Squirtle is one of the original Pokémon species from the Pokémon franchise, first introduced in Pokémon Red and Green in 1996. Short character clips tied to Pokémon names and voices became popular in fan edits, compilations and meme soundboards because they are instantly recognisable even at very short length. Squirtle remains a common pick thanks to its popularity as a starter Pokémon and its strong nostalgia factor for viewers who grew up with early games and the anime.