Canon: Difference between revisions

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{{samename|move whose Japanese name can be translated as Canon|Round (move)}}
'''Canon''' refers to all official and undeniable information within a general series. Originally a religious term used to refer to which scriptures written "counted" in a religion, the term has expanded to have meaning in fictional series as well.
'''Canon''' refers to all official and undeniable information within a general series. Originally a religious term used to refer to which scriptures written "counted" in a religion, the term has expanded to have meaning in fictional series as well.


In the Pokémon franchise, notably, there are ''several'' canons, sharing several things among them, most notably the existence of {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. Aside from this and the interrelation of the various species of Pokémon (such as by evolution), these worlds can vary from one another in canon and storyline either very little or very greatly.
In the Pokémon franchise there are several canons, usually sharing elements and concepts among them, most notably the existence of {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. Aside from this and the interrelation of the various species of Pokémon (such as by evolution), these worlds can vary from one another in canon and storyline either very little or very greatly.


Canon is different from [[fanon]] in that, while fanon things may be mutually agreed upon by most, and possibly all, fans, they are never officially stated.
Canon is different from [[fanon]] in that, while fanon things may be mutually agreed upon by most, and possibly all, fans, they are never officially stated.
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==List of canons==
==List of canons==
===Games===
===Games===
The canon of the [[Pokémon games]] considers the following:
The canon of the [[core series]] considers the following:
* Events of later games set in the same region supersede events of prior games set in that region. That is to say, the storyline of the [[third version]]s and later [[remake]]s are considered to be the canonical events, where there is conflict between them and earlier versions. For example, canonically, [[Cyrus]] summoned {{p|Dialga}} ''and'' {{p|Palkia}} at the [[Spear Pillar]], and was then warped to the [[Distortion World]] by {{p|Giratina}} before being defeated by the {{player}} (the Platinum storyline), rather than summoning only one of the [[creation trio]] and being defeated by the player at the Spear Pillar before any harm could occur (the Diamond or Pearl storyline).
*Events occurring in the [[core series]] games are the ultimate canon.
* The gender of the player makes no difference in canon except in one special case: {{ga|Red}} is the Trainer who defeated [[Team Rocket]] in Kanto, while it is unknown if {{ga|Leaf}} even exists. Aside from this, unless a future game canonizes the gender of the protagonist of any of the other four regions, either choice is canon as the protagonist.
*[[Player character|Player]] choices such as the hero's gender and [[starter Pokémon]] are generally not standardized within the canon, with the exception of {{ga|Red}} in the Generation I games and their remakes.
* Events occurring in the [[main series]] versions are the ultimate canon, while events occurring in other games are canon unless they conflict with the events in the main series games.
*In the case of conflicts between versions of a game, the later one such as a [[Third version#Release model|third version]] or [[remake]], supersedes. As such, [[Pokémon Crystal Version]] canonically supersedes [[Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions]], while [[Pokémon Platinum Version]] is canon instead of its paired counterparts [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions]]. If equally new versions, such as paired versions, conflict, the canonical one is generally not standardized.
* Anything written in the instruction manuals' introductions that does not conflict with the events of the games is canon.
*Content from [[Pokémon Stadium series|games]] [[My Pokémon Ranch|related]] [[Pokémon Colosseum|to]] the core series is canon unless it conflicts with events in the core series games, while content from unrelated spin-offs is generally non-canon.
*Canonical material via other forms of media, like [[Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer|animated trailers]], manuals or merchandise, may exist depending on each case.


===Anime===
===Anime===
The canon of the [[Pokémon anime]] considers the following:
The canon of the [[Pokémon anime]] considers the following:
* The events of each and every episode are canon, and occur in chronological order with the exception of [[EP052]], which takes place before [[EP049]].
* The events of each and every episode are canon, and occur in chronological order with the exception of [[EP052]], which takes place before [[EP049]]. Also, the special episodes [[Holiday Hi-Jynx]] and [[Snow Way Out!]] take place either before or after [[EP039]] (airing of these and some other episodes was postponed due to [[EP038]] incident).
* All movies are canon, and act the same as [[filler episode]]s, as Ash and his friends do not obtain, evolve, or release any Pokémon, and do not get any Badges or Ribbons. The episodes a movie premieres between in Japan are the episodes that precede and follow it in chronological order, except in the case of ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'', which occurs between [[EP067]] and [[EP068]] (but premiered between [[EP054]] and [[EP055]]) and ''[[M02|The Power of One]]'' which occurs between [[EP105]] and [[EP106]] (but premiered between [[EP104]] and [[EP105]]), among a few others.
* All movies are canon to the TV series (except only one of the two versions of [[M14|the 14th movie]] is canon), and usually act the same as [[Filler episode|"filler" episodes]], as Ash and his friends do not obtain, evolve, or release any Pokémon, and do not get any Badges or Ribbons. Often the episodes a movie premieres between in Japan are the episodes that precede and follow it in chronological order.
* The Japanese version of the anime supersedes any and all dubs if there is conflict between them. If something is said in the English dub that is not mentioned in the original, it may not be truly canon.
* The Japanese version of the anime supersedes any and all dubs if there is conflict between them, unless the dub corrects an obvious error. If something is said in a dub that is not mentioned in the original, it may not be truly canon.


===Manga===
===Manga===
The canon of the various [[Pokémon manga]] considers the following:
The canon of the various [[Pokémon manga]] considers the following:
* Each manga series is a separate canon, except in instances of sequels, such as [[Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪]], which follows from [[Magical Pokémon Journey]].
* Each manga series is a separate canon, except in instances of sequels, such as [[Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪]], which follows from [[Magical Pokémon Journey]].
* [[Pokémon Adventures]] chapters and rounds follow chronologically from one another, rather than having the {{chap2|Ruby & Sapphire}} and {{chap|Emerald}}s occur contemporaneously to the {{chap2|Red, Green & Blue}} and {{chap|Yellow}}s as the storylines of the games they are based on do. The same applies to {{chap2|Diamond & Pearl}} and {{chap|Platinum}}s which do not occur simultaneously with the {{chap|Gold, Silver & Crystal}}.
* [[Pokémon Adventures]] chapters and rounds follow chronologically from one another, rather than having the {{chap2|Ruby & Sapphire}} and {{chap|Emerald}}s occur contemporaneously to the {{chap2|Red, Green, & Blue}} and {{chap|Yellow}}s as the storylines of the games they are based on do. The same applies to {{chap2|Diamond & Pearl}} and {{chap|Platinum}}s which do not occur simultaneously with the {{chap|Gold, Silver & Crystal}}. The exception to this rule is {{chap|HeartGold & SoulSilver}}, which occurs between ''Emerald'' and ''Diamond & Pearl''. Although the rounds of a chapter follow chronologically from one another there are few exceptions to this: for example, ''[[PS152|Buzz Off, Butterfree!]]'' (round 152) takes place simultaneously with ''[[PS117|Slugging It Out With Slugma]]'' (round 117).


==Differences between canons==
==Differences between canons==
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[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[it:Canone]]

Revision as of 20:51, 5 August 2015

Canon refers to all official and undeniable information within a general series. Originally a religious term used to refer to which scriptures written "counted" in a religion, the term has expanded to have meaning in fictional series as well.

In the Pokémon franchise there are several canons, usually sharing elements and concepts among them, most notably the existence of Pokémon. Aside from this and the interrelation of the various species of Pokémon (such as by evolution), these worlds can vary from one another in canon and storyline either very little or very greatly.

Canon is different from fanon in that, while fanon things may be mutually agreed upon by most, and possibly all, fans, they are never officially stated.

List of canons

Games

The canon of the core series considers the following:

Anime

The canon of the Pokémon anime considers the following:

  • The events of each and every episode are canon, and occur in chronological order with the exception of EP052, which takes place before EP049. Also, the special episodes Holiday Hi-Jynx and Snow Way Out! take place either before or after EP039 (airing of these and some other episodes was postponed due to EP038 incident).
  • All movies are canon to the TV series (except only one of the two versions of the 14th movie is canon), and usually act the same as "filler" episodes, as Ash and his friends do not obtain, evolve, or release any Pokémon, and do not get any Badges or Ribbons. Often the episodes a movie premieres between in Japan are the episodes that precede and follow it in chronological order.
  • The Japanese version of the anime supersedes any and all dubs if there is conflict between them, unless the dub corrects an obvious error. If something is said in a dub that is not mentioned in the original, it may not be truly canon.

Manga

The canon of the various Pokémon manga considers the following:

Differences between canons

Characters that are well-known in the Pokémon franchise can have vast differences between the various canons. For example, in the games, Brock is a well-known Gym Leader, the toughest Trainer in the area of Pewter City, and remains as the leader of its Gym between the time of Red/Leaf's journey and Ethan/Kris/Lyra's. In the anime, however, while he is a tough Trainer, his true calling is as a Pokémon Breeder (and later on, a Pokémon Doctor), and he took the mantle of Pewter Gym Leader only because both of his parents left on their own Pokémon journeys, leaving him in the care of the Gym and their rather large family. Differences can go much further than that, with Sabrina being a kind shrine maiden in The Electric Tale of Pikachu, a misguided young woman due to the development of her powers in the anime, and a Team Rocket member in Pokémon Adventures.