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Pokémon Black and White
| Video game fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pocket Monsters Black and White |
| Japanese name | ポケットモンスター ブラック ポケットモンスター ホワイト ポケットモンスター ブラック2 ポケットモンスター ホワイト2 |
| Abbreviation(s) | BW, B2W2 |
| Developer(s) | Game Freak; Nintendo |
| Release date | September 18, 2010 - October 12, 2013 (Japan) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Genre(s) | Role-Playing Game |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
Pokémon Black and White (commonly abbreviated as BW) are the sequels to the fourth games in the Pokémon franchise Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. Released initially as Pocket Monsters Black and White for the Nintendo DS on September 18, 2010 in Japan, it later received two updated versions, the first in the series Pocket Monsters Black 2 and White 2, on June 23, 2012. Black and White would release in America on March 6, 2011, with Black 2 and White 2 following on October 7, 2012.
Initially considered a black sheep in the series when it initially released, BW has since become a cult favorite with fans.
Plot Overview
The player controls a protagonist that you name, (a young boy named Hilbert or a girl named Hilda,) and explores a fictional interpretation of New York City called Unova. You start out with either Snivy, Tepig or Oshawott, given to you by the region's Pokémon Professor. Your neighbors Bianca and Cheren act as your rivals and receive the other Pokémon you did not choose.
The games feature eight gym leaders, which must be defeated in Pokémon battles before you reach the Elite Four, considered the four strongest trainers in the region aside from the Pokémon Champion, Alder. Along the way, you learn of the villainous Team Plasma and their leader, N. Unlike previous villains in the series, N hardly acts the part, playing more of a rival role and being very trusting towards the player. In the end, it's revealed that Ghetsis, N's father, has been manipulating his son since he was a toddler into being morally pure, thus the legendary Pokémon would choose him. With N's help, the player defeats Ghetsis and Team Plasma.
Black 2 and White 2 take place two years after the events of BW. The player controls a protagonist that you name, (a young boy named Nate or a girl named Rosa,) and explores the region once more, but with some different gym leaders and a different champion, now being former gym leader Iris instead of Alder. Since N abandoned Team Plasma at the end of BW, the new Team Plasma instead has Colress as its second boss, with Ghetsis playing a lesser role. Like before, the player defeats Colress and Neo Team Plasma with the help of their rival and neighbor, Hugh.
Characters
Who's considered the most popular character to come from Black and White has changed over time. When the games initially released, N was far and away a fan favorite. In Japan, Emmet and Ingo, two identical twins who operated the Battle Subway in Nimbasa City, were popular along with N. They have their own subfandom, often referred to as Pokémon Submas Fandom. All three had bishounen-esque appeal, though were popular with a large amount of fans. Emmet and Ingo are breakout characters in the fandom, serving only a small role in BW and B2W2.
In 2022's Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which takes place in 19th-century Sinnoh, Ingo made a surprise appearance as someone who'd fallen in time and gained amnesia, unable to remember his brother Emmet or who he'd been in Unova. Angst-fic appeared almost immediately in fan circles regarding his amnesia and separation from his twin being common, breathing new life to the Pokémon Submas Fandom and making it very popular in the west for the first time.
Gym leaders Cilan and Iris are also popular due to their roles as Ash Ketchum's traveling companions in the anime series.
Another popular character is Grimsley, one of the Elite Four. He's often shipped with many of the other characters, including every other Elite Four. Rosa may also be considered the most popular protagonist to come from either of the four games. Other notable characters include the remaining gym leaders and Elite Four: Chili, Cress, Lenora, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Brycen, Drayden, Roxie, Marlon, Shauntal, Marshal and Caitlin.
Relationships
Gen ships, such as The Unova Five (Hilbert, Hilda, Bianca, Cheren and N), the Nuvema Group (which doesn't include N), Emmet & Ingo and Ghetsis & N are popular.
Romantic ships, such as Hilbert/N (IsshuShipping), Hilda/N (FerrisWheelShipping), Hilda/Hilbert (ChessShipping), Bianca/Cheren (DualRivalShipping) and Emmet/Ingo (BlankShipping) are all popular. Common, though not as popular, ships include Nate/Rosa (VisorShipping), Colress/Ghetsis (AntigravityShipping), Elesa/Skyla (AirplaneShipping) and Ghetsis/N (HarmoniaShipping), among many others shipped by fans. For more pairings, see each characters' individual pages.
BW Fandom
This article or section needs expansion. |
Popular Tropes & Fanon
TBA
Subjects of Fannish Interest & Meta
TBA
Example/Notable Fanac
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fan Communities/Fan Events
- Twitch Plays Pokémon, an online game and social experiment in which an emulation of the Pokémon console games is streamed on Twitch and collectively controlled by the viewers of the stream via commands entered into the chat in 2014 and following years.
Fan Blogs
Fan Fic
Fan Art
- 仲良くしようよ！ by 邪仁寿, Archived version (2013), Rosa trying to make Ghetsis and Colress get along.
- BW2 by mikkusushi, Archived version (2012), Nate, Rosa and Hugh.
General Fanworks
Wikis
- ポケモンBW on PixivEncyclopedia
- ポケモンBW2 on PixivEncyclopedia
- Pokémon Black and White Versions on Bulbapedia
- Pokémon Black and White Versions 2 on Bulbapedia