History YMMV / PokemonOrigins

* AntiClimaxBoss: Giovanni's Rhydon. After his Pre-Evolution Rhyhorn takes down 5 of Red's Pokemon, him being beaten by Charizard in merely 2 moves comes off as slightly disappointing in comparison.

* MagnificentBastard: [[DiabolicalMastermind Giovanni]] in this series is conniving and clever, while still distinct from his other incarnations. Once an idealistic young boy, he grew to lead the nefarious criminal organization Team Rocket, [[CorruptCorporateExecutive seeing Pokémon as nothing more than a business]]. When Red confronts him at the Silph Co., Giovanni easily defeats him by demonstrating pragmatism and greater experience, escaping the police on a helicopter, and giving Red something to think about for letting his Charizard get hurt. Giovanni gives his Pokémon different types of moves to use [[CrazyPrepared for almost any situation]]. [[spoiler:After losing to Red in the Viridian City Gym, Giovanni [[HeelFaceTurn disbands Team Rocket]] due to having been moved by Red's unflinching resolve and wishes for him to do better in the future.]]

** When the first trailers where shown, people were split on whether the art style was good or not.
** The inclusion of game elements (trainers using up to six Pokémon while Gym Leaders use a few; showing health bars; linear, back and forth battles, etc.) have fans split on whether they meshed well with a realistic ''Pokémon'' universe. A derivative of this argument instead dwells upon ''which'' games ''Origins'' should've been based upon, as the OVA uses many of the characters designs introduced in the Gen III remakes yet sticks to Gen I gameplay mechanics.
** When it was announced, people were butting heads over which was better: this, or the regular anime. [[FandomRivalry Particularly when it came to their protagonists.]] Asking if Red actually is a better Trainer than Ash--in terms of not only accomplishments, but battling styles, battling ''efficiency'', and raising/caring for their Pokémon--[[FlameWar can result in incredibly nasty debates]], particularly where die-hard Red fans/ Ash haters are concerned, so tread lightly. (Of course, [[http://noodlerama.tumblr.com/post/67172814816/red-vs-ash-why-the-comparisons-dont-quite-work another subset of the fandom]] [[https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/26675i/red_vs_ash/ finds the comparisons to be]] [[http://aminoapps.com/page/pokemon/3255786/red-vs-ash overblown and ultimately meaningless,]] due to the great differences between the shows and the messages they convey.)

* HypeBacklash: While ''Origins'' is well-liked among of older fans of the games for being a mostly-faithful and [[DarkerAndEdgier more mature]] adaptation of ''Red/Blue'' with high quality animation, slick battle scenes, and [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation interesting takes on certain characters and events]], there is a sizable contingent of fans, even those who are part of said PeripheryDemographic, who see the four-part OVA not as the best ''Pokémon'' animation in years, but a SoOkayItsAverage production for a variety of reasons, some of which ironically echo criticisms aimed at the anime. These include but are not limited to pacing problems leading to a rushed narrative that somehow glosses over Red's primary goal of catching all 150 Pokémon, Red's one-note personality and general lack of CharacterDevelopment, the over-reliance of [[WolverinePublicity Charizard]] to the point of [[SpotlightStealingSquad overshadowing all other Mons]] for the sake of [[spoiler:[[MerchandiseDriven advertising Mega Evolution in Gen VI]]]] (some have even argued that the rest of Red's ever-rotating team consists of {{jobber}}s there to make his starter look good when a battle is shown in full, with Charizard itself usually bailed out through [[AssPull last-second miracles]]), and ''Origins''[='=] own fair share of mid-battle inconsistencies that make [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe Red's competency level fluctuate wildly]] despite the reliance on "Gen I game logic," the rematch with Giovanni being a major offender. Not helping matters is the fact that Red, a MemeticBadass in the games (and the ''[[Manga/PokemonAdventures Special]]'' manga to a lesser extent), has a ''very'' noxious fanbase that latched onto his ''Origins'' counterpart and placed him upon a lofty pedestal, all the while deriding Ash/the anime and conveniently downplaying/ignoring the faults of Red/''Origins''. This has also contributed, along other factors [[CharacterPerceptionEvolution to others re-evaluating how the main anime handled Ash before and since the airing of ''Origins'']].
* ItsShortSoItSucks: While sucks might be too strong of a word, many fans were disappointed that the OVA was only four episodes, and that only a couple of the Gym Leaders were highlighted among other rushed moments.

* JerkassWoobie: Blue. Sure, he's much more of an asshole than he is in the games, but you'd be lying if you didn't want to give the poor guy a hug at ''some'' point--especially during, and after, his last battle with Red. And it doesn't stop there, either. [[spoiler:After his ill-fated battle against Mewtwo, in which his Pokédex was crushed after his Blastoise fell on it, a bandaged and bedridden Blue can only watch as his rival hands in his completed Pokédex to the professor.]]

* MemeticLoser: Every member of Red's team other than Charizard, for being repeatedly subject to TheWorfEffect (Jolteon being particularly infamous for getting OHKO'd by a Rhyhorn's Thunderbolt despite the latter's awful Special). What elevates this to meme status is that this reflects how many players of the games [[GameplayDerailment would overlevel their starter at the expense of everyone else,]] leading to a popular AlternateCharacterInterpretation that Red did the same.

** They animated the "Do you believe in ghosts?" scene; when the woman asks the question, Red answers with "Not at all, I don't think they exist" nervously. The woman responds with "The white hand on your shoulder, I'm imagining that right?" Red laughs nervously and replies "Could you please stop joking around?", and when Red opens his eyes, she and her friend are ''nowhere to be seen''. Worse still, if you look closely, '''''[[spoiler:Red actually does have a white hand [[http://25.media.tumblr.com/944090be0f8a33ad85625a425cf6281a/tumblr_mu4bw9ypIN1qggaalo2_500.png on his shoulder]].]]'''''

** [[spoiler:When Giovanni's Rhyhorn [[OneHitKill OHKOs]] Red's Victreebel with Horn Drill, you can ''see a puncture wound in Victreebel's stomach.'']]

** Charizard's role as the main Pokémon, and [[SeriesMascot Pikachu]] having little more than a cameo. Charizard is one of the more popular Pokémon, [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff especially in the west]]. Additionally, the specials showcased [[spoiler:Mega Charizard X]].
** [[spoiler:Red actually catching all 150 Pokémon of Kanto, which is a common criticism of Ash for not living up to the English's slogan.]]
** Team Rocket actually showing up and pulling off the heists they did in the original games, which didn't happen most of time with Team Rocket in anime.

* SubbingVsDubbing: Some people love the English dub ({{Bowdleriz|e}}ation aside), others outright hate it. Notably, Dogasu, usually a very harsh (Not to mention, captious) critic of English ''Pokémon'' dubs, actually said that the dub is really good, to the point where he warned people to avoid fansubs of the special due to their generally low quality.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: In this miniseries, Red is depicted as a trainer who managed to rise his way to the top without losing sight of caring for his Pokémon. Contrast this with [[TheRival Blue]], who Professor Oak (and the narrative itself) [[WhatTheHellHero admonishes for treating his Pokémon like tools rather than friends]]. However, many fans argue that Red is no better than Blue, at least when it comes to any Pokémon not named [[WolverinePublicity Charizard]]. During Red's final battle with Giovanni, Red says that he considers any victory without Charizard meaningless. Although the assertion is meant to be a strong testament to Red's bond with Charizard, it instead comes across as a cruel insult to Red's other Pokémon who have fought their hardest in every battle, only for Red to admit that he sees no worth in any battles where his starter didn't participate.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: ''Origins'' goes out of its way to advertise ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' by showing off the then-new [[SuperMode Mega Evolution]]. Having attached itself so, the more dated the sixth generation becomes, the more dated ''Origins'' becomes.

* {{Woolseyism}}: Despite the LostInTranslation matter regarding Blue's shirt losing its reference to ''Pokémon Green Version'' (and ''Pokémon [=LeafGreen=] Version'', by extension), the English name change of "Green" to "Blue" allows both Red and Blue's names to match the original English paired versions (''Red and Blue'') as well as the colors/elements of their starter Pokémon (Charizard and Blastoise, respectively), the latter of which being something that the Japanese version of ''Origins'' '''doesn't''' do. Although, in the second case, Green/Blue vocally denies any attempt to make his Pokémon choice match his name, unlike Red.

* HypeBacklash: While ''Origins'' is well-liked among of older fans of the games for being a mostly-faithful and [[DarkerAndEdgier more mature]] adaptation of ''Red/Blue'' with high quality animation, slick battle scenes, and [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation interesting takes on certain characters and events]], there is a sizable contingent of fans, even those who are part of said PeripheryDemographic, who see the four-part OVA not as the best ''Pokémon'' animation in years, but a SoOkayItsAverage production for a variety of reasons, some of which ironically echo criticisms aimed at the anime. These include but are not limited to pacing problems leading to a rushed narrative that somehow glosses over Red's primary goal of catching all 150 Pokémon, Red's one-note personality and general lack of CharacterDevelopment, the over-reliance of [[WolverinePublicity Charizard]] to the point of [[SpotlightStealingSquad overshadowing all other Mons]] for the sake of [[spoiler:[[MerchandiseDriven advertising Mega Evolution in Gen VI]]]] (some have even argued that the rest of Red's ever-rotating team consists of {{jobber}}s there to make his starter look good when a battle is shown in full, with Charizard itself usually bailed out through [[AssPull last-second miracles]]), and ''Origins''[='=] own fair share of mid-battle inconsistencies that make [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe Red's competency level fluctuate wildly]] despite the reliance on "Gen I game logic," the rematch with Giovanni being a major offender. Not helping matters is the fact that Red, a MemeticBadass in the games (and the ''[[Manga/PokemonAdventures Special]]'' manga to a lesser extent), has a ''very'' noxious fanbase that latched onto his ''Origins'' counterpart and placed him upon a lofty pedestal, all the while deriding Ash/the anime and conveniently downplaying/ignoring the faults of Red/''Origins''. This has also contributed, along other factors [[to others re-evaluating how the main anime handled Ash before and since the airing of ''Origins'']].

* HypeBacklash: While ''Origins'' is well-liked among of older fans of the games for being a mostly-faithful and [[DarkerAndEdgier more mature]] adaptation of ''Red/Blue'' with high quality animation, slick battle scenes, and [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation interesting takes on certain characters and events]], there is a sizable contingent of fans, even those who are part of said PeripheryDemographic, who see the four-part OVA not as the best ''Pokémon'' animation in years, but a SoOkayItsAverage production for a variety of reasons, some of which ironically echo criticisms aimed at the anime. These include but are not limited to pacing problems leading to a rushed narrative that somehow glosses over Red's primary goal of catching all 150 Pokémon, Red's one-note personality and general lack of CharacterDevelopment, the over-reliance of [[WolverinePublicity Charizard]] to the point of [[SpotlightStealingSquad overshadowing all other Mons]] for the sake of [[spoiler:[[MerchandiseDriven advertising Mega Evolution in Gen VI]]]] (some have even argued that the rest of Red's ever-rotating team consists of {{jobber}}s there to make his starter look good when a battle is shown in full, with Charizard itself usually bailed out through [[AssPull last-second miracles]]), and ''Origins''[='=] own fair share of mid-battle inconsistencies that make [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe Red's competency level fluctuate wildly]] despite the reliance on "Gen I game logic," the rematch with Giovanni being a major offender. Not helping matters is the fact that Red, a MemeticBadass in the games (and the ''[[Manga/PokemonAdventures Special]]'' manga to a lesser extent), has a ''very'' noxious fanbase that latched onto his ''Origins'' counterpart and placed him upon a lofty pedestal, all the while deriding Ash/the anime and conveniently downplaying/ignoring the faults of Red/''Origins''.

* MisaimedFandom: The special was meant to be a tribute to the video games, but some persons latched onto it as being the "true" anime, putting Red on a pedestal while bashing Ash.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Origins'' was hyped to oblivion in the West due to many fans being fed up with [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the regular anime]]. In Japan, its TV ratings weren't spectacular, and it failed to outdraw a regular anime special starring Cilan and Brock. Naturally, ''Origins'' was available for purchase on [=iTunes=] in the West long before the regular anime.

* UnitentionallyUnsympathetic: In this miniseries, Red is depicted as a trainer who managed to rise his way to the top without losing sight of caring for his Pokémon. Contrast this with [[TheRival Blue]], who Professor Oak (and the narrative itself) [[WhatTheHellHero admonishes for treating his Pokémon like tools rather than friends]]. However, many fans argue that Red is no better than Blue, at least when it comes to any Pokémon not named [[WolverinePublicity Charizard]]. During Red's final battle with Giovanni, Red says that he considers any victory without Charizard meaningless. Although the assertion is meant to be a strong testament to Red's bond with Charizard, it instead comes across as a cruel insult to Red's other Pokémon who have fought their hardest in every battle, only for Red to admit that he sees no worth in any battles where his starter didn't participate.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** The entire existence of ''Origins'' can be seen as one for ''Pokémon'' fans who wish the anime followed the games more closely. Its DarkerAndEdgier tendencies also are intended to appeal to fans of the original games who had outgrown the anime.
** [[spoiler:Mega Charizard X's reveal in this special. When Mega Charizard Y was originally revealed, it was said to retain its typing and was thought to be the final nail in the coffin for Charizard ever being a Dragon-type. Cue this special being aired in Japan, revealing in a post-credits sequence that Mega Charizard X was a Fire/Dragon.]]

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Red's focusing on Charizard can come off as this, especially during the final battle with Giovanni, where he states that a victory without Charizard taking it is meaningless. Comes off as pretty harsh when you consider that 5 of his other Pokémon just did their best for him and were quite brutally defeated. This also shows that he neglects the training of his other Pokémon in favor of Charizard, [[TruthInTelevision something a lot of first-time players are guilty of doing with their starters]].

* NeverLiveItDown: One of the most commonly cited scenes amongst detractors of the series is when Red says his battle is useless unless he wins it specifically with his Charizard. This is seen as snobbish as he brushes off his other Pokémon.

* FanPreferredCouple: Some viewers see Red and Reina as a cute couple.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: The anime itself does this with several characters from the games:
** Brock is TheMentor, though this is somewhat reminiscent of [[TheSmartGuy his other anime counterpart]].
** The Marowak ghost [[spoiler:isn't trying to attack humans; she's trying to ''warn people away from Team Rocket'']].
** Giovanni. [[spoiler:As a child he was a Pokémon trainer much like Red. When he battles Red, he remembers how much he enjoyed Pokémon when he was younger, making him something of an AudienceSurrogate for older ''Pokémon'' fans.]]
** [[spoiler:Mewtwo is little more than an uncontrollable and incredibly powerful wild animal, which is a far cry from its portrayal in other adaptations. Consistent with those adaptations, it obviously wants to be left alone, but Red won't leave. On the other hand, this is basically how it was portrayed in the game itself.]]

* SubbingVsDubbing: Some people love the English dub ({{Bowdleriz|e}}ation aside), others outright hate it. Notably, Dogasu, usually a harsh critic of English ''Pokémon'' dubs, actually said that the dub is really good, to the point where he warned people to avoid fansubs of the special due to their generally low quality.

* ILikedItBetterWhenItSucked: One of the other aspects [[BrokenBase dividing the fandom]] was how some older fans of the anime had [[NarmCharm gotten so used to the cheesy dub]] that a more sophisticated one felt bland by comparison.

** [[spoiler:Mewtwo's characterization in the special. After the 16th movie's Mewtwo proved to be rather diverse among the fandom, this Mewtwo's personality was much better received. It should be note that the special and the movie came out in the same year.]]

* EnsembleDarkhorse: [[spoiler:After the Mewtwo from [[Anime/PokemonGenesectAndTheLegendAwakened the 16th anime series movie]] sparked an InternetBackdraft, many fans enjoyed Mewtwo in this special, as it provided a ''third'' interpretation of the character after the two anime series Mewtwo -- essentially, an uncontrollable and highly dangerous superpowered wild animal... just like any other Pokémon in the games.]]

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: The anime itself does this with several characters from the games.

** The Marowak ghost [[spoiler:isn't trying to attack humans; it's trying to ''warn people away from Team Rocket'']].

* JerkassWoobie: Blue. Sure, he's much more of an asshole than he is in the games, but you'd be lying if you didn't want to give the poor guy a hug at ''some'' point--especially during, and after, his last battle with Red.
** And it doesn't stop there, either. [[spoiler:After his ill-fated battle against Mewtwo, in which his Pokédex was crushed after his Blastoise fell on it, a bandaged and bedridden Blue can only watch as his rival hands in his completed Pokédex to the professor.]]

* {{Woolseyism}}: Despite the LostInTranslation matter regarding Blue's shirt losing its reference to ''Pokémon Green Version'' (and ''Pokémon [=LeafGreen=] Version'', by extension), the English name change of "Green" to "Blue" allows both Red and Blue's names to match the original English paired versions (''Red and Blue'') as well as the colors/elements of their starter Pokémon (Charizard and Blastoise, respectively), the latter of which being something that the Japanese version of ''Origins'' '''doesn't''' do.
** Although, in the second case, Green/Blue vocally denies any attempt to make his Pokémon choice match his name, unlike Red.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Red's focusing on Charizard can come off as this, especially during the final battle with Giovanni, where he states that a victory without Charizard taking it is meaningless. Comes off as pretty harsh when you consider that 5 of his other Pokémon just did their best for him and were quite brutally defeated. This also shows that he neglects the training of his other Pokémon in favor of Charizard, [[TruthInTelevision something a lot of first-time players are guilty of doing with their starters]]. This ties into the above BrokenBase about the question of how good a Trainer Red really is, as the bonds between humans and their Pokémon partners have always been greatly emphasized throughout the various ''Pokémon'' adaptations, right down to [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Karen's]] oft-quoted [[TakeThatAudience jab against the members of the competitive community]] who don't care for this aspect of the series.

* {{Narm}}: For several viewers, Red's explanation for how his name ties into his choice of a starter Pokémon comes across as downright cheesy. While it's been accepted for a long time that the first few Gens had... odd name choices for the protagonists and rivals, some felt ''Origins'' would've been better off just letting it be instead of awkwardly trying to justify it.

** When it was announced, people were butting heads over which was better: this, or the regular anime. [[FandomRivalry Particularly when it came to their protagonists.]] Asking if Red actually is a better Trainer than Ash--in terms of not only accomplishments, but battling styles, battling ''efficiency'', and raising/caring for their Pokémon--[[FlameWar can result in incredibly nasty debates]], particularly where [[FanDumb die-hard Red fans]]/[[HateDumb Ash haters]] are concerned, so tread lightly. (Of course, [[http://noodlerama.tumblr.com/post/67172814816/red-vs-ash-why-the-comparisons-dont-quite-work another subset of the fandom]] [[https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/26675i/red_vs_ash/ finds the comparisons to be]] [[http://aminoapps.com/page/pokemon/3255786/red-vs-ash overblown and ultimately meaningless,]] due to the great differences between the shows and the messages they convey.)