So... why did they place Battle Frontier in Kanto?

[Weedle Mchairybug]

You know, I was thinking about something these past few days, and I must ask... Why did they place the Battle Frontier in Kanto? Heck, what was the point, even?

I mean, like some people said, it was only going to be 55 episodes long, anyways, there were barely any references to the original season (in fact, had it not been for the Viridian/Pewter Gyms or Mt. Moon, we might as well have been in another region, anyways.), among other things.

I mean, we know the Writers would have had to have known about Battle Frontier's location, so why didn't they use it's location in Hoenn? Heck, why didn't they utilize the fact that you can acquire Johto Starters after you get the National Pokedex in Emerald and have May capture either a Totodile or a Chikorita?

I mean, if it was actually advertizing the remakes, I would be able to understand why they would have it in Kanto (but, seeing how a certain playable someone didn't appear, it definitely couldn't be that.

 

[Sato]

I mean, if it was actually advertizing the remakes, I would be able to understand why they would have it in Kanto (but, seeing how a certain playable someone didn't appear, it definitely couldn't be that.

I have to wonder, why did Ash, Misty and Brock go to Johto? Were they trying to promote Gold and Silver or something? I mean, the playable characters didn't appear, so it definitely couldn't be that... >_>

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

I have to wonder, why did Ash, Misty and Brock go to Johto? Were they trying to promote Gold and Silver or something? I mean, the playable characters didn't appear, so it definitely couldn't be that... >_>

Well, yeah, though one could argue that they were in the games (even IF they were secret bosses), so it wouldn't matter.

The problem here is that their even making Kanto (which was the region of FRLG) the site of the Battle Frontier had several holes in it, including the fact that Season 1 was barely even referenced. Some people also wonder why they didn't use Hoenn's location (like Jesse GS II, for example.)

 

[Piplup]

1. The BF saga was supposed to advertise both FRLG and Emerald

2. There was absolutely no reason at all to bring up things from the past just because they're in Kanto... people just got their hopes high for something that doesn't make much sense (someone here wanted a random COTD like Mikey the Eevee trainer to randomly appear again after almost 10 years, others thought Ash would bother to check Gyms Leaders who he has nothing to do with after he got his badge already and so on...)

3. From AG we have two stars/plots, if the BF was one little island with all the BF facilities there... what would May do?

4. If it was all on one island like in the games Ash would do the entire thing in less than 20 episodes which wouldn't fill enough time like the eventual 50-60 episodes

5. It's a new journey and it's a little weird to start a new journey in the same place you just finished your journey in... it seems more "logical" to go to a different place

6. The anime is NOT the games and not everything is 100% identical... so they could place the BF wherever they want

I'm getting sick of these ridiculous threads... really... it became so annoying
And it's only makes me think even more that Scott turns into Weedle without even noticing...

 

[Sato]

I'll admit that it was a disappointment that past events were not referenced considering the fact that it was indeed Kanto. I will also admit that moving the Frontier to Kanto was incredibly odd.

Although I feel that a major factor in the Frontier's location was that if it were all on that small island, there'd be no traveling from one destination to another, which tends to be the main way the anime allows itself to be padded with filler. So... They needed a bigger location. Where to go? Why not Kanto? After all it tied in with the remakes. Double the promotability!

Personally, I feel that they really could have stuck the Frontier ANYWHERE and had little difference, considering how little it actually had to do with the original Kanto arc.

Edit: Haha! Beaten to the punch by Piplup! Well said.

 

[Piplup]

I'll admit that it was a disappointment that past events were not referenced considering the fact that it was indeed Kanto.

But why would they reference anything? seriously!
1. People like Mikey the random Eevee trainer are random COTDs that anyone seriously expecting to see them again after 10 years is just ridiculous

2. Ash has no reason to visit these Gyms again when he has no intention to battle there and is too busy anyway with his current BF journey and trainings... not to mention they also have to get to May's Contests AND Ash's facilities and that's enough to try and get in time for them to add another "mission" to randomly visit Gyms for no reason... AND some of these Gym Leaders might not even be there anymore and possibily replaced

3. Duplica, Suzie, Aya... all of these proved the characters we met in Kanto don't just sit there and wait for Ash to remember and visit them again... they have their own life/journey as well

4. We did visit some old locations like Mt. Moon, Pewter Gym and some other placeds like Saffron City (again there was no reason to check that Gym and there was nothing really special about this city anyway to make it so "clear" that it's the same ciry from years ago)

I will also admit that moving the Frontier to Kanto was incredibly odd.

Not that much... I think people really exaggerate
Just stop analyze everything and just watch to enjoy...

Although I feel that a major factor in the Frontier's location was that if it were all on that small island, there'd be no traveling from one destination to another, which tends to be the main way the anime allows itself to be padded with filler. So... They needed a bigger location. Where to go? Why not Kanto? After all it tied in with the remakes. Double the promotability!

Exactly
Pokémon is all about traveling
It'd be ridiculous to see Ash go from one facility to the next like that... and not to mention that would be done in less than 20 episodes while they had to make 50-60 episodes saga

Personally, I feel that they really could have stuck the Frontier ANYWHERE and had little difference, considering how little it actually had to do with the original Kanto arc.

Because there's really no need to reference anything
It doesn't matter if they call it Kanto, Johto or whatever - there's not really any difference and anyone who says there is just lie
Except the here and there "special" locations and game characters like Gym Leaders - all of these we see in the "main" Gyms journey saga and not in the "filler" BF journey - there's nothing more that makes any region different than the others
So people just exaggerate and complain and discuss stupid things despite it's ridiculous and they could simply watch and enjoy (or just don't watch and shut up if they don't like it how it is)

Edit: Haha! Beaten to the punch by Piplup! Well said.

So there are some people here with a brain... amazing!
Too bad these discussion will continue here all the time and people will continue to watch the show ONLY to complain about it instead of enjoy it

 

[dman_dustin]

But why would they reference anything? seriously!
1. People like Mikey the random Eevee trainer are random COTDs that anyone seriously expecting to see them again after 10 years is just ridiculous

2. Ash has no reason to visit these Gyms again when he has no intention to battle there and is too busy anyway with his current BF journey and trainings... not to mention they also have to get to May's Contests AND Ash's facilities and that's enough to try and get in time for them to add another "mission" to randomly visit Gyms for no reason... AND some of these Gym Leaders might not even be there anymore and possibily replaced

3. Duplica, Suzie, Aya... all of these proved the characters we met in Kanto don't just sit there and wait for Ash to remember and visit them again... they have their own life/journey as well

4. We did visit some old locations like Mt. Moon, Pewter Gym and some other placeds like Saffron City (again there was no reason to check that Gym and there was nothing really special about this city anyway to make it so "clear" that it's the same ciry from years ago)

One counterpoint, why didn't Ash go visit his old Primeape? You would think of all the Kanto old memories, one stop to visit Primeape would've been good.

And let's not forget about Haunter, even if it technically wasn't Ash's he still could've visited it. Besides, would Ash really have to go somewhere to meet up with a gym leader, couldn't he just run into them?

Personally though I don't care, I mean with the exception of Janine, I really didn't care what was going on with the whole Battle Frontier thing.

 

[Piplup]

Maybe they weren't close to the place with Primeape's trainer and he too might travel now
Haunter as you said isn't and wasn't Ash's (and he didn't "stay with Sabrina" like some stupids decided, we don't know if it returned to its tower or went off to somewhere else)

The writers simply didn't want to show Primeape or these Gym Leaders again
Not to mention it'd be wierd to see a character again after 10 years... I think such characters are better "forgotten" than all of a sudden appear again after 10 years

 

[Sato]

Dman Dustin kinda hits the bases on this part about references. I would not want or expect everyone from the original Kanto arc to be back, although it'd be nice to at least have some nods acknowleding that this is the same place they were just a few years ago, and not some entirely new place.

Also, it may have been getting close to ten years on screens, the time behind the screen for our heroes would have been a lot less.

 

[Sleet]

They probably just put it in Kanto so younger anime-first fans would know Kanto existed, for if/when they buy FireRed/LeafGreen. And possibly so they could more logically bring back Misty for fan service. And then they didn't make any references to first season because there aren't many viewers who saw the original. I hate always having to use this in discussions, but this is a children's show.

Can we stop following innocent threads with such defensive unfriendliness, and talking bad about people who haven't even posted here yet? Some people don't like everything about the anime, and a lot of it doesn't make sense. You can't get around that.

 

[Yoshi-san]

People often forget that the anime is merchandise-driven....

 

[TheArsenalRisen]

Not that much... I think people really exaggerate
Just stop analyze everything and just watch to enjoy...

Hear hear.

 

[L-Z]

I mean, if it was actually advertizing the remakes, I would be able to understand why they would have it in Kanto (but, seeing how a certain playable someone didn't appear, it definitely couldn't be that.

But it was. Like someone said in this thread, this is a merchandise-driven cartoon show that exists so that the good folks of Nintendo would get more money. We (among millions of other people) still ejoy to watch it, because otherwise, we wouldn't talk about it this much.

But on the other hand, if we wouldn't analyze and complain every once in a while, this forum would be a whole lot quieter.

So let's just try to get along.

 

[Piplup]

But on the other hand, if we wouldn't analyze and complain every once in a while, this forum would be a whole lot quieter.

I do agree we have to complain SOMETIMES... but I think some people really exaggerate with this and it seems like they watch ths show for this reason - just to complain about it

 

[Sleet]

People often forget that the anime is merchandise-driven....

But the thing is, the Battle Frontier doesn't really promote Kanto. It just is mentioned to be there. The reason Ash went to the Battle Frontier is obvious from a marketing standpoint, but the question is why they decided to put it in Kanto if they weren't going to work it up for FireRed and LeafGreen.

 

[Cybersai]

Misty didn't even appear in the entire BF arc, so it obviously wasn't for her sake.

We only saw Misty at Pallet Town when Ash came home from Hoenn, the writers ignored her for the rest of the arc.

 

[Duckgon Z]

Misty didn't even appear in the entire BF arc, so it obviously wasn't for her sake.

We only saw Misty at Pallet Town when Ash came home from Hoenn, the writers ignored her for the rest of the arc.

Mt. Moon says hi. Just because it wasn't in the American season, doesn't mean that it doesn't count.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

Misty didn't even appear in the entire BF arc, so it obviously wasn't for her sake.

We only saw Misty at Pallet Town when Ash came home from Hoenn, the writers ignored her for the rest of the arc.

You know, it's funny. You seem to claim that I try and reduce a thread on this forum into a BMB topic when I barely even reference that desire on many of these posts, and yet, you seem to be doing the exact same thing by mentioning this as well. I read through the posts, and not once did I even see a mention of Misty being the reason why they chose Kanto, from me, or anyone else.

Besides, even if they did, it's their opinion, anyways. And also, just something to point out, she did appear in the MMoMp special (Before anyone says this, yes, it aired in Japan [If Bulbapedia lists a Japanese airdate, then it aired.], and yes, it still counts. Otherwise, stuff Bonsly and Starly's evolution, Pikachu being released and Mikey's episode also never happened either, because, guess what? Back-to-back episodes count as specials as well (Bulbapedia, and even a thread announcing back-to-back episodes referred to them as such.).

 

[Mooites]

Because the Gen I games had just been remade? Showcasing the whole region? heck yes!

Also, May could do contests there, and it let us know that contests are multi-regional.

 

[Cybersai]

Mt. Moon says hi. Just because it wasn't in the American season, doesn't mean that it doesn't count.

Mt. Moon was the very next ep though, and before Ash got to Noland which is what kicked off the arc.

But anyway, what I meant was Misty only got 2 full episodes that entire arc. The one Pallet ep and the Mt. Moon ep. She was only in the last 1 minute or so of the ep where Ash battled Agatha.

I'm kinda surprised they never bothered to drop by the Cerulean Gym considering they did with the Pewter Gym, but I guess the writers didn't care enough. Same reason why they never bothered to put her in another ep since AG134 and we're now nearly 180 eps later.