15 Pokemon We Saw In The Anime Before The Games
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15 Pokemon We Saw In The Anime Before The Games
While the anime, trading card game, and other media certainly dominate the world as well, the games are by far the heavy-hitters in the Pokemon world. The games are without a doubt the most influential part of the franchise's empire. While the anime, trading card game, and other media certainly dominate the world as well, the games are by far the heavy-hitters in the Pokemon world. Knowing this, it might surprise some people that many actually appear in the anime before they ever feature in a game. One would think that the anime, which often follows after the games release, wouldn't be introducing new creatures. But, it has happened dozens of times. Here are some of the most notable examples of that were shown in the anime before appearing in a game. Updated November 23rd, 2020 by Hayley Mullen: It's always fun to look back on the moments that excited fans the most: seeing a brand-new Pokemon for the first time and not knowing what to expect. These moments make up many Pokemon fans' childhoods, so we've decided to add a few more Pokemon that made their big debut on the television screen before being catchable in the games. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Bellossom
The short film Pikachu's Rescue Adventure was part of a series of shorts that featured Pikachu and his Pokémon pals. The series actually introduced a few Generation II Pokémon before the release of Gold and Silver, including Bellossom. This particular short also featured Hoothoot, Ledyba, and Elekid. A few Bellossom appeared in this short, dancing for Ash and his friends before they are almost blown up by some Clefairy using Metronome (which then turns into Explosion). This would mark the first appearance of Oddish's split evolutionary line, as it could formerly only evolve into Vileplume. Lugia
That short film was played alongside the The Power of One (alternately titled Pokémon: The Movie 2000). This was the second Pokémon movie after Mewtwo Strikes Back, and features a battle between Generation I's , who are causing issues with the weather. In order to quell the fighting, a series of events leads to appearance, marking its debut in the Pokémon franchise. It would be a few more months before Lugia would feature as a box legendary on Gold and Silver, entrenching its status as a series favorite. Blaziken
In the final episodes of the Johto arc in the Pokémon anime, Ash goes up against a strong trainer named Harrison in the Johto Silver League Conference. Harrison is from the Hoenn region and uses Pokémon Ash has never seen before, leading to an intense, climactic fight between Fire-types Charizard and Blaziken. Harrison's Blaziken is the first on-screen instance fans had seen of any of the Hoenn starters or their evolutions, and to see such a powerful Blaziken using brand-new moves such as Blaze Kick undoubtedly exciting to watch. Seedot And Shroomish
Both Hoenn Pokémon Seedot and Shroomish had simultaneous introductions on the anime, though their appearances were simply a teaser for what was to come in the then unreleased Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. They first appeared in "Johto Photo Finish," where Ash's Charizard loses by a hair to trainer Harrison's Blaziken. After the battle, Ash and Harrison discuss their reasons for becoming a trainer, and Harrison mentions how Professor Oak reminds him of Professor Birch of the Hoenn region. In a fantasy sequence, fans got their very first look at multiple Seedot and Shroomish, along with Professor Birch conducting his field research. Fans also were able to see Wailmer and Sharpedo, but unfortunately only from behind. Munchlax
This hungry and fun-loving Pokémon in Generation IV. Munchlax is the baby Pokémon of Snorlax, and shares many of the same characteristics, including its insatiable appetite and green and beige coloring. Not only did a Munchlax appear for the first time in Destiny Deoxys, but May, a main character in the Hoenn arc of the anime, owned a Munchlax for a while. Further to this, Munchlax actually appeared in several games from the Hoenn era before being officially released in its proper generation in Diamond and Pearl, . Mime Jr
Many baby Pokémon that were pre-evolutions of existing Pokémon were introduced ahead of their scheduled games, most likely due to the popular attention they were bound to receive. One such baby in the spotlight was Mime Jr , the baby stage of Mr. Mime. This cute clown became well-known when Team Rocket's James acquired one during the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire series of the anime. The episode "Sweet Baby James" aired in Japan on October 13th, 2005, almost a whole year before Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were set to release. Both Brock's Munchlax and James' Chimecho fall ill at the same time, and both bring their Pokémon to a nearby elderly couple's manor for help. The manor happens to be the home of James' Nanny and Pop-pop, as well as their Mime Jr , who takes a liking to James. Kecleon
Kecleon was introduced in July of 2001 with the episode "The Kecleon Caper," which featured two Kecleon owned by wealthy ladies Madison and Alexa. Ash and friends meet the women on a luxury dirigible that flies around the world, which explains meeting people and Pokémon from the Hoenn region. The episode pre-dated Ruby and Sapphire by over a year, which released in Japan of November 2002. Multiple iterations of "purple Kecleon" can be seen across the Pokémon franchise, including the Kecleon shopkeeper from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. Strangely enough, none of these purple Kecleons are close to Kecleon's official shiny form, which is practically the same except sporting a blue zigzag stripe instead of red. Bonsly
Another baby Pokémon introduced to sway fans already familiar with their evolved form is Bonsly, the baby Pokémon of Sudowoodo. Bonsly is arguably an odd choice for a baby Pokémon, considering how many creatures there are to choose from, but its stout little form and bonsai tree theme work to its advantage quite well. Introduced to be Brock's Pokémon during the Hoenn arc of the anime, Bonsly first appeared in "From Cradle to Save" in December of 2005. Ash and his friends decide to train with Evian the Ninja when they come across Bonsly, who is one of the many accused of the string of robberies in the area. It turns out to be Team Rocket, predictably, and Brock ends up becoming a father to a little baby Bonsly. Lucario
Another Generation IV Pokémon that was introduced before Diamond and Pearl's release was Lucario. This Steel/Fighting Pokémon actually had an entire movie dedicated to it before the Generation IV games debuted, almost a year later. The same movie, Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, also marked the first appearance of Lucario's Generation IV friends Mime Jr (baby Pokémon of Mr. Mime), Bonsly (baby Pokémon of Sudowoodo), and Weavile (evolution of Sneasel). Lucario would be one of the first Pokémon to be revealed as capable of Mega Evolution, as well, making it a master of early debuts. Slowking
Joining Lugia in debuting early as part of The Power of One is Slowpoke's branched evolution, Slowking. This mega-smart Generation II Psychic and Water-type appeared in the movie to help Ash and his friends solve the mysteries of the legendary birds and the attached prophecy. The Slowking in Pokémon's second movie provided some comic relief, but also guidance for Ash and the gang. He helps Team Rocket realize that they played a benevolent role in helping to save the world, which they celebrate, being the good guys "for once." Now we just have to wait and see . Sylveon
The newest and, Sylveon, was revealed long before the new Fairy-type was introduced. As a result, it caused a ton of confusion and speculation in the fanbase. Sylveon was revealed in an announcement ahead of the release of Pokémon X and Y. From there, the fanbase went wild trying to guess what Sylveon's typing would be. Some speculated it would be Flying-type, because of its ribbons, and other guessed Ghost due to its blank, soulless eyes. Ultimately, as we all know, Sylveon is a Fairy-type, which was a shock and pleasant surprise to many. Helioptile
The only Generation VI Pokémon on this list, Helioptile actually appeared in the anime in Generation V. Alexa, a friend of Ash, helps escort him to Kalos later on in the series. But in the episode The Journalist from Another Region, Ash, Cilan, and Iris run into Alexa's Helioptile separated from its owner. The same episode also featured another Generation VI Pokémon in the form of Gogoat. The show hangs a bit of a lampshade on these Pokémon by acknowledging that they aren't from Unova. Ash's Pokédex doesn't have any information on them when he tries to scan them, and Cilan suggests they aren't from the region. Snubbull & Marill
Back to the Pikachu short films. In Pikachu's Vacation, we are introduced to some Pokémon not originally from the Kanto region. The first short in the series debuted alongside the first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back. In it, we're introduced to Snubbull and Marill. The pair are part of a quartet that makes a headache for Pikachu. The episode also featured Togepi, who had been a staple of the anime for a while. Funny enough, all three of Togepi, Snubbull, and Marril would be converted to the Fairy type later in the series, a full fifteen years later. Togepi
This small eggshell Pokémon is probably one of the first many people think about when the idea of the anime introducing things before their games comes up. Togepi was a main character of the anime for a long time before Gold and Silver were released to the public. In the episode Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, the gang finds an egg that eventually hatches into the same Togepi Misty carries around for what feels like forever. Togepi was released so early that it was listed as #152 in the Pokédex on the Mewtwo Strikes Back DVD. Ho-oh
Probably the only character to outrank Togepi for appearing far before their games debuted, Ho-oh actually made an appearance in the very first episode of the anime. As Ash is laying on the ground in Pokémon - I Choose You! with his injured Pikachu, Ho-oh is seen flying over Viridian Forest. It's one of the first Pokémon ever shown in the anime, and it would be another 2.5 years before Gold and Silver released, where Ho-oh would be a box legendary and given a much larger role in the series.