The Characters of Pokémon
By: Ian Samson
  

 

  

What do I think of the Pokemon show? Personally, I think its plain stupid. The stories are poorly written and the animation is the worst Anime has to offer. Still, there is one saving grace for the show, and that is the characters. I love Pokemon’s characters so much that I decided it would be good to write an article on the one good thing about the Pokemon show (in my opinion).

Ash-

Ash, despite how many people dislike him, in my opinion is a very good main character for the show. He acts before he thinks, makes clear what he thinks of everything, and jumps the gun before anyone else, like when he attacked AJ, whom he thought was mistreating his own Pokemon. Of course, he acts before he even thinks, which, while giving him an anti-following on the web and the impression of stupidity, makes him an excellent action character (if only Anime was animated enough to show that action). He's brash, quick on the trigger, and careless, but his character is slowly (slow to the extent of never happening) becoming mature, joining his action with reason.

Misty-

Now, Misty's only purpose in the show is in relation to Ash. She's mean, aggravating, sadistic, and (contrary to her own words in Ash Catches a Pokemon) she's cruel to Pokemon. She was put in simply as Ash's love life, and yet, their characters simply don't mesh. Ash's idiocy doesn't mix in with Misty's wrath; his courage doesn't match with her insults. When they have an episode based on Ash and her relationship, she changes completely, like in The Tower of Terror when she thinks Ash is dead, and that is the type of Misty I like, the caring person she claims to be.

Brock-

Brock is a very badly used character in the cartoon, yet he had so much potential. The first episode in which he's introduced gives the watcher the idea that Brock is an unbeatable gym leader, extremely sensitive, caring, and wise. Unfortunately, in later episodes, he gains a new character trait that seems to replace all of his good ones. The animators probably thought it'd be funnier if they changed him completely, making him a hormone-driven, sex-crazy idiot. Well, it didn't work, and I'm glad they got rid of his new self.

Extras-

I really would include Tracy in this, but, after the show started getting stupid (about when Jigglypuff and Togepi appeared), I stopped watching, and have no knowledge on the budding Poke-artist. On that note, what the hell is Togepi? Its opening episode, Who Gets to Keep Togepi?, was outstanding, but now it doesn't seem to serve any purpose at all, but literally sitting in Misty's lap all day.

Butterfree-

Now, I just HAVE to mention Butterfree. I know, he was only in, like, 6 episodes, but I thought he was one of those really well-made characters. I'm making a site partially devoted to him, so I'll give you a quick snippet from there: "The beginning of the Pokemon series was a serious time when the characters were still being developed. This episode [Ash Catches a Pokemon] was the first real character development episode. It worked a lot on Ash and Misty's relationship and characters and Team Rocket's motives, but mostly, it did a lot for all Pokemon. Not only did Caterpie showcase Ash as a trainer who cared about his Pokemon, but Caterpie, in his nightly conversation with Pikachu, showed for the first time that Pokemon weren't just mindless beasts, but creatures with a heart and soul, with ambitions and dreams. .... Butterfree's Finale has been described by many Pokemon fans as corny or mushy. Of course, most Pokemon fans pronounce Pokemon as Poke-e-man, think Pikachu is the bee's-knees, and drink water from toilets. Well, most of them anyway. The Finale turned a character who was used to develop Ash's character into one of the best developed character in the show. Here is where Butterfree turned from a foil for others into a character of his own. Here is where Butterfree became a Pokemon Hero. He saved the day from one of Team Rocket's best-laid plans (who can destroy a helicopter?), got the girl (not even Ash, Brock, or James had done this!), and flew off into the sunset." Bye Bye, Butterfree. I know I'll miss you.

Team Rocket

Next up are Team Rocket. They're... well, they have... Okay, okay, lets start with the bad news, then the good news. Bad news: Everyone who's seen a Team Rocket disguise knows ol' Jesse and James cross-dress. But, you have to remember that this is a cartoon and in small amounts, that type of action can be considered funny. Getting a man into a dress or the other way around has been happening since the days of I Love Lucy, and has happened in tons of cartoons since that age. Jesse and James are the show's comic relief, and this is just one of their little running gags. Of course, one has to think that the duo do delibrately too much. Next on the bad list are the episodes that try to develop Jesse and James; they always turn out terribly. The episode when Koffing and Ekans (remember them?) evolved for no reason? Ugh. The episode James met Jessibell, introduced the inviso-suit, and showed James's parents? Embarrassing. The whole Bike-gang origin? All wet. Alright, now the good news: The two are undoubtadly the best characters on the show. Even Robert Ebert said that, in the Pokemon movie, Team Rocket always had the best lines, and they do. Their antics, for the most part, are the only comedy in the show that I actually found myself chuckling. And their motto is unbelievably catchy. Team Rocket kicks butt! Also, they have a wonderful mascot in Meowth. The episodes that focus on our talking kitty are, in contrast to Jesse and James, extremely good. Hollywood Meowth? Priceless. Meowth being Paras's Pokemon trainer? Very cute. Meowth has the most unique of characters and of voices, and I have no complaints on Meowth at all. May Team Rocket continue to be roll on.

"THE BOSS"-

Giovanni, the rarely seen son of a gun that leads the true dark side to the Pokemon universe, is almost flawless. Always hidden in the shadows with a voice that echos over the speakers like a herd of Tauros, Giovanni could, and should be a full-out villain by himself in one of the Pokemon movies. Of course, he's also the least developed of characters, but what is given is strong enough for the perfect villain to the Pokemon world. He's in charge of the only empire in the Pokemon world. He has this cool kitty, and the strongest and rarest Pokemon on the planet at his disposal. He has Team Rocket. He also wears this spiffy reddish business-guy suit. The one thing I abhor about this guy is that the animators and writers never use him! Maybe Ash isn't the right main character to challenge the real Viridian Gym Leader. Now, I really do have one complaint, and its in the form of the episode: The Evolution Solution. Giovanni in the sunlight and in a bathing suit?!? Its like seeing Andross in a dancing contest, Link in a tutu, or some other ridiculous joke! Other than that, this is the one guy, the one human with power greater than any Pokemon (except the Mews).

Pikachu-

Finally, I thought it appropriate to end with my opinions on the show's mascot character. Here we have the beloved, the hated, the cuddly, the kickable, the one, the only... Pikachu! Look, he even gets a grand introduction for my article, like he does for everything. The cute little rat has but to say, "Pika!" to make a person smile or barf. People love him. Why? He's the cutest Pokemon in the Pokemon World, that's why! Don't deny it, the animators took very careful work with the little yellow puffball that make Eevee, Butterfree, and Mew bow their heads in shame. Ash loves him, Misty loves him, Team Rocket wants him, and he's cute! Also, people hate him? Why? He steals the spotlight and gets a standing ovation for doing next to nothing but say his name all the time (or giving people seizures)! Parents waste their bank accounts for Pikagames, Pikaschool-supplies, Pikadolls, and PikaPoop.

And his character? Well, it depends on how you look at it. For the most part, he does nothing, and acts like he has no character. Then, all of a sudden, you get an episode where Pikachu battles, like The Electric Shock Showdown or Abra and the Psychic Pokemon, and you see where Pikachu's true strength lies, in his loyalty, in his courage, and in his friendhship with Ash. Of course, I still think Butterfree would have been a better friend for Ash, but that's just my opinion. Now, the mere fact is that Pikachu IS Pokemon. You can't have one without the other, no matter how much you try. There's no reason or logic in my previous assessment, but, whether you like it or not, that's the plain Pikatruth.

All in all, Pokemon has great characters, but they need new writers to put these characters into some real juice. Not messes like Holy Matrimony!, The Kangaskhan Kid, or Hyno's Naptime. We need more episodes like Bye Bye Butterfree, The Ultimate Test, Breeding Center Secret, and Battle of the Badge! The show has already inspired many heart-warming events (forget that seizure thing for a sec) like what the Poke-Mom mentioned, and how its earlier episodes always ended in a moral. Whatever happened to that? If the writers can think up some better ideas, not only will it get me watching again, but it might even lift Pokemon from being a Japanese fad to a true pop-culture symbol, where Star Trek and Star Wars are currently treading. Here's to hoping for that..