View source for History of Poké Balls

The development of [[Poké Ball]]s has gone through a number of stages, as evidenced by the ancient and historical variants of the modern Poké Ball that have been seen in the anime.

==In the games==
===Apricorn Poké Balls===
Before modern techniques, Poké Balls were made from hollowed out [[Apricorn]]s.

When the [[Sinnoh]] region was first being settled, Poké Balls were made of a combination of wood, Apricorns, and [[Tumblestone]]s. They emitted steam when capturing a Pokémon and what appeared to be a firework was set off from their tops when Pokémon were caught. They relied on a Pokémon's natural ability to shrink down when scared or injured.
<gallery>
File:Legends Arceus Poké Ball.png|An Apricorn Poké Ball in [[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]].
</gallery>

===Drayden's childhood===
According to [[Drayden]] in the [[Memory Link]] event {{DL|Memory Link|A New Light}}, when he was a young boy, Poké Balls didn't exist yet. It is unknown if he means they hadn't been invented at all, or just hadn't made their way to the [[Unova]] region.

===Professor Westwood's Poké Balls===
According to the [[Encyclopedia Pokemonica]], [[Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia]], and a [[Pokémon Daisuki Club]] site describing the [[Pokémon world]], modern Poké Balls were developed in 1925 from the research of [[Professor Westwood V|Professor Westwood]] of [[Celadon University]]. He got the idea when experimenting on a {{p|Primeape}}, which curled up into a ball and shrank down small enough to fit in the professor's glasses case.

==In the anime==
===Ancient history===
====Pokémopolis====
[[File:Pokémopolis Paintbrush uncovered.png|thumb|300px|The giant paintbrush unsheathed]]
When Dr. [[Eve]] was exploring the ruins of [[Pokémopolis]] during ''[[EP072|The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis]]'', she discovered a number of old artifacts. A handful of these relics contained ancient, [[giant Pokémon]], and so can be seen as forerunners to the contemporary Poké Ball. These objects were named by a stone tablet that had inscribed on it the legend of [[Pokémopolis]]. The "Unearthly Urn" and accompanying spoon contained a giant {{p|Alakazam}}, which, to activate, one had to insert the spoon into the Urn. It appeared that the Alakazam could do this autonomously from within the Urn using its psychic powers. The "Dark Device" contained a giant {{p|Gengar}}. It is unknown what initiated its release. Finally, the giant paintbrush/bell that was discovered contained a giant {{p|Jigglypuff}}, and was activated by the {{m|Sing|song}} of a regular-sized {{an|Jigglypuff}}.

<gallery>
File:Unearthly Urn.png|Unearthly Urn, containing the giant {{p|Alakazam}}
File:Unearthly Spoon.png|The Unearthly Spoon
File:Dark Device.png|The Dark Device, containing a giant {{p|Gengar}}
File:Pokémopolis Paintbrush.png|The paintbrush/bell containing the giant {{p|Jigglypuff}}
</gallery>

====Pokélantis====
[[File:Pokélantis myth.png|thumb|300px|{{an|Brandon}} telling the erroneous myth that the King trapped {{p|Ho-Oh}} in the orb]]
A relic that looks very similar to a contemporary Poké Ball was discovered in the [[Pokélantis|tomb]] of the [[King of Pokélantis]]. It was revealed during the course of ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]'' that it contained the spirit of the King, possibly indicating an alternate use for Poké Balls in ancient times. It was erroneously rumored that the orb contained a {{p|Ho-Oh}}, which would have made it much more similar to a modern Poké Ball.

<gallery>
File:Pokélantis Poké Ball anime.png|The orb found in the [[King of Pokélantis|King]]'s tomb
</gallery>

===Recent history===
====Sir Aaron's staff====
Featured in ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]'', the crystal in [[Sir Aaron]]'s staff was used "hundreds of years ago" to contain his apprentice {{mov|Lucario|Lucario|8}}. This can be seen as a forerunner to the contemporary Poké Ball. The ubiquitous Poké Ball design can be seen in other places in the beginning of the movie, but it is unknown what they relate to.

<gallery>
File:Sir Aaron staff.png|{{Ash}} holding the staff
File:Sir Aaron art.png|[[Sir Aaron]] holding his staff
</gallery>

====Giant stone Poké Ball====
[[File:Ancient Claydol text.png|thumb|300px|The ancient text chronicling the White Sage's encounter with the giant {{p|Claydol}}]]
A giant stone Poké Ball was said in ''[[AG104|Claydol Big and Tall]]'' to have been created "in olden times" by the White Sage to contain a rampaging giant {{p|Claydol}} which had escaped from an identical stone Poké Ball. It was also said in this episode that this event was contemporaneous with the first creation of Claydol, which is cited as taking place around 20,000 years ago. However, this was read by [[Sigourney]] from an "ancient text" that he had a lot of trouble translating earlier in the episode.

<gallery>
File:Giant stone Poké Ball anime.png|The giant stone Poké Ball
File:White Sage.png|The White Sage
</gallery>

====The Odd Keystone====
The [[Odd Keystone]] can be seen as a Poké Ball forerunner, in that it was used to capture {{p|Spiritomb|a Pokémon}} 500 years ago. In ''[[DP056|The Keystone Pops!]]'' an {{OBP|old woman|DP056}} reveals that Spiritomb was defeated and imprisoned by an [[Aura|Aura Guardian]]. The method and reason for the confinement are currently unknown.

<gallery>
File:DP056.png|The [[Odd Keystone]]
File:Aura Guardian Pikachu.png|The [[Aura|Aura Guardian]] who defeated {{p|Spiritomb}}
</gallery>

====The Captain's Poké Balls====
In ''[[EP095|A Shipful of Shivers]]'', it was revealed that the {{OBP|Captain|EP095}} kept his {{p|Haunter}} and {{p|Gastly}} inside contemporary looking Poké Balls, approximately 300 years before the present. The old [[Orange League]] [[Winner's Trophy]], which is also more than 300 years old, is featured in this episode as well, and appears to be based on a contemporary Poké Ball design.

Chronologically, these are the first Poké Balls that offer capture and control to the Trainer.

<gallery>
File:Captain Ball.png|300+ year old modern Poké Balls
File:Old Winners Trophy.png|The old [[Winner's Trophy]], being held by the {{OBP|Captain|EP095}}
</gallery>

====Lokoko's Poké Ball====
[[File:Composite Lokoko Ball.png|thumb|300px|Aspects of Lokoko's Poké Ball]]
In ''[[EP232|Just Waiting On a Friend]]'', [[Lokoko]] was the alter-ego of an elderly {{p|Ninetales}} whose Poké Ball was contemporaneous with a diary that was at least 200 years old. While the style of this ball is quite different from the modern Poké Ball, there is a statue in the same 200+ year old mansion which depicts a modern looking Poké Ball.

This Poké Ball differs from its modern descendant in other ways as well. The button is on the top of the ball rather than on the side, as can be seen top left in the picture opposite. It also lacks the internal mirrors that modern Poké Balls have, as can be seen top right opposite. It is also extremely fragile, as can be seen bottom opposite, as it shattered after simply being dropped, which is an everyday occurrence for a modern Poké Ball, though this is perhaps a consequence of its age. This may also be due to it being modeled from a porcelain handicraft.

<gallery>
File:Lokoko Poké Ball anime.png|[[Lokoko]]'s Poké Ball
File:Old mansion statues.png|A contemporaneous statue of a modern looking Poké Ball
</gallery>

====Sam's Poké Ball====
A Poké Ball with a simple capture mechanism can be seen in [[Sam]]'s possession in ''[[M04|Celebi: The Voice of the Forest]]'', 40 years before the present day. It had a red twist top that needed to be turned to release the Pokémon inside. This Poké Ball fits the description provided by [[Kurt]] of the basic method of turning [[Apricorn]]s into Poké Balls by simply hollowing them out and adding a capture mechanism. Judging by the other older Poké Balls seen in the anime, it is unlikely that this Ball is indicative of all Poké Balls 40 years ago. Therefore, this Poké Ball may have been homemade, cheaply made, hurriedly made, or come from some other source. An alternate hypothesis is that this is an early model of non-Apricorn Poké Ball and that this is the oldest, and therefore most primitive, fully mechanical Poké Ball yet shown.

Sam's Poké Ball has distinct similarities to Lokoko's Poké Ball with the button (or button equivalent in sam's case) on top of the ball rather then opposite the hinge and it's used while gripping the button half rather then 'clasped' in the hand with the hinge in one's palm.

<gallery>
File:Sammy Old Poké Ball.png|[[Sam]]'s Poké Ball
</gallery>

===Controlling items===
There are generally two aspects to a typical modern Poké Ball, capture and control. The majority of the historical devices above capture the Pokémon in question, but generally offer no control over it once it has been released again. The following historical items offer the opposite of this, granting control but not ownership to the holder.

====The Queen's mask and staff====
[[File:Tierra tablet.png|thumb|[[Tierra]]'s tablet that tells the history of the Queen]]
In ''[[EP196|Control Freak!]]'', an ancient tablet discovered by [[Tierra]] revealed that thousands of years ago a Queen could control Pokémon within the boundaries of her own village using high frequency waves. As soon as the Pokémon went outside her village boundaries, the waves were disrupted, or she lost possession of the staff, the controlled Pokémon would turn against her again.

<gallery>
File:Control Queen statue.png|A statue of the Queen, wearing the mask and holding the staff.
File:Unmasked Queen.png|The Queen's statue unmasked.
File:EP196.png|The staff in action.
</gallery>

====Marcus's armor====
In ''[[M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]'' the antagonist [[Marcus]] controlled a {{p|Bronzong}} and a {{p|Heatran}} with special sets of armor. Much like the Queen's mask and staff, the controlled Pokémon would turn against the controller as soon as the effects were no longer being felt and the Pokémon were outside of their control.

<gallery>
File:Marcus Bronzong.png|{{p|Bronzong}} being controlled.
File:Marcus Heatran Armor.png|{{p|Heatran}} being controlled.
</gallery>

====Blue, Red, and Jade Orbs====
{{main|Colored orbs}}
In ''[[AG097|Gaining Groudon]]'' and ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]'', the [[Red Orb]] controls {{p|Kyogre}} and the [[Blue Orb]] controls {{p|Groudon}}. According to [[Lance]], ''"The Red Orb was created long ago by evil people to control ancient Pokémon and use them as weapons..."''

The [[Jade Orb]] does not make an appearance in the anime, but presumably would have some effect on {{p|Rayquaza}}. The Generation III Bag descriptions of these items state that they "contain an incredible power from ancient times". Whether or not this means these Orbs have been around since ancient times is unknown.

[[Archie]] invokes the Red Orb with the words "Convey our will to Kyogre, great Red Orb, and allow this great power to be released now".

A side effect of the use of the Orbs is possession. During these episodes, {{AP|Pikachu}} and [[Archie]] become possessed by the energy inside the orbs.

<gallery perrow=3>
File:Blue Orb anime.png|The Blue Orb
File:Blue Orb activated.png|The Blue Orb controlling {{p|Groudon}}
File:Blue Orb possession.png|The Blue Orb possessing [[Ash's Pikachu]]
File:Red Orb anime.png|The Red Orb
File:Red Orb activated.png|The Red Orb controlling {{p|Kyogre}}
File:Red Orb possession.png|The Red Orb possessing [[Archie]]
</gallery>

====Red Chain====
{{main|Red Chain}}
The Red Chain is used by [[Cyrus]] to take control over the Legendary Pokémon {{p|Dialga}} and {{p|Palkia}} so as not to reduce their power by capturing them in a Poké Ball.

<gallery>
File:Red Chain anime.png|The [[Red Chain]]
File:Palkia Dialga controlled.png|{{p|Dialga}} and {{p|Palkia}} being controlled by the Red Chain
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Poké Ball]]
* [[Apricorn]]
* [[History of the Pokémon world]]
* [[Timeline of events in the anime]]
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{{DoubleProjectTag|Anime|ItemDex}}

[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:Poké Balls|*]]

[[it:Storia delle Poké Ball]]