Favorite Pokemon Group

[Jave]

What's your favorite? I have to go with the gang from Advance, perhaps because I like May a lot better than Misty.

[Duke]

I voted for the Advance team too. The original team was good as well, playing off each other really nicely even during the Pokémon League.

[Invader_Spooch]

Team Rocket. Because James is teh sex.

[Ferquin]

Although Misty grates on my nerves, she has more dimension than May. I have to say I prefer the Johto group since Brock was way hornier then. Horny Brock = comedy gold. He seems to have calmed down way too much with the Advance generation. I think it was the vest that made him more energetic.

Ideally, they should have it be just Ash, Brock, and Max. I actually like Max as a character. He may be a kid, but he's more interesting than May 'cause he's a nerd, and he has the unique perspective of never having owned a Pokémon which we as a real life audience can relate to since they don't exist in our world, and we can view it all through the wonder of a child's eyes. Also, Brock can run rampant with his wild libido without any bratty young girl holding him back. Ash can do whatever he wants without some bratty young girl nagging him or having to babysit some other young, less-bratty girl.

[Duke]

Also, Brock can run rampant with his wild libido without any bratty young girl holding him back. Ash can do whatever he wants without some bratty young girl nagging him or having to babysit some other young, less-bratty girl.
May doesn't hold back Brock too often. In fact, most of the time, May & Max switch the role. Speaking of which, it's been a while since Joy or Jenny have appeared in AG, did the writers forget about them?

[Dudley]

May doesn't hold back Brock too often. In fact, most of the time, May & Max switch the role. Speaking of which, it's been a while since Joy or Jenny have appeared in AG, did the writers forget about them?
I always see Max holding back Brock.

In future episodes, she appears as one of the judges in the Pokemon Contest, and when there's an episode with a Pokemon Center, she'll probably be be there too.:anime:
I don't know about Jenny, but she was in the 7th movie, for the first time since the 3rd.

[Ferquin]

Personally, I like Officer Jenny more than Nurse Joy. They're more colorful in personality. It's a shame we rarely see her around anymore.

[guinaevere]

Team Rocket.Seriously, Javeman. Where's the Team Rocket option? :D

[Elven Moon]

I prefer the first season group - they're my fave. Besides, I don't like the fact that Misty left so until she returns I won't settle for any other group combination - BESIDES Team Rocket of course ;)

[Xibom]

Team Rocket. Because James is teh sex.Why yes. Yes he is.


I'm torn between the first season & the new AG because they both have their good points. But I guess I'll pick the original Kanto since that's the group I liked better than Johto. And yes, where IS that Team Rocket option ;).

[Jave]

I didn't put a Team Rocket option because I want the opinion on the "good guys" groups. Considering Team Rocket has maintained the same members since day one (Jessie, James and Meowth), it would uneven the poll quite a bit.

But feel free to discuss Team Rocket as much as you like. :p

[Rabi~en~Rose]

I vote: Ash, May, & Max :) that little group sadly didn't last long (stupid Brock) but ok fine for the real poll I put the advanced team

[Duke]

I vote: Ash, May, & Max :) that little group sadly didn't last long (stupid Brock) but ok fine for the real poll I put the advanced team
If the beginning of Episode 4 is any indication, Ash would've gone crazy and killed May & Max had Brock not shown up.

[Gruntling]

The original Ash/Misty/Brock team from Kanto was always my favorite. After Tracey joined the group, the show went downhill if you ask me and the Johto and Hoenn teams weren't quite the same either. You can't beat the originals afterall.

[Behonkiss]

Kanto.

Tracey was dull, Brock was a one-joke character in Johto, May is dull, and Max is pointless.

[Gloria Harp]

The original Ash/Misty/Brock team from Kanto was always my favorite. After Tracey joined the group, the show went downhill if you ask me and the Johto and Hoenn teams weren't quite the same either. You can't beat the originals afterall.
I agree.

*Begin Rant*

I loved the Ash/Misty/Brock team in Kanto; that's what made the show so fun. Then, they STUPIDLY got rid of Brock and put dull Tracey in, and the show just wasn't the same. Tracey just didn't fit in right with the other two; the trio no longer had the great chemistry they had when it was Ash/Misty/Brock. Tracey was never that close to Misty and Ash the way Brock was (even if the show strained to make it appear they were), and the series faltered because of it.

Then, even once they FINALLY got rid of Tracey and put Brock back in, something felt like it was missing. Granted, the series got MUCH better once Brock returned, but after his long hiatus and dealing with those grueling episodes with God-awful Tracey, the show just wasn't the same again. Ash, Brock, and Misty all still worked well off each other, and the trio still clicked back together once Brock came, but there was still the sense that the show had been "damaged" by having gotten rid of one of the original three and then pretending that he was so easily replaced. However, I still enjoyed Johto with Ash, Brock, and Misty, just not as much as I did originally in Kanto.

However, although I thought the creators of the show had learned from the error of their ways, having returned Brock and given Tracey the shaft, they obviously did not. However, instead of getting rid of Brock, they decide to get rid of Misty, again ruining the group dynamic of the show, which is what made the show so fun to begin with, and replace her with not one, but with TWO other people - May and Max (although Max is not so much a replacement as he is an unwanted and unneeded addition to the show). Again, the same thing happens; the trio (now an unfortunate quartet) has lost its chemistry and its closeness. As much as the series tries to make it believable, the "friendship" between the four seems very much forced, very much like Tracey was and unlike the chemistry between the original three, Ash, Brock, and Misty.

For example, whereas Misty and Ash may have been "good acquaintances" with Tracey and Brock and Ash may find May and Max to be "pleasant company," this isn't true with Brock, Misty, and Ash. In fact, I'm even willing to say that they are friends with Tracey, May, and Max, because, in a way, they are, even if they aren't as close as the original three. However, this is where the main difference lies; they might be friends with Tracey, May, and Max, but Ash, Brock, and Misty are much more than friends - they're like family to each other. Brock loves Ash and Misty like a younger brother and younger sister, respectively, Misty loves Brock and Ash as if they were her brothers, and Ash loves Brock and Misty as he would if they were his real brother and sister.

Furthermore, despite the fact that Brock may be a bit horny (in an innocent way, really) and Misty may sometimes be really loud and obnoxious at times (I don't mean that in a bad way) and Ash is always brash and immature, that's what made the show so funny! And, yes, they argued often and teased each other, but the point is that they were always the best of friends and felt comfortable enough around each other to be so loud and obnoxious all the time, just like siblings. Moreover, replacing Brock and Misty with two dull, bland, subdued characters (Tracey and May, respectively, and I'm not even going to go into the abomination that is Max...) when Brock and Misty were so eccentric and outgoing, made the show equally dull, bland, and subdued, instead of fun and funny.

Pokemon was enjoyable, mostly due to the interactions and chemistry between the original trio, Ash, Brock, and Misty. That's why it was so fun to watch; despite it's episodic storyline and each of those episodes being very similar plotwise, the characters were always fun and Ash, Brock, and Misty always worked well and believably off of each other. As hard as the creators may try, they can't replace or duplicate the original trio's close friendship. I'm just glad they haven't tried to mess with the other trio of the show (that is, Jesse, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket) otherwise then there'd be real hell to pay...

*End Rant*

[Elven Moon]

Gloria Harp, I agree with you :)

[Rabi~en~Rose]

If the beginning of Episode 4 is any indication, Ash would've gone crazy and killed May & Max had Brock not shown up.

I got the impression they would have killed Ash ;) if Ash had to be the dependable one he would have gotten even more mature faster but instead Brock had to come back and become leader boringly again. now even Max can't be the leader but I do like the brotherly relationship he is forming with Ash :)

[fanboy]

I prefer Ash, Brock and Misty. :) Even though, if I had to chose between May and Tracey, I would chose May. Tracey is stupid and boring.

[Gloria Harp]

Tracey is stupid and boring.Truer words have never been written. :anime:

Actually, in all seriousness, I would choose May over Tracey, as well (although I don't think I'd ever choose Tracey over ANYTHING, so...:sweat: ). Maybe it's because Tracey was the first dull character to replace one of the original three, but I'm more inclined to believe that it's because now that Max is there, I can always say, "Well, at least May isn't Max," and thus all my hatred falls onto the little bratty kid, causing me to be kind of be indifferent towards May (though they do say that indifference is worse than actually hating a character...).

I hate to say it, though, but now that I just thought about Max, maybe there is someone I'd pick Tracey over...MAYBE...

[Ferquin]

To be honest, except for Brock ('cause Brock's always cool in my book), the group dynamic just isn't working anymore.

What they should have done was ended Ash's story with the Orange Islands. Then when G/S game out, they should have started a new series with the new trainer, like the game. The new trainer could be solo or at least interact with his lead Pokémon. They could also have skewed a bit older with the audience since the G/S trainer seemed a bit older. He would have a side story of tracking down his rival, that red-haired dude that ripped off Prof. Birch's other starter Pokémon. Occasionally, he'd run into our old friends from Kanto, meet Misty or Brock, and run into Ash as a lone trainer at Mt. Silver. They would all be a few years older, of course. Then, with the Advance Generation, they could have started fresh again with a new series with May as the main character and her brother tagging along, occasionally competing with her neighbor, the male trainer.

The only drawback with all this, of course, is that we wouldn't have Team Rocket. So I guess I'm glad they didn't completely revamp everything and stuck with Ash. I just wish they'd at least age the characters, or develop them a bit more. It seems ridiculous to think that he's still ten, and Brock is still single. I mean, if you were Brock, wouldn't you have gotten tired of babysitting this rookie? He's a friggin' gym leader! Plus, they've had more episodes than there are days in a year, not to mention the movies. Don't they have seasons in the Pokémon world? It's like a constant spring day wherever they go!

Anyway, I guess, I'd be fine with it all as long as they kept Team Rocket. Oh, and Brock. Otherwise, I guess I might just stop watching the show.

[Zach]

I think that would be awsome. that idea is gold.

[Gloria Harp]

To be honest, except for Brock ('cause Brock's always cool in my book), the group dynamic just isn't working anymore.

What they should have done was ended Ash's story with the Orange Islands. Then when G/S game out, they should have started a new series with the new trainer, like the game. The new trainer could be solo or at least interact with his lead Pokémon. They could also have skewed a bit older with the audience since the G/S trainer seemed a bit older. He would have a side story of tracking down his rival, that red-haired dude that ripped off Prof. Birch's other starter Pokémon. Occasionally, he'd run into our old friends from Kanto, meet Misty or Brock, and run into Ash as a lone trainer at Mt. Silver. They would all be a few years older, of course. Then, with the Advance Generation, they could have started fresh again with a new series with May as the main character and her brother tagging along, occasionally competing with her neighbor, the male trainer.

The only drawback with all this, of course, is that we wouldn't have Team Rocket. So I guess I'm glad they didn't completely revamp everything and stuck with Ash. I just wish they'd at least age the characters, or develop them a bit more. It seems ridiculous to think that he's still ten, and Brock is still single. I mean, if you were Brock, wouldn't you have gotten tired of babysitting this rookie? He's a friggin' gym leader! Plus, they've had more episodes than there are days in a year, not to mention the movies. Don't they have seasons in the Pokémon world? It's like a constant spring day wherever they go!

Anyway, I guess, I'd be fine with it all as long as they kept Team Rocket. Oh, and Brock. Otherwise, I guess I might just stop watching the show.
I love Brock, too...I don't think I realized how much I loved him until they replaced him with retarded Tracey...thank God Brock's back, though! :D

I agree, the group's dynamic isn't working anymore, mainly because a third of the group is missing (i.e. Misty), although even when they all got back together in Johto it still wasn't exactly the same.

I would have probably ended Ash's journey at the end of Kanto so we wouldn't have to suffer through Tracey in the Orange Islands... Or, I would have cut out Tracey and the Orange Islands all together and just jumped straight to Johto, with Ash, Brock, and Misty. And I would have ended it there, before May and Max show up and Misty leaves (well, Brock leaves for a short period of time again, but he comes back rather quickly, so...).

As for Ash and company never getting older...well...I kind of think of it like the Simpsons. I mean, Bart and Lisa should really be in their twenties by now (I mean, the shows been going on for over ten years already!), but I think making them get older would have been a HUGE mistake. Although, I don't think it would have been that big of a mistake to make Ash, Brock, and Misty get older like it would be having Bart or Lisa get older (which we all pray NEVER happens), I don't really mind it. I don't think, though, if they had made Ash, Misty, and Brock, age a couple of years throughout the series (but still stay relatively young...like, Brock shouldn't go anywhere past 15 or 16), it would hurt the show or anything like that. But it doesn't bother me that much that they haven't.

I don't know how I feel about having a new series with a new trainer. I'd miss the old trio a lot, as well as Team Rocket (who I've always loved, as well, and for them alone, I'm glad that they've kept the show going despite the fact that they've ruined it, in my opinion). However, at the same time, at least I wouldn't have to painfully watch as they pull out my favorite characters and replace them with boring and dull substitutes in a vain attempt to make the series more "fresh" (instead, they just made it bland, uninteresting, and unfun, the show very much reflecting the new characters that they added), and then have to painfully watch those who were left (whether it be Ash and Misty or Ash and Brock) put up with these new, crappier replacements. So, in that sense, I think it might have been better to start a new series (sort of like how Digimon did with Tamers...because, in 02, it was kind of painful to watch as the 01 digidestined were pushed to the side for the new digidestined, although the new digidestined were at least interesting)...well, as long as the new characters of the new series were not boring and dull, like Tracey and May, annoying as all hell, like Max (couldn't they have made a little kid that was adorable and not bratty?), or not complete rip-offs of the original trio (Ash, Brock, and Misty).

I would not like a Team Rocket replacement at all, though, even in a new series, nor would I like Jesse, James, and Meowth still chasing after Ash, so they'd have to get a new villian...although I suppose maybe Cassidy and Butch would be acceptable, because they've already been introduced as Jesse and Jame's rivals, as opposed to being their replacements...

Oh, and for the record, I didn't mind when Todd tagged along with the gang for those handful of episodes nor did I mind when Richie was focused on a lot towards the end of Kanto (Richie was such a sweet kid, though, so how could you not like him?). I think the problem with Tracey, and later with May, was not only were they boring and dull (and Max was just annoying and should have never existed in the world of Pokemon), but that there was also a huge gap/void that neither could fill, whether it be with the absence of Brock with Tracey, or the absence of Misty with May. Instead, they were just bland and took up space, when we'd much rather be watching Brock and Misty on the screen. However, with Todd and Richie, the original trio was still intact, and neither of them were as boring or as dull (or as annoying) as Tracey, May, or Max. Although, I think I would have probably ended up hating Todd if he had taken the place of Brock or Misty because I don't think he was really as interesting as a character as Brock or Misty were, and I think if he had stayed with them longer than he had, he might have started to get on my nerves; I think I would have always liked Richie, though, although I would still be upset with the creators for getting rid of Brock or Misty and the group chemistry would still probably be ruined...

...well, I guess it's as the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" :D

[Rabi~en~Rose]

going by what alot of you are saying you would be happy with just a Brock & Team Rocket show :confused: those are my least favorite characters so I was SO tune out if it happened! I kind of like James but TR has no business being in Hoenn so they should just leave the show already. it would be neat if James had split off and became his own man and maybe even joined Ash? I'd accept him over Brock and James is pretty smart so he could fill in for boring old Brock :)

[Gloria Harp]

going by what alot of you are saying you would be happy with just a Brock & Team Rocket show :confused: those are my least favorite characters so I was SO tune out if it happened! I kind of like James but TR has no business being in Hoenn so they should just leave the show already. it would be neat if James had split off and became his own man and maybe even joined Ash? I'd accept him over Brock and James is pretty smart so he could fill in for boring old Brock :)
I'd be happy with the Ash, Brock, Misty, and Team Rocket show (wait, isn't that what they DID have???)!

And Brock? Boring? Blasphemy! :) You must have him mistaken with Tracey...:D

[Ferquin]

Actually, I secretly wish Team Rocket would become good guys, a la Grandis, Hanson, and Sanson from Nadia. Team Rocket and Team Grandis are so very similar. Actually, now that I think about it, Team Ash and Team Jean are also very similar.

It's uncanny!

[Kryptonian]

I chose Ash, May, Max and Brock (Hoenn). Even though I like Misty as well. The whole approach to Pokemon Advanced has been a nice change with them added. Just with them being there, could make for different possibilities to the story.

Besides that, the only thing I want, is for Misty to return.

[Rabi~en~Rose]

tracey was unintrusive and rarely distracted ash from his goals for his own little side adventures
brock is always dragging ash into filler to help out pretty girls :(

tracey also let ash do things his own way in battling
while brock was always there as a crutch/coach/annoying referee

tracey is quiet, smart, and fun
brock is loud, smart, and lame (plus his voice actor keeps falling into that annoying Kaiba voice)

[Obi]

The Kanto team.

Tracey was annoying, but at least he had a Scyther...

Misty got boring in Johto and was relegated to doing nothing more than pulling Brock's ear. Brock went into super-hormone mode in Johto, even more than in Kanto, and his job was to basically be the guy who read out of the guide book.

And I just don't like Max. :p



Edit: Wait, what about Ash, Misty, Brock, Todd/Snap?! That was pretty cool, even though it was so short.

[Gloria Harp]

tracey was unintrusive and rarely distracted ash from his goals for his own little side adventures
brock is always dragging ash into filler to help out pretty girls :(

tracey also let ash do things his own way in battling
while brock was always there as a crutch/coach/annoying referee

tracey is quiet, smart, and fun
brock is loud, smart, and lame (plus his voice actor keeps falling into that annoying Kaiba voice)Egads! But Brock...is so cool! And Tracey is...so NOT cool! :confused:

Actually, seriously, I don't see how you can say that Tracey is "unintrusive" when he was the one who invited himself on Ash and Misty's journey, whereas Brock was invited by Ash to come along. Also, I think that Ash would wind up helping out "pretty girls" anyway, even if Brock wasn't there, simply because, well, he always winds up helping everyone out! :anime: I mean, old, young, male, female - whether they be "pretty girls" or not, Ash and company always steps in to give a helping hand. The whole series is basically these "filler" episodes of them helping other people out and even in many of the gym episodes there's always SOMEONE that Ash and company winds out helping out. It really has nothing to do with Brock, I don't think; it's just what they do. What can I say? I guess they're just really good samaritans! :anime:

For your second point, Ash was an inexperience trainer when he first met Brock, while Brock was an experienced gym leader who was used to being a "big brother" figure; of course Brock was going to teach him some things about Pokemon! In fact, that's probably what made the two so close to begin with, Brock coaching/teaching him like a big brother would teach his little brother (unlike Ash with Tracey). Also, Ash never resented Brock for having so much knowledge of Pokemon or for coaching him all the time; he always looked up to Brock and respected him greatly because of it, as well as appreciated and enjoyed learning from Brock. Why do you think he was so eager to show Brock his trophy at the end of the Orange Islands League? The last line of the episode where he wins was something like, "I can't wait to show Brock!" Ash obviously was very proud of his victory, and because he respects Brock so much, wanted to show him the trophy the most, just as a little brother would want to show his big brother or a player would show his coach. Furthermore, the reason why Tracey probably never "coached" Ash the way Brock did was because he had less knowledge and experience when it came to Pokemon when compared to Brock. Moreover, Ash had already learned a great deal from Brock in Kanto and had grown more experienced as a trainer, so Tracey's limited, basic knowledge of Pokemon would be unnecessary for Ash. But I really think that you've misinterperted Brock coaching Ash, as it was one of the important, underlying bonds of their friendship...

Lastly, well, at least we both agree that Brock is smart, and I guess I'll admit that Tracey is smart, as well, although I don't think that he is as intelligent as Brock when it comes to Pokemon, whether training or breeding, or as experienced (not to mention that the guy can't cook! How did Ash and Misty survive the Orange Islands without having any decent meals from Brock, I ask? What did they eat?). However, I wouldn't say Tracey is "quiet," per se, except in comparison to the rest of the cast, and even then he was still pretty outgoing and talkative (like I said before, he DID just invite himself on their journey, so I wouldn't necessarily say he's that reserved...) Also, Brock, when compared to the rest of the cast, would be considered pretty "quiet," too. However, I think both were very outgoing, but that Tracey came off more bland and dull (which I guess could be interperted as "quiet" sort of...) whereas Brock has more of a dynamic personality that caused him to seem more "loud," as you call it, in comparison to Tracey. Also, I don't think Brock was "lame" at all, while Tracey was...or just plain old boring, really. Yeah, I guess Brock's attempts to get the girl were "lame," but that's what made him so funny and entertaining! :) Also, I don't think that Tracey was "fun" really, either, well, at least in comparison to Brock, considering that Ash and Misty definitely enjoyed their time with Brock a lot more than they did with Tracey. Sure, they thought Tracey was all right, but hanging out with Brock was like hanging out with their big brother to them, and what could be cooler than hanging out with your big brother? :D

And...that's all for now...:anime:

[Luna]

I'm more of a Team Rocket fan myself....though Ash,Misty and Brock would be my second choice...Tracey was OK,but not that interesting,and I actually haven't watched the series for a couple years,so I don't know about May and Max...

[RogueMartian]

Team Rocket, Buch and Cassidy AND Jessie, James, and Meowth should have been an option....

However with the options given, i'm old school. I like the original crew when ash screwing up was okay cause he was a newbie, when brock was the competent caretaker who hit on chicks, and when misty wanted her bike.

Tracey was good for a breath of fresh air, but he never competed with brock in the entertainment factor. I've only seen one recent episode, and I found myself really missing the old days when there were pokeraps and ash, misty, and brock were a team.

[Duke]

I just wish they'd at least age the characters, or develop them a bit more. It seems ridiculous to think that he's still ten, and Brock is still single. I mean, if you were Brock, wouldn't you have gotten tired of babysitting this rookie? He's a friggin' gym leader! Plus, they've had more episodes than there are days in a year, not to mention the movies. Don't they have seasons in the Pokémon world? It's like a constant spring day wherever they go!
They have aged. If you look at the stock pictures for Brock and Ash, you can see they have grown just a little bit physically. Plus, in "Battle of the Badge," Ash says it was about a year since he's been to Viridian City. Besides that, the only character who actually say his age is Ash. Gary is 10 as well, I'm assuming, considering he started at the same time as Ash, and I'm also assuming May is 10 too. If we go by the fan-assumed starting ages for Misty and Brock, here's how it plays out:

Kanto:
Ash - 10
Misty - 12
Brock - 15

Johto:
Ash - 11-12
Misty - 13-14
Brock - 16-17 (I'm assuming Orange Islands only took about 6 months or so)

Hoenn:
Ash - 13
Misty - 15
Brock - 18
May - 10
Max - 7

I ain't going into Team Rocket because we have no clue as to how old they are.


not to mention that the guy can't cook! How did Ash and Misty survive the Orange Islands without having any decent meals from Brock, I ask? What did they eat?
Fruit. Lots and lots and lots and lots of fruit.

[Jave]

Fruit. Lots and lots and lots and lots of fruit.They even made fruit sandwiches in one episode. :D

[Xibom]

I ain't going into Team Rocket because we have no clue as to how old they are.
I've always thought of them being around 20. They could've started in Kanto as 19, 20 in Orange & Johto, & 21 now in Hoenn.

[Animelee]

Actually, in the first radio drama, Musashi's/Jesse's mom, Miyamoto, refers to her daughter as an "almost obasan" -- in Japanese culture, if a woman is not married by the age of twenty-four, then they're called an "obasan", or literally in English, an "old hag". So I'd say currently, Musashi and Kojirou/James are around 26, or so. Let's see, acording to the producer's book, "Pocket Monsters - The Animation"...

Beginning of Kanto:
Satoshi/Ash - 10
Kasumi/Misty - 10
Takeshi - 15
Musashi/Jesse and Kojirou/James - 24


These are the ages we're given to start with for the main group. Now, let's see.

In Kanto, when Satoshi went back to Tokiwa City/Veridian City, he said it was a whole year since he left home. This then becomes a plothole later in the series, as in the third Pikachu the Movie, there's a party celebrating Satoshi and Pikachu knowing eachother for a year. So, we can assume that the writers decided to make Satoshi younger, thus making his journey from Kanto to the first third of Johto only one year. O_O I find that impossible, personally, but I'm not the one who writes the show. I guess we can assume Kanto took seven months, Orange took three-and-a-half, and the other month was the beginning of Johto, thus making a year. Also, the book said that Kenji/Tracey was the same age as Takeshi/Brock.

Beginning of Orange:
Satoshi - 10
Kasumi - 10
Takeshi - 15
Kenji/Tracey - 15
Musashi and Kojirou - 24

One third of Johto:
Satoshi - 11
Kasumi - 11
Takeshi - 16
Kenji - 16
Musashi and Kojirou - 25

Since the Johto saga was the longest saga on the show, I can say that the rest of Johto filled in the other two thirds, making it exactly one year long, so, at the beginning of Hoenn...

End of Johto/Beginning of Hoenn:
Satoshi - 12
Kasumi - 12
Takeshi - 17
Kenji - 17
Haruka/May - 10
Masato/Max - I'd say 7-years-old, but that's just me. There's been no official word on his age.
Musashi and Kojirou - 26

As for Hoenn, for people keeping up with the TV Tokyo airings, then we're currently at the point where Satoshi has six Badges, and I guess we could say that he, and everyone else, are the same ages they were at the beginning of Hoenn.

As for my favourite group, I'd have to say all of them. To tell you the truth, to me, the group never "changes", it evolves, meaning it's always the same group, but with a different flare each time. Each saga has its own unique strengths -- Kanto for introducing us to this wonderful world of Poké-nostalgia, Orange for surprising us since none of it could be traced in the games, Johto for allowing us to see the group from Kanto grow, and Hoenn for being fresh and new. To tell you the truth, there are about hundreds or reasons why I like each region, so it was stupid of me for trying to find only one good thing about each.

[PowerZord]

Bah.. The best team would ever be the first one. Ash misty brock

[WolfieKiwi]

the first team..
like others said Tracy was okay..
my second opinoin would be the Johto team even though it's the same people:sweat:

[Tash]

Beginning of Kanto:
Satoshi/Ash - 10
Kasumi/Misty - 10
Takeshi - 15
Musashi/Jesse and Kojirou/James - 24
*snipped*OR they pulled a Conan, and no matter how many refrences to time passing, or how many times the same holiday is celebrated, the characters never age.

[Duke]

In Kanto, when Satoshi went back to Tokiwa City/Veridian City, he said it was a whole year since he left home. This then becomes a plothole later in the series, as in the third Pikachu the Movie, there's a party celebrating Satoshi and Pikachu knowing eachother for a year. So, we can assume that the writers decided to make Satoshi younger, thus making his journey from Kanto to the first third of Johto only one year. O_O I find that impossible, personally, but I'm not the one who writes the show. I thought it was to celebrate an anniversary, not necessarily one-year.

Oh, I almost forgot. Didn't Ash "train" for, like, 5-6 months for the Kanto Pokémon League after getting his Earth Badge?

[Animelee]

I'm gonna have to go back and check, then. I think I remember "anniversary", too. Unfortunately, my Japanese skills are bleh...

I thought it was about two months, or so?

[Duke]

I'm gonna have to go back and check, then. I think I remember "anniversary", too. Unfortunately, my Japanese skills are bleh...
In the English version, Ash says, "Don't you remember, Pikachu? Today was the day you and I started our Pokémon journey together!"

[Hyper Shadow X]

Gotta go with the Advanced crew.

[Ferquin]

They have aged. If you look at the stock pictures for Brock and Ash, you can see they have grown just a little bit physically. Plus, in "Battle of the Badge," Ash says it was about a year since he's been to Viridian City.
Stock pictures can be drawn by different animators. Their designs haven't changed one bit until Advance Generation when they got new clothes. They just have a better animation staff later on.


Actually, in the first radio drama, Musashi's/Jesse's mom, Miyamoto, refers to her daughter as an "almost obasan" -- in Japanese culture, if a woman is not married by the age of twenty-four, then they're called an "obasan", or literally in English, an "old hag". So I'd say currently, Musashi and Kojirou/James are around 26, or so.
Twenty is the ideal peak age. They have a whole celebration around turning twenty. That being the case, Jessie was an おばさん long ago.

You're pretty much right about the ages though. Still, time sure passes slowly. I guess with only a couple years difference, they wouldn't physically age much. But still, I'm glad they finally got new clothes at least. I mean, two years wearing the same old jeans and shirt with all the crap they've been through?

[Duke]

You're pretty much right about the ages though. Still, time sure passes slowly. I guess with only a couple years difference, they wouldn't physically age much. But still, I'm glad they finally got new clothes at least. I mean, two years wearing the same old jeans and shirt with all the crap they've been through?
Don't forget that Ash & co. are pretty damn tall for their age (and May is very mature physically for her age), and it still looks like Ash is a little bit taller in Hoenn than in Kanto. True, it's not as evident as Young Gohan in DBZ, but still.

They've also aged emotionally as well, especially Ash. Notice how he hasn't turned his cap around during a battle in years, and that he doesn't get uber-angry at the smallest little thing anymore.

[JackieChan]

Voted for the Hoenn group (Ash, May, Max, & Brock) only because my favorite character from Pokemon is May except I'm a male. May has a better characterization than the others. So, that's why I went for the Hoenn group.