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Canon: Difference between revisions

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{{samename|{{type2|Normal}} move introduced in [[Generation V]]|Canon (move)}}
{{search|official information in the Pokémon franchise|the move that is called "Canon" in several languages|Round (move)|Round}}
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'''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 continuities 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.
 
The {{pkmn|Trading Card Game}} itself is a canon where Pokémon exist. However, in some TCG-based video games and manga, only Pokémon trading cards exist instead of actual Pokémon.


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]] consists of 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 [[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 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 three regions, either choice is canon as the protagonist.
* Choices made by or for [[player character]]s, such as the hero's gender and [[first partner Pokémon]], are generally not fixed within the canon. For example, when {{ga|Red}} appears in games in which he is not the player character, he uses all three of the fully-evolved Kanto first partner Pokémon as well as {{p|Pikachu}}.
*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.
* Different versions of a game all occur in parallel universes. Both {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}} and {{g|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire}} are canon, but occur in different universes.
*Anything written in the instruction manuals' introductions that do not conflict with the events of the games is canon.
* Content from side series games, such as [[Pokémon Colosseum]] and [[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]], is canon to the core series unless it conflicts with events in the core series games. Content from spin-offs, such as the [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series]], is generally non-canon, outside of being canon to itself.
* Canonical material may also be found in related media, like [[Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer|animated trailers]], manuals, or merchandise.


===Anime===
===Anime===
The canon of the [[Pokémon anime]] considers the following:
The canon of the [[Pokémon anime]] consists of the following:
*The events of each and every episode are canon, and occur in chronological order with exception of [[EP052]], which takes place before [[EP048]].
*The events of each and every episode are canon, and occur in chronological order with the following exceptions:
*All movies are canon, and act the same as [[filler episode]]s, as Ash and 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]]). The newest movie, ''[[M13|Zoroark: Master of Illusions]]'', premiered between [[DP183]] and [[DP184]], but cannot have happened between those episodes, as they were part of the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]].
** [[EP052]] takes place before [[EP049]].
*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 special episodes ''[[Holiday Hi-Jynx]]'' and ''[[Snow Way Out!]]'' (which were originally postponed after [[EP038]] caused seizures in some viewers) take place either directly before or after [[EP039]].
** [[XY024]] originally aired after [[XY050]] due to a long delay. The episode, to avoid confusion, states it takes place in the past.
** [[JN001]] takes place before [[EP001]], barring the final portion of the episode.
** The finals of the [[Masters Eight Tournament]] between {{Ash}} and {{an|Leon}} ([[JN129]]-[[JN132]]) takes place concurrently with [[Project Mew]]'s search for {{an|Mew}} on [[Faraway Island]] ([[JN133]] and [[JN134]]).
** Three unaired episodes ([[AG101 (unaired)|one]] in ''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]'' and [[BW023 (unaired)|two]] [[BW024 (unaired)|in]] ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black & White]]'') are not canon.
 
*All of the movies up to ''[[M19|Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel]]'' are canon to the TV series (although only one of the two versions of [[M14|the fourteenth movie]] is canon). They are typically the equivalent of [[filler episode]]s, as {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} do not obtain, [[Evolution|evolve]], or {{pkmn2|released|release}} any Pokémon, and do not earn any [[Badge]]s or [[Ribbon]]s. Often, a movie takes place chronologically between the episodes between which it premieres in Japan.
**''[[M20|I Choose You!]]'' establishes a new canon that is followed by ''[[M21|The Power of Us]]'' and ''[[M23|Secrets of the Jungle]]''.
*The Japanese version of the anime supersedes any and all [[dub]]s 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 or may not be canon.
*Some of the [[Pikachu short]]s, as well as three special episodes and two animated shorts based on [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]] spin-off games, are not part of main anime's canon.
*[[Pokémon Origins]], [[Pokémon Generations]], [[Pokémon: Twilight Wings]], and [[Pokémon Evolutions]], as well as the [[Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer|Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2]], [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer|Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire]], and [[Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer]]s, are not part of the main anime's canon but are instead their own canons.


===Manga===
===Manga===
The canon of the various [[Pokémon manga]] considers the following:
The canon of the various [[Pokémon manga]] consists of 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 the case 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.
*[[Pokémon Adventures]] arcs and chapters follow chronologically from one another, rather than having the {{MangaArc|Ruby & Sapphire}} and {{MangaArc|Emerald}}s occur contemporaneously to the {{MangaArc|Red, Green & Blue}} and {{MangaArc|Yellow}}s as the storylines of the games they are based on do. The same applies to {{MangaArc|Diamond & Pearl}} and {{MangaArc|Platinum}}s which do not occur simultaneously with the {{MangaArc|Gold, Silver & Crystal}}. The exceptions to this rule are the {{MangaArc|HeartGold & SoulSilver}} and {{MangaArc|Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire}}s, both of which occur between ''Emerald'' and ''Diamond & Pearl''. Although the chapters of an arc follow chronologically from one another there are few exceptions to this. For example, ''[[PS152|Buzz Off, Butterfree!]]'' (chapter 152) takes place simultaneously with ''[[PS117|Slugging It Out With Slugma]]'' (chapter 117).
**[[Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission]] and by extension, [[Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic]], although not strictly related, are canon within Pokémon Adventures, as evidenced by ''[[PS441|The Final Dimensional Duel XI]]''.


==Differences between canons==
==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 {{ga|Red}}/{{ga|Leaf}}'s journey and {{ga|Ethan}}/{{ga|Kris}}/{{ga|Lyra}}'s. In the anime, however, while {{an|Brock|he}} is a tough Trainer, his true calling is as a [[Pokémon Breeder]], 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 [[Brock's siblings|rather large family]]. Differences can go much further than that, with [[Sabrina]] being a kind shrine maiden in [[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]].
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 {{ga|Red}}/{{ga|Leaf}}'s journey and {{ga|Ethan}}/{{ga|Kris}}/{{ga|Lyra}}'s. In the anime, however, while {{an|Brock|he}} is a tough Trainer, his true calling is as a {{tc|Pokémon Breeder}} (and later on, a Pokémon {{tc|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 [[Brock's siblings|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 an outright villainous [[Team Rocket]] member in [[Pokémon Adventures]].


[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[it:Canone]]

Latest revision as of 09:43, 17 April 2024

This article is about the official information in the Pokémon franchise. For the move that is called "Canon" in several languages, see Round.

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 continuities 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.

The Trading Card Game itself is a canon where Pokémon exist. However, in some TCG-based video games and manga, only Pokémon trading cards exist instead of actual Pokémon.

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 consists of the following:

Anime

The canon of the Pokémon anime consists of the following:

Manga

The canon of the various Pokémon manga consists of 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 an outright villainous Team Rocket member in Pokémon Adventures.

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