Browse:Anime FAQ
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General
What is "shipping"?
Shipping is a belief that two character have some intimate, or will have some intimate relationship with each other. At one level, this is simply believing there's a boyfriend ↔ girlfriend connection going on. Each different character couple is named using the suffix -ship. People usually try to support their "ship" with various factors from the anime and movies. Ash and Misty is a very popular one.
Who are Satoshi, Kasumi, Takeshi, etc.?
Satoshi is the name of Ash Ketchum in the Japanese version of Pokémon. Similarly, Kasumi and Takeshi are the Japanese names of Misty and Brock, respectively.
For more details, see List of characters in other languages and List of Japanese Pokémon names.
What is in the GS Ball?
The producers have not decided exactly what is in the GS Ball, at least in the anime. Many fans now believe that they never will, as it is an old issue that is never addressed any more.
How old are the characters?
Only Ash and May have ever mentioned their age - both were ten, at the time of EP001 and AG001 respectively.
Will we ever see Samurai, A.J., etc. again?
The anime has few recurring guest characters - Casey, Harrison and Ritchie to name a few. Most guest characters have never been seen again, though as of late,
Who is the girl that Pikachu jumps through in the first opening theme?
The character has never been seen anywhere else in the anime. The reason why the scene exists is because of this line in the lyrics of that Japanese theme: たとえ … あのこのスカートの中 - even under that girl's skirt. Although an official identity does not exist, many fans speculate that she is the Lass character from the Generation I games.
Why does Jigglypuff always follow Ash and co. around?
Nobody really knows why Jigglypuff follows the group around. It's probably because they were the ones that helped her realize her singing talent. But, as we haven't seen Jigglypuff has only appeared twice since the end of the Johto League, can we be absolutely sure she's still following them around?
Is it true that in the Japanese version, the characters swear all the time?
In the Japanese version, though anger and disappointment is vocalised more often, the use of such language is not equivalent to cursing in English - that is to say, it is not regarded as something that would require mouthwashing with soap. Unfortunately, in fansubbing, there is often no alternative but to translate, for example, しまった shimatta as damn, due to the literal translation, What a mistake! not always making sense given the context. The only known point where a character has actually sweared in the Japanese version was Lt. Surge, who said "God damn" in complete English.
Airing in America
We're too far behind Japan! Why doesn't 4Kids release more than 52 episodes a year?
4Kids (and most likely Pokémon USA as well) are only contracted to air 52 episodes within a certain time-span (September to June, a time span of approximately 9 months). The reasoning behind this ordeal is likely because of the length of time needed to dub and edit a particular episode. Apparently they do not have enough time to produce more than 52 episodes in a year, and Kids WB (and in the Fall of 2006, Cartoon Network) find that 52 episodes per year is sufficient to meet their yearly quota of airings without reruns.
Well then, why doesn't Kids' WB! just air the episodes we know have already been dubbed?
- This answer needs shortening.
4Kids has no say in Kids' WB!'s scheduling. Sure, the company may have finished dubbing an episode weeks (or even months, in the case of an episode like "Jump for Joy") before, but they can't *force* Kids' WB! to air the episode right away. Kids' WB! premieres new episodes when they feel it would be best, and neither 4Kids nor anybody else can really change that.
Also note that Kids' WB! neither pays attention to or cares about any other country's airing of Pokémon. Kids' WB! doesn't feel the need to "catch up to Sky One" or "stop being behind Australia" because none of those stations affect the show in the US.
Why does Kids' WB! keep airing nothing but reruns!? They should air new episodes!!
- This answer needs shortening.
This complaint usually appears around the summer, when Kids' WB! will have weeks upon weeks of nothing but reruns. Every year, the show is picked up for 52 episodes, which is enough for one episode every week. However, whenever Kids' WB! airs more than that (like when they air two episodes on a Saturday, or when they'll have a new episode every day for a week), then they're just using up the episodes they can air that year. Pretty soon, the network goes through all 52 episodes, so they're forced to air reruns until new ones are ready.
However, the network will usually hold out on the last few episodes of a season so that it can air them in the weeks leading up to the new season's premiere date.
Banned episodes
Which episodes have been banned?
Banned episodes are episodes that are banned from (re-)airing in the dub version as they are deemed unsuitable for American audiences. They are:
- EP018: Beauty and the Beach (aired once, after heavy editing)
- EP019: Tentacool and Tentacruel (briefly cut from reruns)
- EP023: The Tower of Terror (cut from reruns from September 2001 to )
- EP035: The Legend of Dratini
- EP038: Computer Soldier Porygon
- Holiday Hi-Jynx
- EP250: The Ice Cave
- AG101 (unaired): Shaking Island Battle! Barboach vs. Whiscash (unaired in Japan)
Why were they banned?
The reasons given below may not have been corroborated officially.
- Beauty and the Beach: James wears an inflatable body suit to give him large breasts in order to win a beauty contest.
- Tentacool and Tentacruel: Banned after September 11, as towers are destroyed.
- The Tower of Terror - Banned after September 11 due to the nature of the title. Has begun airing recently, however.
- The Legend of Dratini - Excessive threatening and firing of a gun.
- Computer Soldier Porygon - Strobe effects caused seizures leading to hospitalisation of approximately 700 children, and has since been removed from all media.
- Holiday Hi-Jynx - The large presence of Jynx, a controversial figure in the US.
- The Ice Cave - The large presence of Jynx, as well as links to the SARS epidemic at the time.
- Shaking Island Battle! Barboach vs. Whiscash - Has not aired in Japan, due to the strong earthquakes which occured shortly before the airing of AG100. As of 2006, AG101 has neither aired in Japan, nor dubbed by either 4Kids or Pokémon USA.
How can I see them?
You can only see the ones not banned in Japan if you can get a hold of the Japanese VHS/DVD. "Computer Soldier Porygon" can only be seen illegally by downloading it from the Internet - it has never been re-aired or published in any medium.
Characters
Ash Ketchum
Who is Ash's father?
According to one of the Pokémon scriptwriters, the official answer is 'we don't know yet'.
Why doesn't Ash evolve his Pokémon?
The answer can be broken down into these points:
- The anime is meant to appeal mostly to kids, hence the "cute factor" of the first-stage Pokémon.
- The anime is meant to advertise the games, hence the featuring of the 3 first-stage starters that you choose from at the beginning.
- Ash *does* have some evolved Pokémon eg. Noctowl, Muk, Bayleef, Charizard, (previously) Pidgeotto/Pidgeot
- It delivers the message that stronger isn't always better, it's what's in your heart that counts
...And because the writers say so!
Why does Ash leave all his Pokémon (aside from Pikachu) at home for the Hoenn journey?
The excuse was that he wanted to start over again, but in reality, it was to promote Ruby and Sapphire by showcasing as many R/S Pokémon as possible. Interestingly enough, the biggest uproar over this policy was not due to Ash's Pokémon returning to Oak's ranch- more people were upset when Arbok and Weezing were forced to leave. They survived the mass exodus during Johto (the one that claimed Charizard, Squirtle, etc.), and many thought they would never go away.
It may have been an excuse, but it was done much better than in Johto. It really is rather admirable. Ash loses after going so far in Johto, so he opts for a different approach, to start over in a new land with a new team, to help him learn from his mistakes and grow as a trainer. And it has upset far fewer people, since Ash still has his old Pokémon, he's just not using them in battle during his Hoenn journey.
How come Ash sometimes wins badges even when he doesn't battle the gym leader (or he loses)?
Gym leaders have full authority and a great deal of discretion when it comes to giving out badges. If a trainer meets whatever qualities and/abilties they seek to see, they can give the badge without the trainer winning a battle. Individual gym leaders differ in terms of what they look for and what it would take for them to be willing to give a badge without a battle.
For example, the sixth gym leader Koga in the anime told Misty that her Psyduck's abilties alone made him judge her worthy of a Soul Badge.
The gym leader Erika noted that the only thing she believed Ash lacked was empathy for Pokémon. When Ash displayed this by effectively communicating with Gloom to save its life, she gave him the badge.
In Johto, Pryce gave up the match between Pikachu and his Piloswine before either had beaten the other and gave Ash the badge, because he had seen enough during the battle to know Ash was worthy of it.
Some gym leaders are rather lax when it comes to who they will give badges to, though it's likely they don't last long once a gym inspector comes along. The gym leaders of Cerulean, Daisy in particular, due to having been beaten so much, were willing to give Ash a badge without a battle. Later on they straightened up a bit and Daisy noted that Ash's Pikachu could have won the gym matches easily in their water gym, and thus Ash deserved the badge.
How can Ash's unevolved Pokémon beat evolved Pokémon that have a type advantage?"
It's not just Ash's that have done it, and it's often a combination of several factors:
1. The opponent has an advantage and/or is more evolved, but poorly trained. In the Japanese version of the first movie Misty remarked that this was true of the pirate trainer and his evolved Pokémon that Ash fights in the beginning.
2. Good strategy can make up for weaknesses and lack of power.
3. If the Pokémon is of a lower evolutionary level or is weak to the foe's type, it can still win if it is better trained and more experienced.
4. Some Pokémon are special or have been specially trained to overcome weaknesses. Ash's abnormally powerful Pikachu and AJ's water resistant Sandshrew are among the more famous examples.
5. It is likely that in a few cases the writer's have forgotten about weaknesses and power levels.
Will Ash ever go back for Pigeotto/Primape/Haunter/Butterfree/whatever other Pokémon?
At the moment, we don't know. As they have not been heard of in a long time, many fans believe that the writers have forgotten about them. However, there is always a possibility that one may return.
But didn't Butterfree die after mating?
This is actually a misconception, popularised by a fan's mistranslation of the Japanese version of the episode; nowhere in the episode, however, is this ever stated.
Team Rocket
Why do Jesse, James, and Meowth always go after Pikachu?
Team Rocket is always after Pikachu because, as Meowth stated in the second episode, "its powers exceed its evolutionary level." Ash's Pikachu is much more powerful than the average Pikachu, which appeals to Team Rocket, who are after rare and valuable Pokémon.
How do they pay for their stuff?
As members of Team Rocket, they get regular salaries. They also do odd jobs in order to get money. They are also constantly in debt, so one can assume that they take out loans frequently.
Where does James get all those roses in the early episodes?
It is one of the many typical issues of an anime series that is meant to just be accepted. There is no explanation.
Who is Mondo?
Mondo is a member of Team Rocket who idolizes Jessie and acts as a personal assistant to Jessie, James, and Meowth by bringing them food and machines when they order them. The only time he has appeared was on a CD story only available in Japan.
