Dawn (anime): Difference between revisions

In ''[[DP049|Dawn's Early Night!]]'', Dawn felt confident but lost in the [[Appeal|Performance Stage]] of the {{ci|Hearthome}} Contest. In the {{to|Solaceon}} Contest, which took place in ''[[DP061|Team Shocker!]]'', she did not pass the Performance Stage for the second time in a row, due to being overzealous with {{TP|Dawn|Ambipom}}'s {{m|Swift}} appeal out of desperation to make up for the previous loss. This marked a notable change in Dawn's character. After the second blow to her self-esteem, she didn't know what to do and was still very upset throughout ''[[DP062|Tanks for the Memories!]]''. After this, she became more focused and regained her confidence after {{pkmn|battle|battling}} [[Maylene]] in ''[[DP067|Crossing the Battle Line!]]''. She also began to practice in earnest for all her Contest's [[appeal|performances]] and [[Contest Battle|battles]]. Following [[Zoey]]'s advice to show off the Pokémon and not its [[move]]s, Dawn was able to pass through the first round in the [[Wallace Cup]] and eventually break her losing streak by narrowly defeating {{an|May}} in the final round of the competition in ''[[DP079|Strategy With a Smile!]]''. Since this turning point, Dawn has maintained her focus and humility.

Dawn traveled back home with Ash and Brock for the annual [[Twinleaf Festival]] in ''[[DP138|Strategy Begins at Home!]]''. Dawn went on to compete against her mother in a [[Double Battle|two-on-two]] [[Contest Battle]]. Johanna's {{TP|Johanna|Glameow}} and {{p|Umbreon}} versed [[Dawn's Piplup]] and {{TP|Dawn|Pachirisu}}. Although Johanna won the match with relative ease, she was impressed by Dawn's teamwork and complimented her. The homecoming helped Dawn to regain her focus, especially after a venture into her own subconscious in ''[[DP140|Historical Mystery Tour!]]''. Once the festival ended, the group left Twinleaf Town at the end of ''[[DP141|Challenging a Towering Figure!]]''.

[[File:DawnCollection.png|thumb|250px|Dawn in the [[Hearthome Collection]]]]

She later trained in ''[[DP167|Teaching the Student Teacher!]]'' where she came up with a new tactic for the [[Grand Festival]], the Ice Chandelier, which she managed to perfect by trial and error. Though she originally wanted to see Pachirisu use its Discharge attack while surrounded by Mamoswine's Ice Shard, she eventually decided to cover Pachirisu in a larger bubble of ice from Buneary's {{m|Ice Beam}}. This gave Pachirisu enough room to run, making Ice Chandelier look its best. Besides coming up with combination moves, she also acquired a new Pokémon, {{TP|Dawn|Togekiss}}. Dawn trained with Togekiss in ''[[DP172|With the Easiest of Grace!]]'' to find a way to battle with it while not ignoring its need to move gracefully, and she was eventually able to adjust her own battling style to accommodate her new Pokémon.

[[File:Zoey and Dawn.png|thumb|left|250px|Dawn and her main [[rival]], [[Zoey]]]]

After the competition, Zoey told Dawn that [[Candice]] was throwing a victory party for her in [[Snowpoint City]] and that Dawn was also welcome; however, Dawn declined the invitation, stating that she still wanted to support Ash in his upcoming battle at [[Sunyshore Gym]] and in the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]]. She then thanked all the Pokémon that had traveled with her through Sinnoh for their hard work and pledged to not give up her dream of being a [[Top Coordinator]].

Dawn briefly appeared in a picture on {{an|Brock}}'s memory wall in the special episode [[DPS02]].

Dawn grew up inspired by her mother's achievements and from a very young age decided that she wanted to be a {{pkmn|Coordinator}}. She takes immense pride in what [[Johanna]] was able to accomplish and this is reflected in her determination to follow in her footsteps and become a respected [[Top Coordinator]]. As a kid, she would help Johanna prepare [[Poffin]]s for her Pokémon, something which led Dawn to discover the perfect recipe for her own Pokémon years later.

In stark contrast to {{an|May}}'s inexperience and self-doubt at the start of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, Dawn was overly confident and assured in her own strength at the beginning of her journey. Because of this, she became emotional after she was eliminated from Pokémon Contests, and often cried after losing. After failing to pass the Performance Stage two times in a row, Dawn became depressed. In ''[[DP062|Tanks for the Memories!]]'', Dawn remembered these failures and had to excuse herself so she could cry. These behaviors were completely opposite those she had exhibited at the beginning of her journey, something Ash and Brock took notice of. Their encouragement was not enough to renew her psyche though, and it was not until she defeated May to win the [[Wallace Cup]] that she truly regained her confidence and focus. After this point, Dawn took on a more positive and determined personality. In addition, she became more mature. Instead of reverting to her old headstrong and confident attitude, she became more aware of her faults and how she could work to overcome them.

[[File:Dawn catches a Pokémon.png|thumb|left|250px|Dawn after {{pkmn2|caught|catching}} a Pokémon]]

A key example of Dawn's growth and maturity occurred in ''[[DP119|Trials and Adulations!]]'', in which she was separated from Ash and Brock and her Mamoswine's leg was badly injured. Instead of panicking or trying to force Mamoswine to continue walking, Dawn thought back to lessons Brock had given her about Pokémon care. She recalled that the sap of a plant could help soothe pain and called upon her Pokémon to search for it. Dawn applied the sap, wrapped the wound, formed a bed of leaves for Mamoswine, and gathered food and {{Berries}} for it to eat. Dawn was ultimately rewarded as she gained her Mamoswine's respect and loyalty. Dawn's actions go deeper than that though, they are evidence of her growth as a {{pkmn|Trainer}} and person.