Jump to content

List of Pokémon anime characters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tomboxz (talk | contribs) at 16:49, 3 April 2010 (→‎Rivals). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The following is a list of main and recurring characters that have appeared within the Pokémon anime series. Since the show's inception, only the central protagonist, Ash Ketchum, his main Pokémon, Pikachu, and his principal antagonists - Jessie, James, and Meowth - have regularly appeared in every season. In 2006, with the beginning of the Battle Frontier season, almost all of the original voice cast was replaced in relation to the previous English-production company, 4Kids Entertainment, being dropped by The Pokémon Company. In 2009, TAJ Productions disbanded, and this thus caused DuArt Film and Video to replace them as the production company in charge, starting with DP: Battle Dimension, plus, 4Kids related actors returned to guest starring role status, however, the previous cast chosen by PUSA was still present.

English names are given before the Japanese names in Western order (given name before surname), when possible. All Japanese names, unless otherwise noted, are romanized from katakana.

Current protagonists

Ash Ketchum (サトシ, Satoshi)
Voiced by: Rica Matsumoto (Japanese), Veronica Taylor (4Kids Entertainment, English), Sarah Natochenny (Pokémon International, English), Kayzie Rogers (The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Broadcast, English),
Ash is a 10-year-old fictional character and one of the main protagonists from the Pokémon anime. His dream is to become the greatest Pokémon Master in the world. There are also incarnations of him in a plethora of manga adaptations, of which include The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pocket Monsters Zensho, and Ash & Pikachu. He is loosely based on Red, the protagonist of the games Pokémon Red and Blue. The family name "Ketchum" is a pun on the franchise's former tagline and slogan, "Gotta catch 'em all"! Appears in seasons 1-current. In Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, He owns a Pikachu, a Buizel (who was captured by Dawn and later traded to Ash for his Aipom), a Torterra (evolved from Grotle who evolved from Turtwig), a Staraptor (evolved from Staravia, who evolved from Starly), an Infernape (who evolved from Monferno, who evolved from a Chimchar), a Gible after he set free his Gliscor to an air battle trainer, which was originally captured as a Gligar.

Dawn (ヒカリ, Hikari)
Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese), Emily Bauer (English)
Dawn is a 10-year-old Pokémon trainer and coordinator that travels with Ash Ketchum during Pokémon: Diamond & Pearl. Following in her mother's footsteps as a coordinator, she chooses a Piplup, which she had already befriended at an earlier point, and sets out with the goal of winning the Grand Festival. After meeting Ash and Brock, she becomes rivals with another coordinator, Zoey,[1] as well as her childhood friend, Kenny, and goes on to win the Floaroma Ribbon, the Wallace Cup's Aqua Ribbon, the Celestic Ribbon and the Chocovine Town Ribbon. Before entering her third contest, Dawn was very confident in herself, training with her Pokémon before every contest. However, after entering the Hearthome City Contest, Dawn started to lose confidence after she became the first coordinator to not pass the first round for the contest. Dawn has a tough personality and is commonly seen running after Team Rocket when her Pokémon get abducted, going through various obstacles in her way. She is much like Ash on this side, and will do anything to save the day - or perhaps become a hero. Appears in seasons 10-12 (current). Dawn currently owns a Piplup, a Buneary (who has a crush on Ash's Pikachu), a Pachirisu. Dawn also picked up a Swinub which later evolved to Piloswine and then Mamoswine and also acquired an egg which she won in a battle, which it later hatched out a Cyndaquil. Dawn also acquired a Togekiss from a princess who was identical to her after they switched places and changed clothes, so Dawn's double could enter in a Pokémon contest. Dawn used to own an Ambipom (who evolved from her Aipom, who was currently captures by Ash and later was traded for her Buizel). Like Ash with Pikachu, Dawn always keeps her Piplup out of its Pokéball unless it is during a contest, though this was not the case until the episode "Hot Springing a Leak".
Brock (タケシ, Takeshi)
Voiced by: Yuji Ueda (Japanese), Eric Stuart (4Kids Entertainment, English), Bill Rogers (Pokémon International, English)
Brock is a 16-year old Pokémon Breeder and the former Pewter Gym leader. Brock has dreams of being the world's best Pokémon breeder. He is Ash's longest lasting traveling partner, having only been absent from Season 2. There is a much-used gag in the series where Brock falls in love with a girl and is either pulled away by the ear by Misty or Max or is hit with Croagunk's powerful Poison Jab, temporarily knocking him unconscious. Appears in seasons 1, 3-12 (current), guest stars in season 2. In Diamond and Pearl series, Brock owns a Sudowoodo (evolved from a Bonsly) a Croagunk and an egg he won in a Pokémon look-a-like contest which later hatched out an Happiny.

Recurring

Misty (カスミ, Kasumi)
Voiced by: Mayumi Iizuka (Japanese), Rachael Lillis (4Kids, English), Michele Knotz (Pokémon International, English)
Ash's first traveling friend, who journeys with him throughout the first five seasons. Her dream is to be the world's greatest "Water Pokémon Master," but her means of accomplishing this are never really made clear. She has made several friends and rivals over the course of her journeys and claims she's a better Pokémon trainer than Ash. She is currently the Cerulean City gym leader. Appears in seasons 1-5, guest stars in seasons 7, 8.

Tracey Sketchit (ケンジ, Kenji)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (Japanese), Ed Paul (4Kids, English), Craig Blair (Episode 464: "Home is Where the Start Is.")
One of Ash's traveling friends through Season 2, set in the Orange Islands. He is a Pokémon watcher, and is currently Professor Oak’s assistant.[2] His last name in the English Dub is a pun because he sketches Pokémon. Tracey may also be a pun, based on the word "trace". Appears in season 2, guest stars in seasons 5-12.

May (ハルカ, Haruka)
Voiced by: Kaori Suzuki (Japanese), Veronica Taylor (4Kids, English), Michelle Knotz (Pokémon International, English),
She is the 10-year-old daughter of the Petalburg City Gym Leader, Norman, and sister of Max. She meets Ash Ketchum in Hoenn and starts traveling with him after obtaining her first Pokémon, Torchic. She originally dislikes Pokémon, but soon takes interest in Pokémon Contests. May is referred to as "Princess of Hoenn" according to her alias, revealing that she has some sort of specialty. She has an interest in cute Pokémon, as an indicator of her girliness (which is much more pronunced than in others, like Misty), and her Pokémon each have a cute feature. After entering contests she soon develops rivalries with other contest participants, Drew (her main rival who often assists her and gives helpful advice even while having a tendency to be somewhat insulting), Harley, and Jessie of Team Rocket, and goes on to win many contests. While Ash and Brock choose to travel to Sinnoh, May decides to follow her rivals to Johto instead. However, she meets up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in Sinnoh sometime later to participate in the Wallace Cup. After narrowly losing to Dawn in the Wallace Cup Finals, she leaves the group to continue her journey in Johto. Appears in seasons 6-9, guest stars in season 11-12.

Max (マサト, Masato)
Voiced by: Fushigi Yamada (Japanese), Amy Birnbaum (4Kids, English), Kayzie Rogers (Pokémon International, English)
Max is a young male character (7-year-old) of the Pokémon anime series, featured in the main series between the sixth and ninth seasons. Max appears alongside one of Ash Ketchum's companions, May, as her brother, and joins the group of Ash, May and Pokémon breeder Brock. Max is a budding Pokémon trainer, but is too young to receive a Pokémon.[3] He is a bookworm that has read just about everything written about Pokémon.[2] In Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker, he befriends Jirachi and eventually leaves it. This is an idea from Pokémon 4Ever from when Ash leaves Sam. He remains simply a Pokémon enthusiast until he and May leave Ash and Brock in the final Advanced Generation episode, in which he returns to Hoenn to help take care of the Petalburg Gym. He is again seen as a flashback in DP Battle Dimension episode, "Full Course Tag Battle!". Max has received just two cameos since his departure, triggered by May's brief return for the Wallace Cup arc. He takes on what had once been Misty's role in restraining Brock from pretty women with the ear-pull. Appears in season 6-9, guest star in season 12.

Rivals

Gary Oak (オーキド シゲル, Ōkido Shigeru, Shigeru Okido)
Voiced by: Yūko Kobayashi (Japanese), Jimmy Zoppi (English)
He is Ash's former rival. He is based on the character Blue. Like his counterpart Blue, Gary hails from Pallet Town and is the grandson of renowned Pokémon researcher Professor Oak. At first, Gary was arrogant, always traveling with cheerleaders who only call out his name and constantly taunting Ash's group and calling them losers whenever they met. After a few seasons, he ditched the cheerleaders and has since become more open-minded. As Ash's rival, Gary usually thought of Ash as a poor trainer but eventually came to accept Ash as his equal. Like Ash, Gary collected Gym badges and competed in Pokémon League tournaments; Kanto and Johto. After losing to Ash in the Johto League, he decides to pursue a career in Pokémon research, impeding his rivalry with Ash. After Ash defeats the Battle Frontier and comes back to Pallet Town, he and Ash have a battle with Gary's new Electivire and Ash's Pikachu. Electivire easily beats Pikachu, which inspires Ash to travel to Sinnoh.

Richie (ヒロシ, Hiroshi)
Voiced by: Minami Takayama (Japanese), Tara Jayne (English)
Richie is a traveling Pokémon trainer from Frotomar City. Richie first appears during the Kanto League Saga, where he meets and forms a friendship with Ash Ketchum. As rivals, Richie and Ash are much alike. For example, both trainers own a Pikachu and have caught many of the same Pokémon. After the Kanto League tournament, Richie is ranked top eight of the competition after defeating Ash then losing after his latter victory. Afterward, Ash and Richie part ways but pledge an oath to become Pokémon Masters. Richie re-appears in the Whirl Islands near the beginning of the fifth season, Pokémon: Master Quest, and is one of the protagonists of Pokémon Chronicles.

Paul (シンジ, Shinji)
Voiced by: Kiyotaka Furushima (Japanese), Julián Rebolledo (English)
Paul is a roaming Pokémon trainer from Veilstone City, Sinnoh. As a Pokémon trainer, Paul is well experienced and has traveled across the regional areas of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, much like Ash. During Pokémon: Diamond & Pearl, he begins to travel through Sinnoh, where he meets and develops a rivalry with Ash Ketchum. Paul is usually a silent, serious individual whose severity is often juxtaposed against the light-hearted, ambitious persona of his latter rival, Ash. Because of Ash's compassion toward Pokémon, Paul feels that Ash is a weak trainer and can easily bring on Ash's anger by stating it. When handling Pokémon, Paul is characterized as a stern and captious trainer whose only concern for Pokémon is of their ability to act in battle. As such, Paul always checks his newly captured Pokémon with his Pokédex to learn what attacks they know, releasing them if they don't meet his expectations. He believes that forming a bond only dilutes a Pokémon's true potential and turns them into slackers. The reason behind his competitive behavior of becoming stronger was his resentfulness over his older brother, Reggie (as he once won a battle against every Gym Leader of every region, until he lost one battle, suddenly quit, and instead gained experience as a Pokémon breeder), implying that he wishes to surpass not just any trainer, but his own brother as well. In Japan, he is named after Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series. Paul also has a personallity somewhat similar to that of Shadow the Hedgehog.

Zoey (ノゾミ, Nozomi)
Voiced by: Risa Hayamizu (Japanese), Emily Williams (English)
She is a Pokémon coordinator from Snowpoint City and Dawn's main rival. She is different from most rivals, though, as she often gives out helpful advice, and helps out in certain situations (instead of fighting and taunting Dawn all the time). She first appeared in the episode of "Mounting a Coordinator Assault". The Pokémon she has with her are Glameow, Misdreavus, Shellos, and Finneon. She currently has four ribbons.

Kenny (ケンゴ, Kengo)
Voiced by: Yūko Mita (Japanese), Rhonda Krempa (English)
Kenny is one of Dawn's childhood friends and rival coordinator. He calls her by her nickname, 'Dee Dee'. In Getting the Pre-Contest Titters and Settling a Not-So-Old Score in which he and Dawn entered the Floaroma Pokémon Contest. Both of them made it to the finals but he lost to Dawn after a closely fought battle. He is best friends with Barry.

Barry (ジュン, Jun)
Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Japanese), Jamie McGonnigal (English)
Barry is Ash's newest rival in Sinnoh. He is an admirer of Paul, and uses the same technique. He lost a match in a battle with Ash. He dreams of being the strongest Pokémon trainer in the world. He is best friends with Kenny. He is based on the rival in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

Drew (シュウ, Shū)
Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga (Japanese), Pete Zarustica (4Kids, English), Bill Rogers (Pokémon International, English)
Drew is an experienced Pokémon Coordinator. He is May's first rival. Drew is portrayed as being confident, critical, and popular. He used to taunt May when he first met her because she used to be like him when he first started out. Even though his comments and attitude may have angered May, he still provides a helping hand whenever she needs it. Drew's skills have been a continuing inspiration for May to better herself as a coordinator. He often gives May roses. They give a slight hint that Drew may have developed feelings for May, and the other way around, but Drew doesn't usually express his feelings very strongly.

Harley (ハーリー, Hārī)
Voiced by: Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Japanese), Andrew Rannells (4Kids, English), Billy Regan (Pokémon International, English)
Harley is a Pokémon Coordinator. He is May's toughest rival. When he met May, Harley was annoyed at her. Harley tended to use nicknames for May behind her back. The first was Meno-chan (English equivalent: Miss Tent) after embarrassing her with the Tentacool story. The second was Kamo-chan, referring to the word often used at the end of May's sentences in Japanese that can imply unsureness. Hes usually dressed up as his favourite Pokémon and partner, Cacturne for every episode, but changes his clothes during a the grand festival and dresses in an outfit identical to May's to try and throw her off course so she would be more likely to lose the contest.

Harrison (ハヅキ, Hazuki)
Voiced by:Katsumi Toriumi (Japanese), Wayne Grayson (English)
Harrison is a traveling Pokémon trainer. As a trainer, Harrison began his journey in Littleroot Town, Hoenn, and competed in the Silver Conference. Ash and the gang first met him in "Pop Goes the Sneasel" when he tried to ward off a wild Sneasel that was guarding the sacred Ho-Oh flame. In the latter episode, Harrison captured the Sneasel using his Blaziken. Following the Silver Conference, Ash battled him with a six-on-six full battle in the finals. He defeated Ash and later lost to Jon Dickson, finishing at the top four of the Johto League competition. After the completion Johto League Silver Conference, Harrison convinced Ash to go to the Hoenn Region; which Ash does not know at that moment. Afterwards, Harrison went to Kanto to participate in the Indigo League.

Morrison (マサムネ, Masamune)
Voiced by: Masako Nozawa (Japanese), Sean Schemmel (English)
Morrison is Ash's rival in the Ever Grande Conference. Ash and the gang first met him in "Less is Morrison". He soon becomes friend and rival with Ash. Then, he reappeared in the Conference. Morrison is a very spirited person and likes to challenge other people to almost everything. Due to this, he always challenges Ash to various events such as Pokémon battles or even a food eating contest. Like Ash, he too is determined and never gives up in battle. In the Conference, Morrison was up against Ash in the six-on-six full battle. He then was confused and even depressed to battle his new friend; he refused to fight at first, and fainting his first two Pokémon, but when Ash scolded him that he wanted Morrison to try his best, he started battling with full spirit. The battle eventually came down to both Morrison and Ash having one Pokémon left, and in the end, he was defeated by Ash.

Lyra (コトネ, Kotone)
Voiced by: Eileen Stevens (English)
Lyra is a female trainer from Johto who joins Ash and friends for a couple of episodes (from "An Egg Scramble! to "Tagged Then Bagged!"). The character seems to have a crush on Ash since she admires him for his bravery. Lyra is based on the female player character of the same name in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Khoury (カズナリ, Kazunari)
Voiced by: Christopher Niosi (English)
He is a male trainer from Johto who joins Ash and friends for a couple of episodes (from "An Egg Scramble! to "Tagged Then Bagged!"). He, like Brock, wants to become a breeder someday.

Supporting

Delia Ketchum (ハナコ, Hanako)
Voiced by: Masami Toyoshima (Japanese), Veronica Taylor (4Kids, English), Sarah Natochenny (Pokémon International, English)
She is Ash's mother. Delia is very caring of her son, always reminding him to do his best. She is very talented, having won a beauty pageant and cooked a dish so popular that elite chefs at the Indigo Plateau have asked for its recipe. It is not known who is the father of Ash, but it isn't clear that Ash's parents have separated, although she has contacted him at least once since Ash left. She has a Mr. Mime housekeeper who helps her with chores and is also rather adept in battle. In the Japanese version, the name of Satoshi's mother was, for a long time, unrevealed (with her referring to herself as Satoshi no haha or referred as Mama-san, although the role was credited as Hanako). The name Hanako (and its English counterpart, Delia) was revealed during the second Pocket Monsters movie. She also is constantly reminding Ash to change his underwear.

Nurse Joy (ジョーイ, Jōi)
Voiced by: Ayako Shiraishi (EP02 - EP229, Japanese), Kikuko Inoue (Temp. Replacement from EP491 - EP516, Japanese), Yuriko Yamaguchi (Japanese), Megan Hollingshead (EP02 - EP314, English), Bella Hudson (EP315 - 419, English), Diane Stillwell (MMoMP, English), Michele Knotz (Pokémon International, English)
"Nurse Joy" is the name for every member of an identical family of Pokémon nurses. They mainly work in Pokémon Centers, but they also work in other locations. They are also often accompanied by a Chansey or Blissey. Like Chansey and Blissey, all Nurse Joys are mostly hospitable, especially towards Pokémon. Brock, who claims to be able to tell the Joys just by minor appearance details (different-colored crosses on their hats; hair is slightly shorter; smile is wider; etc.), is infatuated with every Nurse Joy he meets, and often has to be restrained by a traveling companion. Although all of them look completely identical to each other, some do have different personalities, and a few even other occupations besides nursing. There is a Nurse Joy who is a body builder, a contest judge and even one who is scared of water Pokémon. In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl series, there was also a Nurse Joy who is married and has two daughters who both have the name "Joy" at the end of their names and looks exactly like their mother rather than their father.[4] Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga author Toshihiro Ono cited her as one of his favorite characters to draw for the series, stating the reason as "because she's a girl".[5]

Officer Jenny (ジュンサー, Junsā)
Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (Japanese), Megan Hollingshead (Seasons 1-6, English), Jamie Davyous Owens (Seasons 7-8, English), Kayzie Rogers & Maya Rosewood (Season 9, English), Emily Williams (Season 10+, English), Diane Stilwell (MMoMP)
She is a police officer in the Pokémon anime who maintains the law and order in the Pokémon world, and often opposes members of Team Rocket. The Japanese name, junsaa, means "police officer". Officer Jennies are often accompanied by Growlithe or a particular Pokémon that is of importance in a town or a personal preference to that Jenny, such as a Wobbuffet, Spinarak or even a Chatot. There are also many with trademark items to differentiate some, but are just as few as the Joys. The only differences are the symbols on their hats and their uniforms (which are different depending on their region.)

Professors

Professor Samuel Oak (オーキド博士, Ōkido-hakase, Professor Okido)[6]
Voiced by: Unshō Ishizuka (Japanese), Stuart Zagnit (credited as Stan Hart- 4Kids, English) and Jimmy Zoppi (Pokémon International, English)
He is a Pokémon researcher that was once a competitive Trainer,[2] and is generally considered the best in his field. As such, his role in the Pokémon games and anime is that of a mentor to young Pokémon Trainers, a source of information and an occasional plot device. Amongst other things, he is credited with inventing the Pokédex.[2] He also hands out a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle to beginning trainers (depending on which Pokémon the trainer chooses) to start their adventure in the Kanto Region. Although he is an expert on all matters relating to Pokémon, Professor Oak specializes in Pokémon behavioural science. He appears in Pokémon 4Ever as a child who was pulled into the future by Celebi. Additionally, it is apparent after Pokémon 3: The Movie that he knew Delia Ketchum since she was a child; this most likely is the reason he occasionally exhibits parental-type concern (mainly in the form of scolding Ash as he is doing something that is dangerous). He also creates poems centred around Pokémon and is known as the rhyming professor by Dawn.

Professor Elm (ウツギ博士, Utsugi-hakase)
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (Japanese), Nathan Price (English)
He is in charge of giving novice trainers their first Pokémon (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile) in the video games Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. He was a student of Professor Oak and moved to New Bark Town in the region of Johto where he conducts his research on Pokémon breeding. His English name refers to the elm tree, while his Japanese name refers to deutzia. Professor Elm dresses quite casually, with a shirt that has a stripe across it slightly covered by his lab coat. He wears khaki slacks and sometimes wears night slippers or moccasins.
He is stereotypically depicted as a professor that has a tendency to be absent-minded, due to his immersion in his work. His forgetfulness was shown in an episode of the Pokémon anime where Team Rocket visit his laboratory, and the professor carelessly assumes them to be Nurse Joy from the Pokémon Center without looking up, and tells them to take the Pokémon, which they do. When the real Joy arrives, Elm discovers that one of his Pokémon, Totodile, has been stolen. With the help of Officer Jenny and the local Police Department, the Pokémon is recovered from Team Rocket. Professor Elm has also been described as the top student of Professor Oak, and seems to have a desire to surpass Professor Oak's accomplishments. He has a Corsola.

File:ProfessorBirch.png
Professor Birch
Professor Birch (オダマキ博士, Odamaki-hakase)
Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese), Dan Green (English)
He is considered the "Pokémon Professor" in the Hoenn region. Unlike other Pokémon scientists, he is known for his field work, rather than, in his own words, remaining "cooped up in his lab all day." He is an expert in the field of Pokémon habitual distribution. He is also responsible for giving new Pokémon Trainers one of the three Hoenn starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip. These Pokémon are found in Pokémon games Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
In the anime, Professor Birch appears at the start of the Hoenn Saga. When Ash arrives in the Hoenn region, his Pikachu is ill from an overexposure to magnetism, and needs treatment immediately. Birch himself takes Ash and Pikachu back to his lab. Birch gives May her first Pokémon, a Torchic, a Pokédex, and some Poké Balls. He later appears when Ash, May, Brock, and Max return to Littleroot to help save the Starter Pokémon from Team Rocket, and also helps to solve the mystery of Clamperl's evolutions.

Professor Rowan (ナナカマド博士, Nanakamado-hakase)
Voiced by: Kayumi Iemasa (Japanese), Craig Blair (English)
He is the authority on Pokémon in the region of Sinnoh, the setting of the Pokémon video games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Platinum. Professor Rowan's name derives from the rowan tree, continuing the trend of the names of Pokémon professors deriving from the names of trees.
Rowan's laboratory is located in Sandgem Town, making him the first professor in the Pokémon series not to live in the protagonist's town. Specializing in the research of Pokémon evolution, Rowan is an expert on the Pokémon of Sinnoh. He gives the player a Pokédex, and allows him or her and the rival to keep one of the three Sinnoh Starter Pokémon (Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup) each after they are attacked by Starly while searching for a rare Pokémon, having seen a red Gyarados on TV appearing at Lake Verity (a reference to Pokémon Gold and Silver).
Professor Rowan appears in the first episode of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, "Following a Maiden's Voyage!" He meets Dawn and later gives her Piplup. He owns a Starly and a Staraptor. He runs a Pokémon Summer Academy; he is shown to be serious in nature as is exhibited by breaking up Ash and Angie's constant fights and surprising them when they are late arriving to the Summer Academy.

Professor Felina Ivy (ウチキド博士, Uchikido-hakase)
Voiced by: Keiko Han (Japanese), Kayzie Rogers (English)
She is the resident Pokémon professor of the Orange Islands, south of the region of Kanto. Professor Ivy is first introduced in the second season of the Pokémon anime. Ash and his friends, Misty and Brock make their way to Valencia Island and meet the Professor. The unusual Pokéball that Professor Ivy discovered is dubbed the GS Ball.[2] It serves as a plot device that leads Ash to the region of Johto. During the second season, Brock decides to stay with Ivy to study Pokémon breeding, but later returns to Ash's group.[2] She also appears in the animated film Pokémon: The Movie 2000.[2]

Antagonists

Team Rocket

Team Rocket (ロケット団, Roketto-dan, Rocket Gang) is an organization bent on world domination. Headed by Giovanni, their plans to steal and exploit Pokémon for profit and power is a central plot device used throughout the series. According to the anime, the organization only has bases in the Kanto and Johto regions, however that does not stop the show's antagonist trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth from following Ash Ketchum to other areas around the Pokémon world. Often, members of Team Rocket are broken up into pairs in order to perform specific heists—like Jessie and James. In the English translations, the pairs are often given names which nod to iconic figures of the American Old West: Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, and Annie Oakley, as well as Atilla the Hun.

Giovanni (サカキ, Sakaki)
Voiced by: Hirotaka Suzuoki (Seasons 1-8, Japanese), Kenta Miyake (9+, Japanese), Craig Blair (Seasons 9 & 10, English), Ted Lewis (Seasons 1-8, Season 11+, English)
Giovanni is the evil leader of Team Rocket—having inherited his position from his mother—and the Viridian City Gym Leader. He is constantly frustrated by the failures of his operatives Jessie, James and Meowth. Aside from the operations of Team Rocket, he also funded the creation of Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back. Mewtwo eventually escaped from him and he attempted to recapture the Pokémon in Mewtwo Returns—resulting in Mewtwo erasing all memories of himself from Giovanni's mind.
Giovanni plays nearly the same role in the Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen video games. He also appears in the Pokémon Adventures manga. Like in the anime, he organizes Mewtwo's creation. In the FireRed and LeafGreen chapters, he uses Red, Blue, and Green to capture Deoxys and use it to find his son Silver. He also appears in the Pokémon Live! stage musical where he is played by Darren Dunstan. It is stated that he and Delia Ketchum were possibly romantically involved as teenagers (implying that Giovanni may be Ash's biological father), and she never told Ash as she feared he would misunderstand. However, the musical is not considered canon.
Jessie (ムサシ, Musashi), James (コジロウ, Kojirō) and Meowth (ニャース, Nyāsu, Nyarth)

Butch (コサブロウ, Kosaburō) and Cassidy (ヤマト, Yamato)
They are the rivals of Jessie, James, and Meowth; unlike the trio, they are successful Rockets and are looked upon favorably by Giovanni. They even had an ally in a corrupt Officer Jenny mole, who helped Butch and Cassidy cover up the fact that the breeding center they started in their first appearance was a conspiracy to steal others' Pokémon. Their plans are on a larger scale, with the goal of capturing many Pokémon at once. As a running gag, other characters usually mispronounce Butch's name (e.g. Biff, Botch, Box, Bill, Buffy, Butcher, Hutch, etc.); James is usually the one most guilty of this. The duo sometimes recites a less poetic, more arrogant version of the motto used by Jessie James and Meowth. Cassidy is voiced by Megan Hollingshead and Andy Whaley (4Kids), Elizabeth Morinelli (PUSA) in English while Yamato is voiced by Masako Katsuki in Japanese. Eric Stewart (4Kids) and Jimmy Zoppi (PUSA) voices Butch in English while Takehito Koyasu does Kosaburō's Japanese voice.

Team Magma

Team Magma (マグマ団, Maguma-dan, Magma Gang) is one of the two villainous organizations in the Hoenn Region. They are a group of experts in the fields of geology and plate tectonics. Like Team Rocket, some rebels are Pokémon thieves, but Team Magma specializes in the field of Fire and Ground type Pokémon. In Pokémon Ruby, the team acts as the main crime team antagonists.

Maxie (マツブサ, Matsubusa)
Voiced by: Marc Thompson (English)
He is the leader of Team Magma. Maxie wants to wipe out the sea for more land by using a volcano and Groudon. He is more misguided than truly evil, as he believes that his actions will benefit others. Maxie met Ash in the episode "Gaining Groudon", and told him of his dreams. He also told Ash about the Blue Orb, which could control Groudon, and with it in his hands, he could make life better for himself. Suddenly, Pikachu got possessed by the Blue Orb. It controlled Groudon, and a cataclysmic battle began, resulting in Groudon's victory. Afterwards, Maxie thanks Ash, realizing that the land of Hoenn was perfect the way it is. In some strategy guides, he is sometimes referred to as female.

Team Aqua

Team Aqua (アクア団, Akua-dan, Aqua Gang) is one of the two villainous organizations found in Hoenn. They specialize in Water and Dark type Pokémon. Their goal is to raise the level of the all the world oceans with the power of Kyogre.

Archie (アオギリ, Aogiri)
Voiced by: Sean Schemmel
He is the leader of Team Aqua. He becomes possessed by the power of the Red Orb, much like Pikachu and the Blue Orb. His only concern from that point is to raise the sea, even if it meant drowning all of his Team Aqua members.

Team Galactic

Team Galactic (ギンガ団, Ginga-dan, Galaxy Gang), is the crime syndicate in the Sinnoh region. Their goal is to catch the Pokémon that created the world: Dialga of time and Palkia of space, as well as Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie, so that their leader, Cyrus, can destroy the universe and rebuild it in his own image with himself as an absolute god. However, only the Commanders and Boss are aware of this plan.

Cyrus (アカギ, Akagi)
Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (Japanese), Sean Schemmel (English)
He is the leader of Team Galactic. His goal is to "create a new world" in his own image, as himself as the god of that world. In his first appearance, it was shown that he is a rich businessman who has made most of the buildings and libraries throughout Sinnoh. However, Ash and the others do not know that he is also the Team Galactic leader. Since then, he has appeared many times as the Team Galactic leader.

References

  1. ^ "Arrival of a New Rival" Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. Norihiko Sudou (Director). Cartoon Network. Aired on July 21, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g West, Tracy; Noll, Katherine (2006). Pokémon Top 10 Handbook. Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0-439-89047-0. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Pokémon Advanced, Vol. 1 - A Ruin with a View Viz Video., July 2004. ASIN B0001Z35JW.
  4. ^ Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Episode 28 ; Drifloon In The Wind.
  5. ^ "Animerica Interview Toshihiro Ono". VIZ Media. Archived from the original on 2000-05-10. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  6. ^ Professor Oak's first name was revealed in "The Power of One", the main Feature of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Manga volumes
  • Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Electric Pikachu Boogaloo Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, April 5, 2000. ISBN 1-56931-436-5
  • Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Surf’s Up, Pikachu Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, June 2000. ISBN 1-56931-494-2