BATTLE OF THE ELEMENTS

Just this past Halloween, several trick-or-treaters On Staten Island were overjoyed when an adult gave them Pokemon cards instead of the traditional candy handout.
But it's the film that will take center stage this Wednesday. Here's how singer-songwriter Eric Stuart, the voice behind 40% of Pokemon, explains it:
"Anything that is a little creature is a Pokemon," says the 32-year-old musician, who has toured with Ringo Starr and Peter Frampton. "They are based on each element-water,electricity, rock and all that sort of stuff. What you try to do is use them in battle against someone else's Pokemon. Hopefully you chose the right element against their element to win and gain experience. With each level of experience they gain, they will evolve into the next level of that creature."
Stuart uses Squirtle as an example.
"Squirtle starts off as a little squirrel/turtle, and when he evolves he becomes Wartortle, and then when he gets even bigger, he becomes Blastoise. There are three evolutionary stages and that's why there are 150 different ones."
A sequel for the new film is already in the works. Stuart has signed on for the new flick, which begins post-production in January.
"The guys in the band think it's kind of funny because it's totally the opposite of my image on stage." He says.
"A lot of the kids come to my Web site (www.ericstuart.com) and email me and I always try to respond to them. Their parents come to my shows, and when the kids come along, they think it's cool that I rock."
"But," he says with a chuckle, "It's even better that I'm Brock."

Daily News, Sunday, November 7, 1999
By Ed Tahaney