Paul: Difference between revisions

Paul (Japanese: シンジ Shinji) is a rival of Ash in the anime from Tobari City in Sinnoh. He was first seen at the end of Two Degrees of Separation, though his full introduction was in When Pokémon Worlds Collide. He is voiced by 小島清孝 Kiyotaka Furushima.

Paul always checks new captures with his Pokédex to learn what attacks they know. He strongly dislikes weak Pokémon and has a habit of releasing them if they do not meet up to his high expectations.

Paul feels that Ash is a weak trainer and can easily bring on Ash's anger by stating it. He appears to feel indifference to Brock and Dawn, showing that he didn't even know Dawn's name in DP016. However, Paul has shown respect for some characters, in particular Professor Rowan.

Paul was first revealed to the fandom through a CoroCoro scan that showed him alongside Ash and Dawn. However, his name and role was not revealed until the following week and so he received the fan name "Nugai", coined by Pie as a play on the phrase "new guy". The first scan showed him commanding a Chimchar.

Several similarities have been noted between Paul and another rival, Silver. Their personalities are especially similar. Another interesting similarity is that the pose used in Paul's stock art is the same as the pose in a picture of Silver drawn by Ken Sugimori, down to the angle and position of the hands and feet.

The name Shinji is a reference to Shinji Miyazaki, while the name Paul is a reference to Paul Baron, a staff member at The Pokémon Company as well as the Pearl version, in contrast to Dawn representing the Diamond Version.

Pokémon

This listing is of Paul's Pokémon as of the most recent Japanese episode:

On hand

• Chimchar (Seiyū: 林原めぐみ Megumi Hayashibara)

Chimchar is Paul's Starter Pokémon. In battles against Ash, it lost to Aipom but won against Turtwig. It also played an important role in Paul's first Gym Battle.

Main article: Paul's Chimchar

• Elekid (Seiyū: 三宅健太 Kenta Miyake)

It is unknown when Paul obtained Elekid as it was already a part of his team in his first appearance. Elekid has been used in battle against Hyota and Ash's Pikachu.

Main article: Paul's Elekid

• Ursaring

Paul caught Ursaring in DP006. Paul caught it with the help of his Chimchar and decided it was strong enough to keep.

Main article: Paul's Ursaring

• Murkrow

Murkrow has not been seen yet but it appears with Paul in the opening Together.

Main article: Paul's Murkrow

Released

• Starly ×3 (Seiyū: 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki*)

In DP003, Paul caught three Starly and immediately released two, keeping the one that had learned Aerial Ace. Paul's Starly defeated Ash's Starly in the first battle between Ash and Paul yet he still decided to release it after the battle.

• Stantler (Seiyū: 小西克幸 Katsuyuki Konishi)

While travelling in a forest in DP006, Paul battled a Stantler with his Chimchar and caught it. However, on checking it with his Pokédex he decided it was too weak for his team so he promptly released it.

• Azumarill (Seiyū: 川上とも子 Tomoko Kawakami)

Paul caught Azumarill for his battle with Hyota in DP015, attempting to use the type advantage over the Rock Pokémon. However, Hyota's Geodude had little trouble in defeating the Water Pokémon. After such a loss, Paul gave Azumarill away to a little boy off-screen during DP016.

Main article: Paul's Azumarill

* No official credit was given for this character.

Badges obtained

• Coalbadge

Trivia

His Japanese name, Shinji, can be taken to be 信二, which literally means faithful second (son). He may be named for 宮崎慎二 Shinji Miyazaki, who is the composer of the music of the Pokémon anime. Paul appears to reference Pokémon Pearl as Dawn references Pokémon Diamond. This can also be applied to his Japanese name--the Japanese word for "pearl" is shinju (真珠). Template:Animestub

Paul's Pokémon
On hand:	Electivire	Gyarados	Garchomp	Metagross
At home:	Ursaring	Weavile	Honchkrow	Torterra	Ninjask	Gliscor
	Magmortar	Hariyama	Nidoking	Aggron	Gastrodon	Drapion
	Froslass
Released:	Starly (×3)	Stantler	Chimchar
Given away:	Azumarill