Pokemon: Best Wishes (Discussions)

[Light Lucario]

Well, that was two actual D/Posters.

I recall only one DP poster with Brock on it. The first one has Paul on it with Ash and Dawn, which caused people to think that he was replaced then. There was also one poster with only Dawn and Palika on it, causing many people to question if she was replacing Ash. That's one reason why I count opening themes as proof for Brock's role in the next series since promotional art work has caused many people to jump to conclusions in the past.

I don't think they ever had leaked Sketches at that time so we couldn't tell if Brock was there at that time or not.
I think there just trying to keep the new character a suprise till Brock leaves. I just found it so odd that they wouldn't have Brock on there along with Ash and Team Rocket who has been in nearly just as many episodes. Sure he's not as popular as some characters, but neither is Team Rocket these days and there still on it. So, why not have Brock on the thing?? They could have him on it with new clothes like Ash.

That is a valid point about possibly keeping Brock's replacement a surprise, especially since we don't know what role the male trainer next to Iris plays in Best Wishes. However, I'm still skeptical about it due to how long he's been around and the fact he keeps showing up early on in new journey before. I think that it's important to keep in mind that the leaked character sheet was a beta sketch. It was not something meant for the general public to see, but more along the lines of providing an idea of what some of the characters, both new and returning, are suppose to look like for the animators. That's why I'm not so sure that this sketch proves anything for Brock. If it was something that was actually meant for the general public to see, such as promotional artwork or an opening theme, I would see it as more solid proof as to whether or not Brock will return in Best Wishes.

I think that Team Rocket is fairly popular with the kids that Pokemon is targeted at. I remember seeing them in a commercial for the Giratina movie, so I don't think that they would use characters that don't appeal to kids. Just people people on forums, who are almost always outside of the target audience, don't find Ash, Team Rocket or Brock appealing doesn't necessarily mean that kids that are in the target audience feel the same way.

Some say they may do the exact oppisot with the boy and girl. Have the new guy be in contests and the new girl do nothing this time. That or have a new girl do a brand new thing. Its just I don't think they've done any of this in the past Generations with Brock.

I've heard of that rumor as well. I believe it also made the claim that Iris would have psychic powers and call Ash her knight, or something along those lines. While that sounds interesting and refreshing, it also sounds pretty fake to me. I don't think that they would not give Iris some battle oriented goal, especially after making May and Dawn Coordinators worked so well for their respective series. Similarly, I can't really see a male Coordinator in the main group. Despite seeing male Coordinators from the start, it is pretty clear that Contests are there to appeal to the female demographics and most people associate female leads with appealing to girls. I'm also not sure that they would make a third goal for the cast. They've made a good balance between Gyms and Contests since AG and I don't think that they would add another quest into the mix. I quite skeptical regarding rumors towards new Pokemon and the new series.

[RonDrakenfan17]

Even if just an idea for the Pokemon owners they still should have had Brock on it with Ash and Team Rocket. They already know every things going down, so why not? The only thing that will be suprising is the fans and we weren't supposed to see that, which is why it got taken down, guy probaly got in trouble for that
Like I said before, those were all posters to advertize D/P even the one with just Dawn was. This was a Leaked sketch, like I said a bit different cuz those are meant to be seen for the public but this one wasn't. See, I think they've finally realized maybe they can't do much for Brock any more after D/P. He rarley used his Pokemon, all he did was flirt and be a slave for Ash/Dawn. Set him free LOL LOL. Back on Team Rocket, maybe there still popular in Japan, cuz in the forums there kind of so and so with them. Than again, the owners of Pokemon don't care about what these forums think, just care what the fan base in Japan thinks. For all I know, Team Rocket could still be pretty big.
I think there trying to switch it up a bit, they can still advetize the girl a lot and have her do some thing else. She doesn't need to be in contests, I think a lot of us are tired of seeing the same thing with girls. Seeing a boy do them in the main group would be real fun.

[firefoxprime]

Is it just me, or do I see turbines for tails of the two new Legendary pokemon?

[Light Lucario]

Even if just an idea for the Pokemon owners they still should have had Brock on it with Ash and Team Rocket. They already know every things going down, so why not? The only thing that will be suprising is the fans and we weren't supposed to see that, which is why it got taken down, guy probaly got in trouble for that

Well, it was a beta character sheet, meaning that it wasn't a finished product. For all we know, they could have added Brock on another character sketch or like I said earlier, it could have been for the first few episodes of the series. I wouldn't be surprised if whoever uploaded that sketch got in trouble, along with that person who made a small blog entry about the new series.

Like I said before, those were all posters to advertize D/P even the one with just Dawn was. This was a Leaked sketch, like I said a bit different cuz those are meant to be seen for the public but this one wasn't. See, I think they've finally realized maybe they can't do much for Brock any more after D/P. He rarley used his Pokemon, all he did was flirt and be a slave for Ash/Dawn. Set him free LOL LOL.

The fact that it is a leaked beta sketch that wasn't meant to be seen by the public is still why I don't see it as solid proof for Brock leaving. Not appearing on anything that the general public is suppose to see feels like better proof for that for me. The writers have done a lot with Brock, yet that didn't stop them from bringing him back for AG and DP. Even though I'm guess it was a joke, I don't think that Brock was a slave for Ash and Dawn at all. He wasn't being held against his will and clearly enjoyed being with Ash and Dawn. He's never been that active with his Pokemon. He might have battled a bit more often in the original series, but he was still in the same basic role then as he is now. He was also the reason why Dawn could get Mamoswine to listen to her since he taught her some basic tips on how to heal Pokemon. Brock was also important for the Team Galactic climax. I think that there are a couple of other important moments in DP for Brock, but I can't think of them at the moment.

Back on Team Rocket, maybe there still popular in Japan, cuz in the forums there kind of so and so with them. Than again, the owners of Pokemon don't care about what these forums think, just care what the fan base in Japan thinks. For all I know, Team Rocket could still be pretty big.

That's my point. People on forums could hate these characters, but as long as they appeal to the actual target audience, which would be children in Japan, the writers will keep them. Considering how long Brock has been around, the same could apply to him for all we know.

I think there trying to switch it up a bit, they can still advetize the girl a lot and have her do some thing else. She doesn't need to be in contests, I think a lot of us are tired of seeing the same thing with girls. Seeing a boy do them in the main group would be real fun.

That is a valid point about having the girl doing something else and still promote the new games. However, I don't think that will happen. After both May and Dawn's Contest arcs, I would imagine that the writers would like to keep something along those lines for Iris. I also think that you're using how some people on forums feel about Contests and thinking that the target audience feels the same way. Considering how popular Piplup is in Japan, as well as the fact that they've had two Contest sags in a row, I don't think kids mind that two girls have gone after the same goal.

Despite going after the same goal, there are plenty of differences between May and Dawn. Granted, I do find some aspects of Dawn's Contest saga, mainly the events after the Wallace Cup, annoying and boring and I prefer May's growth overall, but there are enough differences between the two so that they wouldn't be exactly the same. I could see them making Iris's Contest quest different as well. I agree that seeing a male coordinator in the main group would be refreshing, but I doubt that it would happen.

[Golfkid]

The thing is that isn't Brock suppose to be a "Pokemon Breeder"? How would he ever attempt or complete that goal if he's following Ash all the time? It would make sense, if they have him say something, like, "I'm going off to become a Pokemon Breeder." It would be a very good reason why he would leave.

[RonDrakenfan17]

Its true, they've done different things between Dawn and May's storylines but I seriously don't know what else they could do for the next one if she was in contests. If she had physic powers like rumors going around, than maybe we can work with some thing.
That's what I was thinking too, the sketch could have been for three episodes or so but why do they keep having Brock come back and be a suprise for us? Is it to take a jab at people who want him gone Well any who, I thought that at first than all this other stuff gets thrown at us. I just am finding it all really odd is all. And again, why keep him untill the last sketch if the Pokemon owners know hey'll be back already?
Its true, I shouldn't count the forums opinions on this at all. The Pokemon owners only care about what the Japan fan base thinks like I said. I mean, the forums hate Pipulp LOL Than again it is a little odd that they suddenly added this Pipulp bashing stuff in the show.

[Light Lucario]

The thing is that isn't Brock suppose to be a "Pokemon Breeder"? How would he ever attempt or complete that goal if he's following Ash all the time? It would make sense, if they have him say something, like, "I'm going off to become a Pokemon Breeder." It would be a very good reason why he would leave.

Technically speaking, Brock is already a Pokemon Breeder and has been one since he first joined the group. So, it wouldn't make sense to go off to become a Breeder when he already is one. His goal is trying to become the world's best Pokemon Breeder. I don't think that being with Ash is preventing him from learning about the best ways to take care and raise Pokemon, which is basically what a Breeder does in the anime universe.

He doesn't get a lot of focus in accomplishing that goal, but I think that's because there's a big difference between being a Breeder and trainer/coordinator. Being a Breeder isn't battle oriented like with Ash's/May's/Dawn's quests are. It's more focused on how he raises his own Pokemon, interacts with them outside of battle and how he takes care of them.

Its true, they've done different things between Dawn and May's storylines but I seriously don't know what else they could do for the next one if she was in contests. If she had physic powers like rumors going around, than maybe we can work with some thing.

Well, they've been able to have Ash go through six badge collecting quests, if you count the Battle Frontier as one, with a seventh one on the way for Best Wishes, and they all feel different to me. If they could do that, then they could easily do something different with Iris if she's into Contests. I doubt that the writers have used up all of their ideas on just two Contests arcs. Even though I seriously doubt the rumors going around, Iris having psychic powers would be really cool. Though, I don't think that that would be the only way to make her separate from May and Dawn's stories. They could easily use something from the storyline of Black and White for something about her backstory or why she wants to be a Coordinator that is different from May and Dawn's reasons.

That's what I was thinking too, the sketch could have been for three episodes or so but why do they keep having Brock come back and be a suprise for us? Is it to take a jab at people who want him gone Well any who, I thought that at first than all this other stuff gets thrown at us. I just am finding it all really odd is all. And again, why keep him untill the last sketch if the Pokemon owners know hey'll be back already?

It could be that they want Brock to join up in a different fashion than the other companions or just for the heck of it. It did feel like a gag when he joined up in DP, but mainly because he thought he was going to be this girl's boyfriend before he found out that she already had one. Maybe they're just doing it for the suspense. I'm not sure myself.

Its true, I shouldn't count the forums opinions on this at all. The Pokemon owners only care about what the Japan fan base thinks like I said. I mean, the forums hate Pipulp LOL Than again it is a little odd that they suddenly added this Pipulp bashing stuff in the show.

I actually hear mix opinions on Piplup on various forums myself, yet he's being treated like a second mascot in Japan. The Piplup abuse, such as with Gible's Draco Meteor, was most likely added for comedy relief, as opposed to people complaining about it.

[zoombie]

I will say this about Brock, watching some Indigo League episodes recently, I am thinking it is not all his fault that his character has become stale. It is because the puzzle is messing a piece, and that piece is Misty. The original trio, they were the best main character cast ever in my opinion. They complimented each other perfectly. That is probably why they brought back Brock after the Orange League, they realised Ash and Misty were not the same without Brock.

Maybe they should have got rid of Brock after Johto, and have Ash have completely new travel companions ever few seasons like they do with the girl of the group. Though still Ash and insert "new travel compannions", will ever become close to being as good as the original trio.

[Light Lucario]

I will say this about Brock, watching some Indigo League episodes recently, I am thinking it is not all his fault that his character has become stale. It is because the puzzle is messing a piece, and that piece is Misty. The original trio, they were the best main character cast ever in my opinion. They complimented each other perfectly. That is probably why they brought back Brock after the Orange League, they realised Ash and Misty were not the same without Brock.

I'm not so sure about that. The majority of Misty's interactions with Brock revolved around pulling his ear and dragging him away from every girl he instantly loved. Granted, most of that happened in Johto, but I don't recall a lot of special interaction between the two during Kanto to make it like Misty was a missing piece to Brock's personality. They were friends and supported each other, but that was about it. After going through the annoying ear pulling bit with Misty and Max, Croagunk actually made Brock's love daze gag funny for me again.

According to an interview with a former director of the series from a couple of years ago, the reason they got rid of Brock was because they thought that American audiences would like a character who looked more American, i.e. Tracey. I think that they brought Brock back because they learned that fans did like Brock and they didn't need to replace him in order to make the cast more appealing to American audiences. At least, that's what I recall from the interview. I'll have to look it up later to make sure that I didn't miss something.

To be honest, Misty, and to a certain point Ash, were basically the same in the Orange Island as they were in Kanto. Misty still had a temper, didn't try to train Togepi that often, if at all, it and was in love with Water Pokemon, despite not battling that often. The only major difference was that Ash didn't earn any badges out of pity or poor reasons, actually got Charizard to listen to him and won a league. He basically was a better trainer and was starting to actually grow out of the rookie state that he was in during Kanto, but his personality was pretty similar to how it was back then.

Maybe they should have got rid of Brock after Johto, and have Ash have completely new travel companions ever few seasons like they do with the girl of the group. Though still Ash and insert "new travel compannions", will ever become close to being as good as the original trio.

That might have worked, but I'm glad that they kept Brock around. He was nice, could be funny with his love daze gag, even though Misty and Max made that difficult most of the time, and could also be one of the more mature/knowledgeable people in the group when he needed to be. I'm still not sure if I think that the original trio was that great, but I do still cry during the episode where they split up. The sad song does help with that though.

Anyway, I wonder if we'll see all of the new rivals from the games in the series. I'm sure that we'll see N since he appears to be a villainous kind of rival, especially with wanting to find the power to fulfill his goal of separating humans and Pokemon. I wonder if he'll have special interactions with Ash, similar to Paul, or be a rival to everyone in the group since they will have Pokemon too.

I hope that we see both Cheren and Belle. It sounds like Belle has an interesting background with her father not wanting her to go on this journey. For some reason, I think, or hope, that Iris will have a similar backstory that causes her to leave home against her father's wishes. Though, it might be the man in the beta sketch too. It would be interesting to see for once a parent who isn't completely okay with their child going on a potentially dangerous journey. Cheren's design is pretty cool. He comes off as a smart and confident trainer. He could possibly act like he's superior to Ash if he is that knowledgeable. I wonder what kind of rivals Iris will have. I wouldn't mind if the female trainer from Black and White became a rival for either Ash or Iris at this point. Maybe they could have Cheren as one of Ash's rival and Belle for Iris, or vice versa, so Ash doesn't get all of the game-based rivals in the series.

EDIT: I found that part of the interview that I mentioned earlier:

This next paragraph is rather interesting. I asked him why they dropped Brock like a rock in the Orange Islands, and if they ever intended on his absence being temporary. He started to explain that they like to “switch up” the cast once in a while, and that was their first time doing it. Then I made sort of a “that’s obvious” face, and he started to talk for quite some time to the translator. The translator began to explain that the Japanese crew felt that Brock might be viewed as racist by the American people because of his eyes, and that they were even fearful of it when Pokemon first came to America. I asked if anyone ever complained, and he said no, but it was just that they were worried someone might eventually. So, they brought in a tall, white, Anglo-looking character to replace him, just to be on the safe side. Going back to the first interview with Mr. Hidaka, he had said they had to consider other countries when Pokemon started to go global, so this mentality fits even here, especially with the whole Jynx incident. So then I asked, “Why did you bring him back?” and he responded that “we realized no one really cared about it and liked Brock, so we brought him back.” It appears that if they had not changed their decision, Professor Ivy might have been Brock’s true soul mate.

I had forgotten about the Jynx issue, but it does seem like they replaced Brock in avoid another situation similar to the one with Jynx and only brought him back when they realized that it wasn't an issue in the first place. It doesn't look like it had anything to do with the group dynamics or how Ash and Misty were without Brock.

[zoombie]

I'm not so sure about that. The majority of Misty's interactions with Brock revolved around pulling his ear and dragging him away from every girl he instantly loved. Granted, most of that happened in Johto, but I don't recall a lot of special interaction between the two during Kanto to make it like Misty was a missing piece to Brock's personality. They were friends and supported each other, but that was about it. After going through the annoying ear pulling bit with Misty and Max, Croagunk actually made Brock's love daze gag funny for me again.

Well still Brock's presence post Johto did make Misty's absence more notecable for me. I do agree Croagunk was the best thing to happen to Brock's character in a long time.

Anyone notice, if you ignore that one season with Tracey, that until Dawn came along, all of Ash's travel companions came from families of gym leader. Which kind of bummed out a bit that Dawn's family is not a gym leader family, though at the same time I thought they had to change things up a bit. But I always found some funny irony in that, especially when I think of the original trio, here is Ash going into a gym battle or torunament and his two advisers are gym leaders.

I wonder if any of the new travel companions will come from gym leader families, and bring that tradition back.

[NewcomerDC]

Well still Brock's presence post Johto did make Misty's absence more noticeable for me. I do agree Croagunk was the best thing to happen to Brock's character in a long time.

I have to say that while he's cool at times, he's just Max and Misty. First it was being pulled on the ear. Now, Brock's getting hit by Croagunk's Poison Jab every time he meets a girl. I got tired of it as much as I got tired of the premise. I would like to see Pokemon change up with not only bringing in new characters but having some original ones, such as Brock, retire and pop up every so often. And to think that Prof. Ivy could had been Brock's real soul mate, guess what? I would had liked it. I'm sorry but his arc would had been one step closer to be complete. I'm like this: I could care less about what everyone would had thought had he been removed from the show for a great extended period of time but I would had been truly happy if he did find someone to love. I would had taken it one step further, fast forward to the future, and have him as a talented Pokemon Breeder working for popular Pokemon trainers turned celebrities.

If he returns for Best Wishes, he deserves more Pokemon. He may not had battled a lot but he needs to do more than being on the sidelines, playing referee for Pokemon battles between Ash and "Trainer of the Day", and making food for the Pokemon and the rest of the team. I bet his little brother Forest is better than him by now. Now that would be something: Forest vs. Brock. I'll be one of the first people to witness the battle.

[Light Lucario]

Well still Brock's presence post Johto did make Misty's absence more notecable for me. I do agree Croagunk was the best thing to happen to Brock's character in a long time.

I can understand that, although I wasn't too disappointed with Misty's absence after AG started.

Anyone notice, if you ignore that one season with Tracey, that until Dawn came along, all of Ash's travel companions came from families of gym leader. Which kind of bummed out a bit that Dawn's family is not a gym leader family, though at the same time I thought they had to change things up a bit. But I always found some funny irony in that, especially when I think of the original trio, here is Ash going into a gym battle or torunament and his two advisers are gym leaders.

I wonder if any of the new travel companions will come from gym leader families, and bring that tradition back.

Well, the main reason Dawn didn't come for a gym leader family in the series was because that wasn't the case for her in D/P/Pl. If you play as the female trainer in those games, the mother is a former Coordinator and the writers used that background in order to setup Dawn's goal to become a great Coordinator like her mother was. If Dawn had come from a Gym Leader family, then that would have been reflected in the series. If the trainer in R/S/E didn't have a gym leader for a father, then May and Max wouldn't have been related to Norman in the series either. I think it's more like the writers are just following the storylines from the recent games than following tradition of keeping someone in the group related or connected to a Gym.

To be fair, Misty wasn't a gym leader until she left the group. At least, I wouldn't call her a former gym leader during her run on the show. I know that she battled Ash for his second Kanto badge, but that was only because her sisters, who were really in charge of the gym, couldn't battle and she didn't like the idea of Ash just getting the badge without winning it in a match. Ironically enough, that's how Ash got that badge despite their battle. Brock was actually in charge of his gym, so he has been a former Gym Leader all this time. Plus, Misty came off as just barely more experienced in Pokemon training/battling than Ash to me during that point of season one, so I don't think that she was experience enough then to be considered a Gym Leader.

Anyway, other than Brock, who I still think has a good chance to stick around, I don't think that any of Ash's new friends would be connected to a Gym in Best Wishes. I still get the feeling that the writers would use Belle's background to kick off Iris's storyline in the series. It would be kind of cool to see Iris take charge of her destiny by going off on her own and then meeting up with Ash. I'm not sure how likely that is to happen, especially if they include Belle as one of Ash's rivals in the series, but it sounds cool to me. Though, the idea of Ash having a female rival for once also sounds really cool to me too.

Considering that the beta character sketch has Kibago, the little green Dragon type Pokemon, next to Iris, I wonder if that means it is her first Pokemon. It would be interesting to see another new trainer starting off with a non traditional starter Pokemon. Though, considering the way the trainer and even the rivals get their starter Pokemon at the same time, I wonder if we'll see that in the series too.

If he returns for Best Wishes, he deserves more Pokemon. He may not had battled a lot but he needs to do more than being on the sidelines, playing referee for Pokemon battles between Ash and "Trainer of the Day", and making food for the Pokemon and the rest of the team. I bet his little brother Forest is better than him by now. Now that would be something: Forest vs. Brock. I'll be one of the first people to witness the battle.

While I don't mind Brock basically being on the sidelines for the most part, considering that's what he has been doing from the start, I definitely wouldn't mind him being more active in the plot and getting more Pokemon. I do enjoy most of, if not all of, the episodes that focus on Brock and give some spotlight attention to his Pokemon.

[Jacob T. Paschal]

So, turns out the new girl for the series is darker in skin-tone like the southern Japanese, she also dresses completely different from what we're use to. O.o

[RockmanDash]

So, turns out the new girl for the series is darker in skin-tone like the southern Japanese, she also dresses completely different from what we're use to. O.o

What no pic?

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Heh, I hadn't found one I could link to.

[Marvin Tikvah]

Clearer pics of Iris and Reimu:

Spoiler:

[Daxdiv]

YES! So far, I like the new characters myself. Iris looks like a fun going adventuring girl, and somewhat reminds me of Dora the Explorer, while Dento reminds me of a Prof. Layton character, he's perfect for Tsutaja, and she's perfect for Pokabu, with that Ash should get Mijumaru, YES!

When I saw the pics yesterday, I thought they were real, and hoping that they would be. Sure there was some doubt, but I still held on to believe them to be real.

[Golfkid]

My opinion is that the girl looks, well, dull. She doesn't seem like a adventurist person. She seems like someone who's very spiritual. She (at least right now) doesn't excite me.

[Mesousa]

I like them already! Their designs definately makes me look more forward for this.

It'd be weird if Ash hangs out with them. He'd look pretty out of place, but it will freshen him up somehow by hanging with characters like them.

[SuperMegaHyper]

I like these designs so far. However I can't get past the title for what it means. (maybe Victini has powers simulair to Jirachi?)