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The '''canon''' is all official (and thus undeniable) information within the [[Pokémon]] franchise. This includes characters, locations, events, and all aspects of the Pokémon universe.
{{search|official information in the Pokémon franchise|the move that is called "Canon" in several languages|Round (move)|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.


As opposed to other works of fiction, Pokémon canon does not always overlap within the different works. Each universe has its own depiction of the [[Pokémon world]].
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.


As such, there are several different works with individual canons:
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.
; [[Pokémon games|Games]]
: This generally includes only Pokémon RPGs created directly by GameFreak. The others still apply, but are overridden by the aforementioned games.
; [[Pokémon anime|Anime]]
: This combines the original series, Advanced Generation, Diamond and Pearl, and generally the movies and all OVAs. The movies are sometimes considered to be out of continuity with the series, but there have been cross-overs, such as Ash remembering {{p|Lugia}} from the [[The Power of One|second movie]]. There is contention between those who believe the English dub is non-canon and those who do.
; [[Pokémon manga|Manga]]
: Each manga is a completely separate entity from the rest. [[Pokémon Special]] is not in the same universe as the [[Electric Tale of Pikachu]], nor is it in the same universe as Pokémon Zensho, and so on.
; [[Pokémon Trading Card Game|Trading Card Game]]
: Although there is too little information to consider the Trading Card Game as having a complete canon in and of itself, some aspects of the Trading Card Game do not appear in other contexts.


The canons can differ to different degrees. For example, the [[Gym Leader]] [[Misty]] has similar basis but each work gives her a different spin; in the [[anime]], she is very caring and supportive but can be mean at times; she is powerful and flirtatious in the [[Electric Tale of Pikachu]] manga; and in the games, she is considered a tomboy. Although it isn't to say that none of these attributes can coexist, it would be difficult to simplify all the different interpretations into a single, unified mythology.
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.


Within different contexts, one work can influence another. Generally, the starting point for all characters begins with the games and the original [[Ken Sugimori|Sugimori]] game art. For this reason, the games can take precedence when there is a conflict within a single work, or when there is nothing said about a certain topic within the work. Similarly, the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga is very loosely based on the anime, which is in turn loosely based on the games.
==List of canons==
===Games===
The canon of the [[core series]] consists of the following:
* Events occurring in the [[core series]] games are the ultimate canon.
* 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}}.
* 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.
* 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.


In nearly all cases, the original Japanese version of any particular work is canon over any foreign-language translation (including English). Furthermore, any work that is not based in Japan (and thus not under the general direction of [[Satoshi Tajiri]]) is generally considered non-canon ([[Pokémon Live!]], for example).
===Anime===
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 the following exceptions:
** [[EP052]] takes place before [[EP049]].
** 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.


Some aspects are present in all works, but usually only when the scope is very broad. For example, the notion that people called [[Pokémon trainer]]s [[Pokémon battle|battle]] creatures called Pokémon is canon in all works. Canon diverges slightly into different universes when one must specify the ultimate goal for trainers (generally a [[Pokémon Master]], but its definition is open to interpretation within different contexts). Canon may diverge further when it comes to increasingly specific details, such as how exactly a trainer utilizes a [[Poké Ball]] or [[TM]].
*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.


According to Tajiri, the [[Pokémon Special]] manga is the closest to the world he was trying to convey.
===Manga===
The canon of the various [[Pokémon manga]] consists of the following:
*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]] 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]]''.


Almost all kinds of [[shipping]] are considered [[fanon]] - i.e non-canon.
==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 {{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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