My Top 20 Favorite Pokémon

One thing you should know about me is that I go through phases. I find something that I like, and suddenly all of my thoughts are about that thing. Around 2014, I was absolutely obsessed with The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Divergent, and a very popular series that I will not mention by name because of the author’s (who I will also not mention by name) recent instances of transphobia. In 2016, all of my thoughts were about Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and Twenty One Pilots. And at the tail end of 2018 up until this May or so, my obsessive thoughts were about Pokémon. 

The first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue were released in 1996, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and the Pokémon Company. Since then, Pokémon has become the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, grossing $92 billion between video games, an anime, a trading card game, films, manga, and so many other aspects. The franchise has a simple premise: Pokémon are fictional creatures that you have to “catch” in the iconic Pokéballs. Once you catch them, they’re basically your pets, except for the fact that you can fight with them. I like the battle aspects of Pokémon, mostly because making smart moves is just as important to winning as making powerful ones. But most of my love for Pokémon is due to the creatures themselves. As of July 2020, there are a total of 896 different Pokémon species, which means that there is at least one species for anyone to appreciate. Whether you’re more interested in the intimidating and powerful creatures or the ones that are so cute they make you cry, there’s a Pokémon for you. I love so many Pokémon, but these are my top 20 favorites. I’m growing out of my Pokémon phase, with my current obsessive phase being around Avatar: The Last Airbender. With this post, I’m saying goodbye to my Pokémon phase, celebrating my ultimate favorites. After this, I don’t have any need to make any more Pokémon-related content, since this is the biggest and most important one I’ll make, at least, pertaining to my Pokémon fandom. 

But first, I always feel the need to write as if the person reading has no idea what anything I’m talking about is. So here are some terms I’m going to use a lot that I should probably explain.

-Pokémon type: Types are a way of categorizing Pokémon based on what kind of powers they have. There are eighteen types: Grass, Fire, Water, Normal, Electric, Psychic, Fighting, Rock, Ground, Flying, Bug, Poison, Dark, Ghost, Ice, Steel, Dragon, and Fairy. Some Pokémon have one type, some have two. 

-Pokédex: The Pokédex is a device that gives information about Pokémon. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a Pokemon index. It is a log that allows you to learn about the Pokémon you find on your journey, as well as recording every Pokémon you catch. Many players enjoy completing the Pokédex and catching every Pokémon in the game. 

-Competitive Pokémon: In addition to the video games, many fans like playing Pokémon competitively. Competitive Pokémon is like playing a normal Pokémon game, but only with the battling parts. No story, no characters, just you and another person doing a Pokémon battle. It’s over the Internet and free to play, so I do it from time to time. I like it because it’s essentially a strategy game. It’s more about battle mechanics and making sure you have a well-rounded team than just winning. Smogon is the biggest of the competitive play sites, so that’s what I use. Smogon is known for categorizing Pokémon into tiers based on how good they are. The tiers make sure that the Pokémon in a battle are evenly matched, so you can’t put a legendary Pokémon against a baby Pokémon, which is good.

-Starter Pokémon: At the beginning of each game, you get a choice of three Pokémon, one grass-type, one fire-type, and one water-type. Starter Pokémon almost always start out adorable, then have an awkward middle stage, then evolve into a more powerful, cool beast. I genuinely love all 24 starters in one way or another, and many of them will appear on this list. 

One last thing before we begin: I've already posted three Pokémon-related things, so check those out if you're interested!

-Ranking the Baby Pokemon

-Why I Love the Pokemon Sun & Moon Anime

-The Top 25 Most Adorable Pokémon

Now let's get started!

20. Goodra

First up, we have the pseudo-legendary Pokémon of Pokémon X and Y. Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are usually the most powerful non-legendary creatures in the game, noteworthy for having a base stat total of exactly 600. I love pretty much all of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon, especially Metagross, Dragonite, and Garchomp, but my personal favorite (at this very moment, at least) is Goodra. Dragon-type Pokémon are normally exactly what it says on the tin: they’re dragons. (Although there are a few oddballs, like an apple and a palm tree.) They’re the closest thing the series has to an objective “best” type, and to match their power, they’re usually intimidating brutes. Goodra is great because it is extremely powerful, but it’s also quite adorable. Dragonite, the series’ first pseudo-legendary, also has a dopey, non-threatening charm to it, but Goodra takes its huggability (is that a word?) up to eleven. Despite its slimy exterior, Goodra just looks like it would give amazing hugs, and I love that. Its base stage, Goomy, is also the cutest little ball of goo you will ever see. 

19. Torterra

I literally said this was coming a few weeks ago when I talked about my top ten favorite Avatar: The Last Airbender animals. One of the creatures I had on that list is the lion turtle, which instantly reminded me of Torterra. This makes sense, as both creatures take inspiration from the World Turtle of various mythologies, a turtle capable of supporting the entire world on its back. Torterra also takes inspiration from the ankylosaur dinosaur with its bulky armor. It is the final evolution of the Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum grass starter, Turtwig, which I also love. Turtwig is an endearing little snapping turtle with an precious seedling on its head, and seeing the adorkable turtle evolve into a seven-foot, almost 700-pound beast is absolutely wonderful.

18. Flygon

I’ve still never played a real Pokémon game, but Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald were probably my favorite when it comes to new Pokémon. Five of the twenty Pokémon on this list debuted in those games, and the first of those is Flygon. It’s one of the more unique dragon-types in the series, resembling a dragonfly. (It’s actually inspired by the antlion, another insect.) If I were to describe Flygon’s design in one word, it would be “quirky.” The red covers on its eyes look like goggles, and its limbs are hilariously tiny in comparison to the rest of its body. These design choices make it stand out from all the other dragons. Flygon has a great typing of ground/dragon, making it pretty useful in Pokémon battles.

17. Aegislash

The ghost type is by far my favorite in the series. They’re known for having some brilliantly horrifying concepts and backstories, with some of the darkest being a neglected doll that came to life, seeking revenge on the child that threw it out, an undead cicada husk, a balloon that exists to grab the hands of children and take them to the afterlife , and a friendly reminder that climate change is bad and that we are all doomed, in addition to a few others we’ll get to later. While Aegislash, the living sword, doesn’t have any terrifying stories like that, I still think it’s awesome. I play competitive Pokémon from time to time, and let me tell you, Aegislash is an absolute monster there. It boasts an insane nine resistances, as well as two unique forms, one offensively-oriented , one defensive, so it can fit into any team. It’s by far one of my favorites to use when playing competitively.

16. Gardevoir

I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT EVER SEARCH FOR THIS POKÉMON ON GOOGLE IMAGES. Due to its feminine, humanoid appearance (Its gender ratio is actually 50-50; it looks feminine, but it’s just as common to see a male Gardevoir as well), many perverts on the Internet enjoy drawing lewd fanarts of it. This February, the Pokémon Company ran a “Pokémon of the Year” poll to see which creatures were most popular. (Results here.) Gardevoir made it into the top ten, and although it’s one of my favorites, I know it only made the top ten because a bunch of horny dudes are attracted to it. But I don’t think that’s entirely fair. While Gardevoir does have a beautiful, almost guardian angel-esque design, there’s so much more to it. It’s underrated in the sense that people only appreciate it for how it looks, because even if it didn’t have that design, there would still be a lot to love about it. Gardevoir is loyal to a fault, as its Pokémon Emerald Pokédex entry says that “It will give its life to protect its Trainer.” Loyalty has always been a quality I’ve really admired, and that Gardevoir is so nobly loyal and willing to sacrifice itself to protect those it cares about, that’s beautiful. As a psychic/fairy type Pokémon, it also has immense power, with its Platinum Pokédex entry stating that “To protect its Trainer, it will expend all its psychic power to create a small black hole.” I also really love its mega evolution from the sixth generation, which gives it an even more voluminous ballgown.

15. Scizor

I don’t like bugs much, but if you ask me, the bug type is the most underrated Pokémon type. It does have seven weaknesses, but there are many cool, cute, and creative bug Pokémon out there, and some of them are actually pretty good in a battle setting. For example, Scizor, my favorite bug type. Scizor is a dual-type bug/steel Pokémon, and due to steel being a defensive powerhouse typing, most of its weaknesses from the bug type cancel out. Its only weakness is to fire-type Pokémon, but it is a quadruple weakness, so watch out for those. Scizor evolves from the Pokémon Scyther, which is also really cool. They have the same base stat total, so neither is objectively better than the other. I just prefer Scizor because of its striking red, metallic cover. It’s like if Iron Man were a bug.

14. Luxray

The electric-type Luxray is one of the big fan-favorite Pokémon from the fourth generation of games, and it’s not hard to see why. The big thing that makes Luxray stand out for me is its amazing color scheme. The combination of blue, yellow, and black is my absolute favorite color palette, and that’s exactly what this Pokémon has. Another thing I love about Luxray is how it manages to look equally intimidating and adorable. Its dark colors, as well as the fact that it possesses x-ray vision, give it that “cool” factor, but its face is inherently lovable. Whether you prefer cool Pokémon or cute ones, Luxray is certainly one of the most appealing creatures in the franchise. And of course, its pre-evolution, Shinx, is easily one of the top five cutest Pokémon ever made.

13. Snorlax

In February, when I ranked all of the baby Pokémon, I named Munchlax as my favorite for how funny and happy-go-lucky it is. But while I love Munchlax, I love its evolved form, Snorlax, much more. I’ve mentioned before that my absolute favorite character trope is the Gentle Giant, the characters who are large and intimidating at first but really end up being complete sweethearts once you get to know them. It’s why I love characters like Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Baymax from Big Hero 6, and the Iron Giant from the movie of the same name. The Gentle Giant trope is Snorlax’s entire appeal. It’s 6’11” and weights over a thousand pounds, and while it’s quite slow, it always hits with immense power. Yet its Pokédex entries in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire state that “it is such a docile Pokémon that there are children who use its expansive belly as a place to play.” It’s also incredibly lazy and doesn’t enjoy much else other than eating and sleeping, which I relate to more than I’d like to admit.

12. Mudkip

I just think Mudkip is hilarious. It’s so goofy yet charming. I’ve said before that it’s like a doofy, happy puppy that always wants to play with you, and I stand by that. Obviously, it doesn’t look like a puppy, but I feel like its personality is similar to one. In nearly every picture I’ve seen of it, Mudkip has a gigantic smile on its face like it couldn’t be happier to be alive. That adorable, wonderful smile, combined with those giant, goofy fins on its head, it just makes me smile. Mudkip is the water-type starter Pokémon of the Hoenn region from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and the remakes of the former two, and while it’s not quite my starter of choice from the region, I do love it a whole lot and think it’s the cutest water-type Pokémon. Plus, there’s a random, funny, slightly-NSFW-in-origin meme behind this Pokémon, which makes me like it even more.

11. Greninja

In the aforementioned “Pokémon of the Year” poll, Greninja was voted as the most popular Pokémon. Like it or not, this water/dark-type ninja frog is insanely popular. However, I’ve always been on the “like it” side. Froakie, the water-type starter of Pokémon X and Y, is a cute and quirky, but rather unassuming frog. It’s safe to say that many fans weren’t expecting much from Froakie’s evolution. But then it evolves into Frogadier, one of the most solid middle-stage starter evolutions. Finally, it evolves into the badass ninja frog Greninja, establishing itself as an all-time great. Greninja is so popular for a lot of reasons. First of all, ninjas are objectively cool. Like every good ninja, this Pokémon specializes in stealthy, quick movements, and it’s even able to make throwing stars, or shurikens, out of water. Greninja’s design is sharp, cool, and slick, but it’s not afraid to get a little weird, with that pink thing around its neck literally being its tongue. However, it doesn’t just look cool; it also is a monster in competitive battle, thanks to its amazing hidden ability Protean. This means that this Pokémon can change its type depending on whatever move it’s using, ensuring that it will get same-type attack bonus, or STAB, on literally every move it uses. Finally, it’s so popular due to its prominent usage in the Pokémon XY anime, where it was the star of Ash Ketchum’s team. In the anime, Greninja’s bond with Ash allowed it to transform into a unique form, (very creatively) titled Ash-Greninja. Although I prefer the original Greninja, due to the other form not having the Protean ability, I think this Pokémon is awesome no matter what form it’s in. I also enjoy using it in Super Smash Bros.

10. Umbreon

One of the most well-known Pokémon is Eevee, a fluffy, fox-like creature. Eevee is beloved partially because it’s adorable, but mostly because it is able to evolve into one of eight different Pokémon, known by fans as “Eeveelutions.” All of the “Eeveelutions” are extremely popular with fans, to the point where I feel like they’re pretty overrated. But “overrated” is not the same thing is “bad,” because I like all of the Eevees to some extent. The dark-type Umbreon was voted number five in the Pokémon of the Year poll, making it the most popular of the bunch. Yet, it’s my favorite, although the fairy-type Sylveon is a close second. Its design is so simple, sleek and elegant. Umbreon looks like it can glide through the night without being noticed, almost like a black cat. The yellow rings look really cool and help it glow in the dark. I’ve also gotten some use out of this Pokémon in competitive play. You wouldn’t expect it to be a solid defensive Pokémon, but it’s actually pretty bulky and has an amazing special defense stat of 130. (For those who don’t speak Pokémon: I’m not really sure how to concisely explain the significance between normal defense and special defense, but long story short, that high stat is a really good thing. A Pokémon’s stats reflect how well it performs in a specific area, so high stats mean that it’s more powerful.)

9. Chandelure

The fifth generation of games had more new Pokémon than ever before, and a lot of them are really fantastic. I feel bad that I only have one of them on my list, but alas, there was only one that I really consider one of my absolute favorites, and that’s Chandelure. Many fans like to complain about how inanimate object Pokémon are the worst, most lazily-designed creatures in the franchise. However, I think a lot of them have fun little twists and gimmicks that make them creative and interesting. Chandelure, for example, isn’t just a chandelier: it’s a chandelier with flames powered by the souls of the damned. It’s another brilliantly terrifying ghost-type, but it’s also given the rare dual typing of ghost/fire. The thing I love about Chandelure is just how pretty it is. It has a gothic elegance unlike any other Pokémon and those purple flames are marvelous. Its rare typing, combined with its freakish special attack stat of 145, make it another favorite in competitive play. According to the Pokémon of the Year poll, Chandelure is the fan favorite from the fifth generation, and it’s definitely my favorite, too.

8. Rayquaza

Legendary Pokémon are a group of the rarest, most powerful monsters in the Pokémon world, often having big parts in the game’s storyline. Rayquaza is the only one I have on my list, but it’s by far my favorite. Despite the fact that it’s a hugely powerful dragon, I relate to it quite a lot. The basic plot of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald is that Kyogre, a whale-like monster that can expand the oceans, and Groudon, a Godzilla-like thing that can expand continents, are fighting. Rayquaza, the lord of the skies, lives in the ozone layer and must come down to end Kyogre and Groudon’s conflict and prevent the world from destruction. Like Kyogre and Groudon, my two brothers fight all the time over really petty things and I’m always the peacekeeper in their beefs. The Pokémon Sapphire Pokédex also says “Its existence had been completely unknown because it lived so high in the sky.” Fun fact; one of my neighbors didn’t know that I existed until pretty recently. I’ve been living at the same house since 2009, and this guy knew my parents, but genuinely had no idea that they had a teenage daughter for about eight years. Other than the fact that I relate to it a lot, I just think Rayquaza looks really cool. In its artwork, it looks like it told a really shitty joke and is waiting for people to laugh. That’s fun.

7. Alolan Raichu

Pikachu is the most iconic Pokémon, full stop. Even people who don’t know anything about Pokémon can recognize and identify Pikachu. Because the electric rat is so popular, many people either forget or don’t know that it can evolve into a larger, stronger Pokémon, Raichu. For decades, Raichu was overshadowed by its evolutionary relative, until 2016, when Pokémon Sun and Moon revealed the concept of regional variants. Those games take place in the tropical Alola region, which has many new forms of old favorite Pokémon, including Raichu. The new Alolan version of Raichu has always been my favorite electric-type. I love how its body shape is rounder and softer than the original Raichu, and its face is completely adorable. My favorite thing about it is that it’s also a psychic-type, able to use psychic powers to surf on its tail. That’s incredibly fun and clever, considering that its home is inspired by Hawaii. I also remember it being one of the first good Pokémon I got in Pokémon Go, so it’s kind of sentimental to me for that reason. Both the Pokémon Sun & Moon games and anime state that the Alolan Raichu’s favorite food is pancakes, even suggesting that pancakes hold the key to its evolution. Because of this, I always call my Raichus “Pancake.”

6. Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur was the original grass-type starter Pokémon (it's also part poison-type, and was actually the only starter to start out with a dual type for twenty years!) . It has a long legacy as one of the most iconic Pokémon ever created. I love all three of the original starter Pokémon, but Bulbasaur is easily my favorite. Its design is mostly frog-like, but it’s not just a normal frog. It has that adorable little bulb on its back. Bulbasaur is so sweet. It’s a classic, reliable Pokémon who can get the job done no matter what it is. In the anime, Ash’s Bulbasaur serves as the caretaker of the Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab, a perfect task for it. I think of it as being incredibly loyal, a friend that will never leave your side and die for you. It’s also really cute, especially when it smiles.

5. Sobble

I was just starting to get into Pokémon when the newest games, Pokémon Sword and Shield, were announced. The three starter Pokémon, Grookey (a curious grass-type monkey), Scorbunny (a hyperactive fire-type bunny), and Sobble (an introverted water-type chameleon) were the first Pokémon announced from the games. At first, I wasn’t sure which one I liked best, as I thought they were all pretty cute. But as I learned more about them, I decided Sobble was easily my favorite. It’s very timid, turning invisible when it feels afraid, as well as crying. Oh, the crying! The Pokémon Sword Pokédex says, “When scared, this Pokémon cries. Its tears pack the chemical punch of 100 onions, and attackers won't be able to resist weeping.” I’m also extremely anxious, introverted, and a big crybaby, so of course I connected with Sobble. I love its official artwork, where it’s making the same face as the Surprised Pikachu meme from a few years ago, as well as looking like it doesn’t know what to do with its hands. Shigeru Ohmori, the director of the Sword and Shield games, said “In Japan, there definitely is a culture of feeling like something is cute because you kind of feel sorry for it a little bit.” Because of this, the developers knew the water lizard would be popular in Japan, but they were pleasantly surprised to see that so many people worldwide loved Sobble for that exact reason. We relate to Sobble’s sadness and anxiety, and we want to protect it. I wish Sobble was real so I could give it candy and hugs when it’s sad.

4. Mimikyu

I’ve featured a few ghost-type Pokémon on my list already, and while I love them, as well as a bunch of others that didn’t make the list, Mimikyu is by far my favorite ghost in the series. Like so many of the best ghost-type Pokémon, it has a terrifying backstory, but it mixes that terrifying story with one of tragedy and sympathy. Under its disguise, Mimikyu is a spirit so unbelievably horrifying the Pokémon Sun Pokédex says that “A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock.” It can’t make any friends due to how it looks and is dreadfully lonely. It noticed that Pikachu is the most popular Pokémon and it’s jealous of the attention Pikachu gets. It constructed a shoddy Pikachu disguise out of an old rag, hoping to be as popular as Pikachu. However, if the “Pokémon of the Year 2020” survey is anything to go by, it more than succeeded at its job. Mimikyu isn’t as popular as Pikachu; it’s more popular than Pikachu! In fact, the only Pokémon who got more votes than Mimikyu were Greninja and Lucario. I think Mimikyu is so beloved because people relate to it. Deep down, we all want to be loved, and we all know what it’s like to be rejected for who we are. Mimikyu is just trying its best to make friends and be appreciated in this cruel world, just like we are. I definitely relate to that feeling. It also has a unique ghost/fairy typing and is actually pretty fantastic in battle, along with an adorably creepy design. I know it’s supposed to be pretty dangerous, but I wish Mimikyu was real, just so it could see how much people love it. That would mean a lot to it.

3. Blaziken

The Hoenn region had by far the best group of starters in the series’ history. While I love the impossibly cool Sceptile and the tanky Swampert, my favorite has always been Blaziken. I knew my best friend had said that Blaziken was her favorite Pokémon, so when I started playing Pokémon Go, I worked really hard to get one. It was the first Pokémon I fully evolved and I was so proud of myself for doing so. I also think it’s really cool. Its design takes inspiration from chickens, specifically the Japanese Shamo chicken, and while it looks more humanoid than any chicken I’ve ever seen, I still think it looks awesome. Blaziken’s standout features for me are its powerful legs, which makes sense, as the Sapphire Pokédex says “Blaziken has incredibly strong legs - it can easily clear a 30-story building in one leap.” Its Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Pokédex entries also reveal, “Flames spout from its wrists, enveloping its knuckles. Its punches scorch its foes.” In conclusion, Blaziken can jump over buildings, punch you in the face, give you third-degree burns, and absolutely kick the shit out of you. Don’t mess with it. (Also spoilers for that one list I made: its base form, Torchic, is the cutest Pokémon of all time. Precious fiery chicken baby…)

2. Lapras

I’m a pretty okay writer if I do say so myself, and I like to think I’m really good at writing passionately about things I like. That being said, I have no idea how to put into words just how Lapras makes me feel. I love it, but in such a primal way that I can’t properly articulate. But I’ll try. Lapras was one of the first Pokémon ever designed, and it’s still one of the best. It takes inspiration from the fabled Loch Ness monster and combines that with a plesiosaur, an order of extinct marine reptiles. The resulting design is both majestic and awe-inspiring, yet completely adorable. It’s another Gentle Giant, as it’s eight feet tall and 485 pounds, yet gentle enough to let people ride on its back. However, the Pokémon Gold Pokédex says “They have gentle hearts. Because they rarely fight, many have been caught. Their number has dwindled.” It’s a tragedy, people taking advantage of the species’ innocence and killing them…but seventeen years later, the Pokémon Moon Pokédex says,  “These Pokémon were once near extinction due to poaching. Following protective regulations, there is now an overabundance of them.” This just makes me really happy, and I hope that we see many endangered species meeting similar fates. Lapras is smart, gentle, kind, and likes to sing. It would be a great friend. It’s also capable of understanding human speech and has used telepathy to speak to humans before in the anime! And it’s not even a psychic-type! It’s a water/ice type! Lapras is so special and it makes me want to be a better person. But it’s not number one. What is my number one, you ask?


1. Rowlet

I’ve said that Rowlet was my favorite Pokémon in a few other posts, so if you’ve read my blog, then you won’t be surprised that it’s taking the top spot. But it would be a disgrace to have anybody other than my favorite little owl in the number one position. I first saw Rowlet around 2016, when I just happened to see Pokémon Sun and Moon stuff around the internet. I’ve always loved owls because of how smart, fierce, and cute they could be. Because of that, I gravitated towards the baby owl right away. However, I didn’t really think about Rowlet until I started getting deeper into Pokémon, when I remembered it and thought of it as my favorite. More than any other Pokémon, it’s the one I have an emotional connection with. I have a Rowlet plushie that I hug whenever I’m feeling anxious, and it instantly makes me feel better. Rowlet is so small and cute and the little leafy bow tie on its chest was a genius design choice on Game Freak’s end. Not only does it say “Hey, this is a grass type!” in a subtle way, it also gives it so much character and personality. This little owl wants to look its best and do its best! Rowlet’s middle evolution, Dartrix, is not my favorite, but Decidueye, that archer-esque final evolution, totally is. It looks really cool, and it’s amazing to see the little owl I fell in love with evolve into a fierce, feathery assassin. Rowlet also gains the Ghost typing in a quite inspired instance of Game Freak doing their homework and studying up. The Alola region, where the Generation 7 games take place, was inspired by Hawaii. In Hawaii, there used to be a species of owl called the stilt owl, which is now extinct. Decidueye is inspired by the stilt owl, a permanently dead species, so it makes perfect sense that it is part-Ghost. The idea of putting an owl-based Pokemon in this Hawaiian region is just brilliant as a whole, because owls are seen as protectors and heroes in Hawaiian mythology. Rowlet is the total package. It’s incredibly adorable, has some amazing appearances in the anime, and has a cool concept. But more than that, I’m attached to it. I’m moving out of my Pokémon phase, but I’ll always have more than a soft spot for Rowlet.

~~~

I'm sorry I posted this later in the day than I usually do. I had a graduation party today so I was mostly occupied with that. Also, I know this post is really long and passionately nerdy, but I've been sort of compiling my thoughts on this topic for two years. I needed to get it out. Next week, I'm planning to do another MOVIE TALK, but it won't necessarily be a review, more of a discussion on something I've thought about for a while now. I'm excited to write it. 

Stellar

The Top 25 Most Adorable Pokémon

Let's take a detour from kpop and discuss another aspect of Asian pop culture that has taken the world by storm and is somehow even more adorable!


Yeah, we're talking about Pokémon again. Somehow, this is only the third post I've made about it, considering that I spend a good chunk of my time thinking about my favorite Pokémon. I've said that one of the big things that makes Pokémon so popular is just how stinkin' cute some of them are! In fact, I was drawn to it specifically for that reason. So today I'm going to look at the Pokémon I personally think are the most adorable. This is absolutely not fact, as there is no way to tell what makes something adorable. Beauty, or in this case, cuteness, is in the eye of the beholder.


25. Cufant

One of my personal favorite Pokémon from the second generation of games is the elephant, Donphan. Donphan’s pre-evolution, Phanpy, definitely had a shot at this list because it’s an adorable, playful elephant. But in the end, I had to pick Cufant, the newest elephant in the franchise. Just look at its official artwork! It’s so happy to be alive! Cufant is also quite spherical with a nice color scheme. Elephants are one of my favorite animals, and it makes me happy that both of the elephant Pokémon start out really adorable.


24. Litwick

Inanimate object Pokémon are often an easy target for many fans. People love to ridicule the likes of Vanilluxe, the ice cream Pokémon, Klefki, the key Pokémon, and especially Garbodor, the Pokémon that is literally sentient garbage. However, one exception seems to be Chandelure, which is a gothically elegant chandelier with flames powered by the souls of the damned. Chandelure is one of my personal favorites, but today I’m going to highlight the first stage of its line, the adorable candle Litwick. I think the cutest thing about Litwick is the candle wax dripping near its flame, which looks like adorable emo bangs.


23. Yamper

The most recent games, Pokémon Sword and Shield, are set in Galar, which is a region inspired by the UK. It was practically a given that there was going to be a Corgi-inspired Pokémon, given the Queen of England’s affinity for the dogs. Enter Yamper, an electric type Corgi who is adorably chubby. A lot of the time, making things chubby just makes them cuter, and that’s the case here. It’s also relatable, as its Shield Pokédex entry states: “This gluttonous Pokémon only assists people with their work because it wants treats.” I feel that.


22. Sobble

In each Pokémon game, you get to pick a “starter Pokémon” to begin your journey with. One is grass type, one is fire type, and one is water type. I usually find myself most drawn to the water type, and the water starter from the most recent games, Sword and Shield, is the chameleon Sobble. At first, I wasn’t sure which starter I liked the best, but then I saw memes about Sobble being a sad boy and I never looked back. Its portrayal as an anxious chameleon that cries a lot and just needs a hug really resonated with me, an anxious teenager that cries a lot and just needs a hug. Something about that enormous head and goofy fin just makes me want to love it forever. And when it smiles, it’s just a beautiful thing, seeing a creature who is usually in so much misery be happy for once. Sobble does look a little bit like another water starter who is in my opinion cuter, so I can’t put it too terribly high. It’s still my favorite water type, even if I don’t think it’s the absolute cutest.


21. Wooper

You ever see something that’s so dumb you have no choice but to love it unconditionally? That’s Wooper. To quote Tumblr: “A Wooper is like owning a dog that’s so stupid you just can’t go living without it.” (I tried to find the exact Tumblr post where this came from, but I couldn't, so here's an iFunny screenshot as proof that I'm not pulling this out of my ass. Integrity!) It just looks incredibly dorky in the best way with its lack of arms. It also has a silly little grin that makes it adorable.


20. Dratini

Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite were the first dragon Pokémon ever put in the games, and they still hold a place in the hearts of many. I really love all three stages in this line, with Dratini being adorable, Dragonair being elegant, and Dragonite being goofily charming. Today I’m going to talk about Dratini, as I think it’s particularly adorable. It doesn’t have much in common with your standard majestic dragon, instead being an adorable, wiggly worm. I’m just enthralled by its tiny, serpentine glory.


19. Eevee

In a lot of the lists I’ve seen, Eevee seems to be the consensus pick for the #1 cutest Pokémon of all time. In fact, it’s so cute that it’s also become a secondary mascot for the series, if the games Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are anything to go by. While Eevee isn’t my number one, I’d be silly to deny the fact that it’s pretty adorable. It’s unbelievably fluffy and has gigantic eyes filled with love. Other than it being absolutely adorable, Eevee is also as popular as it is because it can evolve into eight different Pokémon, commonly known among fans as the "Eeveelutions." My personal favorite is the dark-type Umbreon, but I think the fairy type Sylveon is by far the cutest. It’s the most classically feminine of the bunch, and it has a very sweet, loving personality. Consider it an honorary #26 of this list.


18. Squirtle

Squirtle was the OG water type starter, and it definitely set a precedent for the rest of the water starters being really cute. Sea turtles are my favorite animal in general, but a tiny, blue sea turtle with a boatload of personality is too good to pass up. Squirtle is one of the most iconic Pokémon, and I think a good reason for its popularity is how cute it is. It’s also fun in the anime, where it rocks those signature shades and joins up with the Squirtle Squad.


17. Joltik

Ask most people what their biggest fear is, and they’ll tell you it’s spiders. I’m one of those people. There really isn’t any reason for me to be afraid of spiders, but they just creep me out. And yet, Joltik, the electric spider Pokémon from the fifth generation, is one of the cutest critters ever made by the Pokémon team. I think part of that is because, at only four inches, it is the smallest Pokémon in existence. It’s also extremely fluffy. Considering that I’m generally afraid of most bugs, it’s a surprise that I find quite a few of the bug type Pokémon pretty adorable. Honorable mentions to Cutiefly, which literally has a name saying that it’s cute, as well as Snom, a spiky, icy caterpillar that was instantly beloved by Pokémon fans for how cute it is.


16. Teddiursa

I think everybody had that adorable teddy bear from their childhood that they were attached to. Well, here’s the Pokémon equivalent of that. Teddiursa is a small, mischievous teddy bear cub that I’ve always thought was adorable. Its tiny paws and crescent moon are just darling. I would share some honey with it. I also want a plush of it.


15. Noibat

Yeah, I know I probably shouldn’t be talking about how cute bats are when there’s plenty of evidence linking the major pandemic we’re in to bats. And to be fair, I’m afraid of most bats. But come on, Noibat is precious! That giant head on that tiny body is irresistibly cute. It's like a bobblehead. It’s also part-dragon and evolves into the awesome Noivern. Both Noibat and Noivern have speakers for ears, which I think is so fun and creative.


14. Wooloo

From the minute it was unveiled, the sheep Wooloo enjoyed a warm reception from fans. For many fans, Wooloo is the embodiment of everything that is good in the Pokémon world. It’s incredibly fluffy and round enough to roll away from its problems. Its face is also just really cute. Side note: Pokémon has been doing this series of shorts for the new games called Twilight Wings. Wooloo appears in the "Buddy" installment of the series, and it made me cry, so...


13. Mantyke

And here it is from the back, because I must. 

Considering that I used the word “cute” around 40 times in my Ranking the Baby Pokémon post, it’s surprising that I only have two baby Pokémon on this list. Mantyke is the first of the two. Rays are typically not a very cute animal, but Mantyke’s two adorable smiles are adorable. Its actual face has these loving eyes, and then on its back, it has a pattern resembling a smiley face! It’s just a friendly, sweet little swimmer.


12. Fletchling

One trademark of every Pokémon game is the “regional bird,” a bird Pokémon you encounter a lot in the very beginning of the game. Fletchling, the regional bird of Pokémon X and Y is by far my favorite. It’s inspired by a robin, which I already thought to be a pretty cute bird (it is my state’s bird, after all). Fletchling just seems to be extremely small, and the smaller something is, the cuter. I also am particularly fond of Fletchling’s final evolution, the terribly-named-but-epic- nonetheless Talonflame.


11. Piplup

There are three starter Pokémon that are based off of birds, and spoilers: all of them are appearing on this list. First is Piplup, who was actually voted to be the cutest starter Pokémon in a Japanese poll. While I wouldn’t say I personally think Piplup is the absolute cutest, I still think it’s pretty adorable. This little penguin is just effortlessly huggable with the perfect amount of roundness. I’ve also been watching the Pokémon Diamond & Pearl anime lately, and the character Dawn has a particularly adorable and sassy Piplup.


10. Bulbasaur

Like Squirtle, Bulbasaur is one of the three iconic starter Pokémon from the first generation of games. It seems to be the least popular of the three original starters, but it’s always been my favorite. Bulbasaur is a delightful frog-dinosaur with an adorable bulb on its back. To me, it is representative of the quirky charm that makes Pokémon such a magical series. It was also by far the best part of the Detective Pikachu movie, being so lovable it made Bulbasaur haters into fans..

It's just a lovable, pure friend. 

9. Pichu

Spoilers: Pikachu is not appearing on this list. I know, it should be on here, it is the mascot Pokémon after all. Pikachu is famous all around the world for its adorableness. But why would I pick Pikachu when there is a literal baby Pikachu out there instead? Pichu is much cuter than Pikachu for me. Its head just seems so big compared to the rest of its body, and its rosy pink cheeks and sweet smile are adorable. My favorite member of the Pikachu family is Raichu, specifically its surfing Alolan variant, but for Pichu is the smallest, so it is the cutest for me. It’s also really adorable in Super Smash Bros., much like our next entry!


8. Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff is one of the most well-known characters in the series, even appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is where the majority of my affections for this pink puffball come from, as it is the character I use most. Jigglypuff is a very simple design, but it’s cute in its simplicity. I especially like its giant eyes filled with love. In the anime, Jigglypuff likes to sing for people, but its song magically makes people go to sleep. Upon finishing its song and seeing a snoozing audience, Jigglypuff gets angry, pulls out its marker, and draws on their faces. It gets even cuter the angrier it gets. In Smash Bros, Jigglypuff is my favorite character to use because of how easy it is to control in the air. You wouldn’t expect it, but this pink puffball can hold its own against the game’s more menacing players, especially with its Rest attack, which is one of the most powerful in the game. (If only I knew how to properly use it…)


7. Vulpix (Alola form)

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, one new gimmick the games offered was regional variants. They took Pokémon from past games and reimagined them to fit into Alola, the setting of Sun and Moon. My favorite of these regional variants is the aforementioned Raichu, but Vulpix is a close second. Vulpix is normally a fire type, and it’s already plenty adorable as is, but something about the Alola counterpart is much cuter to me. I think it’s because I’ve grown attached to it from watching the Sun and Moon anime (if you are at all interested in hearing me gush about this series, enjoy.), where Lillie’s Alolan Vulpix, Snowy, plays a big role and is a giant sweetheart. It also has even more fluffy fur on its hair, making it that much cuter.


6. Ponyta (Galar form)

Similarly, Pokémon Sword and Shield saw the arrival of new versions of old favorites, and one of them was Ponyta. Ponyta in the original games is a fire type, but the new version is a psychic type unicorn. This makes lots of sense, as the Galar region is based on the UK, and the unicorn is the national “animal” of Scotland. Other than that, it’s just really adorable. It has very pleasing colors, a fluffy and voluminous mane, and a playful personality. I’ve always loved the whimsy of unicorns, but this is probably the cutest I’ve ever seen. The Pokémon website also unveiled plushies of this Pokémon, and, um...I need five of them.


5. Shinx

This Pokémon’s final evolution, Luxray, is one of my personal favorites. Its color scheme of blue, black, and yellow, is perfect, and it manages to look intimidating while also looking friendly and approachable. To make matters even better, its base stage, Shinx, is by far one of the cutest Pokémon in existence. Shinx is an adorable cub with giant, loving eyes and a sweet smile. Its tuft of fur on its head is really sweet and like its evolutionary relatives, its color scheme is incredible. The electric typing has no shortage of cute Pokémon (which makes sense with it being the typing of Pikachu and all its knock-off brethren), but Shinx is, for my money, the absolute cutest electric type Pokémon.


4. Rockruff

I mean, it’s a puppy. I could just leave it at that, but I’ll keep going. The Pokémon world has no shortage of adorable doggos, from the Yorkshire terrier-esque Lillipup to the majestic tiger-dog Arcanine to the aforementioned Yamper, but if you ask me, Rockruff is the absolute cutest. Rockruff is inspired by the spitz dog breed, as well as the Japanese wolf, due to its association with rocks and mountains. Rockruff is so lovable mostly because of its eyes. They are a gorgeous blue color. It’s incredibly playful, excitable, and sociable. Rockruff can also evolve into a wolf Pokémon called Lycanroc, which has three different forms. I personally prefer the Midday Form, as it keeps the gorgeous blue eyes Rockruff had.


3. Mudkip

Mudkip is inspired by a variety of aquatic creatures, namely the mudpuppy, the mudskipper, the axolotl, and the gilled East African lungfish. None of these animals are conventionally cute, so a combination of them realistically should not be the one of the cutest Pokémon of all time. But oh, Mudkip is. And there’s one very specific reason as to why I find it so adorable: that smile! Mudkip always seems to have the biggest smile on its face, and its enthusiasm is contagious. Mudkip is like this big, happy, goofy puppy that is always excited to see you and play with you. It’s also at the center of the definitive Pokémon meme of all time: I Herd U Liek Mudkipz. Cute!


2. Rowlet

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Rowlet is my favorite Pokémon of all time. There’s just something about this perfectly round, bowtied owl that speaks to me. I’m more attached to Rowlet than I really should be, and that’s for plenty of reasons. I like how it acts in the anime. I have a plushie of it that I hug when I’m feeling anxious. I think its final evolution, Decidueye, is rad. But most importantly, I think it’s just adorable. Owls have always been one of my favorite animals because I think they’re cute, but Rowlet takes the cuteness of owls and turns it up to eleven. Its body is a perfect circle, making it great to hug. It has giant, expressive eyes. I kind of love its vacant expression in its official artwork. And of course, I love its bow tie. Rowlet is a dapper little owl who wants to look its very best! That bow tie gives it so much personality. I already touched on this, but it’s also really adorable in the anime, especially when it wears a cloak to look like its evolved form, Decidueye:

He is so proud of himself and I love him. 

The little coconut owl will always have a giant place in my heart, and for a long time, I thought it was the cutest Pokémon by far. But due to recent events, I was forced to admit that there is one cuter...


1. Torchic

My brother got Pokémon Mystery Dungeon for his Nintendo Switch for his birthday a month ago. I chose Bulbasaur as my player character, but I chose Torchic as my partner because my best friend’s favorite Pokémon is its final evolution, Blaziken. After playing the game for a bit, I realized that Torchic is the cutest. It’s incredibly expressive in everything it does, and when it smiles, it’s just adorable and pure and melts my heart. Even outside of Mystery Dungeon, Torchic is adorable. It doesn’t really have much in the way of limbs, which somehow makes it cuter. Its feathers on the top of its head just make me want to pet it on the head and give it treats. And of course, this isn’t relevant to it being cute, but its final evolution, Blaziken, is extremely cool and my second favorite Pokémon after Rowlet. It’s a karate chicken, what part of that isn’t awesome? Although it does evolve into one of the most badass Pokémon ever created, you can’t get much cuter in the Pokémon world than Torchic.

~~~

I kind of a bitch of a time getting all these pictures to format properly, but I overall had a lot of fun writing this. I could talk about cute Pokémon all day. Next week, I'm planning to do the final installment of Kpop Crash Course, which I'm looking forward to. I've had my favorites from the past three Kpop Crash Courses on a loop all throughout writing and editing this. Hopefully we find new favorites! I'll see y'all next week for that.

Stellar

Why I Love the Pokemon Sun & Moon Anime

So...I'm now 18 years old.

I definitely feel like I’ve changed over the years. I’m not the same person I was even two weeks ago. I grow and change every day. But with that said, I still don’t quite feel like an adult yet. I feel like I still have so much maturing to do before I can officially call myself an adult. I only vaguely know what I want to do with my life, I could live off of macaroni and cheese (boxed, homemade, I don’t discriminate) for a good period of time, and I still sleep with a nightlight. I think it says a lot about my lack of maturity that for my post to celebrate turning eighteen, I chose to write about a cartoon.

I can already hear a chorus of die-hard anime fans: “ANIME IS NOT A CARTOON!” And to be fair, I don’t feel like wading into that discourse. I know jack about anime in general. I wouldn’t be opposed to getting more into it, but for the time being, I just don’t know much about it. But what I do know a ton about is Pokémon.

Pretty much everybody has heard of Pokémon and its ever-popular mascot, Pikachu. For a time, my  Pokémon knowledge was limited to that vague understanding of what it was, but at the tail end of 2018, I decided to get into Pokémon Go, basically became obsessed, and took in pretty much every Pokémon-related thing I could. I watched lists and fact videos on YouTube and looked up facts about all the creatures on the ever-helpful Bulbapedia (basically Wikipedia but about Pokémon). I just fell in love with the variety of monster characters in the series and how there seemed to be at least one Pokémon to appeal to everyone. I really just scoured the Internet for anything and everything to do with this series. And part of that was realizing that Netflix has select seasons of the anime available to watch.

Pokémon is the biggest media franchise in the world, with video games, a trading card game, a very long-running TV series, films (both anime and live-action, with Detective Pikachu and its proposed sequel), manga, and so much more. The core idea of the franchise is that Pokémon are fictional creatures, almost all with fantastical powers, which are classified by "type" depending on their powers (for example, those with fire powers are fire-types.) Pokémon are caught by humans and can battle or just be their friends. The Pokémon evolve, or grow into more powerful forms, and as they evolve, their relationships with their partners will blossom too. When my brothers were younger, they liked Pokémon because of the “cool fight stuff,” but that’s not why I love it so much. I love how ultimately, it’s about friendship. I love the creativity that goes into developing the Pokémon world. Even as somebody who isn’t into action/violence kinds of things, I love the mechanics of Pokémon battles, where it’s as much about strategy as it is strength. With over 1,000 episodes to its name, I’ve barely made a dent in the Pokémon anime, but from what I’ve seen, all of these things I love so much are amplified in the show.

The anime is an adaptation of the games, and although there are spinoffs, the main series focuses on a ten-year-old boy named Ash Ketchum and his quest to be a master Pokémon trainer. With each pair of games (because the games always get released in pairs) comes a new anime series, and when I was first getting into Pokémon, the current anime series was Sun & Moon. Because this was the current series (and because I had become obsessed with Rowlet, one of the Pokémon from the Sun & Moon games), I decided it was a good place to start. So I started watching Pokémon Sun & Moon, and I fell in love. In this post, I’m going to gush over the Sun & Moon anime. I’m not going to claim my opinions are facts and that it’s the best show ever created, but I just want to talk about how much I love this show from the bottom of my heart. And while it may be silly of me to talk about what’s essentially a kids show on my eighteenth birthday, I think of it as me indulging and raving about a show that means a lot to me because it’s a special day. I could talk for hours about every detail of every episode that makes me happy, but I’m going to try to limit it to five main points. Of course, as I always do when talking about things I’m passionate about, I’ll get wordy, but bear with me and my self-indulgence!

1. The cast of characters is diverse and just about all of them are enjoyable. 

The six kids and their Pokémon

Like the other Pokémon anime series, Sun & Moon follows Ash Ketchum, a young boy who never seems to age, on his adventures to become a Pokémon Master. Unlike past Pokémon series where Ash and two or three friends travel around whatever region they’re debuting that generation, Ash has a consistent home base, called the Pokémon School. He also has a larger group of friends, with five friends who go to the Pokémon School with him. These friends are Lana, who specializes in water-type Pokémon and is calm with a sarcastic side, Mallow, who specializes in grass-type Pokemon and wants to be a chef, Sophocles, who specializes in electric-type Pokémon and is very interested in technology, Kiawe, a fire-type specialist who is extremely passionate about literally everything, and Lillie, who is actually afraid of Pokémon for a good chunk of the series (more on her later). Kiawe is probably my favorite of them because of how ridiculously over-the-top he gets, but I love them all. They’re all interested in different things and have different goals in life, but they come together because of their love of Pokémon, and I just love how supportive they all are of each other. They also have some really fun Pokémon partners, including Lana’s adorable, hardworking, seal-like Popplio, Sophocles’s hyperactive electric hedgehog, Togedemaru, Kiawe’s Turtonator (a giant fire turtle with a surprisingly gentle demeanor) and Marowak (a flame-twirling character who loves to cause trouble), and Lillie’s sweet Alolan Vulpix, an Arctic fox-like Pokémon she calls Snowy.

In addition to the six main characters all being pretty enjoyable, we also have some great side characters. Professor Kukui is the professor at the Pokémon School, and Ash also lives with him. It’s common knowledge among Pokémon anime fans that Ash’s father is nowhere to be seen, so Professor Kukui does a great job of filling that void, being the father Ash never had. Kukui also has a side gig as a wrestler called the Masked Royal, and it’s always entertaining because it’s very obvious that he’s the one behind the mask, but nobody ever seems to realize it. Later in the series, Kukui gets a wife named Professor Burnet, who is like a second mom to Ash and is really kind and charismatic. I like how she is a die-hard fan of the Masked Royal, yet she can't put two and two together and realize why her husband is never there whenever they go to see the Masked Royal. Another fun character is Lusamine, who is Lillie’s mom and the head of the Aether Foundation, an organization Ash and his friends do some work for throughout the series. I love how Lusamine can be incredibly serious, but can’t help but dote on her children, much to her unimpressed daughter’s chagrin. Lillie also has a brother named Gladion, who is very serious and a good rival for Ash. Their rivalry is done quite well, where both characters are compelled to train harder as a result of it. Finally, the iconic failures of villains, Team Rocket, also appear in this series. Jessie, James, and Meowth are hilariously incompetent as ever in this series, and they have some fun Pokémon along for the ride. Specifically, Jessie catches a Mimikyu, a horrifying spirit who wears a shoddy Pikachu disguise due to it craving the attention Pikachu gets. This Mimikyu also vehemently hates Pikachu, so it’s a great choice for Team Rocket, who have tried and failed to steal Ash’s Pikachu for decades.

2. From his wolf-like Lycanroc to his fire cat, Litten, Ash’s Pokémon also have some great personalities, but my personal favorite is easily his Rowlet, the adorable owl-like Pokémon who is probably my single favorite thing about existing. I limited myself to 300 words on why Rowlet is my favorite, because lord knows I could write a ten-page essay on this bird and how special it is to me.

A nice, cuddly bird friend to sit on your shoulder. I have a plushie Rowlet and I love him every day. 

At the beginning of each Pokémon game, you have the option to pick one of three starter Pokémon , which will serve as your first friend on your journey. To promote these characters, the anime always gives Ash at least one starter Pokémon per series, and the first one Ash got in Sun & Moon was the grass-type Rowlet. Rowlet was already easily my favorite of the three starters before watching the show due to its adorable, round appearance and leafy bow tie. However, watching the show made me fall in love with the little owl even more. Ash’s Rowlet is not one of his most powerful Pokémon from a battling perspective, but the critter has so much character. It’s a running gag that Rowlet likes to fall asleep in Ash’s backpack at the most inopportune times, which makes me laugh every time. In the Ultra Legends season, Ash picks up a metallic blob Pokémon with a nut head, known as Meltan. Rowlet’s relationship with Meltan is almost like a cute father-son deal, as Rowlet protects Meltan and helps it find its head. I also love how Rowlet is mostly lazy, but shows a strong work ethic to train and do its best. One of Ash’s friends, Hau, has the Pokémon Dartrix, which later evolves into Decidueye. These two Pokémon are the evolutions of Rowlet, so Rowlet works hard to defeat its evolutionary family. Also, in the Alola League, Rowlet faces Hau’s Decidueye in a leaf cloak similar to the one Decidueye wears, which is adorable. With its naive and relaxed nature yet great bouts of power, Ash’s Rowlet is precious. Rowlet is my personal favorite Pokemon of all time, and its role in the anime just adds to that.

3. The world of Alola is just wonderful.

The four islands of Alola

When I was younger I thought the setting was an important thing in determining the quality of a work of fiction. I specifically tried arguing that I liked Divergent better than The Hunger Games because I found its setting more interesting...yeah. I don’t have time to break down every way why that argument is terrible and wrong, but the point is that just because your teacher tells you setting is one of the five elements of literature doesn’t mean it’s necessarily important in determining whether a work of fiction is good or not. But in this case, I’d argue that the setting is a big part (though far from the only reason) why I enjoy this show so much. The Pokémon Sun and Moon games and anime are set in the tropical Alola region. This region is based off of Hawaii, so naturally, it’s as gorgeous as its real-world counterpart. The beaches and ocean are beautiful, and the towns remind me of when I went to Orange Beach, Alabama last year; so laid-back. Alola also has a very diverse ecosystem with forests, a volcano, canyons, and even snowy mountains, which you wouldn’t expect from such a tropical place. But more than just being beautiful, the world of Alola is wonderfully developed. Episodes of the anime show its traditions and customs and the daily lives of its citizens. More than that, they really stress the connection between people and Pokémon. The people of Alola really value life and nature and the beauty of those things. If I were to go to any fictional location, I would absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, choose to go to Alola.

4. The art style, although different from past series, does a great job of lending itself to the comedic tone of the show.

One of the big criticisms people have for the Sun & Moon anime is that they changed the art style. I get why, seeing as the previous Pokémon anime series, X&Y, had a darker, more serious feel, and Sun & Moon...does not. That’s the other big criticism: it’s too comedic. It might be because this was the first Pokémon series I really watched in depth (so I am inherently biased), but I don’t see why this is a problem. And yeah, the art style is different, but I don’t see why that’s a problem, either. Yes, it’s more silly-looking and playful, but it still looks nice (for the most part) and it fits the comedic tone of the show. Besides, the animation in the battle scenes looks so fluid. I also get a laugh out of the garish, sometimes horrifyingly detailed faces they give the characters. I just think it’s amusing. It’s like the artists purposely challenge themselves to see how grotesque they can make the facial expressions.

In one of the episodes, the Pokémon School plays baseball, and you get so many ridiculous faces it's not even funny. That episode is one of the most absurd Pokémon-related things I've ever seen, and I love it.  

There are a ton of these super-garish faces throughout the show and they're kind of terrifying but make me laugh.

I’m pretty sure the games get developed way before the show, so the game developers decided first that the Sun & Moon games would be set in a tropical island region. And because of the tropical vacation location, the people in charge of the anime decided to give it a light-hearted tone. It would be downright ridiculous if Ash went to this tropical island and was all serious the entire time. It makes perfect sense that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I like that it doesn’t. The show has a bunch of running gags that I find amusing, such as Team Rocket getting carried off at the most inopportune times by a Bewear who defies physics, Principal Oak making absolutely terrible Pokémon puns that don’t make any sense whatsoever, and Rowlet constantly falling asleep. It’s a show you can watch when you need some cheering up...except when it’s not, which brings us to reason #5 of why I love this show.

5. Despite its largely comedic tone, the series still manages to have genuinely serious, heart-tugging moments. This is where we get spoiler-y.

Exhibit A: Episode 21, titled One Journey Ends, Another Begins…. In this episode, the stray cat Litten deals with the loss of its mentor, an elderly dog Pokémon called Stoutland. This episode deals with grief so well. Not only is the actual death really sad (it’s a dog dying, of course it’s sad), but the aftermath and how Litten grieves is even more heartbreaking. Despite Litten being, you know, a cat, the show does a fantastic and relatable job of showing how it grieves, as Litten is seen refusing to eat due to how primal its sadness is. Plus I really like how...normal Stoutland’s death is. It doesn’t die in a dramatic, heroic way, it just gets old and can’t take life anymore. In most forms of media, characters die in horrible, dramatic, over-the-top ways, but there is nothing dramatic here. Despite the fact that this show is ultimately about creatures with supernatural powers, I think this episode deals with losing a loved one and grieving in such a real, powerful way.

In this scene, Litten sees its friend at the doctor's, desperately trying to stay alive. Its cries are so pathetic and it's heartbreaking. 

Exhibit B: Episode 79, titled Showering the World with Love! In this episode, Professor Kukui’s class goes to see showers of Minior, a meteor-like Pokémon. The Minior fall to earth and the characters make friends with them. However, they learn that it only lasts for a day, because then the Minior have to return to outer space- disintegrating on their way up. It shows that even though it can be sad to say goodbye, it’s important to recognize the good times and memories we have with people. Also this episode deserves a damn medal for animation alone. The colorful Minior shower scenes are so beautiful.

In this episode, one of Ash's Pokémon, Poipole, befriends a Minior and goes through the five stages of grief in a very short amount of time upon saying goodbye. It's more poignant than it has any right to be. 

Exhibit C: Episode 108, titled Memories in the Mist! The premise of this episode basically guaranteed there were gonna be waterworks, but still. Basically, each of the four islands of Alola has a guardian spirit, and the guardian of Poni Island, Tapu Fini, has the ability to conjure a mist that allows the living to be reunited with their loved ones who have passed. While Ash and his friends are on Poni Island, they come across the mist and from there, you get nothing but me crying. Ash’s Litten, who has now evolved, is reunited with its mentor, Stoutland, and it shows its undeniably proud friend how it has become even stronger in an incredibly heartwarming yet sad moment. But the saddest moment is Mallow’s story and role in this episode.

Throughout the series, Mallow’s dad is shown every so often, but her mom is absent and never really brought up, so you’d wonder where she is and what happened to her. Well, in this episode, Mallow breaks down in tears when explaining to Lana that her mom died due to an illness when she was young. She confesses that her mom always apologized to her for her illness, and Mallow was sick of it so her final words to her mother were “I hate you!” This happened only five and a half minutes into the episode but I was already crying, and things did not get better. Due to the note Mallow and her mom parted on, Mallow did not want to see her mom in the mist, but Lana told her that it would be worth it. Then she actually sees her mom in the mist and it was just absolutely beautiful and more mature than you’d ever expect from the typically lighthearted world of Pokémon. She breaks down and tells her mom that she’s sorry for what she said, but her mom is forgiving and tells her how proud she is of her. I don’t normally cry that much when watching things, listening to music, reading books, etc. but I absolutely cried when watching Memories in the Mist. It’s just a fantastic episode in all aspects.

Even without the context that this is a girl reuniting with her deceased mother, this is a gorgeous frame solely from an aesthetic standpoint. 

Exhibit D: The fact that a main character’s arc is literally about PTSD. They don’t say “PTSD” outright because this is a show for kids and it will go over their heads but Lillie can’t touch Pokémon because of a traumatic event. That’s pretty much PTSD, from what I know. Parents can watch Sun & Moon with their kids and use it to explain the concept of PTSD, as well as death and grief, saying goodbye, working hard, and a whole bunch of other important things to teach kids. Lillie’s arc also shows that getting over your fears in life is difficult, but so rewarding. Lillie is easily the most developed of Ash’s friends and they did her arc so well. She’s one of my absolute favorites on the show.

And when Lillie overcomes her fear, it's one of the most joyful things I've ever seen. She is so happy to be free and it's beautiful.

I’m not gonna say Pokémon Sun & Moon is a perfect show. One thing I notice is that they seem to spend more time eating and talking about how every food in Alola is “so good!” and “delish!” than anything else. I guess it makes sense because Mallow’s entire character is based off of her desires to be a chef, but it seems like once every episode they have a food scene and Ash remarks that everything is “yum, so good!” And this is probably a petty complaint, but I wouldn’t have done it so often, instead using the screen time to show more battles or showing the kids’ Pokémon without their trainers. And on that note, one other thing I really like about this show is that it shows how the Pokémon act when they’re not with their trainers. I adore this one scene where Meltan loses his nut head and his new friend Rowlet tries to help him find it- and makes some truly incredible faces.

This is actually the face of an earlier Pokémon, called Xatu. Do you ever have such a breakdown that you turn into another person- literally? That's what's happening here.

The attitude. It's impeccable.

This one is my personal favorite, and what we in the current slang business like to call a "big mood." If I ever make a Twitter, this will probably be my profile picture. 

I think it says a lot about this show that even when I’m trying to criticize it, I end up talking about aspects of it that I love so much. And again, I won’t say this is a perfect show, nor will I say it’s a must-watch for everyone. This is a kids show, after all. All I want to do is make the case that it deserves more than people give it. If you have any interest in Pokémon at all and want to get into it, or are trying to get back into the series, I personally feel like Sun & Moon is a great place to start. If you’re interested at all in what I’ve been talking about, you should check it out on Netflix or DisneyXD. You just might like what you see.

This was a fun post for me to write, because posts where I get really passionate about things are always the most fun to write. Next week will probably be another Kpop Crash Course, maybe another MOVIE TALK otherwise. See you next week, and happy birthday to me.

Stellar