Ethan (game)

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018Pidgeot.png It has been suggested that this article be moved to Ethan.
Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page.

Hibiki redirects here. For the character of the day in Beauty and the Breeder, see Zane.
Gold (game) redirects here. For the game titled "Pokémon Gold Version", see Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions.
This article is about the male protagonist whose default name is クリス in the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal. For the female player character in Pokémon Crystal with the same Japanese name, see Kris (game).
Ethan
ヒビキ Hibiki
HeartGold SoulSilver Ethan.png
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Age Unknown
Gender Male
Height 4'11" (1.50 m)
Eye color Gray
Hair color Black
Hometown New Bark Town
Region Johto
Relatives Mom (as player)
Grandparents, unnamed father (as NPC)
Trainer class Pokémon Trainer, player character
Generation II, IV, VII, VIII, IX
Counterpart(s) Ethan (Masters)
Games Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Puzzle Challenge, Masters EX
English voice actor Ted Sroka[1] (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor Daisuke Hirose[2] (Masters EX)
Anime series Pokémon the Series
Pokémon Generations
Pokémon Evolutions
Debut The Legend of Thunder! (Series; Gen II)
Zoroark: Master of Illusions (Series; Gen IV)
The Lake of Rage (Generations)
The Show (Evolutions)
Counterpart(s) Jimmy (Johto)
English voice actor Sean Schemmel (Jimmy)
Japanese voice actor Kenji Nojima (Jimmy)
Manga series Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
Counterpart(s) Gold (Adventures), Gold (Pocket Monsters), Gold (Golden Boys),
Debut Murkrow Row (Adventures)
Welcome Back, Clefairy!! (Pocket Monsters)
Let's Go! The Journey Towards The Championship (GB)
Aim to be the Strongest! The Hot-Blooded Brotherly Combination!! (JBA)

Ethan (Japanese: ヒビキ Hibiki) is the main playable character in Pokémon Gold and Silver and is the male choice in Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In Crystal, his female counterpart is Kris, while in HeartGold and SoulSilver, his female counterpart is Lyra.

Terminology

He was first named Ethan (Japanese: ヒビキ Hibiki) when he appeared as a non-player character in Generation IV games. He is also known by the same name in Pokémon Masters EX.

In the game manuals from Generation II, his name depends on the current game: GoldG, SilverS, or ChrisC (Japanese: ゴールド, シルバー, or クリス).

The different names are seen in the player's story from the game manuals. For instance:

  • "The Professor showed Gold three Pokémon [...]" (referring to the player in Pokémon Gold's manual)
  • "The Professor showed Silver three Pokémon [...]" (referring to the player in Pokémon Silver's manual)

In the player's story from Pokémon Crystal's manual, the Japanese name クリス simultaneously refers to either player character. However, this was adapted as "you" instead in the English version. For instance:

  • Japanese version of Crystal's manual:
    クリスはパートナーとなる1(ぴき)のポケモンを(えら)ぶと」 (Kris/Chris chooses 1 partner Pokémon and [...])
  • English version of Crystal's manual:
    "After you choose your Pokémon [...]"

In several game screenshots from the English manual of Pokémon Crystal, the male player character is named Chris.

In the Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo, his name is サトシG Satoshi or シゲルS Shigeru. These are Ash's and Gary's respective Japanese names, and correspond to the second entry in the list of optional names for Red and Blue in Pokémon Red and Green.

In Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, he appears as an unnamed player character.

Before he received an official name in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, most fans called him Gold (Japanese: ゴールド Gold).

In the core series games

As the protagonist

Ethan's journey as a Trainer begins when Professor Elm asks him to run an errand for Mr. Pokémon, who lives north of Cherrygrove City on Route 30. Because he may encounter dangerous wild Pokémon along the way, Elm gives him a choice between three Pokémon to protect him: Cyndaquil, Totodile or Chikorita.

Ethan spots another boy his age watching Elm's Lab from outside. When Ethan tries to talk to him, the boy abruptly shoves him away. This boy, Silver, will become Ethan's rival.

Ethan continues onward and finally meets Mr. Pokémon and completes his errand. While there he meets Professor Oak who, upon realizing Ethan's bond with his new Pokémon, gives him a Pokédex. On his way back home, Ethan again meets Silver, who has stolen one of Elm's remaining Pokémon. After defeating the boy in battle, the boy tells Ethan his nameGSC/Ethan learns the boy's name from his dropped Trainer CardHGSS, and Ethan relays it to the police in New Bark Town. Professor Elm allows Ethan to keep the Pokémon he chose earlier, and also encourages him to compete in the Johto League.

Ethan begins on a Pokémon journey in the Johto region, facing off against its eight Gym Leaders, defeating and disbanding the revived Team Rocket, and becoming Pokémon League Champion by defeating the Elite Four and its previous Champion, Lance at Indigo Plateau. Along the way he also teaches Silver to respect Pokémon as living creatures and not just as tools for battle.

After being declared the Pokémon League Champion, Ethan then journeys by ship from Olivine City to Vermilion City in Kanto. Traveling around that region, he battles against another set of eight Gym Leaders. Upon getting permission from Professor Oak in Pallet Town, Ethan heads for Mt. Silver via Route 28. His journey comes to a close when, deep in Mt. Silver's cave, he faces the Champion from Pallet Town, Pokémon Trainer Red, who had been training there since shortly after he became Pokémon League Champion three years prior.

As a non-playable character

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

In Pokémon Crystal, if Kris is selected, then the male player character does not appear in the game, except as opponent in the Trainer House. Even when playing as Kris, the player's sprite is changed to Ethan's during link battles and in the Trainer House.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, if playing as Lyra, Ethan appears as an NPC in the game. When playing as Ethan, Lyra takes on this role instead.

Ethan meets the player in New Bark Town at the start of the game. In this particular scene, he is seen with a Marill. He teaches the player how to catch Pokémon on Route 29 (replacing the Dude from Gold, Silver, and Crystal). His grandparents run the Pokémon Day Care on Route 34. He also gives the player the Fashion Case in Goldenrod Tunnel and the Vs. Recorder on Route 31.

When called from certain locations, Ethan will mention that something will happen if the player takes a certain Pokémon there.

Pokémon

Ethan uses this party to show the player how to catch Pokémon when Lyra is selected as the player character in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.



Caught in tutorial
 
Type:
Normal Unknown
Ability:
Run Away or Guts
Held item:
None
Rattata/ Lv.2
Tail Whip
Normal Status
  --  
   
  --  
   
  --  
   
Mentioned

When called with the Pokégear at different locations, Ethan will mention he owns certain Pokémon.

 
Tauros*
 
Bulbasaur*
 
Porygon*
 
Tangela*

In the spin-off games

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: An Image from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate of Pokemon Trainer palette based on Ethan

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

Ethan is the player character in the Challenge mode of Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. In this mode, he challenges the Gym Leaders and Elite Four of Johto in puzzle games.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

While Ethan himself does not appear directly, a palette swap color scheme based on Ethan's design appears for the male Pokémon Trainer, who is an incarnation of Red.

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Ethan (Masters)

Ethan, who is based on the player character, forms a sync pair with Cyndaquil and its evolved forms Quilava and Typhlosion, along with Lugia in Pokémon Masters EX. Ethan became a playable sync pair on January 15, 2020.

Ethan has also made notable appearances in the game's Main Stories, Legendary Adventures and the Villain Arc. Unlike in Pokémon Crystal, both Ethan and Kris coexist in the same game.

Sync Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role Base Potential Availability
#075   Ethan #0157   Cyndaquil → Quilava → Typhlosion
Fire
 
Rock
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#075   Sygna Suit
Ethan
#0249   Lugia  
Flying
 
Ghost
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Master Fair Sync Pair Scout

Pokémon GO

Main article: Style (GO)

To commemorate the Johto Festival, Ethan's outfit from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were released as free style options in Pokémon GO.

Quotes

Main article: Ethan (game)/Quotes

Optional names

Game Japanese English French German Italian Spanish Korean
Gold ゴールド Gold
ヒロキ Hiroki
テツオ Tetsuo
タカシ Takashi
GOLD
HIRO
TAYLOR
KARL
GOLD
JULIEN
JEAN
JACQUES
Gold
DANIEL
FRITZ
KARL
ORO
PAOLO
DIEGO
CARLO
ORO
HIRO
TOMÁS
CARLOS
골드 Gold
수호 Suho
인철 Incheol
강산 Gangsan
Silver シルバー Silver
カモン Kamon
トオル Tōru
マサオ Masao
SILVER
KAMON
OSCAR
MAX
SILVER
DANIEL
PIERRE
PAUL
Silber
THOMAS
OSKAR
HANS
ARGENTO
LUCA
PAOLO
MAX
PLATA
KAMON
OSCAR
MÁXIMO
실버 Silver
청운 Cheong'un
지겸 Jigyeom
찬호 Chanho
Crystal クリス Chris
ヨウスケ Yōsuke
タケヒロ Takehiro
タカオ Takao
CHRIS
MAT
ALLAN
JON
CHRIS
BENJI
NICOLAS
JEAN
CHRIS
ARNOLD
GERT
JON
CHRIS
SERGIO
GIACOMO
MANUELE
CRIS
ANTONIO
ÁLEX
EMILIO
HeartGold
SoulSilver
ハート HeartHG
ソウル SoulSS
サトシ Satoshi
ケン Ken
カケル Kakeru
ジャック Jack
ジャン Jean
ジョン John
カモン Kamon
タカシ Takashi
テツオ Tetsuo
トオル Tōru
ヒロキ Hiroki
マサオ Masao
タカオ Takao
タケヒロ Takehiro
トウゴ Tōgo
ヒトシ Hitoshi
ヨシナオ Yoshinao
HeartHG
SoulSS
Ash
Nic
Dion
Duncan
Jude
Ross
ShaeHG / SheaSS
Darrell
Terell
Chris
Brad
Dwight
Talon
Lonny
Jess
Eric
Chase
Heart
Soul
Dilan
Gurvan
Gabriel
Allane
Zack
Marc
Loris
Max
Damien
Tom
Greg
Kamel
Franck
Ralph
Seb
Daniel
Thomas
HeartHG
SoulSS
Karsten
Gerd
Hans
Jack
Jan
John
Daniel
Helge
Uhland
Tobit
Ugo
Berno
Jon
Rafik
Boris
Thomas
Silvio
HeartHG
SoulSS
Ash
Nico
Elmo
Mattia
Silvano
Rossano
Kamon
Karl
Gabry
Oscar
Dino
Daniel
Manuele
Ralph
Lucio
Paolo
Marco
HeartHG
SoulSS
Ash
Llamin
Casio
Job
Chechu
Juande
Javi
Ral
Marino
Toilo
Nahum
Max
Morel
Ralph
Russ
Erminio
Quinn
하트 HeartHG
소울 SoulSS
지우 Jiu
Ken
호진 Hojin
상우 Sang'u
Jyang
재범 Jaebeom
청운 Cheong'un
강산 Gangsan
인철 Incheol
지겸 Jigyeom
숙호 Sukho
찬호 Chanho
지훈 Jihun
윤호 Yunho
케이 Kay
다인 Dain
상현 Sanghyeon


Counterparts

In the anime

 
Jimmy, Ethan's first anime counterpart

Main series

Main article: Jimmy (Johto)

Jimmy, the main protagonist of The Legend of Thunder!, is the first anime counterpart of Ethan, and seems to be based on him in the most basic sense, much more than Ash was based on his game counterpart, Red. Jimmy follows Ethan's design from Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like Ethan, Jimmy is from New Bark Town and receives a first partner Pokémon from Professor Elm. He also encounters the counterparts of Silver and Kris on his journey.

Ethan's second counterpart has a cameo appearance at the beginning of Zoroark: Master of Illusions, where he had a battle against Ash. This counterpart follows Ethan's updated design from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. It has been argued that this is Jimmy in an updated look, rather than a different counterpart, but this counterpart is identified as "Hibiki" (Ethan's Japanese name) in the Japanese DVD of the movie.

Pokémon

This is a listing of Ethan's known Pokémon in the anime:

 
Donphan
Ethan used Donphan in a battle against Ash at the beginning of the thirteenth movie. During the battle, it fought Pikachu. It was not shown who won the battle.

Donphan's only known move is Rollout.

Debut Zoroark: Master of Illusions

Pokémon Generations

Ethan made two brief appearances in The Lake of Rage. First, he and Lance infiltrated the Team Rocket HQ separately. He then communicated with Lance through his Pokégear about updates on their mission, and acted as a decoy for Lance's attacks.

Much like the other player characters depicted in Pokémon Generations, Ethan doesn't have any lines of dialogue.

GOTCHA!

Ethan briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, using his Tyranitar and Ampharos.

Pokémon Evolutions

Ethan briefly appeared in The Show, where he was seen in Ecruteak City.

In the manga

Ethan, like most player characters, also has several counterparts in the various Pokémon manga series.

Pokémon Adventures

 
Ethan's Pokémon Adventures counterpart, Gold
Main article: Gold (Adventures)

Gold from Pokémon Adventures is based on Ethan. He's a stubborn boy with a tendency towards gambling and bragging about himself. Having lived with Pokémon for all his life, he has the ability to make Pokémon Eggs hatch and draw out the potential of the baby Pokémon hatched from them.

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Main article: Gold (Golden Boys)

Gold, the main character of Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys, is based on Ethan.

Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic

Main article: Soul (PCC)

Soul from Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic is based on Ethan.

Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokéathlon

Main article: Takashi

Takashi from Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokéathlon is based on Ethan.

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

Main article:

Jō from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure is based on Ethan.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Main article: Gold (Pocket Monsters)

Gold from Pokémon Pocket Monsters is based on Ethan.

Gallery

Artwork

       
From
Gold and Silver
From
Crystal
From
Crystal
Checking his Pokégear
       
Approaching a Time Capsule Artwork from the Game Freak website In front of the Ruins of Alph Encountering a Shiny Pokémon
       
In the Sinjoh Ruins Walking with Pokémon Ethan and Cyndaquil concept artwork for Kotobukiya ArtFx J figurines Artwork of Ethan fighting the Red Gyarados
at the Lake of Rage for Pokémon Day by Megumi Mizutani

Sprites and models

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing Pokégear icon from HGSS and SW97 sprites
               
Trainer sprite from
Gold and Silver
Trainer sprite from
Crystal
Trainer sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokéathlon
sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Back sprite from
Generation II
Prototype back
sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Back sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
VS sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
               
Overworld
sprite from
Generation II
Overworld
sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Overworld Pokéathlon
sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Overworld sprite, disguised as a Team Rocket Grunt, from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Intro sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Sprite from
the opening of
HeartGold and SoulSilver
VS sprite from
the opening of
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Sprite from
Puzzle Challenge

Trivia

 
Ken Sugimori's settei for the anime.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese ヒビキ Hibiki From 響き hibiki (echo; sound)
English Ethan Biblically, Ethan/Eitan is believed to be the author of Psalm 89 and/or a harp or cymbal player in King David's court.
German Klarin From Klarinette (clarinet)
Spanish Eco From eco (echo)
French Luth From luth (lute)
Italian Armonio From armonia (harmony) or armonio (harmonium)
Korean 심향 Simhyang From 심 (心) sim (heart) and 향 (響) hyang (echo)
Chinese (Mandarin) 阿響 Ā Xiǎng From 響 xiǎng / héung (echo; sound)
Chinese (Cantonese) 阿響 A Héung


References


Player characters
Core series RedLeafEthanKrisLyraBrendanMayLucasDawn
HilbertHildaNateRosaCalemSerenaElioSelene
ChaseElaineVictorGloriaReiAkariFlorianJuliana
Side series WesMichaelNateCyndy
Spin-off games MarkMintTodd SnapLucy Fleetfoot
LunickSolanaKellynKateBenSummer
HeroHeroineTim GoodmanScottieBettie


Capture tutors
Old manPrimoProfessor OakDudeEthan/LyraWallyLucas/DawnProfessor Juniper
BiancaCalem/SerenaProfessor KukuiLeonProfessor LaventonNemona


Non-player characters in the core series games
Johto Professor ElmProfessor OakMomEthanLyraSilverMr. PokémonEusineLanceRedKiyoBaobaMagnusEarlKurtCarrieDude
MaryBuenaRadio DirectorHaircut brothersWebsterMasterLiWilmaPrimoMaximoJetCaitlinCynthiaCameronMr. GameFelicityTeala
Team RocketGym guideGym LeadersFrontier BrainsKimono GirlsWeek SiblingsName RaterPoké SeerDay-Care CoupleProfessors' aides


  This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.