The New Normal - OMAKE - Pokemon: The Animation - Public Reactions

The New Normal – OMAKE – Pokémon: The Animation – Public Reactions

[Review of the Pokémon: The Animation – a much desired remake of the original anime?!] By Earlier Access

After many years of waiting and public demands, the Pokémon company has finally given us what we wanted – a remake of the original Pokémon anime, with better animations and quality as enabled by modern technology. But more importantly than that, they’ve also redone the entire plot, starting off from scratch and throwing away the old and confusing anime plot that was clearly just meant to entertain children rather than provide a cohesive story.

Okay, the new anime is still that, but the writers this time have clearly picked up some cues from the games, and things are generally more consistent.

But enough about that, as I’m sure most of you here already know all this. I’m just here today to talk about my thoughts on the first mass release of episodes that we got, ending when Ash and Gary make it to Cerulean City after defeating Brock.

And can I just say, I love the new dynamics that they’ve demonstrated in the story thus far. For one, Gary isn’t just some spoilt kid that drives around with cheerleaders waving hm on. He’s still a little arrogant, but that’s clearly been tempered. I really like the interactions between Ash and Gary, as they actually feel like best friends that are just ribbing each other from time to time. And their rivalry is way more earned and natural as a result.

On the topic of character interactions, I was really surprised to see that Brock didn’t choose to join them on their journey, and with Flint nowhere to be seen. I guess they’re going to be focusing on someone else instead to make up the ‘trio’? Because we did end up meeting Misty in Cerulean, with a nice callback to how Ash stole her bicycle the first time round, but it doesn’t really seem like she’s going to be in a position to follow them on their journey either. Or perhaps it really is just Ash and Gary this time around. Not that I would mind if that was the case – as per above.

However, the end of the current episode gave us quite the surprise – as we saw the annoying fucker himself, John, making an appearance. And to my – and likely everyone’s – horror, turns out he has a backstory relationship with both Ash and Gary, and is even seen as a pseudo-mentor figure by them. This means that John is probably going to be a large part of the anime as well, much like how he frequently interacts with the player character in the game (and trolls the fuck out of us).

Yet, in a way, I’m kind of happy to see John. He’s such a big part of the games, and if he goes on to train Ash and Gary a bit more, then it would make sense why they’re able to become such successful trainers in the future. After all, we meme the hell out of John because his fights are legitimately difficult, so it clearly shows that he’s an accomplished trainer.

Anyways, I was really happy to see the new fight scenes as well with Brock, and I felt that…[Click here to continue reading]

Comments

NoGameNoLife

I’m kinda glad that they tried to keep the same voices for Ash, Gary, and Misty. Though they clearly took on a less cartoon-y direction with their voices, it still sounds mostly the same, and I think the new style really fits the new aesthetic of the anime. They also made Oak so much more competent than the goofball he was before! As befits a former Champion, I suppose.

Like, you could tell that Oak was clearly far more than just some Professor. Even in his voice performance there was this subtle underlying sense of surety in everything he said.

MadCuzBad

Yeah I was pissed off too when I saw John. Then I thought about it a bit more, and I ended up coming around. Real interesting to see what they do with his character, considering he’s such a big part of the games. We all know he’s a bit of a troll, but he’s genuinely so involved with everything that it’ll be nice to see him brought to life on the screen rather than just through text.

That, and it’ll be nice to have someone to hate on and root against.

LocalEGirl

I hope they go and explore more about his relationship with Cynthia. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other canonical relationships that they’ve introduced in the games besides theirs. Can’t wait to see how they’d explore that dynamic!

I wouldn’t mind seeing a spinoff that focuses on them! Hell, it wouldn’t even be that strange for there to be one. John seems to be one of the main characters of the games anyways, considering how involved he is with everything!

BackseatGamer

Okay okay, enough about John. I really like this new Ash. He’s a lot less stupid, which I think was done because the Pokémon company realised that most of their audience are going to be young adults who don’t need to have everything explained to us like kids do. Ash is generally far more competent here, and he actually earned his victory over Brock with skill rather than luck. It’s a really good change.

NoGameNoLife

I also really wonder what his team’s going to be, since we haven’t actually seen Ash catch any new Pokémon since the start of the journey. They’re definitely leaning into him having a different team for sure, since he already didn’t catch Pidgeotto or a Caterpie.

Thank god. I really didn’t like it when Ash had like 20+ Pokémon that he never used.

GitGud

Gary’s so much better compared to the original. The original Gary was pretty annoying to listen to at times, but now he’s actually pretty funny. His ‘spoiled rich kid’ attitude is played way better here, and I like that Ash and him actually seem like friends rather than as bully and victim like it was in the original.

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[Pokémon: The Anime – Cerulean Arc Episode 2 Summary and Review] By Earlier Access

[Pictures of several scenes in the new episode, including Ash’s fight against the Waterflower sisters]

For those who didn’t watch the episode, this episode mainly focused on Ash and Gary’s battle and subsequent victory over the Waterflower sisters, claiming the 2nd Gym Badge for themselves. What’s interesting is that, unlike the original, Misty’s sisters are far more competent and up to the task of being a Gym Leader.

And fans of Misty will be a little disappointed, as by the end of the episode it’s fairly clear that Misty isn’t going to be joining them on their journey.

INSTEAD, we get quite the surprise guest who’s going to be accompanying the two on their journey – Silver himself. Yes, that’s right. Giovanni’s son, and one of Ash’s many rivals in the old anime. His personality is also completely different to what it was before, as he’s far less of an asshole and isn’t some criminal who steals people’s Pokémon for themselves. Here, he chose to follow Gary and Ash because he recognised Gary as the grandson of Professor Oak and wanted in on that.

I’m really curious to see what they do with Silver’s character, as it seems like the main trio for this version of the anime has been established with Ash, Gary, and Silver. Obviously, I expect a lot of exploration into the three’s characters in the future.

FURTHERMORE, I wonder if many of you caught the hidden informational on the TV screen that Ash and Gary were watching in the Pokémon Center, which actually introduced all of the current Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and the Champion.

[Screenshot of the TV]

As you can see, it matches up to what we know of the games perfectly. This further establishes that this series to take place at least in a similar timeline and world as to the games, so I wonder if the events that happen there will take place here?

What did you all think of the new episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Comments

DubSuperiority

Fight was fine, Ash won as expected. But the meeting with Silver was such a huge surprise! Does that mean that Giovanni hasn’t abandoned Silver? I mean, Giovanni wasn’t a bad guy in the games, so maybe that’s why this is so different?? Honestly can’t wait to see how Silver develops.

GitGud

I like how they introduced the Gym Leaders and Elite Four so early, even if it was done pretty subtly. I wish they showed us more about them; as much as I like the new main cast, I really want to see them explore the lives of the Gym Leaders more. That was something they touched upon in the original, but I’d like to see more of it.

Or, barring that, I want to see the Gym Leaders/Elite Four actually interacting with each other. These characters pretty much only talk to us, the player, during the games. So I want to see what they’re like outside of that.

BackseatGamer

Relax, they’d probably do that in the future episodes. Right now it’s too early for that. Still, I hope we do see Ash and co. struggle a bit more in their later battles. They’re winning a little too easily right now.

LocalEGirl

Well of course. The first and the second Gym badges aren’t supposed to be difficult, and Ash had a good type matchup against the second. Also, he’s supposedly been training for years now, unlike in the original, so it makes sense the early Gyms should be a breeze for him.

Also, can’t wait for the episode where they get to fight against Whitney. After being flattened by her Miltank so many times in the games (skill issue, I know), is it bad that I want to see the same happen to Ash and co.?

MadCuzBad

You know I’m really glad that they’re taking the time to show off the cities that we know in the games. Like, for both Pewter and Cerulean, they’ve really managed to demonstrate the scale of these Gyms and why they’re supposedly so prestigious. With Cerulean especially, the Gym just looks so grand and majestic! And the city itself just looks so idyllic, with the sunlight sparkling across all of those water fountains.

Hope they keep this up with the other cities and Gyms too.

SpeedRunner

I just want to see the true teams of the Elite Four/Gym Leaders/Champion. Those were some hard battles that we had to fight in the games, so I want to see them on the big screen!

Can you imagine seeing John and Cynthia’s duo team in action?! Slaking and Garchomp fighting alongside each other?! That’d be so cool!

A.N. Another bout of inspiration led to this chapter being written as well, as a follow up to the other Pokémon: The Animation OMAKE. I’m glad that people seemed to like the first one, so here’s something similar but different, as I wanted to maybe highlight the public reactions to the anime episodes. If you enjoy this and I continue writing these sometime in the future, maybe I’ll write a mixture of anime episodes and reaction episodes. We’ll see, but let me know which kind of style you prefer. Or what you want to see in a future ‘anime’ episode.

As always, please don’t take this too seriously. Hope you enjoyed!