Pokemon XY alternative timeline?

Fadli Yuuki

Fadli Yuuki

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So, after seeing the newest episode, we see the cameo of our original trio, Brock and Misty. From that alone, it's already confirmed that SM took place somewhere after BW. But I can be sure if it really took place after XY. I mean, XY was particularly differs from our usual Pokemon anime, more serious Ash and he less goofy, he even grow a side hair just right in the start of the series. So what I think is, are XY series really took place on original timeline? Since along the series, the writer keep avoiding referencing to the old series too
Especially, with the release of M20, there's a possibility of multiverse
 
Every Pokémon series, even if the general artwork remains the same, has subtle differences in the style. Pikachu going from fat to lean is a big one, but then you have instances like Caterpie's mouth changing from underbelly pale color to green color. It's only recently that the art style has changed so drastically, particularly with DP-BW and XY-SM.

And that's not going into the real animals in Kanto, the unbuilt railway in Johto, the presence of Hoenn Pokémon in Kanto, so on and so forth. This anime series has loose continuity. It is best to be viewed as a series of legends featuring the protagonist named Ash. The same that comic books technically have continuity despite having drastically different art style in each artist's run.

Pokémon XY is in continuity with the rest of the anime, just like all the series. It may not feel that way because of the lack of continuity references, but that's more of a testimony to how well-developed the narrative was for the series. That it didn't need to rely on continuity fan service to deliver on its promises. That it can be viewed as a standalone series with a beginning and end that doesn't require someone to watch the previous series or continue onward to the next series. But always remember that BW ends with Ash and Alexa leaving for the Kalos region, and XY picks off from there.

Therefore, XY is not alternate timeline. However, the Mirror Universe of XY is an alternate timeline.
 
I think the lack of references to the past is that Kalos has very few things that would remind Satoshi of Kanto. Most references this season has had is because Aloha (while far away from Kanto) has some of the most common Pokemon and events that would cause Satoshi to mention the past.

Every season has started where the previous began so its highly doubtful that XY is an alternative timeline.
 
If BW is in the same continuity, which it is, despite Ash's skills as a trainer regressing to a serious degree right after DP, where his skills were arguably at their peak, I don't see why it's so strange that SM and XY are in the same continuity. Ash is certainly more light-hearted and used for comedy relief in SM, but I don't see how that's any stranger than how he was in BW. At least SM Ash seems more in character by comparison and wouldn't pull a stunt like bringing only one Pokemon to a Gym battle.

Every series is set in the same continuity. That's honestly one reason why I was happy about Misty and Brock's return so hopefully the whole "SM is an alternate universe" theory wouldn't come up anymore. I always found to be a huge ridiculous stretch of a theory. Each series since BW has been more stand alone-ish, but that doesn't mean that they exist in their own continuity. They probably just wanted to keep the series more isolated from each other in order to appeal to the new audience they get every few years, as well as possibly to start with the cleanest slate they possibly can. Just because XY doesn't have a lot of nods to previous series doesn't mean that it exists in an alternate timeline.

Plus, it's kind of hard to argue that when Alexa traveling to Kalos with Ash follows up from the ending of BW and they knew each other from that series too. Granted, Alexa didn't really do much besides promoting sixth generation Pokemon a bit early and to introduce the idea of Kalos to Ash, but I don't think that you could say that XY exists in an alternate timeline when the series premiere is a follow up from the BW finale with Ash and Alexa flying to Kalos. There were also some small continuity nods, like Ash mentioning Dawn's Piplup and saying that he could have used other Pokemon he has at Professor Oak's lab instead of bringing Goodra back. It's pretty small compared to most of the other series, but it's still something.
 
SM has some little nods to certain XY things as well if I'm not mistaken. When Ash was battling Olivia, there was a scene where he mimicked Alain's of punching the ground before using a power move, he also recalled the Rock Tomb climb which he did in Kalos also. While XY was a totally different tone to SM, I believe this will change soon when the darker plot is revealed. The animation style pulling it off is left to be seen though.
 
Rajas20 said:
SM has some little nods to certain XY things as well if I'm not mistaken. When Ash was battling Olivia, there was a scene where he mimicked Alain's of punching the ground before using a power move, he also recalled the Rock Tomb climb which he did in Kalos also. While XY was a totally different tone to SM, I believe this will change soon when the darker plot is revealed. The animation style pulling it off is left to be seen though.
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There was also the scene where Tapu Koko saved Ash after he jumped to catch Pikachu, which was nigh identical to the scene from XY where Blaziken saved him.
 
Shadao said:
Pokémon XY is in continuity with the rest of the anime, just like all the series. It may not feel that way because of the lack of continuity references, but that's more of a testimony to how well-developed the narrative was for the series. That it didn't need to rely on continuity fan service to deliver on its promises. That it can be viewed as a standalone series with a beginning and end that doesn't require someone to watch the previous series or continue onward to the next series. But always remember that BW ends with Ash and Alexa leaving for the Kalos region, and XY picks off from there.
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Why do people keep going to great lengths to defend Kalos's lack of continutity by saying it had a "well-developed narrative", it was nothing to write home about. I would argue every other series had a narrative that was actually engaging and well-written in comparison to XY. There were multiple issues in regards to the characters and the arcs which made the lack of continuity even worse in hindsight as they couldn't even develop the characters and arcs properly despite only focusing that series with no characters or stories reccuring from previous sagas.

And how has any other series had to rely on continuity fan service to deliver on its promises?
 
NeoMiniTails said:
Whether it had a great narrative or not, that's all relative to one's opinion. There were issues, just like any other series, but at the end of the day, its about how the series made you feel as you watched it or after it ended.
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Spot on here, imo criticizing someone for preferring a different series isn't really necessary as each person would take something away differently as we all have differing opinions. Maybe that's why I enjoy XYZ so much as the struggles they all went through at times were very relatable. A future series may top it for me but currently it's my favorite.
 
Alan4ever said:
Why do people keep going to great lengths to defend Kalos's lack of continutity by saying it had a "well-developed narrative", it was nothing to write home about. I would argue every other series had a narrative that was actually engaging and well-written in comparison to XY. There were multiple issues in regards to the characters and the arcs which made the lack of continuity even worse in hindsight as they couldn't even develop the characters and arcs properly despite only focusing that series with no characters or stories reccuring from previous sagas.

And how has any other series had to rely on continuity fan service to deliver on its promises?
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To me, if a series has to rely on nostalgia crutch to salvage any goodwill for the audience, that's not a good sign for the overall narrative. Need I remind what people thought of the nostalgia-fest for Best Wishes? While the other series weren't as bad, they were still episodes that rely on pandering the older generation to come back if only for a few episodes before returning to the status quo of the new.

It also tells me a lot of how engaged the production team was for the XY series considering that the lack of continuity references was an accidental oversight by the director.
 
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Detective Conan hardly makes references to past episodes unless the episode calls for it.

For five seasons, while very connected to one another, Sailor Moon hardly ever made references to past seasons or old transformations.

I'm with @Shadao with this. Sometimes, the plot is bigger than making sure you remember that Satoshi owned a Kingler that was also a water type that he won a match with.

I'm not saying that referencing the past isn't important, but I am saying that it doesn't need to be done all the time to be still part of the continuity.
 
Gourgeist and Inkay were directly mentioned in SM003, meaning that the series does in fact, take place some time after XY. As far as other implications go however, I haven't seen them.
 
Right, I forgot about that. Man, I actually don't like at all how they're cramming in this whole multiverse stuff in the games either.
 
I think the reason why there are so many changes among series is because the anime is so repetitive and formulaic, that the writers have to come with new ideas to keep viewers interested.
 
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