Are game characters popularized by the anime?

[Cybersai]

For example, would Iris and Cilan be anywhere as popular as they are now if they were just left as Gym leaders in the games and never joined the main cast? Meaning instead of thinking about their anime versions, all we'd have of them is their game personalities and when Ash came around to battle them. People would just view them as, "other Gym leaders" rather than becoming well known.

In comparison, Hilda seems like she's not going to become as popular as May or Dawn were, simply because Hilda did not become a main cast member of the anime. People like her in the games, but much like Leaf or Kris/Marina, her popularity is going to be more obscure.

In comparison, if May never became a main character, she'd probably be remembered on the level as Kris/Marina from Gold/Silver. Just the first playable female heroine from a game gen at the start.


In this way, its kind of funny how whoever the writers decide to use in the anime, they become more popular than if they were only left as game characters. I suppose that makes sense, as the more exposure a character gets, the more well known and viewed a character is.

What do you think? Would Iris and Cilan register with you at all if they were just left as Gym leaders in the games and never joined the anime?

 

[chimera]

Game characters that become main characters in the anime certainly become more well-known.

 

[SolgaleoGX]

And this thread pretty much tackles a subject for wich I dislike the anime for. Yes. Sadly the anime is what most people get, so people are exposed to those characters more. The writers use their powers for evil, atleast an episode using this shafted characters in place of lame COTD no one cares about is an option. But no. >_>

 

[Jukain]

It is certainly evident that certain people and pokemon become more popular if they have great presence in the anime. It doesn't work all the time, at least when it comes to pokemon. I don't exactly see Torkoal or Gliscor being used in game a lot, nor do I see them getting much attention at all. As for human characters, well, most of the time the only characters we see a lot of are the gym leaders, and even that isn't always true. The ones that end up following Ash, they definitely received a lot of attention across the fandom. Brock and Misty could've just been a couple of gym leaders we never would see again. May and Dawn could've been relegated to the World of Pokemon segment in movies. Cilan and Iris would likewise just be gym leaders. It is rather irksome that they choose who to feature more than the others, though. Although I don't know if it's by their own devices, or through simple observance of which pokemon people want to see. It's getting to the point where it can be argued that certain pokemon are only made because they're marketable. As for the humans, I find it is rather an incident of the fact they were chosen to be on the anime. There doesn't seem to be favoritism in play here other than with May or Dawn, who were made just to be eye candy. I'd say that it's evident, but it's not the whole answer.

 

[Insanish Danish]

Yeah, definitely. I don't think May and Dawn would be anywhere near as popular as they are if they had only appeared in the games.

 

[*Green]

I agree with this. Also, Pikachu became famous this way, if you haven't noticed. I mean, almost every Pokemon-related thing has a pikachu on it. And how did Pikachu get so famous? From being on the anime.

Wait, isn't this a human character discussion? Sorry guys ><

 

[kantoskies]

I agree with this. Also, Pikachu became famous this way, if you haven't noticed. I mean, almost every Pokemon-related thing has a pikachu on it. And how did Pikachu get so famous? From being on the anime.

Wait, isn't this a human character discussion? Sorry guys ><

Agreed, and same with Meowth (on a smaller scale). They're the only two pre-Generation 5 Pokemon to make significant appearances in Best Wishes! (Persian, Umbreon, and a Dragonite fossil have all appeared in some way, but they're just cameos).

 

[Cybersai]

Don't forget Jigglypuff was popularized by the anime so much that it wound up in the first Smash Bros. on the N64 in 1999, and stayed ever since.

Jiggly looks so out of place in Smash Bros. now since its not remotely important anymore in any way, shape or form.

 

[Ampharos King]

It seems to be an unanimous decision, with hardly any real debate at all.

Iris and Cilan are certainly more popular because they were game characters. Brock and Misty always stood out the most alongside the Kanto Gym Leaders due to the amount of screentime they were shown in the anime.

Example: Most fans of the anime will know who May or Dawn are, but they might not know who their male game counterparts (Brendan and Lucas, respectively) are unless they either played the games or read the spinoff manga

It is important to note that the individual pokemon species themselves are technically "game characters," so it is important to include them as well. Pikachu is the most well known pokemon of all, and there are plenty of people outside the community who knows what it is (since he is a main focus in the anime). The Meowth and Jigglypuff species also play out at close seconds as far as widespread identity due to their level of popularity in the anime.

 

[Cybersai]

A good point someone made is that Brendan and Lucas didn't seem to become too popular because they were never featured mainly in the anime. If Brendan and Lucas had at least been rivals for Ash in Hoenn and Sinnoh, they would have gained popularity simply by being in the show and battling Ash.

I highly suspect May, Dawn, etc. would have just wound up like Brendan/Lucas then, and like we're seeing what's happening to Hilda now.

 

[Ashfangirl22]

Yes pretty much, as others said they wouldn't have been as well known. Some people only watch the anime so they'll know the characters if they appear in it.

 

[*Green]

Agreed, and same with Meowth (on a smaller scale). They're the only two pre-Generation 5 Pokemon to make significant appearances in Best Wishes! (Persian, Umbreon, and a Dragonite fossil have all appeared in some way, but they're just cameos).

But is Meowth the so-to-speak "face of Pokemon?" No, though it is popular. But did the Umbreon itself appear in Best Wishes! or wasn't it that Tepig was mixed up for an Umbreon? I can't remember, and it's 2 am anyways xP

 

[Dogasu]

Satoshi simply looked it up in his Zukan. The pokemon itself didn't appear in the episode.

Anyway, I'd love to know what goes into the decision to feature certain characters and ignore others completely. Like, why was it decided to not have Chern in Best Wishes!? Why didn't Jun show up until relatively late in Diamond & Pearl? Why didn't any of the Rocket executives from HeartGold & SoulSilver appear? Why was Dent chosen to be Satoshi's traveling companion over Pod and Corn? Where's N?

 

[pokemon fan 132]

They without a doubt are because of exposure they received in anime as others pointed out,.In many cases if character and unique things which form his story and personality is showed more often being given opportunity to viewers toi earn more about them,their past and background they will with time become more poplar.,

Many people who watch anime dont play games and vice versa being another handicap for game characters considering how less people are familiarized with them while those who are displayed in other medias of pokemon franchize enjoy benefit of being recognized more.
Some game protagonists like Leaf,Hilda,Brendan or Lyra are popular to some extent but because of handicap of never entering this show or being shortly in it they didnt manage to gain popularity which they could if they were included in anime in much larger dose.
Of course sometimes characters who were in show shorter than others tend to be equally or even more popular but general rule of thumb is that if character gets more exposure with people getting to know him better he will gain bigger popularity because of that.

We can see by examples of May,Dawn,Misty or Ash how much they stand out among pokemon fandom being among most popular characters out there with anime being meritorious for it.

 

[Paperhorse]

I love a lot of game characters, but I find it easier to like characters that have been featured in the anime since they show more personality development, which, in turn, makes them more interesting. It is much easier to like a character who has good interactions with main cast characters.

Some people only watch the anime so they'll know the characters if they appear in it.

Yeah, that's true too. Also, I think the writers will only choose the most interesting characters from the game to appear in the anime. Maybe that's the reason why they chose to feature Bel rather than Cheren because Bel is much more appealing and will be better liked.

 

[Blue1225]

Absolutely. As others have said characters like Brendan and Lucas are less popular for the fact that they don't appear in the anime in an important role.

 

[Cybersai]

It is odd how Leaf and Hilda did not and probably won't get any major screentime in the anime.

At least we saw Lyra for 5 episodes. And case in point, I noticed Lyra getting a lot more fanfare when she appeared in the anime, whereas the initial reaction to her design was negative and people kept complaining about her overalls or how she looked like a farm girl.

 

[Insanish Danish]

The anime also tends to make the girls look better than they do in their game art. Kind of a shallow reason for a character to become more popular, but it is what I've noticed.

 

[*Green]

The anime also tends to make the girls look better than they do in their game art. Kind of a shallow reason for a character to become more popular, but it is what I've noticed.

This is true. Like with Dawn in DPPt, she looks odd in the games (like when you're selecting your gender) but in the anime she looks WAY better. I never realized it until now xP

 

[Thingamajig]

The amount of people that call Red and Blue "Ash" and "Gary", much to my chagrin, is a testament to how easily the anime can popularise otherwise fairly unremarkable game characters. (especially in the case of Dawn, who has no real personality as an NPC in DPPt.)