Summary
Since its debut in 1997, thePokémonanime has seen Ash and his loyal Pikachu travel the many regions of thePokémonworld, facing enigmatic enemies, making new friends and, of course, catching newPokémonalong the way. In more recent times,fans have been lucky enough to shift the focus to other interesting viewpoints, such as inPokémon Horizons, Pokémon Origins, andPokémon: Paldean Winds.
Despite this shift in focus, however, these anime all focus on the same themes set in the core series of the games - living with, catching & battlingPokémon.Due to the sheer overwhelming popularity of the games, there have logically been a plethora of spin-offs, many of which have gained immense followings over the years. With this in mind,would it not make sense to adapt some of these spin-off games into their own anime?
10 Most Important Shiny Pokémon and Their Trainers in the Anime
Shiny Pokémon are incredibly rare in the Pokémon anime, but there are a few that have played critical roles in the story in the past.
8Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger(2006),Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia(2008) &Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs(2010)
Kicking things off, we have arguablyone of the more popular spin-off series,Pokémon Ranger.In each of the three games released, the player takes on the role of aPokémonRanger, a unique profession in thePokémonworld.Rangers are dedicated to the care and well-being of both the environment andPokémonthemselves- almost acting asPokémonpolice. In each of the games, you befriend wildPokémonwho offer you aid in various tasks and missions, some of which are more critical than others.
This is fully displayed in 2008’sPokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, a game with a grandiose plot and a large variety of side characters. If we were to get a direct adaptation of one of these three games,Shadows of Almiais the clear choice, even with the existence of the 2010 two-part anime special centering onGuardian Signs.
7Pokémon Colosseum
Pokémon Colosseum(2003) &Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness(2005)
Colosseumand its follow-upXD: Gale of Darkness,both directed by M. Yamana, are a couple of somewhat darker entries to the franchise,focusing heavily on the battle elements of the core games. Unlike said core games,in this series the player doesn’t capture wildPokémon,but instead ‘snags’ shadowPokémonfrom other trainers. This would add two new gimmicks to a potential anime adaptation that would perhaps draw in the older members of the fandom.
In the sequel, we also get the chance to meet Shadow Lugia, a one-off corrupted version of Gen II’s legendaryPokémon.Seeing this version of Lugia come to life in a big-budget anime has the potential to be a true spectacle, and one that would no doubt be well-received.
6Pokémon Conquest
Released in 2012 & Directed by O. Mieda
Much likePokémon Legends: Arceus,Conquestis set in thePokémonworld’s past, in a time of great conflict. Using yourPokémon companionsand newfound allies, you set out to unite the divided Ransei region. Some may be surprised to hear that this stand-alone game is actually a collaboration betweenPokémonand the turn-based strategy RPG seriesNobunaga’s Ambition.
Having seen the possibility of aPokémonanime set in the past through 2022’sPokémon: Hisuian Snow, adding a slightly darker tone with a war theme would be a completely new look at the franchise.It would offer a peak into the world before peaceful modern-day gyms, trainers andPokémonLeagues. The success and anticipation of theLegendsgames proves there’s an audience for this sub-genre ofPokémon,and so an anime adaptation would only make sense.
5Pokémon Dash
Released in 2004 & Directed by M. Ozawa, M. Obata, S. Naka, Y. Hatta, N. Matsumura & K. Kawamura
The sports genre of anime is an ever-popular and often underappreciated staple of the medium. With such powerhouse franchises asHaikyu!!andBlue Lockdominating the market, why not attempt to introduce aPokémon-themedcontender?Pokémonhas a few options that could slot into this position, but why not take a leap of faith with one of the franchise’s worst-reviewed games -Pokémon Dash.
Released in Japan on the Nintendo DS in 2004 before releasing worldwide in 2005,Pokémon Dashis essentially what it says on the tin -aPokémonracing game. While the game itself has no discernible plot,the idea of a competitivePokémonanime thatdoesn’tfocus on battling is an intriguing concept. Perhaps instead, the show could focus on a core duo of trainer and racer, and beyond that, perhaps it could take further inspiration from the thirty-third episode of the anime ‘The Flame Pokémon-athon!',where Ash famously rode Ponyta - who evolved into Rapidash mid-race - to victory.
4Pokémon Café ReMix
Released in 2020 & Directed by Y. Obishaku
While spin-off entries such asPokémon RangerandPokémon Conquestwould likely make fantastic action-heavy anime,there is definitely a place for a cozier-style series, and there is no better game to base said series on thanPokémon Café ReMix.Although the story in the game is fairly simplistic, the protagonist and their Eevee decide to open up a café forPokémon,an anime adaptation wouldn’t need to be any more complicated.
Perhaps aimed at a younger audience, this series could be episodic, with a new customer/dilemma each week. Alternatively, a new over-arching plot could be added -a format such as this could easily support a dramatic or romantic storyline. Series such as2023’sPokémon Conciergeprove that a slice-of-life series simply based around living and working in thePokémonworld can be a success. There is so much more to the franchise than simply catching and battlingPokémon,and an anime loosely based onCafé ReMixhas the potential to showcase that.
3Detective Pikachu
Detective Pikachu(2018) &Detective Pikachu Returns(2023)
TheDetective Pikachugames prove to be a complicated choice in terms of whether it should receive an anime adaptation due to the live-action adaptation of the first game, 2019’sDetective Pikachu.Directed by Rob Letterman and starring Justice Smith & Ryan Reynolds, the film was a global hit, and thereforea case could be made that an anime adaptation would no longer be needed. However, others would disagree.
The main case for a Detective Pikachu anime comes from the fact thatthe film adaptation verges a hefty distance away from the plot of the games. While yes, there is still a talking Detective Pikachu and a young partner called Tim with a missing father, the similarities pretty much end there. Therefore, an anime adaptation that sticks more to the plot of the games would still be able to stand on its own two feet, and would definitely be dissimilar enough to not be compared to the movie.
2Pokémon Trading Card Game
Card Game Released in 1996, Video Game Released in 1998 & Directed by K. Arai
Of all the possible sources for a spin-off game,thePokémon Trading Card Gamewould certainly produce the most ‘meta’ anime, but it would also be one of the most interesting. For almost as long asPokémongames have been popular, so, too, has the card game. Instead of setting the series in the world ofPokémonitself, a series based on the popular card game could be set in the real world, albeit with some moreYu-Gi-Oh-esque additions.
Much like similar card-based anime, such asBakugan Battle Brawlers(2007) orDinosaur King(2007),an anime based on the card game version ofPokémonwould likely have a competitive/sports-anime edgemixed in with real-world drama and relationships. It would be interesting to see real-life strategies placed into the series, perhaps with the eventual goal of the protagonist being to reach thePokémonWorld Championships - an easy tie-in to make for the franchise.
1Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red & Blue Rescue Team(2005),Explorers of Time & Darkness(2007),Explorers of Sky(2009),Gates to Infinity(2012),Super Mystery Dungeon(2015) &Rescue Team DX(2020)
Last, but by no means least, is the game series some would define asPokémon’s best -Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.Spanning over fifteen years, from 2005 to 2020,Pokémonhas released eleven different games in the spin-off series, with three of them being Japanese exclusives. The plot for each game differs greatly, but all have the same concepts at their core: a human who has mysteriously been transformed into aPokémon,and can now talk to and interact with otherPokémon.Through various means, ‘mystery dungeons’ have been popping up throughout the region, hiding valuable secrets.
While theMystery Dungeongames have received four anime specials over the years,they have never found a true place within the anime genre, which is a true shame. Games such asExplorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness & Explorers of Skyhave such rich and enticing plots, settings, and characters, all of which would perfectly suit a fully fleshed-out anime series. As mentioned before, in recent years, it appears that thePokémoncompany has been willing to branch out its anime options. We can therefore only hope that the untapped potential of the spin-off games does not go unnoticed.
Pokémon
Cast
Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
