Giovanni

Giovanni サカキ Sakaki
Art from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Age	Mid-40s (est. by Pokeani)
Gender	Male
Hometown	Viridian City
Region	Kanto
Relatives	Silver (son, Pokémon Special) Madame Boss (mother, anime)
Class	Gym Leader, Boss
Generation	I, II, III
Games	Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, Stadium, Stadium 2
Gym	Viridian Gym
Type	Ground
Badge	Earth Badge
Team	Team Rocket
Rank	Boss
First episode	Battle Aboard the St. Anne
English voice actor	Ted Lewis (EP015-AG132) (DP080-present) Craig Blair (DP002-DP043)
Japanese voice actor	Hirotaka Suzuoki (d. 2006) Kenta Miyake

Giovanni (Japanese: サカキ Sakaki) is the head of Team Rocket, and formerly served as the Gym Leader of Viridian City's Gym, known officially as the Viridian Gym. He handed out the Earth Badge to Trainers who defeated him. As a Gym Leader, he specialized in Ground-type Pokémon, but his master plan includes collecting rare Pokémon of all types.

Contents 1 In the anime 1.1 Pokémon 1.1.1 Rejected 1.1.2 Escaped 2 In the games 2.1 Giovanni's kid? 2.2 Fame Checker 2.3 Pokémon 2.3.1 Pokémon Red, Green and Blue 2.3.1.1 First battle 2.3.1.2 Second battle 2.3.1.3 Gym battle 2.3.2 Pokémon Yellow 2.3.2.1 First battle 2.3.2.2 Second battle 2.3.2.3 Gym battle 2.3.3 Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen 2.3.3.1 First battle 2.3.3.2 Second battle 2.3.3.3 Gym battle 2.3.4 Pokémon Stadium 2.3.4.1 Round 1 2.3.4.2 Round 2 2.4 Quotes 2.4.1 Pokémon Red and Blue Versions 2.4.2 Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions 3 In the Pokémon Special manga 3.1 Pokémon 4 In the TCG 4.1 Artwork 4.2 Pokémon 5 Trivia 5.1 Names 6 External links

In the anime

Very little is known about his past in any timeline; he is generally shrouded in mystery. However, certain things are known:

His mother was the head of Team Rocket before him. However, this is presumed to be canon in the anime timeline only, as the games have no precedent for this.

While Giovanni very rarely takes the role of antagonist, his agents often have him in mind during missions due to the chance of power, be it through promotion or other means. This gave him a unique series of appearances, mainly during the Hoenn saga, where Meowth often saw how the Pokémon in each episode could be used to help Giovanni and win the trio promotions. These boss fantasies never show his actual personality and occasionally even show Giovanni in chibi form.

The only time Giovanni has been seen in battle was in The Battle for the Badge. He used powerful Pokémon against Gary but later left the Gym to deal with an unexplained emergency, leaving Ash to battle Jessie. By the time Ash returned from Hoenn, Agatha was in charge of the Gym until a new leader could be found. Giovanni's reasons for leaving it have not been explained, though it is speculated to be linked with the events of the aforementioned episode.

Giovanni is one of the three most prominent figures speculated to be Ash Ketchum's father, alongside Professor Oak and Silver. There is no evidence to support this, though Diamondshippers see Giovanni's avoidance of Ash mentioned above as suspicious. In Pokémon Live!, it was claimed that Giovanni and Delia had shared a relationship as teenagers, though it is also stated that someone else is Ash's father in that particular canon.

His Japanese voice actor was 鈴置洋孝 Hirotaka Suzuoki until his death, after which he is voiced by 三宅健太 Kenta Miyake. In the English dub he is voiced by Ted Lewis in the 4Kids dub and in the PUSA dub as of The Thief That Keeps On Thieving!. In Two Degrees Of Separation! and Malice In Wonderland!, he was voiced by Craig Blair.

Pokémon

This listing is of Giovanni's known Pokémon in the Pokémon anime.

Persian	Machamp	Kingler
Rhydon	Golem	Cloyster

Rejected

Togepi

Yanma

• In The Battle For The Badge, Jessie and James gave Togepi to Giovanni, but since nobody knew what Togepi's powers were at the time, he shouted at them for wasting his time.
• In The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!, Jessie sent a Yanma to Giovanni, who analyzed it, realized he had far too many Yanma, and returned it to her.

Escaped

Mewtwo

In the games

Giovanni is the one Gym Leader without a title, and is not widely known, preferring to keep to the shadows.

Giovanni constantly has his thugs looking for strong Pokémon.

Giovanni had several hideouts, the most prominent ones underneath Celadon City's Rocket Game Corner, and the Viridian Gym itself.

Giovanni apparently has a child who has red hair. Many people believe this refers to the red-haired rival from Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions and Pokémon Crystal Version, also known as Silver, who values power and strength and despises weakness, including Pokémon and Team Rocket, who he considers weak.

In addition to the Earth Badge, Giovanni gives out TM27 (Fissure), in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Versions. In FireRed and LeafGreen, he gives out TM26 (Earthquake).

In the game timeline, after being defeated by the protagonist in the Generation I games, he mysteriously disappears, apparently seeking to train and start anew after being shown how his methods failed him against the player; Team Rocket has been waiting for his return ever since.

Giovanni's kid?

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions, on the Chrono Island Rocket Warehouse, a scientist named Gideon (Japanese: スミオ Sumio) says:

Japanese release	English translation	English release
なんだよ　また　きたのかよ	What, you again?	What, you again?
まさか　おまえ… サカキとか　いうやつの こども　なんじゃ　ないのか？	You... you're not the kid of the guy called Sakaki or something, are you?	You... you're not Giovanni's kid, are you?
…いや　サカキの　こどもは かみのけが　あかい　らしいから おまえ　とは　ちがうか	...No, they say Sakaki's kid's hair is red, so did I mistake you for him?	No, that can't be right! Giovanni's kid has red hair.
かんけい　ないなら　ほっとけよ！	If you have nothing to do with us then leave me alone!	You don't have any reasons for bugging me. Leave me alone!

A portion of this conversation is recorded in the Fame Checker under the entry for Giovanni. This text is notably gender-neutral, and is the same whether Red or Leaf is the player.

When this text was singled out and reported on Pokémon Forever, it provoked significant speculation in the community on the identity of Giovanni's child.^[1] Silver was singled out as a strong candidate. Silver is Giovanni's son in Pokémon Special, and Giovanni finding him after the Mask of Ice kidnapped him was his primary motivation in the FireRed and LeafGreen storyline.

There was some initial debate over the exact meaning of red hair, as characters like Misty are known as redheads despite having more orange-colored hair, and characters like Lance are portrayed as having red hair as well.

Fame Checker

This is a list of the Fame Checker's information on Giovanni in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions.

Rocket HQ - Giovanni

What does this person do?

Team Rocket captures Pokémon from around the world. They're important tools for keeping our criminal enterprise going. I am the leader, Giovanni!

Silph Co. - Scientist

Favorite kind of Pokémon?

Those thugs that took over our building... Their Boss said he was looking for strong Pokémon.

Silph Co. - Scientist

What is this person like?

Team Rocket's Boss is terribly cruel! To him, Pokémon are just tools to be used.

Viridian Gym - Giovanni

What does this person do?

Welcome to my hideout! It shall be so until I can restore Team Rocket to its former glory.

Viridian Gym - Caretaker

What does this person do?

Blow me away! Giovanni was the Gym Leader of Viridian?

Rocket Warehouse - Team Rocket Scientist Gideon

Family and Friends?

You... You're not Giovanni's kid, are you? No, that can't be right. Giovanni's kid has red hair.

Pokémon

This listing is of Giovanni's Pokémon in the video games he has appeared in.

Pokémon Red, Green and Blue

First battle

????		Boss Giovanni Red, Green, and Blue - Rocket Hideout (Celadon City)
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Onix Lv.25		Rock	Ground		Rhyhorn Lv.24		Ground	Rock		Kangaskhan Lv.29		Normal
Moves					Moves					Moves
Screech		Bind			Horn Attack		--			Comet Punch		Rage
Normal		Normal			Normal					Normal		Normal
Rock Throw		Rage			--		--			Bite		--
Rock		Normal								Normal

Second battle

????		Boss Giovanni Red, Green, and Blue - Silph Co.
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidorino Lv.37		Poison			Rhyhorn Lv.37		Ground	Rock		Kangaskhan Lv.35		Normal
Moves					Moves					Moves
Horn Attack		Poison Sting			Horn Attack		Stomp			Comet Punch		Rage
Normal		Poison			Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal
Focus Energy		Fury Attack			Tail Whip		--			Bite		Tail Whip
Normal		Normal			Normal					Normal		Normal
Pokémon		Information
Nidoqueen Lv.41		Poison	Ground
Moves
Scratch		Tail Whip
Normal		Normal
Poison Sting		Body Slam
Poison		Normal

Gym battle

????		Leader Giovanni Red, Green, and Blue - Viridian Gym
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Rhyhorn Lv.45		Ground	Rock		Dugtrio Lv.42		Ground			Nidoqueen Lv.44		Poison	Ground
Moves					Moves					Moves
Stomp		Tail Whip			Growl		Dig			Scratch		Tail Whip
Normal		Normal			Normal		Ground			Normal		Normal
Fury Attack		Horn Attack			Sand-Attack		Slash			Poison Sting		Body Slam
Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal			Poison		Normal
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidoking Lv.45		Poison	Ground		Rhydon Lv.50		Ground	Rock
Moves					Moves
Tackle		Horn Attack			Stomp		Tail Whip
Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal
Poison Sting		Thrash			Fissure		Horn Drill
Poison		Normal			Ground		Normal

Pokémon Yellow

First battle

????		Boss Giovanni Yellow - Rocket Hideout (Celadon City)
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Onix Lv.25		Rock	Ground		Rhyhorn Lv.24		Ground	Rock		Persian Lv.29		Normal
Moves					Moves					Moves
Screech		Bind			Horn Attack		--			Scratch		Growl
Normal		Normal			Normal					Normal		Normal
Rock Throw		Rage			--		--			Bite		Pay Day
Rock		Normal								Normal		Normal

Second battle

????		Boss Giovanni Yellow - Silph Co.
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidorino Lv.37		Poison			Rhyhorn Lv.37		Ground	Rock		Persian Lv.35		Normal
Moves					Moves					Moves
Double Kick		Poison Sting			Horn Attack		Stomp			Scratch		Growl
Fighting		Poison			Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal
Focus Energy		Fury Attack			Tail Whip		--			Bite		Pay Day
Normal		Normal			Normal					Normal		Normal
Pokémon		Information
Nidoqueen Lv.41		Poison	Ground
Moves
Double Kick		Tail Whip
Fighting		Normal
Poison Sting		Body Slam
Poison		Normal

Gym battle

????		Leader Giovanni Yellow - Viridian Gym
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Dugtrio Lv.50		Ground			Persian Lv.53		Normal			Nidoqueen Lv.53		Poison	Ground
Moves					Moves					Moves
Sand-Attack		Dig			Screech		Slash			Tail Whip		Earthquake
Normal		Ground			Normal		Normal			Normal		Ground
Fissure		Earthquake			Fury Swipes		Double Team			Double Kick		Thunder
Ground		Ground			Normal		Normal			Fighting		Electric
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidoking Lv.55		Poison	Ground		Rhydon Lv.55		Ground	Rock
Moves					Moves
Thunder		Leer			Rock Slide		Fury Attack
Electric		Normal			Rock		Normal
Earthquake		Thrash			Earthquake		Horn Drill
Ground		Normal			Ground		Normal

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

First battle

5000		Boss Giovanni FireRed and LeafGreen - Rocket Hideout (Celadon City)
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Onix ♂ Lv.25		Rock	Ground		Rhyhorn ♂ Lv.24		Ground	Rock		Kangaskhan ♀ Lv.29		Normal
		None					None					None
		Unknown					Unknown					Early Bird
Moves					Moves					Moves
Harden		Bind			Tail Whip		Stomp			Fake Out		Tail Whip
Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal
Rock Throw		Rage			Fury Attack		Scary Face			Bite		Mega Punch
Rock		Normal			Normal		Normal			Dark		Normal

Second battle

????		Boss Giovanni FireRed and LeafGreen - Silph Co.
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidorino ♂ Lv.37		Poison			Rhyhorn ♂ Lv.37		Ground	Rock		Kangaskhan ♀ Lv.35		Normal
		None					None					None
		Poison Point					Unknown					Early Bird
Moves					Moves					Moves
Horn Attack		Poison Sting			Fury Attack		Scary Face			Fake Out		Rage
Normal		Poison			Normal		Normal			Normal		Normal
Helping Hand		Fury Attack			Tail Whip		Rock Blast			Mega Punch		Tail Whip
Normal		Normal			Normal		Rock			Normal		Normal
Pokémon		Information
Nidoqueen ♀ Lv.41		Poison	Ground
		None
		Poison Point
Moves
Double Kick		Tail Whip
Fighting		Normal
Poison Sting		Body Slam
Poison		Normal

Gym battle

????		Leader Giovanni FireRed and LeafGreen - Viridian Gym
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Rhyhorn ♂ Lv.45		Ground	Rock		Dugtrio ♂ Lv.42		Ground			Nidoqueen ♀ Lv.44		Poison	Ground
		None					None					None
		Unknown					Unknown					Poison Point
Moves					Moves					Moves
Take Down		Rock Blast			Slash		Sand Tomb			Double Kick		Earthquake
Normal		Rock			Normal		Ground			Fighting		Ground
Scary Face		Earthquake			Mud-Slap		Earthquake			Poison Sting		Body Slam
Normal		Ground			Ground		Ground			Poison		Normal
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidoking ♂ Lv.45		Poison	Ground		Rhyhorn ♂ Lv.50		Ground	Rock
		None					None
		Poison Point					Unknown
Moves					Moves
Double Kick		Earthquake			Take Down		Rock Blast
Fighting		Ground			Normal		Rock
Poison Sting		Thrash			Scary Face		Earthquake
Poison		Normal			Normal		Ground

Pokémon Stadium

Round 1

????		Leader Giovanni Round 1 - Viridian Gym
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Persian Lv.50		Normal			Dugtrio Lv.50		Ground			Nidoqueen Lv.50		Poison	Ground
Moves					Moves					Moves
Toxic		Slash			Sand-Attack		Slash			Double Kick		Strength
Poison		Normal			Normal		Normal			Fighting		Normal
Thunderbolt		BubbleBeam			Dig		Rock Slide			Surf		Earthquake
Electric		Water			Ground		Rock			Water		Ground
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Nidoking Lv.50		Poison	Ground		Rhydon Lv.50		Ground	Rock		Tauros Lv.50		Normal
Moves					Moves					Moves
Horn Drill		Thunder			Fury Attack		Earthquake			Thunder		Fire Blast
Normal		Electric			Normal		Ground			Electric		Fire
Blizzard		Toxic			Body Slam		Fissure			Blizzard		Stomp
Ice		Poison			Normal		Ground			Ice		Normal

Round 2

????		Leader Giovanni Round 2 - Viridian Gym
Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information			Pokémon		Information
Persian Lv.50		Normal