Aaron's Review: Pokemon-Indigo League

This show was my childhood…and it’s not as good as I remember.

Ladies & Gentlemen, this is Animated Aaron’s Review of Pokémon-Indigo League.

!Background!

Taking place in a fictional world where creatures with supernatural and elemental powers called Pokémon inhabit, the story follows Ash Ketchum on his adventures through the Kanto region. His dream is to become a Pokémon master, someone who captures and trains Pokémon to battle other Pokémon trainers.

This show is an adaptation of the Pokémon R.P.G video game by Nintendo.

!Setting!

Okay, let’s begin with the explanation of how the world works. At the age of 10, kids get their own Pokémon and go out on an adventure to catch other Pokémon and try to be the best in battling other trainers. The goal is to become a Pokémon master a.k.a league champion. In order to enter the league competition, a trainer must first defeat the eight gym leaders in the region. Challenging other trainers is just a way to strengthen Pokémon.

Pokémon come in different types: Psychic, Ghost, Normal, Fighting, Bug, Fire, Rock, Water, Grass, Poison, Ground, Flying, and Electric.

Pokémon themselves are never given a clear explanation. It’s obvious that their creatures based off of real-world animals, objects, and folklore. Magnemite is a living Magnet, Pikachu is an electric mouse, Ninetails is based on a Japanese Fox spirit, etc. I think the story doesn’t dwell into the origins of these creatures or how their powers work because it would create an overly complicated world.

Now, I like the fact that not everything is spelled out for the audience. We see how much Ash cares about his friends so there isn’t a real reason to explain why he’s like that. While this is one of the shows best strengths, it’s also one of its greatest weaknesses.  

Other weaknesses include filler, silly dialogue and lack of consistency in individual episodes. But let’s get to the characters for now.  

!The Characters!

Ash Ketchum (Satoshi in the Japanese version) is the very dimwitted and naïve protagonist. Normally I’d find this annoying, but it makes sense since he’s 10 years old. He’s not just some idiot, however. Ash is very kind to the Pokémon he catches and is extremely loyal to everyone he befriends. Even if you’ve gotten on his bad side, he won’t leave you when you’re down.

This doesn’t mean he’s a saint at the same time. While there aren’t entire episodes based on him making childish decisions (that I know of), there are moments within the show where his stupidity or ignorance worsens the situation or at least gets him attacked by a Pokémon…or his friend Misty.

Speaking of, Misty (Kasumi in the Japanese version) is a water type Pokémon trainer who aids Ash on his journey.

Misty does have a mean streak and is nicknamed the ‘tomboyish mermaid’ because she can be very feminine at times but when she’s insulted in regards to her looks, she gets enraged. (Episode 18) She puts on a bikini at the beach and when Ash responds, ‘it’s just weird to see you looking like a girl for once’, she smacks him with a beach ball. She doesn’t just ‘fight’ her way through all of her problems.

Remember how I said the ‘show’s greatest strength is its weakness’? Sometimes Misty smacks Ash with a paper fan preventing him from doing something stupid. Other times she watches him make a foolish decision and lets him learn from it (Episode 8).

The third person is Brock (Takashi in Japan). Honestly, he’s pretty dull in comparison. He’s 15 and is a rock type trainer who acts as the voice of reason between the two 10-year-old kids. He tries to flirt with every woman his age and above upon sight as a running joke. That’s kind of it.

There really isn’t much to dwell on with Brock’s character. He’s a stand-up guy who acts as the guide along the journey and comic relief. Not much else.

The three antagonists are called Team Rocket. Jessie, a very prideful, perfectionist, feminist woman who has an anger problem. James, a sort of gullible guy who likes to make cheesy remarks but likes to act ‘cool’ only to get cut down by Jessie. The third is a Pokémon that’s able to talk named Meoth who thinks he’s the leader but often puts his foot in his mouth trying to assert himself. They act as the shows comic relief characters with their quips and slapstick. Also, I noticed that Jessie & James are sort of parallel characters to Misty & Ash. Just a little subtle thing I enjoyed and wanted to share.

!The Story!

The shows formula involves Team Rocket trying to capture Ash’s best Pokémon, ‘Pikachu’ in almost every episode while the three are on their journey.

Ash is challenging a gym leader or the three are helping someone with the ‘problem of the day’ and then Team Rocket crashes the place using their cartoonish robot to steal Ash’s Pikachu or ruin the ‘object of the day’ in an over the top fashion.

The three members of Team Rocket have excellent chemistry and are a treat to watch. This is because the show doesn’t take itself too seriously and relies a lot on humor. Sometimes it becomes annoying how forced the humor is or when it’s trying to be serious but is trying too hard. So, like its villains, the show is either fun because it’s not serious, or trying way too hard.  

!The Show!

This show has been airing since 1998 (U.S.A), which means it should be very popular, and it is. I grew up watching the show and I’m not the type of person that allows nostalgia or the original source material aid me in my final verdict of whatever it is I watch. So with all the things that I didn’t see as a kid now in sight, both the good and bad, I’d like to say that I enjoyed watching this show and it’s defiantly worth watching. It’s just not as high as the pedestal I put on years ago. 

!Grade!

Pokémon (Original Series): B-

Final Word: A good watch for children and fans of light-hearted slapstick

What’s your opinion?