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Why do you think the writers decided to make Cilan and Iris main characters?

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Cybersai

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Let's flashback to roughly a year or two before DP ended. The writers were likely in the planning stages for the next series. The DP saga kept Brock around an extra generation and chose the main female character of the games and gave her a huge role.

So what do you think the writers thought processes were for deciding to make Iris/Cilan main characters? The writers abandoned long-time staple Brock, who had been in the anime for 13 years sans Orange Islands, and they completely abandoned the female co-star approach, with not only Contests being axed, but also purposely not choosing the female main of Pokemon BW. So essentially all the major screentime they gave Dawn and Piplup feels less important now, because she was only there for that one particular series.

Best Wishes is the first series in a long time where both the male and female leads of the games were totally ignored. Kids playing BW for the first time would wonder, "Where is Hilda and Hilbert?" and instead see Ash and two Gym leader tag alongs.

Why do you think the writers decided to abandon the important characters of the games and put two Gym leaders on the main cast? Is this a, "back-to-basics" approach to the anime?
 
Re: What do you think the writers decided to make Cilan and Iris main characters?

^ That's what I see it as. Just like in Kanto (and Johto), Ash travels with two gym leaders (although it's unclear about Iris in the anime). Not to mention, gets all three starters.
 
I think since the writers were only going to be treating Ash's new traveling partners as sidekicks rather than co-stars, they wanted to use characters that would fit into those positions while still maintaining goals of their own (Iris's raising Axew and becoming a Dragon Master, Cilan becoming an S-Rank Sommelier).

As for why the writers chose these characters specifically - I honestly have no clue. Maybe they chose Iris because of her darker skin color to signify diversity among the cast members and Cilan because of his odd eyes (which is a petty reason, but maybe they wanted to go for something unique with the animation).

The writers also could have been trying to recreate the Kanto feel as Rex Kamex pointed out.
 
This is something, where I was thinking about, since I heard Iris was the new Female sidekick of Ash instead of the Female player.

My guess is, Iris does travel in the games (Castelia City), and looks like it has the same age as Ash to identify it self with it's previous female sidekicks (Misty, May, Dawn). Hilda is much older then Ash.

I think that they did replace Brock, because they have no ideas anymore for him + They had no idea who the next "Pull-Brock-Away-From-The-Chick" guy/girl/Pokémon should be. Also, his dream to become a Pokémon Breeder had no point in the anime at all. I'm not saying I don't like Brock, he was a fantastic buddy + He was a great character, but I think he just needed to be replaced by a guy, who can reach it's goal. (In this case, a S rank-Connoiseur). Also, the reason why they didn't put Hilbert in it, it pretty simple: A male main character from the main series, has never been used as a sidekick (Jimmy does NOT count)
 
Because they couldn't have the show without a Brock character in it, but they either thought to get rid of Brock because of Voice Actor contract/The fact it's a whole new 'fresh' series, so they brought in the closest character in the games to Brock to take his place.

With Iris, I dunno. Maybe to have a character like Misty..?

:p
 
I've actually wondered why the writers chose gym leaders of all people to be main cast members - even in Kanto - but I'm just going to guess that they don't want to treat the main video game protagonists as side characters and instead just choose gym leaders because their isn't much other choice. I guess Iris and Cilan seemed like the best choices since they obviously don't want to use any gym leaders who are too old. LOL.
Though I wonder why they don't just use characters like Wally or Bianca as main cast members?
 
They wanted to emulate the Kanto trio?

I still question this decision, mostly because of Iris. I love her, but sometimes can't help but think that maybe Bianca could've been a better choice considering her plot is searching for what she wants to do with her life, so they didn't necesarily had to have her do Gyms.

For about 6 or so years the anime focused on Ash and May/Dawn's journeys through the current region. On their competitions and goals, but now it's just Ash again. May and Dawn had great runs, but Brock and Misty didn't feel right. Misty was left in the air in a sense and Brock's sudden career change felt unnarutal. Both characters where on the show for over 200 episodes, which is the general run for a character now (except Tracey ofcourse).

I just feel like Iris and Cilan won't really acomplish anything by the end of BW. =/
 
They purposely made Iris goal simple. All she really has to do is evolve Axew and get Excadrill to obey her.
 
wasn't there a tread before made by u??

But I really think they did because they didn't want anymore co-stars after the ripping they took from the fans and so far, its working
 
I don't really understand the thread question but Cilan and Dento are two of the main characters, it's just that they aren't the permanate ones.
 
Who cares? Iris and Dento SAVED the Pokemon anime for me. If not for them I wouldn't be watching it anymore...
 
I think so. It seems like the writers are trying to re-emphasize that the anime is really only about Ash. All that drivel about Dawn being equal to Ash and a fellow irreplaceable protagonist, of course that wasn't the case, it never ever will be! Cilan and Iris have settled into roles, similar to Misty and Brock's (they even mirror Misty and Brock quite a bit in their personalities)
In my eyes it's a back to basics scenario, I'm not saying it was necessarily intentional.

To me, Ash is Ash, you can love him or hate him at first, but after being around for so long, he becomes stale and you have to rely on the sidekicks to give you some substance.

Ash is the bread and his sidekicks are the filling that make the (metaphorical) sandwich, tasty and complete.

That why DP failed to excite me dynamically. Ash was bread, Dawn was bread and Brock had turned into crab paste >.>
 
Its simple.


There are no contest or anything worth salt in the 5th gen games to advertise so they had to move back to the "Ash's journey is the main focus". But seeing how they have been getting a much more interesting group dynamic going with the co-stars these past gens they were far better prepared for having 2 side main characters that actually did things.

They wanted Ash to still be 10 so they needed a young female and a older care taker. Iris shows up from time to time in the games and is Ash's age. She is being mentored so she is also on her own journey. Dent is a waiter thats in his teens so he makes sense as the care taker. And both play a role in the games by being gym leaders so they aren't randomly made up characters.

But if the games DO get something like contest (Maybe something else that involves pokemon going against each other or a different take on Contest?) then they will go back to Co-star Game Girl and Ash will likely match her age.

So there you have it. The waiters took all that and added in some spice to get these characters.

And as for the time each gets I like this post by Pepsi on Serebii
Yes they are getting the time that usually Hikari or Haruka would get, but its spread between both of them, therefore being fair and giving a good amount of screentime/development to each, plus all their pokemons have been used with som frenquency so they don't rot in their pokeballs.
Click to expand...
 
Well, contests are a no-go in Gen V, so there's no need to advertise THAT part of the game - since there aren't many other trainer variations, the only ones that were viable were gym leaders/gym leader apprentices.

Dent's given a lot of interests/hobbies to compensate, I think. And Iris' goal is given quit a bit of focus.
 
Please note: The thread is from 14 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
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