- Joined
- Mar 7, 2021
- Messages
- 1,039
- Reaction score
- 4,134
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Actually, speaking of the Orange Islands, OS-OI really strikes me as the most underrated era of the anime. I don't think the only thing OS has to go for it is nostalgia, and OI is more than just "filler islands" to me. Even the movies are better done than the likes of, say, every movie after Lucario and the Mystery of Mew and before The Power of Us.
This, to me, is largely because of the stories told. Ash is a normal ten year old kid in OS-OI, where there isn't anything special about him other than the fact that he's the protagonist and has a love of pokemon. He's very relatable here and actually grows as a character. Misty has different sides to her, that are shown as the series goes on, as she shows a more motherly side to her when Togepi shows up and forms close bonds with Brock and Tracey, and becomes closer friends with Ash. Hell, she even gains the mutual respect of Jessie and takes the initiative to work together with Team Rocket during the St. Anne arc. Brock is a very sympathetic character with his backstory and has a positive effect on Ash, and the dynamic he brings to the OG trio makes it really well rounded: you have the hot headed protagonist, the unpredictable and fiery girl, and the cool big bro. Pikachu grows as a character as well, Charizard has a really nice story, Bulbasaur and Squirtle's backstories are incredibly unique, Pidgeot's story helps close up the question of whatever happened to that Spearow from Episode 1 and helped assist with the world-building, and Butterfree's story was short but sweet. Jessie, James, and Meowth are sympathetic villains who have a unique dynamic with the main characters, and adds on to the nuance of the cast.
Had OS-OI had a better sense of direction and writing, I think the stories presented here would've really been much more impactful. It already is, in my opinion, but the amount of sheer potential in these stories compared to stories afterward is overwhelming to me.
This, to me, is largely because of the stories told. Ash is a normal ten year old kid in OS-OI, where there isn't anything special about him other than the fact that he's the protagonist and has a love of pokemon. He's very relatable here and actually grows as a character. Misty has different sides to her, that are shown as the series goes on, as she shows a more motherly side to her when Togepi shows up and forms close bonds with Brock and Tracey, and becomes closer friends with Ash. Hell, she even gains the mutual respect of Jessie and takes the initiative to work together with Team Rocket during the St. Anne arc. Brock is a very sympathetic character with his backstory and has a positive effect on Ash, and the dynamic he brings to the OG trio makes it really well rounded: you have the hot headed protagonist, the unpredictable and fiery girl, and the cool big bro. Pikachu grows as a character as well, Charizard has a really nice story, Bulbasaur and Squirtle's backstories are incredibly unique, Pidgeot's story helps close up the question of whatever happened to that Spearow from Episode 1 and helped assist with the world-building, and Butterfree's story was short but sweet. Jessie, James, and Meowth are sympathetic villains who have a unique dynamic with the main characters, and adds on to the nuance of the cast.
Had OS-OI had a better sense of direction and writing, I think the stories presented here would've really been much more impactful. It already is, in my opinion, but the amount of sheer potential in these stories compared to stories afterward is overwhelming to me.