Pokémon Anime Fandom

Fandom
Name:	Pokémon
Abbreviation(s):	PKM, "the anime"
Creator:	Takeshi Shudo, Satoshi Tajiri, and Ken Sugimori (writers)
Date(s):	01 April 1997 - present
Medium:	anime (television series and films)
Country of Origin:	Japan
External Links:	Pokémon (anime) at wikipedia Pokémon anime at Bulbapedia
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The Pokémon franchise is perhaps best known for its long-running anime television series, spanning 14 seasons as of 2011. It is based on the video games of the same name and has attracted both fans of the games as well as many who were unfamiliar with them. The anime is divided into various series, with each set in different locations and featuring a different female traveling companion of Ash, the main character. In addition to the six Pokémon series, there are 21 associated films as well as numerous television specials and spin-off material that have received varying levels of fannish attention.

Television Series

Pokémon (Original Series)

The original Pokémon anime aired for five seasons, in Japan from 1997-2002 and the United States from 1998-2003. The series follows the quest of the main character, a Pokémon Trainer named Ash Ketchum (known as Satoshi in Japan), who assumes the role of the playable character (Red) in the video game. Like the game, Ash also has a rival with whom he competes and battles. Ash's first rival is the son Professor Oak, Gary (Shigeru in Japan), based off Blue from the games. However, unlike the game, he also travels with a small group of companions; in the first season two gym leaders of the region, Misty (Kasumi) and Brock (Takeshi), join him on his journey.

Ash's journey begins in Kanto, the same region in which the First Generation games are set. Season Two, however, takes him to the Orange Islands, a place unique to the anime. A character named Tracey Sketchit (Kenji) assumes Brock's role as traveling companion when briefly he parts ways with the others, but by the third season Brock regions Misty and Ash while Tracey stays behind.

The remainder of the series takes the trio to the Johto region where new species of Pokémon are introduced, corresponding to the Second Generation games. At the end of the fifth and final season, Misty and Brock both return home to their duties and Ash decides to journey on to the Hoenn region.

The original series remains the most popular series for fanworks and spawned the three of the most well-known and outspoken Pokémon ships: PokéShipping (Ash x Misty), PalletShipping (Ash x Gary), and RocketShipping (Jessie x James). Other popular pairings based on the series include EgoShipping (Misty x Gary), OrangeShipping (Tracey x Misty), and ApprenticeShipping (Tracey x Professor Oak).

Advanced Generation

The Advanced Generation series spans four seasons, from 2003-2007 (2002-2006 in Japan), the bulk of which takes place in Hoenn, which corresponds to the Third Generation games and introduces still more Pokémon species. In Hoenn, Ash takes on the role of a teacher and mentor for a novice Pokémon trainer named May (Haruka) and she and her brother Max (Masato) accompany Ash. Soon after, Brock rejoins the group, and though Misty does not she meets up with them briefly in Hoenn and is present in Season Nine when the group travels back to Kanto, where Ash becomes champion of the Kanto Battle Frontier and the group parts ways.

Popular pairings based on the Advanced Generation include AdvanceShipping (Ash/May) and ContestShipping (Drew/May).

Diamond and Pearl

In Diamond and Pearl (aired 2006-2010 in Japan), which corresponds to the Fourth Generation games, Ash travels to the new Sinnoh region, where he meets back up with Brock and they meet a new companion named Dawn (Hikari). Ash meets a new rival, Paul (Shinji), and briefly reunites with May and Gary. At the end of the series (Season Thirteen) the group once again parts ways.

Popular pairings based on Diamond and Pearl include PearlShipping (Ash x Dawn), CavalierShipping (Gary x Dawn), IkariShipping (Paul x Dawn), and MorpheusShipping (Ash x Angie).

Best Wishes

Best Wishes!, a new series corresponding to the Fifth Generation games, started airing in late 2010 in Japan and the dubbed version in early 2011, shortly before the Pokémon Black and White were released in English. Ash travels with new characters Iris and Cilan who are gym leaders in the Black and White games.

Popular pairings based on Best Wishes include NegaiShipping (Ash x Iris) and WishfulShipping (Cilan x Iris).

XY

XY, corresponding to the Sixth Generation games, aired from late 2013 to 20 in Japan and the dubbed version from early 2014 to 20, though the first two episodes in English were aired as a sneak peak in the United States on October 19, 2013. Ash travels with new characters named Serena who is helped out by Ash in their childhood, Clemont the gym leader of Lumiose City in the “X&Y” games, and Bonnie who is Clemont’s little sister. A series of side story anime specials focusing on Alain, Mairin and Mega Evolution aired in Japan from April 2014 to October 2015 and in the US in English from late May 2014 to December 2015. The art style in this anime was changed to a more detailed and dramatic style.

Popular pairings based on X&Y include AmourShipping (Ash x Serena) DiodeShipping (Ash x Clemont), MarissonShipping (Alain x Mairin), and MegaBondShipping (Ash x Alain).

Sun & Moon

Sun & Moon, corresponding to the Seventh Generation games, started airing in late 2016 in Japan and the dubbed version in 2017. Unlike previous series, Ash doesn’t travel throughout the Alola region; instead he participates in a Pokémon school in Melemele Island with fellow classmates Lana, Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, and Kiawe. Ash also meets a new rival, Gladion. The art style in this anime is more cartoony and exaggerated, which is a complete contrast to the previous series.

Popular pairings based on Sun & Moon include AureliaShipping (Ash x Lillie), AlohaShipping (Ash x Mallow), ZClassShipping (Ash x Kiawe), BlueAngelShipping (Ash x Lana), ZingZapShipping (Ash x Sophocles), AquariumPlantShipping (Lana x Mallow), JellowShipping (Lillie x Mallow), and TrustedPartnerShipping (Ash x Gladion).

Films

In addition to the TV series, thirteen Pokémon films have been made. Characters from the films occasionally appear in fics, especially characters with whom Ash is 'shipped. For example, Pokémon: The Movie 2000 features Melody (Furūra) and Pokémon Heroes features Bianca (Kanon), as well as Latias, who is 'shipped with Ash as a Pokémon in human form.

Popular pairings based on the Pokémon films include KissShipping (Ash x Melody) and MareShipping (Ash x Bianca).

Shipping

See also: Pokémon#Shipping and List of Pokémon Pairing Names#Animeverse Pairings

Some popular anime ships include:

• AdvanceShipping - Ash x May
• AppealShipping - Dawn x Zoey
• ContestShipping - May x Drew
• ElderShipping - Professor Oak x Delia
• LuckShipping - Brock x Lucy
• NegaiShipping - Ash x Iris
• PalletShipping - Ash x Gary
• PearlShipping - Ash x Dawn
• PokéShipping - Ash x Misty
• RocketShipping - Jessie x James
• WishfulShipping - Cilan x Iris

Fanworks

Fanfiction

• Pokemon MASTER
• The Ash Connection

Fan Theories

• Comatose Ash Theory

Meta

• No no, you don’t get it. Jesse and James are the absolute best there is at their jobs, but they have no idea what their jobs are, ^{Archived version} Team Rocket meat by sindri42, mostly, with some contributions from other tumblr users

Wank and Controversy

• Wikipedia: Pokémon episodes removed from rotation (Electric Soldier Porygon, Jynx, China);
• fandomwank wiki (dubbing wank)

Communities and Fansites

• Bulbapedia An active wiki of Pokémon fandom.
• Pocket Monsters | Pokemon - all media Types on [Ao3]

References

Needs More Fandom: this article needs more fandom/fannish content. Please try to focus on how fans relate or interact with this subject or topic. See What Fanlore is not for more information.