Dada is a nicknamed Zarude appearing in the "Secrets of the Jungle". He is Koko's adoptive father.
Biography[]
Ten years prior in Secrets of the Jungle, Zarude and its fellow troop members lived in the Forest of Okoya. The Zarude often terrorized the other Pokémon living in the jungle, attacking them and stealing their food under the pretense it was the law of the Zarude. One day, lured by the sound of crying, Zarude arrived at a riverbank where he came across a lone human infant. Arriving to the heart tree, The troop told him no one is allowed into their territory despite Zarude coming to the Elder in order to speak with him about the child Zarude brought to the troop. Elder Zarude told him what Zarude will do with the child, if Zarude leave the infant behind, the child will not survive without a parent to take care of it.
Despite the protests of his pack, the Zarude instead chose to go into exile by withdrawing from the troop and find the child's parents. However, an attempt to leave him in Milyfa Town led to Al nearly walking in front of a car, forcing Zarude to save him and keep searching. Zarude decided to investigate a nearby lab and upon seeing its abandoned state and a photo of Al with his parents, Zarude realized that the parents are dead or missing and that the baby was now an orphan. Zarude decided to raise Al Molybdenum as his own son and renamed him Koko. This Zarude, who took to wearing a torn piece of pink clothing which is child's blanket, would become known as "Dada" to Koko.
Over the next ten years, Dada and Koko lived in the jungle together. Oblivious to his true nature, Koko believed he was also a Zarude and became frustrated by his apparent inability to use moves. When Dada hesitated to tell Koko the truth, Koko stormed off to discover his true origins. That night, Dada met with Koko, only to discover he befriended a boy named Ash Ketchum. Realizing he was a human and not a Pokémon, Koko demanded Dada to tell him the truth. Dada accepted and led the boys to a nearby abandoned research facility containing a picture of Koko's birth parents. After explaining how he and Koko met, Dada left, telling his son to decide what to do with the information he received.
The next day, Dada and his former troop members came across Dr. Zed attempting to uncover the secret of the Heart Tree's healing powers. Dada and the Alpha Zarude attempted to fight Dr. Zed's robot, but were injured and forced to flee. After regrouping with the others, Dr. Zed began attacking the Heart Tree. Despite Dada's warnings, the other Zarude chose to fight and protect the Heart Tree. With no other options, Dada turned to the jungle Pokémon to help him stop Dr. Zed. The Pokémon initially rejected Dada's request, but accepted after seeing how he desperately he wanted to keep Koko and the forest safe.
Dada and the jungle Pokémon fought off Dr. Zed, but Dada was fatally wounded when he protected Koko from the robot's attack. The other Zarude took Dada to the healing spring, but its restorative properties were weakened when Dr. Zed attacked the Heart Tree earlier. Almost dying, Dada admitted to Koko that he was proud to be his father despite being insecure about his ability to be a parent. Desperate to save his father, Koko managed to successfully use Jungle Healing and save Dada's life.
After Dr. Zed's defeat, the Zarude worked with the jungle Pokémon and the Biotope to restore the damages done to the jungle. When Ash said his farewells to everyone, Koko revealed that he wanted to leave the jungle and go on a journey of his own. Feigning anger, Dada argued with Koko and told him to do whatever he wanted. Before Koko left, Dada and the jungle Pokémon gathered together to say goodbye.
Sometime later, Dada fed the jungle Pokémon the Berries he had grown in his and Koko's garden. He then spotted a Shiny Celebi, the jungle's guardian, confirming to him that peace had returned to the jungle.
Known moves[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Dada Zarude reference Kala from Tarzan, Both of them raised human boys as their sons, and they're both are adoptive parents.
- Despite Dada Zarude being genderless, Dada use a masculine voice and use male pronouns.