Any Evidence we are going to johto?

[MistyBrockAsh]

IS there any evidence we are going to johto or is this just speculation

 

[Cybersai]

At this point, no.

We really have no idea what's happening after the Sinnoh league yet.

 

[Sleet]

There is no in-universe evidence so far. The only thing that could possibly suggest that Ash might go to Johto is that HGSS are out/coming out (depending on region).

Of course, I would bet they're not going to Johto, but we'll see.

 

[ashita]

Well going with what they have done previously, even if they did go to Johto its not like we would see anyone from Johto or even that many towns that featured.
(Im thinking of Chrysanthemum Town etc from BF Kanto arc)

 

[Cybersai]

Which might be the reason they won't do it this time. What's the point of going back to an old region if you're not going to re-visit any old characters or memorable locations?

If you didn't know better, you would swear Ash and co. were still in Hoenn during the last Battle Frontier arc.

 

[Piplup]

Why would Ash randomly visit Gym Leaders he has no plans to rechallenge? seriously, it's more like fans were expecting ridiculous things rather than the writers doing something wrong
Also, HGSS clearly gets more heavily advertised than FRLG ever were so I wouldn't be that surprised if we do see some of these Gym Leaders or something like that
Not to mention, I'm sure the writers would prefer to use an existing region rather than make up an anime only place like Orange again (and sure they'd prefer anything over stay in Sinnoh for even longer)

But really, there's absolutely no way to know
We have no hints and anything can happen
I might even be wrong
The only thing we can do is wait and find out, it's pretty ridiculous to randomly speculate without any hints

 

[Cybersai]

Yeah, its really too early to tell what's really going to happen. However I do think returning to Johto has some strikes against it from what we know so far:

- Palmer is in Sinnoh, which of course means the other Brains are there too. This also makes sense for the Elite 4 stuff, because they're in Sinnoh, and Ash isn't going to leave the region and then come back just for the E4.

- Pokethlon is being advertised in Sinnoh, whereas Kotone already made her debut. IMO I don't think we'll see Kotone again, but I do find it funny both her and May are now in Johto, even though May is probably done there by now. In other words we're getting the new stuff from HGSS in Sinnoh.

- Most of Johto's characters and plots were covered already in the anime, except for stuff like the red-haired rival who I doubt will get any proper debut, it seems too late for that and he'd be too similar to Paul.

- The lack of nostalgia in the Kanto BF arc was a letdown, and I think the writers are aware of that, (hence all the flashbacks to the past DP has), but they can avoid that problem this time by simply not going to Johto in the first place.

- Kanto was Ash's home region, whereas Johto really doesn't have the same significance. By this logic if R/S is remade in 2012, the writers would have to take Ash into Hoenn again. I think the writers realize re-visiting every region is going to be pointless, hence why if there are remakes for every gen now, its not gonna happen.

 

[Gato]

Well, what will they do then? We've still got at least a year left of Gen. 4, and the Galactic plot seems to be reaching a climax, plus they're on their way to Sunyshore. I can't imagine what else they'de be doing for so long, unless the Sinnoh League takes a really long time to start up. I'm open to ideas of what they'd be doing, though...

 

[Cybersai]

Well the fact that the writers stretched Sinnoh out over 200 episodes is a start. Sinnoh alone has gone on the entire span of AG, which was two sagas.

Crazy.

 

[Ampharos King]

At this point, no.
There is still a LOT to do in Sinnoh; we still have the Team Galactic finale (which is happening very soon). Ash needs to win his last Sinnoh badge, Dawn needs to win her fifth ribbon. Not to mention that we need a Sinnoh League and Grand Festival. This could possibly take another year and probably 30-50 more episodes.
Besides, this anime series, based off the Gen IV games, IS called "Pocket Monsters: Diamond and Pearl." It would not make sense for the group to go to a region not based off the games/plot. (Advanced Generation got away with it because it focused on the GBA main series games as a whole).

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

Well, if they don't announce something for Gen V by December at the Earliest, and at June the 30th at the very latest (since that's when the new movie is going to be in the works), and they also don't mention any Gen V pokemon, and it is indeed true that it will take up to 2012 to release it, if not 2013, then they REALLY need to find a way to buy the time after both the Sinnoh League and the Sinnoh Grand Festival are finished with. Seeing how visiting Johto would not be applicable in the current series (for obvious reasons [ie, the series being called "Diamond and Pearl" not "Dual Generation"]), they would either

A. Go to an Anime Only Region A'la the Orange Islands to participate in the Battle Frontier.

B. Have Ash stay Sinnoh to do the Battle Frontier (and likewise, have Dawn leave the group to do contests in Kanto, Johto, or Hoenn, since there won't be a point in having her do contests in Sinnoh thanks to her competing in the Grand Festival, and people have STILL not explained where it was stated that contest ribbons are invalidated after a Grand Festival, forcing the coordinators to earn ribbons again to enter the same Grand Festival unlike the gyms/leagues).

C. Actually create a new series so that Ash and co can have a legit excuse to go to Johto.

D. Ash fights on the Battle Zone.

Any of these scenarios can happen. However, going by what the writers have done so far, it seems as though B. is the more likely option.

@Scott85: I'm not necessarily agreeing with you, but you do have a point, especially seeing how the ratings on ANN, Pokeani and other places have listed The Battle Frontier as being the worst season ever. In fact, the episode with the lowest ratings thus far was "Queen of the Serpentine". I don't know if any of the DP episodes are ranked worse, but I do know that the ANN network at least does not rank Pokemon really high on it's top ten lists. In fact, most of the time, it's not even on the ANN's top ten anime lists, and very rarely does it barely even reach rank number five.

It's a bit funny that you considered Johto the worst season, as AG and DP, from what I heard, actually ranked lower on the ratings than it ever did. What's even more funny is that, going by the fact that there are kids in Japan and kids are being produced year after year, even after the old fanbase has left the show, the next generation of kids would certainly be able to replace the old fanbase without much thought. However, they can't even get the new kids to keep the ratings high.

 

[J J M]

B. Have Ash stay Sinnoh to do the Battle Frontier (and likewise, have Dawn leave the group to do contests in Kanto, Johto, or Hoenn, since there won't be a point in having her do contests in Sinnoh thanks to her competing in the Grand Festival, and people have STILL not explained where it was stated that contest ribbons are invalidated after a Grand Festival, forcing the coordinators to earn ribbons again to enter the same Grand Festival unlike the gyms/leagues).

Idk if it was actually stated but it was heavily implied. There was a COTD coordinator in Hoenn (or Kanto) with a lot of ribbons iirc. There wouldn't be a need to collect that many ribbons if all you need is 5 (or 15, if you count the other regions).

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

Idk if it was actually stated but it was heavily implied. There was a COTD coordinator in Hoenn (or Kanto) with a lot of ribbons iirc. There wouldn't be a need to collect that many ribbons if all you need is 5 (or 15, if you count the other regions).

That could just as easily mean that five ribbons is the minimum for the region and that the trainer doesn't necessarily have to collect just 5 to enter the grand festival. I mean, Otoshi only had four badges in common with Ash, Gary had ten badges (and only three of which were badges that Ash himself owned at that point.), and there was an unnamed trainer that had Badges that weren't even similar to Ash's badges.

The fact that Gary was able to have Ten badges instead of the usual eight would mean that eight is only the minimum. I'm assuming that this CotD that you are talking about may have been a similar case with Gary.

 

[DracoMan]

If we do, maybe we'll finally find out something about the friggin' GS Ball.

 

[J J M]

That could just as easily mean that five ribbons is the minimum for the region and that the trainer doesn't necessarily have to collect just 5 to enter the grand festival. I mean, Otoshi only had four badges in common with Ash, Gary had ten badges (and only three of which were badges that Ash himself owned at that point.), and there was an unnamed trainer that had Badges that weren't even similar to Ash's badges.

The fact that Gary was able to have Ten badges instead of the usual eight would mean that eight is only the minimum. I'm assuming that this CotD that you are talking about may have been a similar case with Gary.

Then what would be the point for someone to keep on collecting extra ribbons if he/she only needs 5 for all eternity? There isn't really any need to go out of their way for getting extras, especially when you consider contests are more complex/difficult than gym battles.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

Then what would be the point for someone to keep on collecting extra ribbons if he/she only needs 5 for all eternity? There isn't really any need to go out of their way for getting extras, especially when you consider contests are more complex/difficult than gym battles.

Was there any need for Gary to collect 10 badges as well as trying to fight for the Earth Badge? He didn't really have any need to go out of his way to get the extra two badges, seeing how he had more than enough to begin with to qualify for the League.

And believe me, there are people who WOULD go out of their way to get extras in areas even when they have more than enough, as it is, even if the task is more difficult than they normally would do. I mean, College has perfectionists who try to do extra work and extra classes for Freshman Year, even when the class are far more complex/difficult than High School. It might be the same with the Coordinator.

That's IF Contests are actually more difficult/complex than Gym Battles, anyways. Going by the fact that Jessie is pretty good at contests, yet she can't even battle a ridiculously inexperienced and barely conscious caterpie without being completely overwhelmed, not to mention losing completely to a trainer and her Piplup who barely even had any experience in battle, that would imply that Coordinators are less skilled than Gym Battlers (I mean, otherwise, she and James would NOT be able to lose that easily in those factors, especially not to Dawn.).

 

[Takoto]

A. Go to an Anime Only Region A'la the Orange Islands to participate in the Battle Frontier.

B. Have Ash stay Sinnoh to do the Battle Frontier (and likewise, have Dawn leave the group to do contests in Kanto, Johto, or Hoenn, since there won't be a point in having her do contests in Sinnoh thanks to her competing in the Grand Festival, and people have STILL not explained where it was stated that contest ribbons are invalidated after a Grand Festival, forcing the coordinators to earn ribbons again to enter the same Grand Festival unlike the gyms/leagues).

C. Actually create a new series so that Ash and co can have a legit excuse to go to Johto.

D. Ash fights on the Battle Zone.

I doubt- however it's not impossible- another Animé only region. B, C, and D sound like they could probably happen. If Dawn left (oh god how I hope she leaves) then she's very, very quickly be replaced by another female- maybe even Misty or May, however both of them would have no reason to be with Ash and Brock again so they might just make a new female. Or, add a third male and make it a sausage fest, as certain people I know would say xD, however that is very unlikely.

Then what would be the point for someone to keep on collecting extra ribbons if he/she only needs 5 for all eternity?

For fun. Think about it- even though Contests are competitive and all, I'm sure there are many characters in the Poké Universe who enter them just for fun.

 

[ashita]

Maybe they could show the regions from Colloseum in the anime but as a proper region with gyms and other towns etc

 

[Cybersai]

Although its very, very unlikely to see Dawn leave, they always have Kotone.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

I doubt- however it's not impossible- another Animé only region. B, C, and D sound like they could probably happen. If Dawn left (oh god how I hope she leaves) then she's very, very quickly be replaced by another female- maybe even Misty or May, however both of them would have no reason to be with Ash and Brock again so they might just make a new female. Or, add a third male and make it a sausage fest, as certain people I know would say xD, however that is very unlikely.

So, I take it you hate Dawn as well? You have my sympathies.

Of course, just because Misty won't have a reason to return doesn't necessarily mean that Misty can't return. I mean, did Brock have a reason to return? Heck, did he even need a reason to return? Not really. Heck, they even had Brock acting as though he won't return to Ash's group in the second DP episode right up until that Truck lady drove off to regroup with her other boyfriend. If they can bring him back without a reason, whose to say that Misty can't either? May might not try and return to the group (her leaving the group was her idea, after all.), however, Misty was more forced to leave (you know, troubles with the gym).

For fun. Think about it- even though Contests are competitive and all, I'm sure there are many characters in the Poké Universe who enter them just for fun.

Yeah. I mean, Ash entered a few, and he doesn't even desire to be in a Grand Festival. Of course, why he entered the Wallace Cup when he explicitly stated that he definitely would not do any more contests is beyond me.