Why is Ash scanning repeat BW Pokemon he saw in older episodes again?

[Cybersai]

In the latest episodes, Ash scanned Swoobat again as if he never saw it before, despite Swoobat appearing in a previous BW episode. And then he also scanned the vulture again, despite also seeing it before.

What is going on? Have the writers forgotten that these pokemon already debuted in BW? It reminds me of how people would complain about Ash scanning older pokemon back in Johto/Hoenn that he had seen before.

 

[Geodude]

Where have you been for the last 15 years? He's done that pretty much the entire anime and you know it.

 

[Hellion]

Actually, I don't remember Satoshi rescanning Pokemon during the same generation before. Not only that but they had Satoshi scan Pokémon he hadn't scanned before (i.e. current generation pokémon) in AG and DP, leaving the pokémon from before that gen for May and Dawn to scan. It is weird that he's rescanning the same pokémon, especially at such close intervalls. The vultures appeared within 12 episodes.

Maybe it's the lack of another dex holder or maybe the writers had to put episodes together quick because of the Earthquake, I'm not sure, but it is strange.

 

[El_]

Its called lack of forethought, thats all there is to it.

Either that or they want the audience to still remember info about the rescanned Pokemon. Why? No clue.

 

[Musashi]

Does anyone know if the dex info is different? Are they using Black info in one episode and White in another?

 

[MizuTaipu]

My theory is that since different writers write each episode, they forget that Satoshi scanned the same Pokémon from a previous episode.

 

[Almonds]

They're probably using different dex entries. Like, maybe they're using a Black entry one episode and a White entry the next?

In DP, they had Dawn and Ash each have equal chances to scan the same poke with different dex entries.

 

[AshK]

I cant' count how many times he scanned gengar... its just something Ash does. Even if he recognizes the pokemon he still looks it up in the dex. Just an opportunity o find a strategy. Although in the games I rarely if ever read a dex entry of a pokemon.

 

[Adil]

Actually, I don't remember Satoshi rescanning Pokemon during the same generation before. Not only that but they had Satoshi scan Pokémon he hadn't scanned before (i.e. current generation pokémon) in AG and DP, leaving the pokémon from before that gen for May and Dawn to scan. It is weird that he's rescanning the same pokémon, especially at such close intervalls. The vultures appeared within 12 episodes.

Maybe it's the lack of another dex holder or maybe the writers had to put episodes together quick because of the Earthquake, I'm not sure, but it is strange.

Ash's Dex:
Gengar (EP023, EP072, EP182, AG132)
Magnemite (EP030 and EP101)
Electabuzz (EP042 and EP199)
Tauros (EP033 and EP035)
Venusaur (EP051 and EP248)
Quilava (DP029 and DP182)
Staraptor (DP066 and DP118)
Torkoal (AG055 and AG058)
Palpitoed (BW031 and BW032)

May's Dex:
Combusken (AG011 and AG082)
Marshtomp (AG048 and AG148)

Dawn's Dex:
Steelix (DP023 and DP180)
Shellos (DP041 and DP136)
Gastrodon (DP097 and DP186)

There might be more though =)

Does anyone know if the dex info is different? Are they using Black info in one episode and White in another?

IIRC, both of Palpitoad's anime dex entries were similar to the one used in White.

 

[Cybersai]

Torkoal (AG055 and AG058)

^ LOL, its 3 eps apart. Although I know he did this because the first was Flannery's Torkoal and the second was his own that he saw in the wild.

 

[Orange Islands]

Just probably letting kids watching the show know about the Pokemon.

 

[Grave-E]

I imagine it's because a lot of pokemon debuts aren't the primary focus of the episodes, and thus easier to miss. For example, I imagine Amoongus is going to be scanned again, due to how briefly it appeared.

Either way, not everyone who watches the anime is going to be a walking pokemon database, and there are over 600 odd pokemon for people to remember. This sort of thing is generally for the sake of people who don't know all of them off by heart, or for folks who are new to the franchise and only just getting in to it.

...and, uhh...in-universe explanation? I dunno. Ash is forgetful. How's that for a wet blanket reply?

 

[Adamant]

Does anyone know if the dex info is different? Are they using Black info in one episode and White in another?

With a few exceptions, they're the same. Shikijika's recent entry and its entry in BW2 were completely different, but since the one in BW2 wasn't based off the in-game entries in the slightest, that's presumably because that episode was written before the game script was finalized/available to the writers.

The anime entries are often a mix of several entries, rather than a specific one from a specific game, and they're often slightly reworded.

And yes, the scannings are done for the sake of the audience, who aren't going to be watching every single episode, nor remember what a robotic voice said about Pokemon x half a year ago. It's the same reason why Takeshi/Dent feels the need to explain the same moves over and over to characters who should know what he's saying already.

 

[Ampharos King]

Just probably letting kids watching the show know about the Pokemon.

True. The ending alone is a reminder that this show is aimed at a younger demographic and that the song itself gets the audience to know the names of the pokemon.

The caught pokemon are obviously integrated into the adventures of the main cast so there is no reason for the writers to have the main character scan them more than once.

Some uncaught pokemon, like Pidove, Patrat, Watchog and Darmanitan, are seen in numerous episodes so there is no reason for the writer to have Ash scan them more than once.

Swoobat and Mandibuzz, on the other hand, were not seen in well over a dozen episodes from their previous appearances. Mandibuzz was last seen 12 episodes ago. Swoobat was last seen 30 episodes ago.

Does anyone know if the dex info is different? Are they using Black info in one episode and White in another?

The writer of BW043 used the White entry for Mandibuzz. The writer of BW055 used the Black entry instead.

The two entries based on Swoobat, however, were both from Black. The writer of BW024 used the entire entry of Swoobat's Black info. The writer of BW054, however, excluded the info from the Black entry which stated that Swoobat's "soundwaves are strong enough to destroy rocks and boulders."

The writer of BW002 used a combination of both entries (White and Black) for Deerling since they were both similar, but included other information stating that "Deerling's appearance will change depending on the temperature and climate" which wasn't present in the game scripts. The writer of BW054 used the entire Deerling entry from White.

Both of the entries of Yamask were not from the games. They both used the same anime original entry stating that Yamask was a "Ghost pokemon that dwells in ruins."

 

[Sweet Veil]

He scans the Pokemon for the sake of the audience watching the show, and he's done it many times before.

 

[Hellion]

Ash's Dex:
Gengar (EP023, EP072, EP182, AG132)
Magnemite (EP030 and EP101)
Electabuzz (EP042 and EP199)
Tauros (EP033 and EP035)
Venusaur (EP051 and EP248)
Quilava (DP029 and DP182)
Staraptor (DP066 and DP118)
Torkoal (AG055 and AG058)
Palpitoed (BW031 and BW032)

May's Dex:
Combusken (AG011 and AG082)
Marshtomp (AG048 and AG148)

Dawn's Dex:
Steelix (DP023 and DP180)
Shellos (DP041 and DP136)
Gastrodon (DP097 and DP186)

I'm well aware it has happened in the past but it's definitely not the norm, especially not in such close intervalls, whereas it has happened with 4-5 species in the first year or so of BW. In Shikijika's case, not having the game final script seems to be a good explanation, but with Gamagaru, both were very similar...

 

[pharaohyami5000]

For Gengar's case, 1st time, no more information other than its name, 2nd only reveals what it evolved from, and 3rd time, uh, Bulbapedia states the same or similar info as the 2nd Gengar scan but I'm not sure about the original (JP version) saying the same thing. Took as long as AG for the Pokedex to finally have some known information about Gengar. Wonder why it was that 4th time it was able to cite some info compared to the Kanto and Johto Pokedexes.

Ash scanning the same Pokemon twice shouldn't be that much of a problem, especially since the Pokedex doesn't state the same info we've heard it say 2x. Or 3x, I don't know, since May, Dawn and Ash each scanned a Ludicolo. Besides, it's for the young audiences to know. They can't forget about them.

Even though I do like the change BW Pokedex has, they still didn't make room for type(s) and a thumbnail image of what this Pokemon evolves from? I mean, if the user hasn't seen the previous form first before an evolved one, why not just make it a shadow image? I worry more about the Pokedex not showing more upgrades than the user scanning the Pokemon a majority of times.

 

[Peppermint Phoenix]

@gotpika cept the info adds nothing to the story it like using snapple caps as your guide. Like look at this dex entry from White:

"Darumaka's droppings are hot, so people used to put them in their clothes to keep themselves warm." WHAT DOES THAT ADD on one hand that's from white not the anime on the other the ones in the anime aren't much better

 

[matt0044]

And yes, the scannings are done for the sake of the audience, who aren't going to be watching every single episode, nor remember what a robotic voice said about Pokemon x half a year ago. It's the same reason why Takeshi/Dent feels the need to explain the same moves over and over to characters who should know what he's saying already.

This is a major problem I have with the Anime. I know many kids cartoons and Anime that do NOT think it's necessary to repeat stuff as if the audience is stupid. That's a major thing you should NEVER do when telling a story: treat your audience like idiots. Especially when things like this comes off as obligatory or just plain forced.

Maybe if it was Ash thinking to himself, "Darn, it's a Ground-type and Pikachu's an electric-type" and not Brock or Dent pointing out everything Ash should and/or does know.

 

[Ishida]

Does it really matter? My guess is he simply just doesn't have enough time to scan them sometimes as soon as he meets them. Or maybe I'm wrong because with Mandibuzz appeared in the Scrafty episode he scanned it and he scanned it again in the Gothita episode.