Leaf (game)

If you were looking for the character from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, see Green (game).
Leaf redirects here. For other uses, see Leaf (disambiguation).
Leaf
リーフ Leaf
FireRed LeafGreen Leaf.png
Art from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Age Unknown
Gender Female
Eye color Brown
Hair color Brown
Hometown Pallet Town
Region Kanto
Relatives Mom, unnamed father
Trainer class Pokémon Trainer, player character
Generation III, VII, VIII, IX
Counterpart(s) Leaf (Masters)
Games FireRed, LeafGreen, Masters EX
English voice actor Michelle Marie[1] (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor Yuka Ōtsubo[2] (Masters EX)
Manga series Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire
Counterpart(s) Green, Blue
Debut Wartortle Wars (Adventures)
We're a Family!! (Ruby-Sapphire)

Leaf (Japanese: リーフ Leaf) is the female player character in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Her male counterpart is Red. As such, she—alongside Red— is known throughout the Pokémon world as the Champion from Pallet Town, as well as a living legend for her defeat of Team Rocket in Kanto during her quest.

While Leaf shares many similarities with Green, it has not been officially confirmed whether Green is an incarnation of Leaf or a cross-canon counterpart.

Terminology

In Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, Leaf (Japanese: リーフ Leaf) is her placeholder name, which is only in the internal game data and not seen in normal gameplay. (In the same section of the game data, the male player character's placeholder name is "Red".) In Pokémon LeafGreen, this is one of several possible names (in both English and Japanese) suggested for the player character (male or female) if the player leaves their name blank when starting a new game.

In some game screenshots from the English manuals, the female player character is named FireFR or LeafLG (while the male player character is named RedFR or GreenLG).

In the E3 2004 trailer for FireRed and LeafGreen (which is in English), "Leaf" is used as the name of the female player character, in contrast to "Red" for the male player character.[3]

The name Leaf (English and Japanese versions) is officially used for her Kotobukiya ARTFX J figurine[4][5] and the Bandai Pokémon Scale World collection,[6] both of which were released in 2019 (fifteen years after her introduction in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen). In 2020, she debuted in Pokémon Masters EX, using the same name.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the female version of the character known only as "Pokémon Trainer" is based on Leaf.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, a similar character named Green (Japanese: ブルー Blue) appears, although it has not been confirmed whether Leaf and Green are the same character. If Leaf and Green are different characters in the games, then Leaf remains unnamed in all core series games and their manuals. This name has also been long used for Green from the Pokémon Adventures manga before the introduction of Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

The name "Leaf" has long been used by fans, even before it saw mainstream official use in merchandise and Pokémon Masters. Leaf is also sometimes referred to as フグリ (Fuguri) in the Japanese fandom, being derived from the katakana rendering of "LeafGreen" (リーフグリーン fugurīn).

In the Spanish version of FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, her placeholder name has the syllables reversed: she is known as "Jaho" instead of "Hoja" (while her male counterpart is known as "Joro" instead of "Rojo").

In the core series games

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Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
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Leaf's adventure begins after Professor Oak calls her to his lab and gives her a choice of Pokémon. Blue challenges Leaf to a Pokémon battle as soon as they get their Pokémon. Later, Professor Oak calls the two back, gives each of them a Pokédex, and sends them on a journey to fulfill their dream of capturing every kind of Pokémon.

Leaf travels all over Kanto, filling in the Pokédex and defeating the Gym Leaders. Her rival Blue constantly stays one step ahead, and shows up quite a few times to impede her progress. When Leaf eventually reaches the Elite Four, she finds that Blue has beaten her to a milestone yet again and has become the Indigo League Champion. Leaf defeats Blue in the final battle, and becomes the Champion herself. Her adventure continues even after that, with Leaf discovering new places, such as the Sevii Islands.

Leaf's main conflict in the games, aside from Blue, is Team Rocket, an infamous group of Pokémon thieves. Leaf clashes with Team Rocket many times in her quest. She defeats a group of grunts at Mt. Moon who are attempting to steal rare Pokémon Fossils, and defeats another group ahead at a bridge in Cerulean City. Leaf protects the Pokémon Tower and Mr. Fuji in Lavender Town and destroys their hold on the Game Corner. After she foils their plot to take over Silph Co., Leaf encounters Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, as the final Gym Leader in Viridian City. Upon defeating him, Leaf stops the group's world domination plots once and for all, though a few remaining grunts, many who appeared and were defeated by Leaf on Five Island in Generation III, would band together in Johto to try to revive the group.

Optional names

When starting a new game of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, if the player leaves the name writing screen without any written name, or with a name composed entirely of empty spaces, Professor Oak says "Right... So your name is <optional name>.", suggesting one of the 19 available names; there are 21 names in total, but there are two exclusive to FireRed and two exclusive to LeafGreen. The player may answer "Yes" to accept the suggested name, or "No" to return to the name writing screen.

Japanese English French German Italian Spanish
グリーン GreenLG
リーフ LeafLG
レッド RedFR
ファイア FireFR
キヨミ Kiyomi
サトコ Satoko
チホ Chiho
キョウコ Kyōko
マキコ Makiko
ミキコ Mikiko
ミチコ Michiko
ジュンコ Junko
アヤコ Ayako
リエ Rie
セツコ Setsuko
ユキコ Yukiko
マミナ Mamina
ノリエ Norie
ヒサエ Hisae
モモコ Momoko
ミスズ Misuzu
GREENLG
LEAFLG
REDFR
FIREFR
OMI
JODI
AMANDA
HILLARY
MAKEY
MICHI
PAULA
JUNE
CASSIE
REY
SEDA
KIKO
MINA
NORIE
SAI
MOMO
SUZI
GREENLG
LEAFLG
REDFR
FIREFR
JOANNA
LUCIE
EDITH
PAULINE
EMMA
AUDREY
MARION
SAYAKA
INGRID
LINDA
FLO
YUKI
CARMEN
NOLWEEN
NADIA
HELENE
CARO
GRÜNLG
BLATTLG
ROTFR
FEUERFR
MANDY
ANDREA
SINA
MARTINA
TANJA
ELENA
BIRGIT
DIANA
KATRIN
SUSI
UTE
DANIELA
SILKE
SIMONE
JAMIE
PIA
EVA
VERDELG
GREENLG
ROSSOFR
REDFR
CINZIA
LUISA
AMANDA
ROSSANA
RITA
LORENZA
PAOLA
GAIA
OLGA
WILMA
IVANA
MONIA
LETIZIA
LILIANA
ILARIA
ISOTTA
VIVIANA
VERTELG
JAHOLG
JOROFR
GUEFOFR
MENA
CIRA
MARÍA
MINA
NENA
LUNA
BRUNA
CLAUDIA
CASILDA
RITA
SELENA
MATILDE
NURIA
MARINA
SALIA
MIRTA
SUSA

In the side series games

Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness

Leaf makes an appearance in both Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. While she does not appear in the games' Story Mode, she is playable in the Battle Mode when a FireRed or LeafGreen cartridge is used, with a female player character chosen. She can take on Mt. Battle's 100-battle challenge, as well as compete in Colosseum battles.

Pokémon Battle Revolution

Leaf made a brief appearance in the debut trailer of Pokémon Battle Revolution, having a Double Battle against Red, using a Groudon and a Pikachu. Despite this, she didn't appear in the final cut of the game.

In the spin-off games

Super Smash Bros. series

Leaf, as the female Pokémon Trainer, in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Pokémon Trainer

Main article: Pokémon Trainer (Super Smash Bros.)

Leaf appears as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as the female variant of "Pokémon Trainer" (of which Red is the default). She shares his team of Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard.

Other references

From Super Smash Bros. Brawl onward, Leaf's hat appears as an alternate outfit worn by Jigglypuff, in parallel to Pikachu wearing Red's hat.

Pokémon GO

Main article: Style (GO)

For Pokémon Day 2018, Leaf's outfit from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen were released as free style options in Pokémon GO.

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Leaf (Masters)

Leaf forms a sync pair with Eevee, Venusaur, Moltres, Clefable, and Blastoise in Pokémon Masters EX. Her Venusaur is capable of Mega Evolving, while her Blastoise is capable of Dynamaxing. Leaf became a playable sync pair on January 22, 2020.

Leaf has also made notable appearances in one of the game's Main Stories, the PML Arc. Unlike in the original game, both Leaf and Red coexist in the same game, with her picking the remaining first partner Pokémon that wasn't picked by Red and Blue.

Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role EX role Base potential Availability
#076 VSLeaf Masters.png Leaf #0133 MastersIcon0133.png Eevee
Normal
NormalIC Masters.png
Fighting
FightingIC Masters.png
Masters Support.png ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#076 VSLeaf Sygna Masters.png Sygna Suit
Leaf
#0003 MastersIcon0003M.png Venusaur
Bag Venusaurite Sprite.png Mega Venusaur
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Psychic
PsychicIC Masters.png
Masters Tech.png ★★★★★☆EX Ticket Scout (after Victory Road)
Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout
#076 VSLeaf Champion Masters.png Champion
Leaf
#0146 MastersIcon0146.png Moltres Master Sync Pair Mark Masters.png Buddy Move Icon Masters.png
Fire
FireIC Masters.png
Water
WaterIC Masters.png
Masters Tech.png Masters Support.png ★★★★★☆EX Master Fair Sync Pair Scout
#076 VSLeaf Masters.png Leaf #0036 MastersIcon0036.png Clefable
Fairy
FairyIC Masters.png
Steel
SteelIC Masters.png
Masters Support.png ★★★★☆☆EX Trainer Lodge Friendship Level 100
#076 VSLeaf Masters.png Leaf #0009 MastersIcon0009.png Blastoise Dynamax icon.png Buddy Move Icon Masters.png
Water
WaterIC Masters.png
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Masters Field.png Masters Special Strike.png ★★★★★☆EX Mix Sync Pair Scout

Quotes

Main article: Leaf (game)/Quotes

Counterparts

Green, Leaf's counterpart in Pokémon Adventures
Blue, Leaf's counterpart in Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Green (Adventures)

Green from Pokémon Adventures serves as Leaf's counterpart, taking on Leaf's appearance from the FireRed & LeafGreen arc onwards. She starts out as a mischievous thief and con artist, but later reforms her ways.

Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire

Main article: Blue (Ruby-Sapphire)

Leaf also has a counterpart in Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire, who is named Blue.

Gallery

For images on Green, see: Green (game)

Artwork

Standard

FireRed LeafGreen Leaf.png HM Fly artwork.png
Artwork from FireRed and LeafGreen Artwork depicting the usage of Fly,
featuring Leaf with a Pidgey

Merchandise

Kotobukiya ArtFX J Figure Leaf Squirtle.png
Leaf and Squirtle concept artwork by
Hitoshi Ariga for Kotobukiya ArtFx J figurines

Other

New Years postcard.jpg
Ken Sugimori artwork from a
2005 New Year's postcard

Game assets

Sprites and models

In the core series
Spr FRLG Leaf.png FRLG Leaf Intro.png Leaf FRLG Credits.png FRLG Leaf Back.png E Leaf Back.png
Sprite from
FireRed, LeafGreen,
and Emerald
Intro sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Credits sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Back sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Back sprite from
Emerald
Leaf FRLG OD.png Leaf E OD.png
Overworld sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Overworld sprite from
Emerald

In other games

Colo Leaf.png XD Leaf.png Leaf Ra OD.png
Model from
Colosseum
Model from
XD: Gale of Darkness
Unused sprite from
Pokémon Ranger

Trivia

Cover of the Pocket Monsters Red, Green, and Blue guidebook
  • An artwork of an unnamed female character drawn by Ken Sugimori was released in Pokémon Red and Green's official strategy guide, released in April 1996.[7] This artwork also appears on the cover of a revised version of the guidebook that includes the Japanese Pokémon Blue as well.[8]
    • According to Sugimori, she was not originally planned as a player character. He wanted to portray a trio of Trainers facing off against each other, hence designed the female character for the cover.[9]
    • The female character was later adapted for the Pokémon Craft DX magazine drawn by Emiko Yoshino, as well as Green in Pokémon Adventures (released 11 months after the original artwork), Leaf in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (8 years after the original artwork), and Green in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (22 years after the original artwork).
    • Sugimori noted that he took the unnamed female character into consideration when he was designing the female protagonist for FireRed and LeafGreen. He also mentioned that the FireRed and LeafGreen female protagonist did not have a name at the time of his writing, in November 2012.[10]
  • Leaf's hat somewhat resembles a Premier Ball.
  • Leaf's FireRed and LeafGreen sprite shows her with blue eyes, although every other sprite and the official artwork shows her with brown eyes.
  • The majority of her Japanese default names are shared with Dawn and Lyra. She also shares all of Kris's alternate Japanese names.
  • Though she is neither playable nor an opponent in the handheld Generation IV games, Leaf made a brief cameo battling against Red in an early trailer for Pokémon Battle Revolution on the Wii.
  • Leaf is the only non-rival female player character to have a counterpart who appeared in Pokémon Pocket Monsters.
  • The French version for Green's Exploration mistakenly refers to the character as Leaf instead of Green. This inconsistency does not exist in the French version of Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's go, Eevee!
Pokémon Craft DX gallery

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese リーフ Rīfu From Pokémon LeafGreen
English, German,
French, Italian
Leaf From Pokémon LeafGreen
Spanish Hoja From hoja (leaf)
Korean 리프 Ripeu Transcription of her Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin) 葉子 Yèzǐ From 葉子 yèzi / yihpjí (leaf)
Chinese (Cantonese) 葉子 Yihpjí

Placeholder names

Pokémon FireRed, LeafGeen, and Emerald

Language Name Origin
Japanese リーフ Rīfu From Pokémon LeafGreen
English, French, Italian Leaf From Pokémon LeafGreen
German Blatt From Pokémon Blattgrüne Edition (Pokémon LeafGreen)
Spanish Jaho From hoja (leaf) with the syllables reversed


References

Related articles


Player characters
Core series RedLeafEthanKrisLyraBrendanMayLucasDawn
HilbertHildaNateRosaCalemSerenaElioSelene
ChaseElaineVictorGloriaReiAkariFlorianJuliana
Side series WesMichaelNateCyndy
Spin-off games MarkMintTodd SnapLucy Fleetfoot
LunickSolanaKellynKateBenSummer
HeroHeroineTim GoodmanScottieBettie
Project CharacterDex logo.png 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.