Differences between the Pokémon games and anime: Difference between revisions

In the {{pkmn|anime}}, despite not being caught by a Trainer, the [[Pokédex]] can show the data of any Pokémon.

{{pkmn|Egg}}s have a different appearance depending on the Pokémon species that is inside of the Egg, although in ''[[Pokémon Journeys: The Series]]'', the design is more standardized to match the appearance of Eggs in the games, with only the color of the spots differing between species.

Pokémon with [[List of alternately colored Pokémon (anime)|different colors]] from their normal or {{Shiny}} ones appear, though Pokémon with the official Shiny colors do appear as well. Also, the [[Cry|cries]] of Pokémon in the core series games differ significantly from the cries in the anime. An exception is {{p|Pikachu}} in {{game|Yellow}} and from [[Generation VI]] to {{g|Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl}}, as well as {{p|Eevee}} in {{LGPE}} and in [[Generation VIII]], both of which actually [[Voice acting in the Pokémon games|say their names]] when interacted with or when called into battle. Both Pokémon also have unique speech for their [[Gigantamax]] forms' cries.

In the anime, [[Pokémon battle]]s take place in real-time as opposed to being turn-based. This means that [[Pokémon Trainer]]s are not forced to wait for the other Pokémon to make a move. However, most Trainers usually wait for the opponent to finish issuing commands. Additionally, Trainers (particularly {{Ash}}) often use improvised moves and techniques that are not possible in the games. For example, moves can be used together to make a totally [[Moves not in the Pokémon games|new move]], or a move can be rendered harmless in an unorthodox way, such as in ''[[AG085|Sky High Gym Battle!]]'', when [[Winona]]'s Pelipper used {{m|Steel Wing}} to attract Ash's Pikachu's electricity and divert it into the ground to render it useless. Trainers can also order their Pokémon to dodge attacks, regardless of the accuracy of that move in the games, though starting from [[Generation VI]], Pokémon with high [[affection]] can occasionally dodge moves that would usually hit. Furthermore, moves that normally cannot miss in the games, such as {{m|Swift}}, {{m|Shock Wave}}, and {{m|Aerial Ace}}, can still occasionally miss in the anime.

All official Pokémon Trainer battles in the anime have a [[Battle judge|judge]], who sets the rules and referees the battle, and is able to declare when a Pokémon is unable to battle, which would eliminate that Pokémon from the match. In the games, however, aside from a battle facility match, any Pokémon that has fainted can be revived and used again in battle as long as the Trainer has at least one Pokémon left.

Some Pokémon that have been recently captured or evolved disobey their Trainer until that Trainer is able to find a way to get through to them, with the prime example being [[Ash's Charizard]]. In the games, only traded Pokémon disobey their Trainer until Badges that can neutralize this problem are acquired.

Pokémon can have more than four moves in the anime, and are not required to forget an old move in order to learn a new one (although some of the moves a Pokémon is shown using when first introduced will generally fall into disuse as the Pokémon learns more powerful moves as the series continues). Later series are more likely to have Pokémon stick to the four-move limit, however.

[[PP]] also does not seem to exist in the anime. However, like people, Pokémon can be worn out from constant battling and eventually collapse from exhaustion. Although, in the games, a Pokémon that runs out of [[PP]] in every move can faint from the [[recoil]] damage of {{m|Struggle}}.

[[File:Jessie Dustox Stun Spore.png|thumb|220px|{{p|Dustox}} cannot learn {{m|Stun Spore}} in the games]]

In the anime, there can be more than the eight usual [[Gym]]s in each [[region]]. However, Ash only ever faces the ones from the games, with the others challenged by the rivals.

Official Gym and League battles also set limits on how many Pokémon a Trainer can use to fight with, whereas in the games, only facilities like the [[Battle Tower]] set limits.

All Trainers who collect at least eight [[Badge]]s compete in a [[Pokémon League Conference]]. In the games, Trainers who manage to collect all the specific regional Badges are qualified to challenge the [[Elite Four]] and the current {{pkmn|Champion}}. In the anime, Trainers may directly challenge the current Champion without additional requirements, as seen with several of {{an|Cynthia}}'s battles.

[[File:Buneary Heart Seal.png|thumb|220px|Contests are different between the games and anime]]

In the anime, [[Pokémon Contest]] rounds work very differently. In the first one, called the [[Appeal|Performance Stage]], {{pkmn|Coordinator}}s display an array of moves and skills to showcase their Pokémon, while in the games, the player simply presents their Pokémon so its [[Contest condition|condition]] can be evaluated. The second round is different as well. In the anime, contestants face each other in a [[Contest Battle]], while in the games all the participants take turns showing off one move at a time.

Locations are not all the same between the anime and the games. Multiple [[List of anime-exclusive locations|locations]] are added to [[region]]s to carry out plots in the anime, and in addition to the core series regions, there are two regions exclusive to the anime: the [[Orange Archipelago]] and the [[Decolore Islands]].  

Some towns and other locations are also depicted differently in the anime compared to the games. For example, the [[Whirl Islands]] are shown to be populated, but in the games they are just a series of caves. [[Littleroot Town]] is shown to be a coastal town, while in the games it is surrounded by woodland on all sides. Additionally, in the anime, [[Ultra Ruin]] is an alternate dimension of [[Alola]] rather than a part of [[Ultra Space]].