Why did they drop the "no evil Pokémon" concept?

[technickal]

I always thought it was an interesting concept, disproving the claims that Pokémon are inherently monsters (despite being formally called "pocket monsters" in Japanese). But recently this has been outright contradicted with the Malamar in XY and Jessie's Mimikyu is SM. The former somewhat matches up with what we've heard of it in other media, but Mimikyu's seemingly came out of nowhere, with its appearance being born out of loneliness rather than envy in the games. So, what do you think? Is this just the anime taking liberties with the game material? Or perhaps it's because of the game material, what with an Evil-type (Dark-type here in the West) being introduced in Generation II? Or was that whole "Pokémon not bad guys" story just another part of Kanto's weirdness that was retconned in later sagas?

 

[Macsen]

It was probably just Ekans being naive.

 

[Vninja]

A lot of Kanto Ideas were left for giving more personality for each pokemon...The Idea of a Pokemon personality and "Evil" status being trainer dependent make Pokemon look much more like emotionless creatures and slaves...I prefer the new trendtrend tough...Pokemon having their own personality and seeing how They interact with the trainer thanks to it...

 

[Cresselia92]

The Pokémon not being bad guys was actually reinforced further in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky, who said that Pokémon aren't evil, but rather misunderstood. However, this contradicts with what we see about Darkrai, who is portrayed as a power-hungry villain, so it's actually a quite contradictory matter.

The way I see it, a minority of Pokémon are actually evil, but most of the times some things that may appear as "evil" to people are actually some instinctive behaviors of the species themselves that are clearly misunderstood. Just look at Absol, who was thought to be a monster that brings the disasters when it actually is instinctively led to forewarn about the incoming disasters.

So, I think we could say that Pokémon are in a grey area, with a minority of them acquiring an evil behavior for a reason or another. It's the same thing with humans, actually. No human is born evil, but with the growth and environment said human may become evil. Likewise, a Pokémon can become evil if exposed to a malicious influence.

 

[Playerking]

I assume Mimikyu was given a darker backstory to make a Pokemon which Team Rocket own which hates Pikachu as much as them, even more so than they do. And yeah, I think this is something they decided to change from the start of the series. Also, I'm glad they changed it because it helps to reflect the real world, where there are animals out there that can be considered evil, just like there are evil humans out there *coughcoughNeoNaziscoughcough*.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

Ābo's claims are not supported by the rest of the series. Pokemon are shown to be capable of choosing right and wrong, especially Nyāsu.

 

[thumbs1]

Ekans was proven wrong in that exact episode by meowth

 

[ii kanji]

Also, Mimikyu is not evil!

 

[Playerking]

Also, Mimikyu is not evil!

Maybe. I like it too, but considering that what it said in SM003 scared even an antagonist like Meowth and its appearance has almost killed him three times, it's definitely not a saint. It's not like its Pikachu's fault for being so popular.

 

[ii kanji]

I'm pretty sure Mimikyu doesn't get to choose who dies if they see its real form, based on the most recent episode, besides which scaring Nyasu ≠ evil. No one said that Pikachu is evil for making Mimikyu jealous, but jealousy isn't the same as evil!

 

[Playerking]

True, while it doesn't get to choose who falls victim to it, the fact that it is able to do that is bad, even if it's unintentional. I'm not saying it's Mimikyu's fault for that though. And yes jealousy doesn't make it evil, but when someone wants to intentionally kill another Pokemon out of jealousy, for no good reason, seeing as Pikachu didn't become popular on purpose and purposfully try to belittle Mimikyu as a result, than that isn't nice.

 

[Mew2]

I'm pretty sure Mimikyu doesn't get to choose who dies if they see its real form, based on the most recent episode, besides which scaring Nyasu ≠ evil. No one said that Pikachu is evil for making Mimikyu jealous, but jealousy isn't the same as evil!

Jealousy may not, in and of itself, be evil, but trying to murder someone, like Mimikyu has to Pikachu, numerous times, is. That's why, as of yet, Mimikyu could be seen as evil. It may change as the show goes on, but for the moment, Mimikyu's actions firmly put it in the "evil" category.

 

[ii kanji]

But Mimikyu just wants to battle!

 

[Playerking]

I have a feeling Meowth and Wobbuffet wouldn't be as scared as they were if it just wanted to battle Pikachu. Team Rocket may be bad, but their intentions are usually to steal Pokemon. Sure, they were fine with Bonnie falling in XY087, but they don't try to kill Ash and co. But if it just wants to battle, then sure, it's not evil, but I'm not so sure that's all it wants to do. Plus, there's the fact that they treat it as scary all the time. It used to have that rusty gate sound effect when it appeared and I don't think they would give it too what they consider to be a cute Pokemon.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

Bullying someone because of jealousy is 100 percent evil.

 

[Matleo]

why evil?

- missunderstanded
- anti-human
- chaos

Teoretically beeing jealous is some what of evil, but in animal kingdom, hoause pets hapen to be sometimes.
Old Concepts can change, grow and be more logical and interesting.

 

[Team Gaara]

Because it's just not realistic.

 

[SonansuMan]

I Sure, they were fine with Bonnie falling in XY087, but they don't try to kill Ash and co.

That episode really makes it hard for me to sympathize with Team Rocket. Deep inside they aren't even bad characters, but isn't dropping a seven year old on purpose to what would have been her demise rather overkill?

 

[ii kanji]

That episode really makes it hard for me to sympathize with Team Rocket. Deep inside they aren't even bad characters, but isn't dropping a seven year old on purpose to what would have been her demise rather overkill?

It's classic Ooha(bull)shi.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

That episode really makes it hard for me to sympathize with Team Rocket. Deep inside they aren't even bad characters, but isn't dropping a seven year old on purpose to what would have been her demise rather overkill?

Considering how much of their personalities, evilness and past memories change, I think they're criminally insane at this point.