User:Landfish7/Pokémon pronoun guidelines

< User:Landfish7
This article is a proposed policy for Bulbapedia.

Please discuss the proposed policy and suggest possible changes on the article's talk page.

NUTSHELL: Use "it/its" pronouns when referring to Pokémon in articles. Exceptions apply for individuals consistently referred to with specific pronouns.

In most contexts, Pokémon should be referred to with neutral pronouns, typically "it/its". This reflects standard usage in most official Pokémon media and provides consistent and clear language across articles.

When a source variably uses singular "they/them" for Pokémon, "it/its" is generally used in articles for consistency, though the original usage may be noted where relevant. However, "they/them" pronouns should be used for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series characters that are referred to with those pronouns, as that game specifically does not use "it/its" in these cases.

Individual Pokémon characters that are consistently referred to with specific pronouns in a significant majority of their appearances across media are listed on this page. Additionally, human characters temporarily taking the form of a Pokémon should still be referred to with their original pronouns.

New Pokémon media will be added to this policy as needed, once the media's content has been properly assessed. Potential exceptions to the policy can be proposed on the talk page.

Pokémon pronoun usage between media

Core series games

For content that covers the core series games, Pokémon should always be referred to with "it/its" pronouns, except in cases where an individual Pokémon is consistently referred to with specific pronouns throughout a significant majority of its appearances.

Pokémon animated series

The animated series (i.e. Pokémon the Series and Pokémon Horizons: The Series) is inconsistent in its usage of pronouns for individual Pokémon, often switching between "it/its" and gendered pronouns, even for the same Pokémon character. For this reason, "it/its" should be used for all animated series Pokémon, aligning with standard usage for consistency.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

For the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series and related media (including games, manga, and animated adaptations), individual Pokémon should be referred to with gendered pronouns when the source material does so.

As these games do not use "it/its" pronouns to refer to Pokémon characters, "they/them" should be used when a character is consistently referred to as such.

Pokémon Masters EX

Pokémon Masters EX consistently uses gendered pronouns to refer to Pokémon with confirmed genders, even when a specific Pokémon is normally referred to with "it/its" pronouns in its original appearance in the core series or other media. To maintain consistency between media, "it/its" should be used when referring to Pokémon in this game, unless the Pokémon is consistently referred to with gendered pronouns in its original source material.

Pokémon Pokopia

While Pokémon most consistently refer to each other with "they/them" pronouns in character dialogue in Pokémon Pokopia, promotional materials and in-game metatextual content typically use "it/its" pronouns, matching brand standards. For consistency, "it/its" pronouns should be used to refer to the Pokémon characters in this game.

Pokémon who are referred to with specific pronouns in Human Records should be referred to with those pronouns. Otherwise, gender neutral pronouns should always be used.

Detective Pikachu series

Pokémon characters in the Detective Pikachu series, including the live action film, should be referred to with "it/its" pronouns, unless specific pronouns are consistently used for that character throughout the series and across media.

Note that the pronouns used for certain characters may differ between the games and the film, such as with Mewtwo. In these cases, use "it/its" for consistency.

Other media

For other Pokémon media, pronoun usage should follow the conventions used in the source material, with "it/its" being prioritized unless gendered pronouns are well established for a character.

Handling discrepancies between media

When a Pokémon character's gender or pronouns differ between media, use "it/its" over specific pronouns between coverage of different media.

Exceptions

The following Pokémon characters are referred to consistently with specific pronouns in a majority of their appearances across media and should be referred to with those pronouns in articles.

Characters are listed with the pronouns that should be used, followed by contextual information and relevant clarifications.

Core series games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Characters in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series should be referred to with the pronouns used for them in-game. Special cases are listed below.

Red and Blue Rescue Team

  • Dugtrio - "he/him". Dugtrio is referred to by other characters with "he/him" pronouns, but uses plural "we/us" pronouns to refer to himself. In this case, "he/him" pronouns should be used.

Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky

  • Guildmaster Wigglytuff - "he/him". Wigglytuff's gender is male and the character is consistently referred to with "he/him" pronouns throughout these games. However, this character was referred to as female during a mission in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon. This inconsistency is likely a translation error, so "he/him" pronouns should always be used for Wigglytuff.
  • Dugtrio - "he/him". Dugtrio is referred to by other characters with "he/him" pronouns, but uses plural "we/us" pronouns to refer to himself. In this case, "he/him" pronouns should be used.

Gates to Infinity

  • Meloetta - "it/its". Meloetta refers to its Aria form as "my princess" and its Pirouette form as "my prince". Additionally, Meloetta uses the pronoun "I" to refer to one of its forms and plural "we/us" pronouns to refer to both of its forms. For simplicity, "it/its" pronouns should be used for Meloetta regardless of its form.

Pokémon Pokopia

Detective Pikachu series

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