can own, but it is something that anyone who sees it can appreciate. Searching for it alone when struck with artist’s block can feel impossible, but with a little help and new experiences, you will be able to find it. That’s why I feel “The Crystal Onix” is one ofPokémon’s best episodes, and it surely proves that the series is capable of more depth than it’s often given credit for.
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Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
