Unova

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Unova イッシュ地方
Isshu region
Unova alt.png
Artwork of the Unova region
Introduction Pokémon Black and White
Professor Professor Juniper
First partner Pokémon Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott
Regional Villains Team Plasma
League
Pokémon League
League Location
Pokédex
Pokédex List Unova Pokédex
Anime
Series Best Wishes
Season(s) Pokémon: Black & White (14)
Games
Generation V
Games Black and White
Manga
Adventures Debut {{{manga}}}
In-game map of the Unova region from Generation V

The Unova region (Japanese: イッシュ地方 Isshu-chihō) is a large area of the Pokémon world and the setting of the fifth generation Pokémon games Pokémon Black and White. It is far away from the four other large regions, and the Pokémon which inhabit Unova are diverse and different from those of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. In his director's column, Junichi Masuda suggested that the geographical and social background for Unova draws inspiration from the New York City metropolitan area[1] [2], although the region features rural locations as well as industrial.

Etymology and design concept

Etymology

Unova's Japanese name, イッシュ Isshu, is derived from 一種類 isshurui, meaning "one variety". As explained by game director Masuda, this is to express that even though the region has great diversity in species and race, when seen from a distance they are all the same as living creatures.[3]

Unova likely comes from the Latin unum (one) and nova (new). May also be from united, considering its basis on the largest city in the United States. It also sounds like parts of the phrase United States of America.

Design concept

Although some of Unova is geographically based on New York, the creators of the region took some liberties in regards to the surrounding areas. Clearly, the largest city in Unova, Castelia City, is based on Lower Manhattan, but to the immediate north of Castelia is (as opposed to a continuing metropolis as in real life) a vast desert. Nimbasa City, which is to the north of Castelia City, could be a reference to Broadway, which is located in Manhattan. The division of Unova may also be a reference to the Boroughs of New York City. The Skyarrow Bridge is a reference to the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Brooklyn and Manhattan.

History

Location of Unova on Pokémon world

Mythological events

  • In mythology, Unova was created by twin heroes using a single dragon at an unknown point in the past. However, the brothers started arguing over something each sought in life; the older brother sought truth and the younger brother sought ideals. Their arguments split the single dragon into Reshiram, who sided with the older brother, and Zekrom, who sided with the younger brother. Since they were both born from the same dragon neither could defeat the other and the brothers declared that there was no right side. However, eventually their sons continued the fight and both the dragons started to battle again, ravaging the Unova region with their fire and lightning powers before disappearing.
  • Also at an unknown point in the distant past, a civil war broke out in Unova that cased an intense forest fire. The many Pokémon that lived in the forest and became trapped, though luckily the Musketeer trio came in to save them—Terrakion moved away boulders blocking their escape route, Virizion used its nimble movements to protect Pokémon from looming flames, and Cobalion led the scared Pokémon out of the forest. These Pokémon would later become responsible for ending the war before disappearing into myths.
  • According to Lacunosa Town legend, a long time ago, a large meteor came from the sky containing a terrifying monster. It was said that at night the monster would appear in the town along with the cold winds and take away humans and Pokémon to eat them. The residents of the town surrounded Lacunosa Town in a wall to keep the monster out, and a rule was then set on the town that forbade anyone from leaving at night and encouraged people to stay in their homes. Even though residents no longer believe this old story, they still stay inside of their houses at night to this day.
  • There is a legend which tells of how Thundurus and Tornadus once raced across Unova, tearing up the lands with their respective weather powers, caring not for any settlements or creatures in their path. Landorus, realizing the massive destruction the pair had brought to the region and its inhabitants, is said to have punished them so that they ceased their actions and have never since repeated them for fear of Landorus's wrath.
  • Meloetta once entertained the people of Unova with song and dance; however, when sorrow filled the hearts of people, Meloetta lost this melody as well as its red shoes.

Dated history

  • 3,000 years ago, the Relic items were created.
  • 2,500 years ago, the Relic Castle was constructed.
  • 200 years ago, Village Bridge was constructed after the local river burst its banks, flooding the settlement that stood there previously.
  • ~100 years ago, the warehouses of Nacrene City were constructed.
  • 100 years ago, Klink started appearing in Chargestone Cave.

Contemporary history

In contemporary history, a present containing three starter Pokémon—one each for Cheren, Bianca and Hilda/Hilbert—was sent to Hilda/Hilbert's house in Nuvema Town by Professor Juniper on their mothers' request, so that they could each start their Pokémon journeys through the Unova region, challenging each of Unova's eight gyms in order to collect badges and eventually reach the Pokémon League. During their travels, Hilda/Hilbert met and battled with the members of Team Plasma many times, including their king, N, and encountered the mysterious Shadow Triad, with events coming to a head at Dragonspiral Tower, where N managed to capture one of the members of the Tao trio and invited Hilda/Hilbert to face him after they had beaten the Pokémon League and resurrected the complementary dragon from the Light StoneWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc./Dark StoneWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.. On retrieving the appropriate stone from Nacrene Museum and defeating the Elite Four, Hilda/Hilbert reached the Champion's room, where N was waiting for them, having just defeated the Champion. N then summoned his castle, which rose out of the earth surrounding the Pokémon League; Team Plasma had been working tirelessly for years prior to build the fortress around the Pokémon League right under their nose, overworking the Pokémon gifted to them by Trainers they had emotionally manipulated into doing so for this purpose. N then invites Hilda/Hilbert into the castle to battle him in order to test the strength of their convictions.

On entering the castle, Hilda/Hilbert are ambushed by all of the Seven Sages (minus Ghetsis), who planned to defeat them so that their king's reign would be unopposed. Fortunately, Bianca arrived, bringing all the Gym Leaders of the region that she was able find with her (which includes all of them except for Chili, Cress and Cilan, whom Bianca claimed she could not contact in time). The Gym Leaders then opted to engage the Seven Sages in battle on Hilda/Hilbert's behalf, so that they were able to ascend through the castle and defeat N. Eventually, Hilda/Hilbert reached Team Plasma's King in the throne room, where N summoned his member of the Tao trio, who subsequently came crashing through the farthest wall of the room. The presence of ReshiramWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc./ZekromWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc. then activated the player's dormant stone, which emerged from the bag and transformed into its counterpart, ZekromWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc./ReshiramWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.. The latter then allowed Hilda/Hilbert to attempt to capture them and after doing so, Hilda/Hilbert proceeded to defeat N in the ensuing battle.

N's loss to his opponent caused Ghetsis to storm into the room in rage, insisting that N was a complete failure and a freak and revealing his true motivation for Team Plasma. By seperating all other Pokémon from their Trainers, whilst Team Plasma retained their own, he, as leader of the group (acting through N), would have been left in a position of power from which he could have dominated the world. However, his delusions of grandeur were cut short by his defeat in a final Pokémon battle at the hands of Hilda/Hilbert followed by his arrest.

N, however, was not arrested and subsequently flew from the land on ReshiramWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc./ZekromWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc. in order to do some soul searching in light of Ghetsis's revelations. Whilst he was not seen again in Unova, there is a rumor that someone with a strong resemblance to N was spotted somewhere in a far-off region. Hilda/Hilbert then continued the rest of their journey, managing to also cover eastern Unova, (becoming the first person to successfully operate the Poké Transfer), locate and aid in the arrest of the remaining Seven Sages and eventually defeat the Pokémon League Champion themselves.

Cities, routes, and other locations

Demographics

The Unova region has a total population of 794 including all the towns, cities and areas.

Cities and towns

Map City/Town Population Description
File:Nuvema Town.png Nuvema Town 10 A rural town whose sea breezes give the sense of something coming.
File:Accumula Town.png Accumula Town 30 This town offers great views due to its many hills.
File:Striaton City.png Striaton City 46 Entry stairs built in memory of a former home in a snowier climate.
File:Nacrene City.png Nacrene City 50 A city established in restored storehouses built 100 years ago.
Castelia City.png Castelia City 130 A big city with skyscrapers piercing the clouds.
File:Nimbasa City.png Nimbasa City 239 A bustling city of entertainment, with many theme parks.
File:Driftveil City Gym Outside.png Driftveil City 55 A port town distributing many goods, and a gateway to the Unova region.
File:Mistralton City.png Mistralton City 37 Vegetables are grown by the runway and transported by cargo plane.
File:Icirrus City.png Icirrus City 34 In winter, the city is covered with snow as far as the eye can see.
File:Black Opelucid City.png Opelucid City 52 A convenient city of rapid change, showing no traces of the past.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.

A city that respects history and values old things.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.

File:Unova Pokémon League.png Pokémon League ?? Only the Trainers who have conquered all Pokémon Gyms can challenge here.
File:Lacunosa Town.png Lacunosa Town 16 A town where all honor old customs, living as methodically as clockwork.
File:Undella Town.png Undella Town 12 A summer retreat with a beach full of people who enjoy summer vacations.
Black City and White Forest.png Black City 45 A modern city of ongoing development that draws people to it.
Black City and White Forest.png White Forest 25 A place of nature's bounty, it attracts people who long for nature.
File:Anville Town.png Anville Town 13 A city with a rail yard where trains park for an overhaul.

Landmarks

File:Battle Subway Map.png
Battle Subway map showing various destinations in the Greater Unova region

The five bridges of Unova

Given that Unova is spread across three strips of land divided by two rivers, a number of bridges exists to allow free movement across the region. Each of them has their own characteristic features and are even popular tourist attractions, they are:

Anime-exclusive locations

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Needs descriptions, pictures, more locations
Map of Unova in the anime

Routes

Unlike previous regions, Unova's routes do not follow the same numbering system, with a jump to 301, but are numbered 1-18, paralleling the Kanto region's numbering system and emphasizing Unova's dissociation from the previous four regions.

Geography

Unova is divided by two rivers that lead into an ocean to the south of it. These rivers cannot be surfed on, with the exception of the area around the Village Bridge. It divides Unova into central and eastern peninsulas and a western landmass. These three landmasses are connected by five bridges, the Skyarrow Bridge, the Driftveil Drawbridge, the Tubeline Bridge, the Marvelous Bridge, and the Village Bridge. The eastern part of Unova is further divided by mountains that makes a southeast part and northeast part. The southeastern part is important to Trainers who want to compete in the Pokémon league since two gyms are located there, but the northeastern part is not since there are no gyms there and it mostly has tourism, as evidenced by the amount of people speaking foreign languages. Further away from this bundle of towns is where the Pokémon League is located. Interestingly, the northeastern part is the only place in the region to find Pokémon species foreign to Unova outside of Swarms. The central peninsula of Unova consists of the two largest cities in the Pokémon world, Castelia City and Nimbasa City, as well as Opelucid City further north, all of which contain gyms. Every bridge in Unova connects to the central part of the region from either the east or west. The western side contains medium sized towns and more varied landscapes but it also has three gyms there, making it another destination to visit for any Pokémon Trainer.

Unova is a mixture of urban and rural land. The region features fifteen settlements which reflect the diversity of the region. Many cities have buildings that resemble real-world buildings, such as Striaton City and Castelia City. However, some cities remain the way buildings in the past do. Castelia City, a sprawling metropolis, is the largest city in any known Pokémon region. Nuvema Town, which is inhabited by the Pokémon expert Professor Juniper, is smaller and quieter. Black City is a version-exclusive city found only in Pokémon Black. Unova's landscape also features several forests (one of which, White Forest, is also version-exclusive), a desert, a magnetic cave and areas where the move Dive can be used outside of battle. Although Unova appears in some ways more technologically advanced than the previous regions, this development is not spread across the whole of the region. There will be several aesthetic differences in the region depending on the version, with Pokémon White these changes make the geography more rural looking, while in Pokémon Black these changes are more technological in appearance.

Climate

Main article: Seasons

The climate of Unova, unlike other regions, solely depends on the time of the year.

Unlike previous regions, where climatic change was experienced locally (that is to say, some routes would always feature snow, and some routes would always feature rain), Unova is susceptible to national seasonal change. Spring, summer, autumn and winter each last approximately thirty days, and recur three times each within a year. Each season brings with it different weather patterns, unlocks different events, and presents altered Pokémon availabilities.

Unova League

Main article: Unova League

The Unova League is the regional Pokémon League of the Unova region. After obtaining the eight badges of the region a trainer may battle the Elite Four at the Pokémon League building.

Gym Leaders

Unova League
Generation V Region: Unova
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
VSCilan.png
Cilan
デント Dent
VSChili.png
Chili
ポッド Pod
VSCress.png
Cress
コーン Corn
Striaton City
サンヨウシティ
Sanyou City
Grass Fire Water Trio Badge.png
Trio Badge
{{{size}}}
Lenora
アロエ Aloe
Nacrene City
シッポウシティ
Shippou City
Normal Basic Badge.png
Basic Badge
{{{size}}}
Burgh
アーティ Arti
Castelia City
ヒウンシティ
Hiun City
Bug Insect Badge.png
Insect Badge
{{{size}}}
Elesa
カミツレ Kamiture
Nimbasa City
ライモンシティ
Raimon City
Electric Bolt Badge.png
Bolt Badge
{{{size}}}
Clay
ヤーコン Yacon
Driftveil City
ホドモエシティ
Hodomoe City
Ground Quake Badge.png
Quake Badge
{{{size}}}
Skyla
フウロ Fuuro
Mistralton City
フキヨセシティ
Fukiyose City
Flying Jet Badge.png
Jet Badge
{{{size}}}
Brycen
ハチク Hachiku
Icirrus City
セッカシティ
Sekka City
Ice Freeze Badge.png
Freeze Badge
VSDrayden.png
Drayden
シャガ ShagaWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.
VSIris.png
Iris
アイリス IrisWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.
Opelucid City
ソウリュウシティ
Souryuu City
Dragon Legend Badge.png

Legend Badge

Elite Four

Unova League
Generation V
Member
Japanese
Type
{{{size}}}
Shauntal
シキミ Shikimi
Ghost
{{{size}}}
Grimsley
ギーマ Giima
Dark
{{{size}}}
Caitlin
カトレア Cattleya
Psychic
{{{size}}}
Marshal
レンブ Renbu
Fighting
{{{size}}}
Champion
Alder
アデク Adeku
Various

Trivia

  • Unova is the first main series region to be based on a real-world region outside of Japan.
  • Unova has the fewest routes of any region, only having 18.
    • However, Unova has named routes stretching between settlements, including five bridges and a subway network.
  • Unova is the only region not to have any important locations located on major islands during normal gameplay before the Elite Four.
  • Unova is the only main series game region not to have the Bug Catcher, Beauty, Bird Keeper, or Sailor Trainer classes in it.
  • Unova is currently the only main series region to have more than two Gym Leaders in one Gym at the same time.
    • However, only one of the Striaton Gym Leaders is battled in order to earn the badge.
  • Unova is the only region to have different exterior designs for every Gym.
    • It is also the only region where the Gyms have logos.
  • Unova is the only region without:
  • Unova is the only main series region which does not use a romanization of the Japanese name as its English name, and the only region whose name is different among all languages.
    • Unova is also the only main series region not to have an "O" sound in its Japanese name.
  • Unova is the only main region not to have a Battle Frontier.
    • However, Kanto only has a Battle Frontier in the anime.
  • All English names for the towns and cities in Unova, except Black City, come from different types of cloud or cloud phenomena.
    • Likewise, with the exception of Black City, all the Japanese names of the towns and cities come from traditional patterns.
  • In some UK pre-release material, Unova was referred to as Alleos.

In other languages

Language Name Origin
French Unys From un (one) and uni (united).
German Einall From eins (one) and alles (all). Can be translated as "all-in-one".
Italian Unima From uno (one) and possibly from anima (soul).
Spanish Teselia From tesela, Spanish for tessera, a ceramic mosaic piece. It can be related to the names of the regional locations, which are based on ceramic materials that can be used to make tesserae and form a mosaic.
Korean 하나 Hana From 하나 (one).
Chinese (Mandarin) 合眾
Hé​zhòng​
合眾 means "united", "involving everyone". Literally "to assemble the multitude". Possibly derived from 「合眾為一」 Hézhòng wéi Yī (E pluribus unum). May also be a reference to 合眾國 Hé​zhòngguó​ (United States).


See also

References

  1. Hidden Power of Masuda: Director's Columns
  2. "This new region was inspired by New York's Manhattan. I visited New York when Diamond and Pearl launched and I had the chance to wander around the town. When I walked through the streets, I saw a lot of different people having festivals and community events - Italian people, French people - they're coming from different countries and coexisting in one community", Junichi Masuda, Official Nintendo Magazine Issue 65 pp. 30.
  3. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/irbj/vol1/index2.html
Regions in the Pokémon world
Core series Kanto (Sevii Islands) • JohtoHoenn
Sinnoh (HisuiBattle Zone) • Unova
KalosAlolaGalar (Isle of ArmorCrown Tundra)
PaldeaKitakami
Side series White CityOrre
Anime Orange ArchipelagoDecolore Islands
Spin-off games FioreAlmiaObliviaPokémon IslandMintale Town
Ryme CityPasioRanseiFerrumLental
Mystery Dungeon worldPokéParkTCG Islands
Carmonte IslandTumblecube IslandAeos Island
TCG Southern IslandsPuzzle ContinentHolonParallel Worlds
Sovereign states in
the Pokémon world
Ranger UnionGuyana
Lucario KingdomMirage KingdomRota


Unova
Trio Badge.png Basic Badge.png Insect Badge.png Bolt Badge.png Quake Badge.png Jet Badge.png Freeze Badge.png Legend Badge.png
Basic Badge.png Toxic Badge.png Insect Badge.png Bolt Badge.png Quake Badge.png Jet Badge.png Legend Badge.png Wave Badge.png
Settlements
Nuvema TownAccumula TownStriaton CityNacrene CityCastelia CityNimbasa CityAnville Town
Driftveil CityMistralton CityIcirrus CityOpelucid CityPokémon LeagueLacunosa TownUndella Town
Black CityWhite ForestAspertia CityFloccesy TownVirbank CityLentimas TownHumilau City
Routes
1234567891011121314151617181920212223
Bridges and tunnels
Skyarrow BridgeDriftveil DrawbridgeTubeline BridgeVillage BridgeMarvelous BridgeMarine Tube
Landmarks
DreamyardWellspring CavePinwheel ForestLiberty GardenDesert ResortRelic CastleBattle SubwayLostlorn Forest
Cold StorageMistralton CaveChargestone CaveCelestial TowerTwist MountainDragonspiral TowerMoor of Icirrus
Challenger's CaveVictory Road (BWB2W2) • N's CastleRoyal UnovaGiant ChasmUndella BayAbyssal Ruins
Abundant ShrinePoké Transfer LabP2 LaboratoryEntralinkUnity TowerFloccesy RanchPledge GroveVirbank Complex
Pokéstar StudiosCastelia SewersJoin AvenueCave of BeingPokémon World TournamentReversal MountainPlasma Frigate
Clay TunnelUnderground RuinsStrange HouseRelic PassageSeaside CaveWhite TreehollowBlack Tower
Access to
Nature Preserve
Other
Blueberry AcademyTerarium
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