History Main / LegendaryCarp

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

* DoubleSubverted by Magikarp. It is a [[JokeCharacter horribly underpowered]] Franchise/{{Pokemon}} (stat-wise, very few are weaker, but those few can all learn better moves) which can do little else but splash around; it's said that it was stronger in the distant past. Also, it can pretty much be found anywhere. Its [[MagikarpPower evolution]], however, is the powerful, dragon-like Gyarados.
** The most direct reference to the legend is in ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap:'' after a Magikarp in the Valley stage endures multiple instances of VideoGameCrueltyPotential, it hops into a waterfall and evolves, bursting back out as a Gyarados and roaring at you -- which makes for a great shot, of course.
** A level 100 Magikarp can be caught in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Platinum]]'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2''. It's AwesomeButImpractical, because at that point [[PermanentlyMissableContent it can't evolve anymore]] (at least until Generation VIII, where using a Rare Candy on a Lv 100 Pokémon with a level-up evolution condition will then evolve).
** There is a gamer on Website/YouTube who created a Magikarp build that could sweep Uber-tier Legendaries, mostly by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye7b3bOQ6lY Baton Passing stat boosts onto it]].

* Referenced in ''VideoGame/SakuraWars: [[VideoGame/SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove So Long, My Love]]'' with the [[MacrossMissileMassacre giant carp missiles]] [[spoiler:[[WeaponizedLandmark controlled by the Statue of Liberty]]]].

** ''VideoGame/Yakuza5'' reveals [[spoiler:Masato Aizawa]] has this as his tattoo when he and Kiryu face each other for the final battle in the game in the Tojo Manor, being the largest and strongest final boss Kiryu fought during his tenure as the main character in the series.

* ''{{VideoGame/Yakuza}}'' Akira Nishikiyama is associated with a koi as a direct reference to the legend. His driving motivation is his ambition to become more and better than his old friend Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima.

** The mortal forms of the Ocean and Moon spirits are a pair of koi who circle each other while looking like [[DragonsUpTheYinYang a yin-yang symbol]]. In the first season finale, after Zhao kills the Moon spirit in order to DePower the Water Tribe, Aang temporarily merges with the vengeful Ocean Spirit using the [[SuperMode Avatar State]], transforming it and Aang into what the fandom have dubbed, "Koizilla", which then proceeds to effortlessly ''annihilate'' the invading Fire Nation.

** The mortal forms of the Ocean and Moon spirits are a pair of koi who circle each other while looking like [[DragonsUpTheYinYang a yin-yang symbol]]. In the first season finale, after Zhao kills the Moon spirit in order to DePower the Water Tribe, Aang temporarily merges with the Ocean Spirit using the [[SuperMode Avatar State]], transforming it and Aang into what the fandom have dubbed, "Koizilla", which then proceeds to effortlessly ''annihilate'' the invading Fire Nation.

** The mortal forms of the Ocean and Moon spirits are a pair of koi who circle each other while looking like [[DragonUpTheYinYang a yin-yang symbol]]. In the first season finale, after Zhao kills the Moon spirit in order to DePower the Water Tribe, Aang temporarily merges with the Ocean Spirit using the [[SuperMode Avatar State]], transforming it and Aang into what the fandom have dubbed, "Koizilla", which then proceeds to effortlessly ''annihilate'' the invading Fire Nation.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Collectible Card Game ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Mythology ]]

[[folder: Radio ]]

[[folder: Tabletop RPG ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' begins with Aang riding a giant koi off the shore of [[{{Wutai}} Kyoshi Island]].
** Another ends with Aang temporarily merging with the Ocean Spirit whose mortal form is that of a koi fish, and powering the vengeful spirit with the [[SuperMode Avatar State]], transforming it and Aang into what the fandom have dubbed, "Koizilla", which then proceeds to effortlessly ''annihilate'' the invading Fire Nation.

[[folder: Real Life ]]

** Another ends with Aang becoming merging with a water spirit that takes the form of a koi fish and powering the vengeful spirit with the [[SuperMode Avatar State]] so it becomes what the fandom have dubbed "Koizilla", which then [[spoiler:utterly savages the invading Fire Nation navy.]]

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', the waters around the Japan-lookalike Wano Country are inhabitated by humongous carps, which can be used to ride the colossal waterfalls surrounding the island. [[spoiler: Much later in the arc, during the climatic battle on Onigashima, we learn that Kaido's fruit, which allows him to transform into a colossal blue Eastern Dragon, is actually the Uo Uo no Mii, Model Seiryu (Fish Fish Fruit,Model: Azure Dragon). Its implied to be related to carps in some way. A flashback in the same chapter shows that Kaido's base used to have a giant gate adorned with a dragon statue, a nod to the Dragon's Gate carps have to cross to become dragons.]]

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', the waters around the Japan-lookalike Wano Country are inhabitated by humongous carps, which can be used to ride the colossal waterfalls surrounding the island. [[spoiler: Much later in the arc, during the climatic battle on Onigashima, we learn that Kaido's fruit, which allows him to transform into a colossal blue Eastern Dragon, is actually the ''Fish Fish'' Fruit, implied to be related to carps. A flashback in the same chapter shows that Kaido's base used to have a giant gate adorned with a dragon statue, a nod to the Dragon's Gate carps have to cross to become dragons.]]

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' once had Giant Carp as a monster.

* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'': Features demonic goldfish as enemies.

See also TheCatfish, a more elusive kind of fish. If you searched for Legendary ''Crap,'' you either want BlatantLies, ToiletHumor, SoBadItsGood, or a page on the DarthWiki/DarthWiki that shall not be named.

** In ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'' the main protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, has a tattoo on his back that shows a carp that has ascended up the waterfall and became a dragon, signifying his rise from the rock bottom into the Arakawa family.

* In Mercer Mayer's [[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/633668.East_of_the_Sun_and_West_of_the_Moon illustrated version]] of "Literature/EastOfTheSunAndWestOfTheMoon", a LegendaryCarp is one of the beasts that assists the heroine on her journey. He gives her a ride across the sea on his back and a [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest fish scale]] that proves useful later.

Carp have a strange tendency to appear unusually powerful in fiction, often being gigantic. Giant Carp are venerated for being colorful and allegedly wise pond dwellers, especially in Japan. Sort of like swimming parrots. They are known for their ability to [[JumpingFish jump many feet into the air]] and their long lifespan, something which is usually forgotten amongst their more domesticated, ill-kept brothers called goldfish. [[http://www.koi-pond-guide.com/koi-fish-meaning.html According to legend]], a sufficently old and powerful carp that is able to climb a waterfall may even become a dragon.

** A level 100 Magikarp can be caught in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Platinum]]'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2''. It's AwesomeButImpractical, because at that point [[PermanentlyMissableContent it can't evolve anymore]].

* In one of the versions of ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', the game's creator accidentally made carp far too powerful: their default bite attack did as much damage as a wolf's and due to a bug in the skill system, they could increase their stats by swimming. Undead carp were even worse: [[FlyingSeafoodSpecial they can walk on land]], so you were either screwed or [[AttackAttackAttack very brave]] if you tried building a fortress near them. Later versions ([[GoodBadBug happily or sadly]]) dialed their power back a great deal. Then aimed attacks were implemented, and fish became dangerous again (''sturgeon'' are the new aquatic dwarf-killers).

* In one of the versions of ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', the game's creator accidentally made carp far too powerful: their default bite attack did as much damage as a wolf's and due to a bug in the skill system, they could increase their stats by swimming, which, being fish, [[CaptainObvious they did all the time]]. Undead carp were even worse: [[FlyingSeafoodSpecial they can walk on land]], so you were either screwed or [[AttackAttackAttack very brave]] if you tried building a fortress near them. Later versions ([[GoodBadBug happily or sadly]]) dialed their power back a great deal. Then aimed attacks were implemented, and fish became dangerous again (''sturgeon'' are the new aquatic dwarf-killers).

* ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'': The treasure carp act as [[MetalSlime Metal Slimes for the game]], fleeing at high speed if they spot Wolf but yielding Treasure Carp Scales if killed, which can be traded for extremely valuable items. [[spoiler:There is also the Great Colored Carp that lives in the waters of the Fountainhead Palace.]]

* ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'': The treasure carp act as [[MetalSlime Metal Slimes for the game]], fleeing at high speed if they spot Wolf but yielding Treasure Carp Scales if killed, which can be traded for extremely valuable items. [[spoiler:There is also the Great Colored Carp that lives in the divine realm.]]

* ''{{VideoGame/Sekiro}}'': The treasure carp act as [[MetalSlime Metal Slimes for the game]], fleeing at high speed if they spot Wolf but yielding Treasure Carp Scales if killed, which can be traded for extremely valuable items. [[spoiler:There is also the Great Colored Carp that lives in the divine realm.]]