List of ''Pokémon'' anime characters

This is a list of Pokémon anime characters.

Characters

	Seasons
	Original					Advanced Generation				Diamond & Pearl				Best Wishes!			XY			Sun & Moon
	Kanto	Orange Islands	Johto			Hoenn			Kanto	Sinnoh				Unova			Kalos			Alola
Characters	Indigo League	Adventures on the Orange Islands	The Johto Journeys	Johto League Champions	Master Quest	Advanced	Advanced Challenge	Advanced Battle	Battle Frontier	Diamond and Pearl	Battle Dimension	Galactic Battles	Sinnoh League Victors	Black & White	Rival Destinies	Adventures in Unova and Beyond	XY	Kalos Quest	XY & Z	Sun & Moon
Ash Ketchum	Main
Pikachu	Main
Misty	Main						Recurring		Guest							Guest
Brock	Main	Recurring	Main													Guest
Jessie	Main
James	Main
Meowth	Main
Wobbuffet			Main													Guest	Main
Tracey Sketchit		Main	Guest					Guest		Guest						Guest
May						Main				Guest	Recurring					Guest
Max						Main					Guest					Guest
Dawn										Main					Recurring	Guest
Iris														Main
Cilan														Main					Guest
Serena																	Main
Clemont																	Main
Bonnie																	Main
Lillie																				Main
Kiawe																				Main
Mallow																				Main
Lana																				Main
Sophocles																				Main

Protagonists

Ash Ketchum (サトシ, Satoshi)

Voiced by (English): Veronica Taylor (4Kids Entertainment), Sarah Natochenny (TPCI)
Voiced by (Japanese): Rica Matsumoto

Ash Ketchum is the main protagonist of the Pokémon anime. A 10-year-old Pokémon trainer (as last confirmed), his dream is to become the greatest Pokémon Master in the world. There are also incarnations of him in a plethora of manga adaptations, of which include The Electric Tale of Pikachu, and Ash & Pikachu. Loosely based on Red, the protagonist of the games Pokémon Red and Blue. The family name "Ketchum" is a pun on the franchise's former tagline and slogan, "Gotta catch 'em all!". Ash always has Pikachu on his team and currently has a Rowlet, Rockruff, and Litten. Currently in Professor Oak's care: Bulbasaur, Charizard (which sometimes can be found at the special training ground in Charizard Valley) Kingler, Muk, 30 Tauros, Snorlax, Heracross, Bayleef, Quilava, Totodile, a shiny Noctowl, Donphan, Swellow, Sceptile, Corphish, Torkoal, Glalie, Staraptor, Torterra, Infernape, Buizel, Gliscor, Gible, Unfezant, Scraggy, Leavanny, Palpitoad, Boldore, Krookodile, Oshawott, Pignite, Snivy, Talonflame, Hawlucha and Noivern. Ash has a Squirtle, which is currently the leader of a local Fire-fighting Brigade, and a Primeape, which is in private training. He once had a Haunter, which chose to travel with him for a short time and help him defeat a Gym Leader who used Psychic Pokémon, and an Aipom, which he traded to Dawn for her Buizel. Ash also once owned a Butterfree, Pidgeot, Lapras, Goodra and Greninja (with whom he could synchronize with and activate its special form: Ash-Greninja); all of which have been released to live with and/or protect their own kind. Ash has collected all the badges for and competed in the Pokémon Leagues in Kanto, the Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, the Battle Frontier in the Kanto Region, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos; he is an Orange Islands and Battle Frontier Champion. So far Ash's best campaign was in the Kalos league, where he went all the way to the final match, but lost to Alain. Ash is currently on a journey through the Alola Region alongside his Pikachu.

Misty (カスミ, Kasumi)

Voiced by (English): Rachael Lillis (4Kids Entertainment), Michele Knotz (TPCI)
Voiced by (Japanese): Mayumi Iizuka

Ash's first-time traveling friend, Misty is a 10-year-old Pokémon trainer who journeys with him throughout the first five seasons. She is revealed as one of the four gym leaders of Cerulean City along with her three older sisters. Her dream is to be the world's greatest "Water Pokémon Master," but her means of accomplishing this are never made clear. She has made several friends and rivals over the course of her journeys and claims she is a better Pokémon trainer than Ash. She does truly care about him and Brock and remains a close friend. When she was young, as well as during the beginning of the series, she was constantly belittled by her older sisters, though she appears to have made amends with them. At the end of the original series, she takes over the Cerulean Gym; however, she still contacts Ash from time to time and receives help from Tracey on a daily basis. Misty is a primary character in the seasons of the original series, with guest appearances in the Advanced Challenge, Advanced Battle, and Battle Frontier seasons. She owns a Staryu, Starmie, Goldeen, Psyduck, Politoed, Corsola, Azurill, Luvdisc, Horsea and a Gyarados (despite Gyarados once being the only water-type Pokémon she previously claimed to dislike). It is assumed she uses these Pokémon in her Gym Battles. She also once owned a Togepi, which she released once it evolved into a Togetic to help protect other Togepi in danger of capture. It is also believed that she may have had a crush on Ash, but this has never been confimed in the Japanese release, or by the show's creators.

Brock (タケシ, Takeshi)

Voiced by (English): Eric Stuart (4Kids Entertainment), Bill Rogers (TPCI)
Voiced by (Japanese): Yūji Ueda

Brock is a 15-year-old Pokémon Breeder and the former Pewter Gym leader. Brock initially had dreams of being the world's best Pokémon breeder. He is Ash's longest lasting traveling partner, having appeared in every season (as a guest in Season 2) up to Season 13. There is a running-gag in the series where Brock falls in love with a girl and is either pulled away by the ear by Misty or Max, or is hit with Croagunk's Poison Jab, temporarily knocking him unconscious. Throughout the series, Brock has traveled with his Onix (now Steelix), Geodude, Crobat, Forretress, Ludicolo, Marshtomp, Sudowoodo, Croagunk and Chansey. He also once owned a Vulpix, originally owned by Suzy, during the original series, but decided to give Suzy back her Vulpix when she and Brock met up again near the end of the original series. Brock leaves the main cast at the end of the Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors season to take his dream to the next level and become a Pokémon Doctor.

Tracey Sketchit (ケンジ, Kenji)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki

One of Ash's traveling friends through Season 2, set in the Orange Islands. He is a Pokémon watcher, and is currently Professor Oak’s assistant.^[1] His last name in the English dub is a pun because he sketches Pokémon. Tracey may also be a pun, based on the word "trace". He has a Marill, Venonat, and Scyther on his team. Tracey replaces Brock as a primary character in Adventures in the Orange Islands, with guest appearances in seasons 5, 8, and 9.

May (ハルカ, Haruka)

Voiced by (English): Veronica Taylor (4Kids),^[2] Michele Knotz (TPCI)^[3]
Voiced by (Japanese): Kaori Suzuki

May is the 10-year-old daughter of the Petalburg City Gym Leader, Norman, and sister of Max. She meets Ash Ketchum in Hoenn and starts traveling with him after obtaining her first Pokémon, Torchic. She originally dislikes Pokémon, but soon takes interest in Pokémon Contests. May tends to add only beautiful and cute Pokémon to her team, making sure they meet her standards to enter them in contests. She raises Beautifly, her first capture, from a little Wurmple she finds on her journey. She also likes cute Pokémon such as her Skitty. After entering contests she soon develops rivalries with other contest participants, Drew (her main rival who often assists her and gives helpful advice even while having a tendency to be somewhat insulting), Harley, and Jessie of Team Rocket, and goes on to win many contests. May travels through Hoenn and Kanto with Ash and Brock whilst Ash is competing in the Hoenn League and Battle Frontier, respectively. While Ash and Brock choose to travel to Sinnoh, May decides to follow her rivals to Johto instead. However, she visits Ash, Brock, and Dawn in Sinnoh sometime later to participate in the Wallace Cup. She is known as the "Princess of Hoenn", an alias by which Dawn refers her when the two first meet. May replaces Misty as a primary character in the Advanced Generation seasons, and makes a guest appearance in Battle Dimension. Her team consists of Blaziken, Beautifly, Skitty, Venusaur, Munchlax, Wartortle and Glaceon. She also befriended a Manaphy in the ninth film Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea before deciding to release it to the sea at the end of the film.

Max (マサト, Masato)

Voiced by (English): Kayzie Rogers (TPCI)^[4]
Voiced by (Japanese): Fushigi Yamada

Max is the 7-year-old son of the Petalburg City Gym Leader, Norman, and the brother of May. He joins the group of Ash, May and Pokémon breeder Brock. Max is a budding Pokémon trainer, but is too young to receive a Pokémon.^[5] He is a bookworm who has read just about everything written about Pokémon.^[1] In Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker, he befriends Jirachi and eventually leaves it. This is an idea from Pokémon 4Ever from when Ash leaves Sam. He remains simply a Pokémon enthusiast until he and May leave Ash and Brock in the final Advanced Generation episode, in which he returns to Hoenn to help take care of the Petalburg Gym. He is again seen as a flashback in DP Battle Dimension. Max has received just two cameos since his departure, triggered by May's brief return for the Wallace Cup arc. He takes on what had once been Misty's role in restraining Brock from pretty women with the ear-pull. Max appears as a primary character alongside May in the Advanced Generation seasons, with non-speaking cameos in Battle Dimension. Max has befriended a Ralts and has promised to return for it when he becomes a Pokémon Trainer.

Dawn (ヒカリ, Hikari)

Voiced by (English): Emily Bauer^[6]
Voiced by (Japanese): Megumi Toyoguchi

Dawn is a 10-year-old Pokémon Coordinator who travels with Ash and Brock and replaces May during Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. Following in her mother's footsteps as a Coordinator, she chooses Piplup, who she had already befriended at an earlier point, and sets out with the goal of winning the Grand Festival. As a native of Sinnoh, she often explains certain aspects of the region unfamiliar to both Ash and Brock, and keeps up to date with popular trends like the Pokétch. As she participates and win in more Contests, Dawn gradually becomes more confident in her skills as a Coordinator and regularly trains with her Pokémon before every contest. When her Swinub evolves twice into Mamoswine, it begins to disobey her but starts listening to her after she saves it. Her catchphrase is "No need to worry!", but she usually says this when there actually is a need to worry. Although she originally planned to participate in the Kanto contests, she decides to remain in Sinnoh when her Buneary is offered to model for a Pokémon magazine. Dawn is very saddened to leave Ash and Brock, but she and Piplup cheer up and wave goodbye as they return to Kanto. She later decides to travel to Hoenn to take part in the contests there. After obtaining all five of her Hoenn contest ribbons, Dawn travels to Eastern Unova to train for the Grand Festival and helps Ash prepare for the Unova League. Dawn has appeared in Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, and returns for an arc in Best Wishes! Season 2. Dawn's Pokémon team consists of Piplup, Buneary, Pachirisu, Mamoswine, Quilava and Togekiss. She also once owned a Buizel, who was later traded to Ash for his Aipom, which then evolved into Ambipom and was left in private training.

Iris (アイリス, Airisu)

Voiced by (English): Eileen Stevens^[7]
Voiced by (Japanese): Aoi Yūki^[8]

One of Ash's Best Wishes! companions. Hailing from a village where there are many Dragon-type Pokémon, Iris is a wild girl who swings from vines and likes to eat berries. She first meets Ash when he mistakes her for a Pokémon, and since traveled with Ash on his journey in the Unova Region. She tends to call Ash a kid, usually when Ash makes a mistake or acts particularly naïve. She has the Dragon-Type Pokémon Axew as her companion, as well as an Excadrill that initially does not obey her commands but later has a change of heart, and a flirtatious Emolga. She later captures an aggressive Dragonite after helping clear its name when it was being blamed for a town's power outage. In the Black and White video games, Iris is one of the two Gym Leaders of Opelucid City (she acts as Gym Leader only in Pokémon White Version), and the Unova Champion in Pokémon Black and White 2. Her relation to those positions have not yet been mentioned in the anime. The other Gym Leader Drayden has been featured (a battle with him being the reason that Iris's Excadrill stopped obeying her), but Iris's relationship with him has also not been revealed. However, when Ash briefly decides to visit Opelucid City to battle for his 8th Unova Gym Badge, she seems hesitant and relieved when he is forced to change his mind. She later battles Dawn with her Dragonite against Dawn's Mamoswine and manages to win despite a type disadvantage.

Cilan (デント, Dento, Dent)

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano^[8]

Cilan is an A-Class Pokémon Connoisseur who has the ability to determine the compatibility between Pokémon and their trainers. He traveled with Ash in the Unova Region. He is also one of the first Gym Leaders of the Unova League, a position he shares with his brothers Chili and Cress, but he leaves his post to join Ash and Iris on their journey. He has numerous hobbies seen throughout the series such as fishing, cinema, and subway trains. He considers himself a good detective and is very skeptical about anything that there isn't an immediate logical explanation for. He has the Grass-Type Pokémon Pansage as his partner, and he later acquires a Dwebble which later evolves into a Crustle and a Stunfisk. He's very much like Brock too, as he is a sort of mentor/supporting figure to Ash and Iris.^[9][10]

Serena (セレナ)

Voiced by: Mayuki Makiguchi

Serena is a Pokémon trainer and Ash's childhood friend. She remembers Ash from their childhood when the two of them attended the Oak summer camp in Pallet Town. During this time, Serena had fallen and injured her leg; Ash then helped her with her injury, causing Serena to gain a crush on him. After learning that Ash is on Kalos, and still having feelings for him, she decides to leave home to reunite with him, and upon doing so comes along with him on his journey (despite having no specified goal). After experiencing numerous events like the Sycamore summer camp, she learns about Pokémon Showcases from Shauna, and decides to become a Pokémon Performer. She owns a Fennekin which then evolved into a Braixen, a Pancham, and an Eevee which evolved into a Sylveon, all of which accompany her in her performances. Following a heartbreaking loss in her debut Showcase, as a sign of her new resolve she cut her hair and began wearing a new outfit. After obtaining three Princess Keys, she competes in the Gloire City Master Class Showcase, ultimately going one-on-one with Kalos Queen Aria, whom she was unsuccessful in defeating. However, not deterred by her loss, she vowed to keep on working hard, just like Ash inspired her to do. Serena leaves Ash's side when she decides to leave for Hoenn to continue her training, but not without a kiss.

Clemont (シトロン, Shitoron, Citron)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji

Clemont is a Gym Leader from the Lumiose City Gym. He is a young inventor and always has a large backpack which contains numerous strange gadgets, most of which explode. He is also one of Ash's close friends. He, along with his sister Bonnie, continue Brock's running gag, only he drags Bonnie off with his Aipom Arm out of embarrassment when she asks some girl (except for Nurse Joy,Officer Jenny and Serena) to marry him, instead of the other way around. His Pokémon team outside of being a Gym Leader consists of Chespin, Bunnelby, and Luxray. Out of intense admiration for Ash, he began travelling with him in order to become a better Gym Leader. This would culminate when Ash challenged and successfully defeated Clemont at the Lumiose Gym, acquiring his 5th badge in Kalos. Before Ash leaves Kalos, he asks for one final battle with Ash, and the result of the battle is left ambiguous to the viewer. He is a bit different from previous male companions, as in that Ash is a sort of mentor figure to him, not the other way around, like Brock and Cilan.

Bonnie (ユリーカ, Yurīka, Eureka)

Voiced by (English): Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld^[11]
Voiced by (Japanese): Mariya Ise (EP803-887, 903-942), Mika Kanai (EP888-902)

Bonnie is a Pokémon trainer-to-be and Clemont's 7-year-old sister. She is more mature than Clemont and always tries to stop his bizarre behavior. Due to being underage, her Pokémon nominally belong to Clemont for now. She, along with her brother, continue Brock's running gag, only she asks pretty girls (except Nurse Joy,Officer Jenny and Serena) the gang encounters to marry her brother, and is removed by him, instead of the other way around. Bonnie is often seen with a Dedenne, which technically belongs to Clemont for the time being but which will become Bonnie's when she is old enough to start training Pokémon. Following an accidental encounter with a Zygarde Core, she began taking care of it, nicknaming it "Squishy", and promising to protect it from Team Flare.

Lillie (リーリエ, Rīrie)

Voiced by: Kei Shindō

Lillie is one of the students at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island who befriends Ash. Hailing from a very rich family, she loves to study and usually helps the other students with their researches, but somehow has an inherent fear of touching any kind of Pokémon, despite interacting naturally with Pokémon when she was younger. She somehow developed her "Poképhobia" during a travel with her mother Lusamine and brother Gladion, but is slowly learning to overcome it, getting used with an Alolan Vulpix nicknamed "Snowy" she took care of since it was an egg and became her partner Pokémon, then with Ash's Pikachu.

Kiawe (カキ, Kaki)

Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa

Among the students at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island who befriend Ash, Kiawe is the oldest and most experienced, being the first among them to have cleared the trials to be entrusted with a Z-Ring, the same that once belonged to his grandfather. He runs a dairy farm on Akala Island along his parents, and also has a little sister called Mimo (ホシ, Hoshi), whom he dotes on. Specializing in fire Pokémon, Kiawe's main Pokémon is Turtonator and his Pokémon Ride is a Charizard that also belonged to his grandfather.

Mallow (マオ, Mao)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda

Mallow is one of the students at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island who befriends Ash. She loves to cook and, specializing in grass Pokémon, owns a Bounsweet which evolved into a Steenee.

Lana (スイレン, Suiren)

Voiced by: Hitomi Kikuchi

Lana is one of the students at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island who befriends Ash. She is a master in fishing and her main Pokémon is a Popplio she rescued, while she also has a Lapras as a Pokémon Ride. She later also obtains her own Z-Ring. Lana lives on a seaside house with her mother and her little sisters Harper and Sarah.

Sophocles (マーマネ, Māmane)

Voiced by (English): Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld^[11]
Voiced by (Japanese): Fumiko Takekuma

Sophocles is one of the students at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island who befriends Ash. Specializing in electric Pokémon and good with machines. He owns a Togedemaru.

Rivals

Gary Oak (オーキド・シゲル, Ōkido Shigeru, Shigeru Ōkido)

Voiced by: Yuko Kobayashi

Gary Oak is Ash's very first rival. He is based on the character Blue from the Pokémon video game series. Like his counterpart Blue, Gary hails from Pallet Town and is the grandson of renowned Pokémon researcher Professor Oak. Like Ash, Gary collected Gym badges and competed in Pokémon League tournaments; Kanto and Johto. At first, Gary was arrogant, always traveling with cheerleaders who called out his name and constantly teased Ash's group whenever they met. After losing to a more powerful opponent in the Indigo League, Gary dispenses with the cheerleaders and then becomes more open-minded. At the end of season 2 (Orange Islands), Ash and Gary have their first Pokémon battle in which Gary's Eevee beats Ash's Pikachu. When the battle is over, Gary starts on a new journey to Johto and this subsequently influences Ash to follow him there. After losing to Ash in the Johto League, Gary decides to pursue a career in Pokémon research, impeding his rivalry with Ash. Until his loss to Ash, Gary had always thought of Ash as a poor trainer but he eventually comes to accept him as his equal. After Ash defeats the Battle Frontier and comes back to Pallet Town, Gary and Ash have a battle between Gary's Sinnoh Pokémon, Electivire, and Ash's Pikachu. Electivire easily beats Pikachu, which inspires Ash to travel to Sinnoh. While in Sinnoh, Gary becomes a Pokémon researcher working with Professor Rowan. By this time, Ash and Gary have become more of friends than rivals and they even team up to protect Pokémon from Pokémon Hunter J. After working together to protect a group of Shieldon from Pokémon Hunter J, they both agree to remain "friends until the end." Gary appears in seasons 1-5 (where it was only revealed that he started off with a Squirtle in season 5, while battling with a Blastoise)^[12] and 9-12. Gary's Japanese name, Shigeru Okido (オーキド シゲル, Ōkido Shigeru), is a reference to Shigeru Miyamoto, who mentored Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri.

Ritchie (ヒロシ, Hiroshi)

Voiced by (English): Tara Jayne^[13]
Voiced by (Japanese): Minami Takayama

Ritchie is a traveling Pokémon trainer from Frodomar City. Ritchie first appears during the Indigo League Saga, where he meets and forms a friendship with Ash Ketchum. As rivals, Ritchie and Ash are much alike. For example, both trainers own a Pikachu and have caught many of the same Pokémon. After the Indigo League tournament, Ritchie is ranked in the top eight of the competition after defeating Ash (due to a technicality), but then loses his next match. Afterward, Ash and Ritchie part ways but pledge an oath to become Pokémon Masters. Ritchie re-appears in the Whirl Islands near the beginning of the fifth season, Pokémon: Master Quest, and is one of the protagonists of Pokémon Chronicles.

Harrison (ハヅキ, Hazuki)

Voiced by: Katsumi Toriumi

Harrison is a traveling Pokémon trainer from Hoenn who competes in the Silver Conference. Ash and the gang first met him in "Pop Goes the Sneasel" when he tried to ward off a wild Sneasel that was guarding the sacred Ho-Oh flame. During the Silver Conference, Ash battles him in a full six-on-six battle. He defeats Ash but loses to his next opponent, finishing at the top four of the Johto League competition. After the Johto League Silver Conference, Harrison convinces Ash to go to the Hoenn region. Afterwards, Harrison goes to Kanto to participate in the Indigo League.

Drew (シュウ, Shū)

Voiced by (English): Oliver Wyman (4Kids)^[14]
Voiced by (Japanese): Mitsuki Saiga

Drew is an experienced Pokémon Coordinator, a confident, critical, but popular boy. He is May's first, and most prominent, rival. Because he sees similarities between new Coordinator May and himself when he first started out, he taunts her for her inexperience. Though his comments and attitude may have angered May, he still provides a helping hand whenever she needs it. Drew's skills have been a continuing inspiration for May to better herself as a Coordinator. Despite his initial attitude towards May, he slowly becomes of a friend towards her after the Hoenn Grand Festival to the point where both start to develop feelings towards each other. May finally manages to barely defeat Drew at the Indigo League Grand Festival, earning her a spot at the Final Four. At the end of season 9, he heads towards to Johto to compete in more contests along with Harely and May.

Harley (ハーリー, Hārī)

Voiced by: Jun'ichi Kanemaru

Arrogant, flamboyant, and proud, Harley is a Pokémon Coordinator and May's rival. During their first meeting, Harley takes May's unwitting comments as insults to his abilities and he takes an instant dislike to her. Since then, Harley takes every opportunity to sabotage May before her contests, even teaming up with Team Rocket on occasion, and frequently takes advantage of her forgiving nature in order to trick her into believing he has changed his ways. He is frequently seen dressed in a Cacturne costume. He travels to Johto alongside Drew and May at the end of season 9.

Morrison (マサムネ, Masamune)

Voiced by (English): Sean Schemmel^[15]
Voiced by (Japanese): Masako Nozawa

Morrison is Ash's main rival in the Hoenn region and the Ever Grande Conference, a spirited person who likes to challenge other people to almost everything and never gives up in battle. Due to this, he always challenges Ash to various events such as Pokémon battles or even a food eating contest. Ash and the gang first met him in "Less is Morrison", where he soon becomes a friend and rival to Ash. When he appears again, he is a Ash's first opponent in the Ever Grande Conference; because of his conflicting feelings, he refuses to battle his friend until Ash encourages him to try his best. Morrison is able to battle with all his spirit, losing to Ash only when both of them are down to one Pokémon.

Tyson (テツヤ, Tetsuya)

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima

Tyson is a trainer originally from Mauville City. He first appeared in Episode 399: Like a Meowth to a Flame, where he helped Ash and his friends defeat Team Rocket, using his Metagross. Meowth is his main Pokémon, seen dressed with a cowboy hat and boots. He later battled Ash in the Hoenn League and won. Tyson's team consists of: Meowth, Metagross, Donphan, Shiftry, Hariyama, and Sceptile.

Paul (シンジ, Shinji)

Voiced by: Kiyotaka Furushima

Paul is a roaming Pokémon trainer from Veilstone City, Sinnoh. As a Pokémon trainer, Paul is experienced and has traveled across the regional areas of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, much like Ash. During Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, he begins to travel through Sinnoh, where he meets and develops a rivalry with Ash Ketchum. Unlike Ash's previous rivals, Paul is a grumpy and serious trainer whose only concern towards Pokémon is their ability to act in battle and who believes that forming bonds with Pokémon dilutes their potential, and is thereby seen by many characters for being the complete opposite of Ash. His harsh training style, competitive behavior, and desire to be strong derives from his resentment toward his older brother, Reggie, who had been an accomplished trainer until he lost to Pyramid King Brandon, causing him to quit Pokémon training to become a breeder. Paul is determined to make sure he doesn't meet that same fate, so he plans to surpass not just any trainer, but his own brother as well, although he is clearly unlikable to many. In Japan, he is named after Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series. He has a Torterra (evolved from a Turtwig), an Electivire which is revealed to have evolved in Pokémon DP 184, a Honchkrow, a Weavile, a Magmortar and an Ursaring. His brother currently looks after his Gliscor, Hariyama, Nidoking and Lairon which is seen to have evolved into Aggron when Ash battles Paul in the Sinnoh League in Pokémon DP 186-188 (this is the longest battle in the series yet). He also is revealed to use a Froslass, a Gastrodon, a Drapion and his Ninjask in the Sinnoh League against Ash, but ultimately loses the battle. Afterwards, he finds a bit of respect for Ash, and heads out to battle with Brandon. Ash and Paul depart on a good note. Ash wishes him luck, which Paul returns. Just as Paul is about to leave Ash calls out that they should battle again, real soon. Then he smiles, finally accepting him. As he waves good-bye, he walks away, into the sunset. Cynthia stated that she would like to see the day Paul and Ash compete in the Champion League. Paul is also seen again in the next episode, watching Ash's battle with Tobias on television. When Ash is defeated, Paul looks disappointed and walks away. Paul is designed to be Silver of Gold, Silver, Crystal, Heartgold and Soulsilver because Paul trained his Pokémon through harsh training opposed to forming a trusting relationship with his Pokémon. Also, Paul's official art shows him in the same pose as Silver.

Barry (ジュン, Jun)

Voiced by (English): Jamie McGonnigal^[16]
Voiced by (Japanese): Tatsuhisa Suzuki

Barry is Ash's newest rival in Sinnoh, an impatient and overconfident boy who, while competent and skilled, tends to lose most of his battles against Ash. He is an admirer of Paul, and uses the same technique though he cares for his Pokémon. He dreams of being the strongest Pokémon trainer in the world. Barry is best friends with Kenny and the son of Palmer, the Tower Tycoon of Sinnoh's Frontier Brains. He is based on the rival in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. He originally owns an Empoleon, a Staraptor, a Roserade and a Heracross and later gains a Hitmonlee and a Skarmory.

Nando (ナオシ, Naoshi)

Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai

A talented Pokémon trainer and wandering minstrel, Nando is a calm young man deeply conflicted as to whether he should challenge gyms or become a Pokémon Coordinator. After battling both Ash and Dawn, he chooses to pursue both paths, regardless of the difficulty. By the time of the Sinnoh Grand Festival, he has acquired seven Gym Badges and five Contest Ribbons. In the Grand Festival, he is able to reach the Top 4, losing to Zoey. After the Grand Festival, he obtains the necessary badges to compete in the Sinnoh League; he is Ash's first opponent but is eliminated after putting up a good battle. Nando make his debut appearance in Dawn of a New Era!. He owns a Roserade (evolved from his Budew), a Sunflora, a Kricketune, an Altaria, a Kricketot, an Armaldo, and a Lopunny. He is usually seen playing his golden Mew harp. The harp has often been shown to attract large groups of wild Pokémon, although it is unknown if Nando is aware of this.

Conway (コウヘイ, Kōhei)

Voiced by: Kōzō Mito

Conway is a particularly smart and cunning trainer, who carefully studies and analyzes trainers to create a strategy. He first encounters Ash and the gang during the Hearthome City Tag Battle Tournament, where he battled alongside Dawn and made their way to the finals, only to be defeated by Ash and Paul. He later met the gang again at the Pokémon Summer Academy where he was the leader of the Green Team. He later battled Ash in the third round of the Sinnoh League where he loses. A common gag of Conway is that he appears out of nowhere in a creepy manner, of which Dawn is usually the victim. His known Pokémon are Slowking, Aggron, Heracross, Shuckle, Lickilicky, and Dusknoir.

Zoey (ノゾミ, Nozomi)

Voiced by (English): Emlyn Morinelli McFarland^[17]
Voiced by (Japanese): Risa Hayamizu

Zoey is an experienced Pokémon coordinator from Snowpoint City and Dawn's main rival. Unlike most rivals, she often gives out helpful advice, and helps out in certain situations instead of fighting and taunting Dawn all the time. Zoey is initially disdainful of those who participate in both Gym battles and contests because she believes that trainers who divide their efforts do not full-heartedly compete in both disciplines. However, she changes her outlook as she meets trainers who are able to successfully manage both while respecting the hard work required. Zoey first appears in the episode of "Mounting a Coordinator Assault". The Pokémon she has with her are Glameow, Mismagius, Gastrodon, Lumineon, Gallade, and Leafeon. In "A Grand Fight for Winning", she defeats Dawn in the final stage of the Grand Festival and wins the Ribbon Cup.

Kenny (ケンゴ, Kengo)

Voiced by: Yūko Mita (Japanese)

Kenny is one of Dawn's childhood friends and a rival coordinator. He frequently calls her by her nickname, 'Dee Dee' and is best friends with Barry. Kenny makes his debut in Getting the Pre-Contest Titters and Settling a Not-So-Old Score, where he and Dawn enter the Floaroma Pokémon Contest. Eventually, he is able to qualify for the Sinnoh Grand Festival, but misses the cut of 32 in the Grand Festival, causing him to leave Lake Valor to improve his training. Kenny is revealed to have romantic feelings towards Dawn and eventually challenges Ash to a battle with the outcome determining who Dawn would travel with. Though he wins the battle, Dawn leaves him a note stating that she wishes to remain with Ash.

Ursula (ウララ, Urara)

Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese)

One of Dawn's rivals, Ursula is a Coordinator from the Sinnoh region who enters the Chocovine Contest at the same time as Dawn. They meet just outside the Contest Hall when her Gabite gets into a confrontation with Dawn's Pachirisu. Her attitude toward Dawn is similar to Harley's attitude toward May. During the Sinnoh Grand Festival, she loses to Dawn and is eliminated from the contest, unable to make it into the Top 16. She currently owns a Gabite, a Wormadam, a Plusle and a Minun, a Jigglypuff, a Flareon and a Vaporeon (evolved from her two Eevee during the appeals round of Sinnoh Grand Festival).

Tobias (タクト, Takuto)

Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi

An incredibly powerful trainer, Tobias is mysterious, silent, and unbelievably skilled, who apparently earned all eight of his gym badges only using his Darkrai. He competes in the Sinnoh League where, up until his battle with Ash, he manages to single-handedly defeat all of his opponents with just Darkrai. Ash battles him in the semi-finals, during which Darkrai ends up losing to Sceptile, only for him to send out Latios. Despite Latios' battle with Pikachu ending in a draw, Tobias still earns the victory losing only two Pokémon. He later wins the Sinnoh League with, once again, just his Darkrai. His only known Pokémon are Darkrai and Latios. He is arguably the most powerful rival Ash has ever faced.

Trip (シューティー, Shūtī, Shooty)

Voiced by (English): Jamie McGonnigal^[16]
Voiced by (Japanese): Akeno Watanabe

Trip^[18] is a male trainer taking the Unova League challenge who appears in the Black and White series and whose ultimate ambition is to compete in the Champion League and defeat Alder, the Unova champion. In addition to being a Pokémon Trainer, he is also an amateur Pokémon photographer. Upon his first meeting and battle with Ash, he tends to somewhat display a discriminatory attitude toward him as being part of the "boonies" because Ash is from the Kanto region, along with his Pikachu, which happens to be extremely rare in the Unova region. He takes a Snivy from Professor Juniper, which later evolves into a Servine and then eventually into a Serperior. He also has a Tranquill, a Frillish, a Lampent, a Vanillite, and a Timburr, that soon evolved into a Gurdurr, then to a Conkeldurr. Trip participates in the Club Battle, Clubsplosion, Junior Cup, and Unova League tournaments. With the exception of the Junior Cup, which he wins, he loses in the first round of each competition. After his battle with Ash in the Unova League, Trip appears to have ended his rivalry with Ash, and shows an apparent degree of respect towards him.

Bianca (ベル, Beru, Bel)

Voiced by (English): Erica Schroeder^[19]
Voiced by (Japanese): Shizuka Itō

Bianca is a female trainer who appears in the Black and White series. She encounters Ash and his companions several times throughout the series which usually ends with a battle between herself and Ash. She is also shown to be very excitable and clumsy. Bianca joins Ash, Iris, and Cilan to participate in the Club Battle, Clubsplosion, and Unova League tournaments. Her main Pokémon are Emboar, Minccino, and Escavalier.

Burgundy (カベルネ, Kaberune, Cabernet)

Voiced by: Ikumi Hayama (Japanese)

Burgundy is a female Pokémon Connoisseur who at one point challenged Cilan and lost, and Cilan said that her Oshawott was not compatible with her (Cilan however, doesn't remember this, but he does remember their gym battle). When Ash, Iris, and Cilan meet up with her once more, after she says that none of Ash's Pokémon are good for him, she reveals she challenged the Striaton Gym and got the Trio Badge, but still feels she needs to fight Cilan. Cilan defeats her again, even with her Dewott and Sawsbuck, but she exclaims she will fight him again someday and win. She later participates in the Club Battle, Clubsplosion, and Junior Cup tournaments with the group, held in Nimbasa Town, Ambiga Town, and Lacunosa Town respectively, but lost in round one in all of them. Her Pokémon consist of Dewott, Sawsbuck, Stoutland, and Darmanitan.

Georgia (ラングレー, Rangurē, Langley)

Voiced by: Misato Fukuen

Georgia is a female trainer who calls herself a Dragon Buster, someone who specializes in defeating Dragon-Type Pokémon. Incensed, Iris challenges her, and the fight between Georgia's Beartic and Iris's Excadrill where Excadrill loses allows Iris to make Excadrill feel better about their loss to Drayden several years earlier. Georgia ties with Iris in a second battle, as Excadrill learned Focus Blast and gained trust in Iris. Georgia participates in the Club Battle, Clubsplosion, and Junior Cup tournaments with Ash, Iris, and Cilan. Her Pokémon are Beartic, a Pawniard that evolved into a Bisharp, and Vanilluxe.

Stephan (ケニヤン, Keniyan, Kenyan)

Voiced by: Tomohiro Waki

Stephan is a male trainer whom Ash meets on the way to Nimbasa City. At that point in time he is known to have a Blitzle (which later evolves into Zebstrika), and is later shown to have a Sawk and a Liepard. He and Ash have a battle, but it gets postponed when Oshawott loses his Scalchop. Once Oshawott trains with a fake shell made of rock, he defeats Stephan's Blitzle. Stephan participates in the Club Battle and Clubsplosion tournaments with the gang, the latter in which he and his Sawk win. He also participates in the Unova League, where he makes it to the Top 16. Here, he and Ash have an intense three-on-three battle in which Ash defeats him. There is a running gag in the anime that people always mispronounce his name (similar to Butch), but everyone begins pronouncing his name right by the time the Unova League begins.

Cameron (コテツ, Kotetsu)

Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama

Cameron is a new trainer and rival for Ash. He debuts after the Junior Cup, as he meant to compete, but didn't arrive in time. Cameron temporarily joins the group when he goes to earn his 8th Gym Badge from Marlon in Humilau City, and upon obtaining it, he leaves. Cameron returns to compete in the Unova League tournament alongside Ash, Trip, Stephan, Bianca, and Virgil. His Pokémon are Samurott, Ferrothorn, Hydreigon, Swanna, and his main Pokémon is Riolu (who evolves into Lucario during his battle with Ash); he also has a Watchog, seen only as a blackened silhoette. In the Vertress Conference, he defeats Bianca (leaving her in the Top 64), and during the Top 8 manages to defeat Ash despite being one Pokémon short, but is subsequently defeated by Virgil in the Top 4. He seems to be unorganized as he had misinterpreted pretty much everything, such as thinking he needed seven gym badges to compete in a Pokémon league instead of eight.

Virgil (バージル, Bājiru)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji

Virgil is a rescue worker with his father Jeff and his brother Davey. He saved Ash and his group when they fell off a bunch of rocks while they were trying to climb up to get to Vertress City, where Ash had participated in the Vertress Conference. After solving things at the dam, Virgil reveals he also entering the Unova Leage, making him one of Ash's rivals. He eventually won the Unova League. He owns an Eevee and seven of its "Eeveelutions": Umbreon, Espeon, Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Leafeon and Glaceon. It was revealed that as a young boy, he once got lost in the forest with his first Eevee, when it suddenly evolved into an Umbreon and was thus able to lead him out. This event made him fascinated with the Eevee species and led to him becoming an Eevee trainer. Virgil is the only one of Ash's rivals with whom he has not battled.

Shauna (サナ, Sana)

Voiced by: Yurie Kobori

Shauna is energetic and loves making Pokévision videos with her Pokémon. She and her friends became fans of Serena after seeing the Pokévision video she made. She dreams of becoming a famous Pokémon Performer and ultimately Kalos Queen.

Tierno (ティエルノ, Tierno)

Voiced by: Anri Katsu

Tierno is a Pokémon Trainer who loves to dance. This is also reflected in his party as he tends to catch Pokémon with special dance skills such as Hitmontop and Ludicolo. Despite being a rookie Trainer, he can cope well when battling more experienced opponents thanks to his skills, teaching dance moves to his Pokémon so they can evade attacks with ease. Tierno is very friendly and is always encouraging his friends to do their best. He is very supportive of Shauna and often watches her Showcase performances. He has feelings for Serena, which he demonstrates every time they meet. He was responsible for introducing Shauna to Serena.

Trevor (トロバ, Trova)

Voiced by: Minami Fujii

Trevor is a Pokémon Trainer and photographer, his goal as a Trainer is to meet every Pokémon in the Pokédex. Throughout his journey, Trevor aims to take pictures of all the Pokémon he encounters. He is mostly interested in ones with differences in their features, however slight.

Miette (ミルフィ, Millefeui)

Voiced by: Kei Shindō

Miette is Serena's rival. She met Ash and his friends when her Slurpuff had eaten one of Serena's PokePuffs and when she revealed they weren't very good, she and Serena soon started a rivalry with each other. In order to prove who is the better baker, she and Serena entered a baking competition and though they made it to the final round, neither of them won. She and Serena eventually settled their dispute and now have a more friendly rivalry. During her time with the group, Miette soon realized Serena's true feelings for Ash and warned her that if she doesn't confess her feelings, than she will admit her own feelings and take Ash for herself. Miette soon met up with Serena and the group again as she had decided to become a Pokémon Performer and was revealed to be entering the same Showcase as Serena with Slurpuff and her newly obtained Meowstic. Miette put on a dazzling performance, but Serena won and earned her first Princess Key. Miette would later participate in the Master Class Showcase, but would be defeated by Serena once more.

Sawyer (ショータ, Shōta)

Voiced by: Ikue Ōtani

Hailing from the Hoenn region, Sawyer is a new Pokémon trainer who chose Treecko as his starter Pokémon from Professor Birch. After meeting and battling Ash, he begins to respect Ash, looking to him as a mentor figure, and he sets his sights on surpassing Ash as a trainer. His Treecko developed a rivalry with Ash's Frogadier, even evolving in their second battle. Following the evolution of Grovyle into Sceptile, and Ash's Frogadier into Greninja, their rivalry becomes even fiercer, though in the third battle between the two trainers, Sceptile was defeated by Greninja's new "Ash-Greninja" form. In the fourth battle between the two, Sawyer managed to defeat Ash, and then witnessed Ash's defeat at the hands of Snowbelle City Gym Leader Wulfric, mentally saying that the person he admired wouldn't have lost, and that the two would settle things at the Kalos League. At the Kalos League, Sawyer managed to advance all the way to the semi-finals, squaring off against Ash in a 6-on-6 battle, but ultimately lost, despite his Sceptile Mega Evolving. After the Kalos League, he helps fend off Team Flare and aids the civilian survivors in Lumiose City. When he later bids farewell to Ash after the Team Flare crisis, he reveals that his idol Steven Stone had given Sawyer a Key Stone to allow his Sceptile to Mega Evolve, and that he wants to repay the favor by becoming Steven's assistant; he is last seen working alongside Steven at the ruins of Lysandre Labs. His team is composed of Sceptile, Salamence, Slurpuff, Aegislash, Clawitzer, and Slaking.

Alain (アラン, Alan)

Voiced by: Kenshō Ono

Alain, Ash's main rival for the Kalos league, is a calm, silent-type figure, who shows little emotion and focuses his attention towards battling. Deep down, however, he does not wish to see ones closest to him to suffer or get them in danger. Alain also obeys Lysandre's orders without much hesitation, since Lysandre was the one that equipped him with the Mega Ring and gave him the Mega Stone Charizardite X. In addition, Alain despises losing (at the time of being defeated against Siebold), hence why he did ask Lysandre to battle 10 Mega Evolution trainers to become stronger. Alain worked with Steven Stone while in Hoenn to uncover the secrets of Mega Evolution's origins, ultimately battling Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Primal Kyogre for control of a giant rock which has a connection to Mega Evolution, which would be obtained by Lysandre and Team Flare. Alain's character takes a massive dark turn after his travel-companion Mairin's partner Chespie falls into an unexplainable coma, with his goal shifting to acquiring strength and helping Lysandre so that Chespie's health would be restored. He formally worked as a part of Team Flare, assisting them in capturing the blue Zygarde Core. In addition, he also becomes a rival to Ash after witnessing Ash's Greninja's unique transformation, even entering the Kalos League solely to battle against him. He defeats Ash and wins the Kalos Legaue. But when some members of Team Flare come to capture Ash, he starts to question what Lysandre wants. Eventually, he learned he was betrayed and that Lysandre's actually plan was to control Ash and Greninja. However, Ash helps him forget about his past. Alain thanks Ash for helping him open his eyes and sends Charizard to rescue Pikachu and the rest of Ash's Pokémon. As of this, Alain and Ash fight against Lysandre. After Team Flare's defeat, Alain decides to help Professor Sycamore once again with his research and, inspired by Ash, start a new journey from scratch. Alain's team consists of Charizard, Bisharp, Metagross, Weavile, Unfezant, and Tyranitar.

Gladion (グラジオ, Glazio)

Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto

Gladion is Lillie's sister and Ash's main rival in the Sun & Moon series. He works for Team Skull.

Professors

Professor Samuel Oak (オーキド博士, Ōkido-hakase, Professor Okido)

Voiced by: Unshō Ishizuka (adult), Keiko Toda (child)

Professor Oak is a Pokémon researcher and the grandfather of Gary Oak. He was once a competitive Trainer,^[1] and is generally considered the best in his field. As such, his role in the Pokémon games and anime is that of a mentor to young Pokémon Trainers, a source of information and an occasional plot device. Amongst other things, he is credited with inventing the Pokédex.^[1] He also hands out a Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle to beginning trainers (depending on which Pokémon the trainer chooses) to start their adventure in the Kanto Region and owns a Pidgey, a Dragonite and a Rotom. Although he is an expert on all matters relating to Pokémon, Professor Oak specializes in Pokémon behavioural science.

Oak's first name is revealed to be Samuel in "The Power of One", the main Feature of Pokémon: The Movie 2000. Additionally, it is apparent after Pokémon 3: The Movie that he has known Delia Ketchum since she was a child. In the Pokémon 4Ever, Ash meets a boy called Samuel who has been brought to the future by the time-travelling Celebi. At the end of the movie, Sam returns back to his time, with Ash upset to leave his new close friend. It is then revealed that the boy Ash, Misty, and Brock befriended grew up to be Professor Oak, meaning that Professor Oak was best friends with Ash when he was a boy. He also creates poems centered around Pokémon and is known as the rhyming professor by Dawn. He is named after the oak tree in the English version of the game, while he is named after the orchid in the original Japanese version.

Professor Ivy (ウチキド博士, Uchikido-hakase, Professor Uchikido)

Voiced by (English): Kayzie Rogers^[4]
Voiced by (Japanese): Keiko Han

Professor Ivy is the resident Pokémon professor of the Orange Islands, south of the region of Kanto. Professor Ivy is first introduced in the second season of the Pokémon anime. Ash and his friends, Misty and Brock make their way to Valencia Island and meet the Professor. The unusual Pokéball that Professor Ivy discovered is dubbed the GS Ball.^[1] It serves as a plot device that leads Ash to the region of Johto. During the second season, Brock decides to stay with Ivy to study Pokémon breeding, but later returns to Ash's group.^[1] Misty implies that Brock left Ivy because he has been "dumped". She also appears in the animated film Pokémon: The Movie 2000.^[1] Her English name is a reference to the ivy. Her first name is Felina.

Professor Elm (ウツギ博士, Utsugi-hakase, Professor Utsugi)

Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue

Professor Elm is in charge of giving novice trainers their first Pokémon (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile) in the video games Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. He was a student of Professor Oak and moved to New Bark Town in the region of Johto where he conducts his research on Pokémon breeding. His English name refers to the elm tree, while his Japanese name refers to Deutzia. Professor Elm dresses quite casually, with a shirt that has a stripe across it slightly covered by his lab coat. He wears khaki slacks and sometimes wears night slippers or moccasins.

He is stereotypically depicted as a professor that has a tendency to be absent-minded, due to his immersion in his work. His forgetfulness was shown in an episode of the Pokémon anime where Team Rocket visit his laboratory, and the professor carelessly assumes them to be Nurse Joy from the Pokémon Center without looking up, and tells them to take the Pokémon, which they do. When the real Joy arrives, Elm discovers that one of his Pokémon, Totodile, has been stolen. With the help of Officer Jenny and the local Police Department, the Pokémon is recovered from Team Rocket. Professor Elm has also been described as the top student of Professor Oak, and seems to have a desire to surpass Professor Oak's accomplishments. He has a Corsola.

Professor Birch (オダマキ博士, Odamaki-hakase, Professor Odamaki)

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki

Professor Birch is considered the "Pokémon Professor" in the Hoenn region. Unlike other Pokémon scientists, he is known for his field work, rather than, in his own words, remaining "cooped up in his lab all day." He is an expert in the field of Pokémon habitual distribution. He is also responsible for giving new Pokémon Trainers one of the three Hoenn starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip. These Pokémon are found in Pokémon games Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. His English name refers to the birch tree, while his Japanese name refers to the Columbine flower.

In the anime, Professor Birch appears at the start of the Hoenn Saga. When Ash arrives in the Hoenn region, his Pikachu is ill from an overexposure to magnetism, and needs treatment immediately. Birch himself takes Ash and Pikachu back to his lab. Birch gives May her first Pokémon, a Torchic, a Pokédex, and some Poké Balls. He later appears when Ash, May, Brock, and Max return to Littleroot to help save the Starter Pokémon from Team Rocket, and also helps to solve the mystery of Clamperl's evolutions.

Professor Rowan (ナナカマド博士, Nanakamado-hakase, Professor Nanakamado)

Voiced by: Iemasa Kayumi

Professor Rowan is the authority on Pokémon in the region of Sinnoh, the setting of the Pokémon video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Platinum. Professor Rowan's name derives from the rowan tree, continuing the trend of the names of Pokémon professors deriving from the names of trees, while his Japanese name refers to Sorbus commixta, the Japanese Rowan tree.

Rowan's laboratory is located in Sandgem Town, making him the first professor in the Pokémon series not to live in the protagonist's town. He specializes in the research of Pokémon evolution and is considered a senior researcher to Professor Oak, whom he is old friends with. He gives the player a Pokédex, and allows him or her and the rival to keep one of the three Sinnoh Starter Pokémon (Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup) each after they are attacked by Starly while searching for a rare Pokémon, having seen a red Gyarados on TV appearing at Lake Verity (a reference to Pokémon Gold and Silver).

Professor Rowan appears in the first episode of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, "Following a Maiden's Voyage!" He meets Dawn and later gives her Piplup. He owns a Starly and a Staraptor. He runs a Pokémon Summer Academy; he is shown to be serious in nature as is exhibited by his breaking up Ash and Angie's constant fights and surprising them when they are late arriving to the Summer Academy.

Professor Aurea Juniper (アララギ博士, Araragi-Hakase, Professor Araragi)

Voiced by: Naomi Shindō

Professor Juniper is the authority on Pokémon in the region of Unova, the setting of the Pokémon video games, Pokémon Black and White. Professor Juniper's name derives from the juniper tree, continuing the trend of the names of Pokémon professors deriving from the names of trees, while her Japanese name derives from a name for the Japanese Yew.

Juniper's laboratory is located in Nuvema Town. In the anime, she is a friend of Professor Oak. As a present, she gives the player and the player's rivals Cheren and Bianca, the Starter Pokémon of Unova: Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott.

Professor Juniper appears in the first episode of Pokémon: Best Wishes! titled "In The Shadow of Zekrom!". She meets Trip and later gives him Snivy and when her Oshawott runs away and follows Ash, she allows Ash to keep the Pokémon.

Professor Augustine Sycamore (プラターヌ博士, Platane, Professor Platane)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Tsuchida

Professor Augustine Sycamore is the authority on Pokémon in the region of Kalos, the setting of the Pokémon video games, Pokémon X and Y. Professor Sycamore's name derives from the sycamore tree, continuing the trend of the names of Pokémon professors deriving from the names of trees, while his Japanese name derives from the French word for Plane Tree.

Sycamore's laboratory is located in Lumiose City. He is the first Professor in the video games who the player is able to battle. To start the player on their journey he will give them a choice of Starter Pokémon of Kalos: Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie. He is also shown to have a connection with Alain.

Professor Kukui (ククイ博士, Kukui, Professor Kukui)

Voiced by: Keiichi Nakagawa

Professor Kukui appears in the Alola region, where Pokémon Sun and Moon take place. His name comes from the candlenut tree (often referred to as kukui), a plant traditionally indigenous to Hawaii.

Kukui is married to Professor Burnet, who studies the relationship between Pokémon and other dimensions. She works at the Dimensional Research Lab in Heahea City, which the player is invited to from Kukui in Pokémon Sun and Moon. This is the first time a professor in the Pokémon series has been revealed to have a romantic relationship with a named character.

Kukui's laboratory is located on Route 1, the first time a professor's laboratory is not within a town or city. He also teaches students at a school that Ash currently attends with Lana, Mallow, Lillie, Sophocles and Kiawe. Kukui gives Ash a Rotom as the operating PokéDex. In the games, he offers the player Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio. Kukui also frequents the Battle Royal Dome under the alias "the Masked Royal". At the end of Pokémon Sun and Moon, the player can battle him as the Champion of the Alolan Elite Four.

Antagonists

Team Rocket

Team Rocket (ロケット団, Roketto-dan, Rocket Gang) is an organization bent on world domination. Headed by Giovanni, their plan to steal and exploit Pokémon for profit and power is a central plot device used throughout the series. According to the anime, the organization only has bases in the Kanto and Johto regions; however, that does not stop the show's antagonist trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth from following Ash Ketchum to other areas around the Pokémon world. Often, members of Team Rocket are broken up into pairs in order to perform specific heists—like Jessie and James. In the English translations, the pairs are often given names which nod to iconic figures of the American Old West: Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, and Annie Oakley, as well as Atilla the Hun.

Giovanni (サカキ, Sakaki)

Voiced by: Hirotaka Suzuoki (Seasons 1-8), Kenta Miyake (9+)

He is the leader of Team Rocket—having inherited his position from his mother—and the Viridian City Gym Leader. He is constantly frustrated by the failures of his operatives Jessie, James and Meowth. Aside from the operations of Team Rocket, he also funded the creation of Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back. Mewtwo eventually escaped from him and he attempted to recapture the Pokémon in Mewtwo Returns—resulting in Mewtwo erasing all memories of himself from Giovanni's mind. Giovanni plays nearly the same role in the Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen video games. He also appears in the Pokémon Adventures manga. Like in the anime, he organizes Mewtwo's creation. In the FireRed and LeafGreen chapters, he uses Red, Blue, and Green to capture Deoxys and use it to find his son Silver. He also appears in the Pokémon Live! stage musical where he is played by Darren Dunstan. It is stated that he and Delia Ketchum were possibly romantically involved as teenagers (implying that Giovanni may be Ash's biological father), and she never told Ash as she feared he would misunderstand. However, the musical is not considered canon.

Jessie (ムサシ, Musashi) , James (コジロウ, Kojirō) , and Meowth (ニャース, Nyāsu, Nyarth)

A recurring trio of bumbling (for the first three series) thieves who constantly follow Ash Ketchum around in order to capture his Pikachu, which they consider exceptionally strong and are apparently obsessed over. While they are usually antagonistic towards Ash and his friends, they have shown that they are good-hearted at times and willing to put their differences aside when it is beneficial and then fail at an attempt to steal Pikachu. They are shown to have set up the first Team Rocket base in the Sinnoh region. Despite the frequent loses by the hands of Ash and his friends, the trio briefly teamed up with Ash and his friends to defeat more dangerous threats to the world, even helping out in taking down rivaling crime syndicates (such as Team Aqua, Team Magma, Team Galactic, Team Plasma, Team Flare and Team Skull) and reporting their "successes" back to their boss Giovanni. Starting with the Best Wishes! series, the trio has been more serious about their jobs and have accomplished many missions. However, they went back to being comic relief as of the XY series. They are based on the famous villain trio in the Time Bokan series.

Rachael Lillis (EP002-AG146) and Michelle Knotz (AG147-present)^[3] voice Jessie.

Eric Stuart (EP009-AG145)^[20] voiced James.

Maddie Blaustein (EP032-AG145)^[21] voiced Meowth.

Kayzie Rogers (EP146-XY140)^[22] voiced Wobbuffet.

Butch (コサブロウ, Kosaburō) and Cassidy (ヤマト, Yamato)

They are the rivals of Jessie, James, and Meowth; unlike the trio, they are successful members of Team Rocket and are looked upon favorably by Giovanni. Their plans are on a larger scale, with the goal of capturing many Pokémon at once; for example, in their first appearance they ran a breeding center to steal others' Pokémon. As a running gag, other characters usually mispronounce Butch's name (e.g. Biff, Botch, Buzz, Bob, Chuck, Bill, Buffy, Butcher, Hutch, etc.), and when they do get his name right, he corrects them out of habit, usually with mispronouncing his own name in the process. The duo sometimes recites a less poetic, more arrogant version of the motto used by Jessie, James, and Meowth. However, just like the trio, Cassidy and Butch can be quite bumbling as shown in the Pokémon Chronicles spinoff, where they failed to capture Pokémon and end up blasting off, much to their embarrassment. Yamato was voiced by Masako Katsuki in Japanese. Eric Stuart^[20] voiced Butch in English while Takehito Koyasu did Kosaburō's Japanese voice.

Professor Namba

?

Pierce (フリント, Furinto, Flint)

Voiced by: Jin Yamanoi

Pierce is a member of Team Rocket who is Jessie, James, and Meowth's contact in the Unova Region. Sent by Giovanni, he directs the trio to perform a series of crimes involving research on a meteorite that fell on Unova hundreds of years in the past.

Team Magma

Team Magma (マグマ団, Maguma-dan, Magma Gang) is one of the two villainous organizations in the Hoenn Region. They are a group of experts in the fields of geology and plate tectonics. Like Team Rocket, some rebels are Pokémon thieves, but Team Magma specializes in the field of Fire and Ground type Pokémon. In Pokémon Ruby, the team acts as the main crime team antagonists.

Maxie (マツブサ, Matsubusa)

Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara

He is the leader of Team Magma. Maxie wants to wipe out the sea in order to create more land by using a volcano and Groudon. He is more misguided than truly evil, as he believes that his actions will benefit others. Maxie met Ash in the episode "Gaining Groudon", and told him of his plans. He also told Ash about the Blue Orb, which could control Groudon, and with it in his hands, he could make life better for himself. Suddenly, Pikachu got possessed by the Blue Orb. It controlled Groudon, and a cataclysmic battle began, resulting in Groudon's victory. Afterwards, Maxie thanks Ash, realizing that the land of Hoenn was perfect the way it is.

Team Aqua

Team Aqua (アクア団, Akua-dan, Aqua Gang) is one of the two villainous organizations found in Hoenn Region. They specialize in Water and Dark type Pokémon. Their goal is to raise the level of all the world's oceans with the power of Kyogre.

Archie (アオギリ, Aogiri)

Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa

He is the leader of Team Aqua. Archie wants to wipe out the land in order to create more sea by using Kyogre. He is more misguided than truly evil, as he believes that his actions will benefit others. He becomes possessed by the power of the Red Orb, much like Pikachu and the Blue Orb. His only concern from that point is to raise the sea, even if it meant drowning all of his Team Aqua members.

Team Galactic

Team Galactic (ギンガ団, Ginga-dan, Galaxy Gang) is the crime syndicate in the Sinnoh region. Their goal is to catch the Pokémon that created the world: Dialga of time and Palkia of space, as well as Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie, so that their leader, Cyrus, can destroy the universe and rebuild it in his own image with himself as an absolute god. However, only the Commanders and Boss are aware of this plan.

Cyrus (アカギ, Akagi)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake

He is the leader of Team Galactic. His goal is to "create a new world" in his own image, with himself as the God of that world. In his first appearance, it was shown that he is a rich businessman who has made most of the buildings and libraries throughout Sinnoh. However, Ash and the others do not know that he is also the Team Galactic leader. Since then, he has appeared many times as the Team Galactic leader. In the end he has his dimension created, and enters it shortly before it is destroyed by Dialga and Palkia.

Charon

?

Team Plasma

Team Plasma (プラズマ団, Plasma-dan, Plasma Gang) is the crime syndicate in the Unova region. Their goal is to liberate Pokémon from trainers and rule Unova.

Ghetsis (ゲーチス・ハルモニア, G-Cis Harmonia)

Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa

Ghetsis is the leader of Team Plasma. His goal is to liberate all Pokémon from trainers and to rule Unova. He first appears rallying Accumula Town's citizens. He eventually starting using N and revived Zekrom or Reshiram, depending on the version, as one of N's Pokémon. Once he is defeated, he is arrested. In the sequel of Pokémon Black and White Versions, he is once again behind Team Plasma. His goal is still to take over Unova by freezing it using Kyurem, and had Colress and Zinzolin help him on his task. When he is defeated again, he is taken away by the Shadow Triad.

Team Flare

Team Flare (フレア団, Flare-dan, Flare Gang) is the crime syndicate in the Kalos region. Their sole goal is to make money and for a "beautiful world".

Lysandre (フラダリ, Fleur-de-lis)

Voiced by Hideaki Tezuka

Lysandre is the leader of Team Flare, and the creator of Lysandre Labs, the creators of the Holo Caster. Lysandre is a calm, respected man, who works together with the scientists of his own laboratory, the Lysandre Labs, in order to craft many products to create a better future. Despite his somewhat friendly behavior, deep down lies a dark man working with Team Flare to capture Zygarde with a red core, who escaped from his lab, and with the blue core, who is reported to be seen at Terminus Cave. Malva, who works with Lysandre, is somewhat intrigued he managed to get a hold of Alain, who is obeying his every command. He is able to take control of blue-core Zygarde and launches a full-out attack on Lumiose City, devastating it. Alain and Ash team up and defeat him and Bonnie and Clemont are able to free the controlled Zygarde. He retreats and makes use of a third Zygarde, this one of a giant rock, which has a connection to Mega Evolution. The blue-core and red-core Zygarde join forms into 100% form and destroy the fossil and, in a first for the series, kill the team leader.

Team Skull

Team Skull (スカル団, Skull-dan, Skull Gang) is the crime syndicate in the Alola region. Guzma is their boss.

Associates

Delia Ketchum (ハナコ, Hanako)

Voiced by: Masami Toyoshima

She is Ash's mother. Delia is very caring toward her son, always reminding him to do his best. She is very talented, having won a beauty pageant and cooked a dish so popular that elite chefs at the Indigo Plateau have asked for its recipe. It is not known who is the father of Ash, but it isn't clear that Ash's parents have separated, although she has contacted him at least once since Ash left. She has a Mr. Mime housekeeper who helps her with chores and is also rather adept in battle. In the Japanese version, the name of Satoshi's mother was, for a long time, unrevealed (with her referring to herself as Satoshi no haha or referred as Mama-san, although the role was credited as Hanako). The name Hanako (and its English counterpart, Delia) was revealed during the second Pokémon movie. She is also constantly reminding Ash to change his underwear.

Johanna

She is Dawn's mother.

Nurse Joy (ジョーイ, Jōi)

Voiced by (English): Megan Hollingshead (Season 1-6),^[23] Erica Schroeder (Season 7-8, Season 16),^[19] Michele Knotz (Season 9-13),^[3] Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld (Season 14-16)^[11]
Voiced by (Japanese): Ayako Shiraishi (EP002-EP229), Yuriko Yamaguchi (EP245-EP488; EP517-EP656), Kikuko Inoue (Temp. Replacement from EP491-EP516), Chika Fujimura (EP659-EP795), Chinatsu Akasaki (EP802-present)

"Joy" is the shared last name of the Joy family, in which most members are nurses. They mainly work in Pokémon Centers, but they also work in other locations. They are also often accompanied by a Chansey or Blissey (throughout Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh) or Audino (throughout Unova), or Wigglytuff (through Kalos). Like Chansey, Blissey, Audino, and Wigglytuff, all Nurse Joys are mostly hospitable, especially towards Pokémon. Brock, who claims to be able to tell the Joys just by minor appearance details (different-colored crosses on their hats; hair is slightly shorter; smile is wider; etc.), is infatuated with every Nurse Joy he meets, and often has to be restrained by a traveling companion. Although all of them look almost identical to each other, some do have different personalities, and a few even other occupations besides nursing. There is a Nurse Joy who is a body builder, a contest judge and even one who is scared of water Pokémon. In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl series, there was also a Nurse Joy who is married and has two daughters who both have the name "Joy" at the end of their names and looks exactly like their mother rather than their father.^[24] Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga author Toshihiro Ono cited her as one of his favorite characters to draw for the series, stating the reason as "because she's a girl".^[25]

Officer Jenny (ジュンサー, Junsā, Junsar)

Voiced by (English): Elisabeth Morinelli (Season 9-13),^[17] Saskia Maarleveld (Season 17-present)^[26]
Voiced by (Japanese): Chinami Nishimura (EP002-EP632), Chiaki Takahashi (EP663-EP795), Chiemi Ishimatsu (EP801-present)

"Jenny" is the shared last name of the Jenny family, in which most members are police officers and maintain the law and order in the Pokémon world and often oppose members of Team Rocket. The Japanese name, junsaa, means "police officer". Officer Jennies are often accompanied by Growlithe or a particular Pokémon that is of importance in a town or a personal preference to that Jenny, such as a Wobbuffet, Spinarak or even a Chatot. There are also many with trademark items to differentiate some, but are just as few as the Joys. The only differences are the symbols on their hats and their uniforms (which are different depending on their region.)

Raoul Contesta (コンテスタ, Contesuta)

Voiced by: Koichi Sakaguchi

Mr. Contesta is main judge of the three contest judges of Pokémon Contests. He is usually the first one to comment on the Pokémon, and the one who offers advice to the Coordinators. He is critical, but fair in his judgments.

Mr. Sukizo (スキゾー, Sukizou-san)

Voiced by (Japanese): Yoshinori Sonobe

Mr. Sukizo is one of the three judges for Pokémon contests, alongside Mr. Contesta and Nurse Joy. His appearance resembles that of a male PokéFan, which may have served as inspiration for his design. Sukizo is a man of few words as the only thing he ever seems to say is "I like it" (好きですね). In the English adaptation of the series, his phrase is "remarkable".

Lyra (コトネ, Kotone)

Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima

Lyra is a female trainer from Johto who joins Ash and friends for a couple of episodes (from "An Egg Scramble! to "Bagged Then Tagged!"). Lyra is based on the female player character of the same name in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In "A Rivalry To Gible On", Lyra tried to make Dawn and Khoury a couple, but realized that she had feelings for Khoury.

Khoury (カズナリ, Kazunari)

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima

He is a male trainer from Johto who joins Ash and friends for a couple of episodes (from "An Egg Scramble! to "Bagged Then Tagged!"). He, like Brock, wants to become a breeder someday.

Don George (ドン・ジョージ, Don Jōji)

Voiced by: Hisao Egawa

"Don George" is the name of the owners of Pokémon Battle Clubs (ポケモンバトルクラブ, Pokémon Batoru Kurabu) throughout Unova. Like the Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys, there are many Don Georges that are all identical, but having different colored collars and wrist bands.

Luke (ルーク, Rūku)

Voiced by: Minami Takayama

Luke is a young Pokémon trainer and amateur filmmaker Ash, Iris, and Cilan meet with when they reach Nimbasa City. He uses his Zorua, Golett, and Leavanny to make films, and has Ash, Cilan, and Iris help him finish his latest film. He later joins them in signing up for the Don Battle tournament, using his Larvesta to reach the semi-finals.

Cynthia (シロナ, Shirona)

Voiced by (English): Emily Bauer^[6]
Voiced by (Japanese): Tomo Sakurai

Cynthia is the reigning Champion of the Sinnoh League. Her side interests are in studying the archaeology and legends of the Sinnoh Region. She appears many times throughout the Diamond & Pearl series where helps Ash and his friends try to stop Team Galactic from reaching their ultimate goal. Successful, she later appears at the Sinnoh League tournament where she observes the battles as the league's Champion. She reappears in Best Wishes! Season 2 and reunites with Ash, as she has arranged to enter Unova's Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup for a demonstration match against a member of Unova's Elite 4. For the first few episodes of the Season, Ash and his friends (along with Dawn) stay at her villa in Undella Town.

N (エヌ, N)

Voiced by: Yūichi Nakamura

Unlike the games, N is not a villain, but an ally to Ash and his friends. Like his game counterpart, N can hear the inner voices of Pokémon and believes that humans are using them for their own gain. However, he is not part of Team Plasma, but rather a defected member; Ghetsis raised him along with Anthea and Concordia, making them believe Pokémon cannot be equals with humans unless they are released from Poké Balls. A short time before the present, N was about to be crowned King of Team Plasma in Ghetsis' plan to use N's pure-hearted desire to save Pokémon to summon Reshiram and enslave it. However, the attempt backfired, and left Team Plasma's castle destroyed by Fusion Flare. N, along with Anthea and Concordia fled to a secluded abandoned castle, where they spent their time tending to mistreated Pokémon (in other words he is a Pokémon version of an animal rights activist).

References

Manga volumes

• Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Electric Pikachu Boogaloo Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, April 5, 2000. ISBN 1-56931-436-5
• Ono, Toshihiro. Pokémon: Surf’s Up, Pikachu Graphic Novel. VIZ Media LLC, June 2000. ISBN 1-56931-494-2