Giovanni
Giovanni (Japanese: サカキ Sakaki) is the Gym Leader of the Viridian City Gym. He hands out the Earth Badge to trainers who defeat him. He is also the head of Team Rocket. As Gym Leader, he specializes in Ground-type Pokémon.
His name means "Gift from God". It was problably chosen because it is Italian, the stereotype of gansters befitting a mob boss. It also starts with "gio", as in "geo"- a prefix that means "related to earth".
In the Anime
His Japanese voice is 鈴置洋孝 Hirotaka Suzuoki, and his English voice is Ted Lewis.
We know very little 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. This is presumed to be anime timeline only, as the games have no precedent for this.
Pokémon
This listing is of Giovanni's Pokémon in the Pokémon anime.
Released
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.
In addition to the Earth Badge, Giovanni gives out TM 27, Fissure, in Pokémon Red, Blue, Pokémon Green, and Pokémon Yellow. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, he gives out TM 26, Earthquake.
In the game timeline, after being defeated by the protagonist in the Generation I games, he mysteriously disappears; Team Rocket has been waiting for his return ever since.
Pokémon
This listing is of Giovanni's Pokémon in the video games he has appeared in.
Red/Green/Blue/FireRed/LeafGreen
First Battle
- Level 25 Onix
- Level 24 Rhyhorn
- Level 29 Kangaskhan
Second Battle
Gym Battle
Yellow
First Battle
- Level 25 Onix
- Level 24 Rhyhorn
- Level 29 Persian
Second Battle
- Level 37 Nidorino
- Level 37 Rhyhorn
- Level 35 Persian
- Level 41 Nidoqueen
Gym Battle
- Level 45 Dugtrio
- Level 53 Nidoqueen
- Level 53 Nidoking
- Level 53 Persian
- Level 55 Rhydon
Pokémon Stadium
- Round 1 Pokémon
- Persian
- Dugtrio
- Nidoking
- Nidoqueen
- Rhydon
- Tauros
In the Pokémon Special Manga
In Pokémon Special, Giovanni serves much the same role as he does in the games, although he now has Lt. Surge, Sabrina, and Koga as subordinates.
He attempts to create a super-powerful Pokémon by combining Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno into a single Pokémon. This was thwarted by the efforts of Red, Green, and Blue.
He later provides some minor assistance to the fight against the Elite Four on Cerise Island. He helps Red escape from Lorelei's ice and provides him with some Evolution Stones for his Eevee. Giovanni then informs Koga and the others to lay low until a more suitable time comes to revive Team Rocket.
Giovanni has recently resurfaced in the Sevii Islands, apparently pursuing Deoxys. He even has a new set of henchmen, the Beast Warrior Trio.
In battle Giovanni kicks his Poké Balls, much like Crystal, in order to be able to react faster.
Pokémon
This listing is of Giovanni's Pokémon in the Pokémon Special manga.
- Nidoking
- Nidoqueen
- Dugtrio
- Golem
- Rhyhorn
- Rhydon
- Beedrill
- Cloyster
In the TCG
Unknown
Pokémon
This listing is for Giovanni's Pokémon in the Pokémon TCG.
Misc
The Japanese name of the Earth Badge is the Green Badge.
In How I Became a Pokémon Card, a short manga, he and Persian were shown to have been together for a long time, as he rescued the cat when he was a child.
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