Line #52 YMMV/PokemonOrigins


1	* AntiClimaxBoss: Giovanni's Rhydon. After his pre-Evolution Rhyhorn takes down 5 of Red's Pokémon, him being beaten by Charizard in merely 2 moves comes off as slightly disappointing in comparison.
2	* AwesomeEgo: Blue is every bit as rude and arrogant as he is in the games, but no less popular for it.
3	* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Many of the classic themes from ''Red'' and ''Green/Blue'' are redone as proper orchestral pieces here. And it is ''awesome''.
4	* BrokenBase:
5	** [[TaintedByThePreview When the first trailers where shown]], people were split on whether the art style was good or not. Even years later does ''Origins'' still catch some flak for the apparent "simplicity" of the Gen III-based character designs, something of a sore point in comparison to not only [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries the main anime]], but later productions like ''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations'' and ''WebAnimation/PokemonEvolutions''.
6	** The inclusion of game elements (Trainers using up to six Pokémon while Gym Leaders only 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.
7	** When it was announced, people were butting heads over which was better: this, or [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries 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.)
8	* EnsembleDarkhorse: [[spoiler:After the Mewtwo from [[Anime/PokemonGenesectAndTheLegendAwakened the 16th anime series movie]] sparked massive backlash, 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.]]
9	* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Origins'' was hyped to oblivion in the West due to many fans being fed up with [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries 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.
10	* HoYay: Something about Blue going for a SecurityCling with Red after being scared off by the ghost in Lavender Tower comes off as kind off shippy...
11	* HypeBacklash: While ''Origins'' is well-liked among of older fans of the games for being a mostly faithful and [[DarkerAndEdgier more mature]] adaptation of ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue 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 ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' 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 or 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]].
12	* ItsShortSoItSucks: While "sucks" might be too strong of a word, many fans were disappointed that the OVA was only four episodes long, and that only a couple of the Gym Leaders were highlighted among other rushed moments.
13	* ItWasHisSled: Spoiler alert -- [[spoiler:Mega Charizard X exists]]! This came as a surprise when the special first aired, although its ''appearance'' in the special may still come as a surprise for some.
14	* 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.]]
15	* MagnificentBastard: [[DiabolicalMastermind Giovanni]] in this series is conniving and clever, while still distinct from his other incarnations. [[UsedToBeASweetKid 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.]]
16	* 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 stat). 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 AlternativeCharacterInterpretation that Red did the same.
17	* MemeticMolester: Blue's Squirtle (and occasionally Blue by proxy) gets this for the disturbing way it subdues Red's Charmander; pinning it to the ground and biting down on its neck while Charmander gives out a very pained and uncomfortably child-like scream.
18	* {{Narm}}:
19	** 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.
20	** The Team Rocket Grunts catching wild Pokémon in Episode 2 would have been a tense scene... if it weren't for the fact that the Grunts' animation are almost non-existent as they move forward, making them seem like they're rollerskating.
21	** The English-dubbed version of Marowak's death scream makes it sound like she just fainted rather actually dying. It's even more ridiculous when compared to the Japanese version, which is genuine NightmareFuel.
22	* NightmareFuel:
23	** The moment when Blue's Squirtle uses Bite on Red's Charmander. Squirtle chomps Charmander ''on the neck'', and for about ten seconds, you hear it ''screaming''. The flame on its tail starts dying before Red retrieves it. The screaming was toned down in the dub, though it leads to a different kind of Nightmare Fuel.
24	** At the end of Red and Brock's battle, Onix comes dangerously close to falling on and crushing one of Brock's guards. Fortunately, Brock manages to call it back before it can land on her.
25	** 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]]]]'''''.
26	** Remember hearing about the Marowak killed by Team Rocket? Well here, you actually see it. Sure, [[GoryDiscretionShot it cuts away from the actual killing]], but they do ''not'' skirt the implications '''at all'''. Oh, and even though they cut away? You can perfectly hear Marowak's [[SarcasmMode lovely]] '''blood-curdling scream'''. The pitch is almost ''human'', which just makes it more painful and haunting to hear. Like when Charmander got bitten by Squirtle, this was also downplayed in the dub.
27	** [[spoiler:When Giovanni's Rhyhorn [[OneHitKill OHKOs]] Red's Victreebel with Horn Drill, you can ''see a puncture wound in Victreebel's stomach''.]]
28	** [[spoiler:Seeing Blue in bandages after his encounter with Mewtwo.]]
29	** [[spoiler:Mewtwo]]'s silhouette wreathed in flames is nightmarish.
30	* OlderThanTheyThink:
31	** ''Manga/PokemonZensho'' did a rather game accurate adaptation of the Kanto games over ten years before ''Origins''.
32	** Giovanni being presented as someone who UsedToBeASweetKid? ''Manga/HowIBecameAPokemonCard'' did it first.
33	* PanderingToTheBase:
34	** 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:[[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Mega Charizard X]]]].
35	** [[spoiler:Red actually catching all 150 Pokémon of Kanto, which is a common criticism of Ash for not living up to the franchise's English slogan.]]
36	** 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 the anime.
37	** [[spoiler:The confirmation that Mr. Fuji from Lavender Town is the same person as the Dr. Fuji that worked on the creation of Mewtwo. This was previously hinted at on a sign found on the event-only Faraway Island in ''Emerald'' (though only the Japanese version had the name on the sign).]]
38	** [[spoiler:Mewtwo's characterization in the special. After the 16th movie's Mewtwo proved to be rather divisive 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.]]
39	* SignatureScene: Red's Charmander's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAdGv89e0sE blood-curdling scream of agony]] when it's bit by Blue's Squirtle, which notably [[DarkerAndEdgier sets the tone]] for this particular adaptation.
40	* SoBadItWasBetter: 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.
41	* SubbingVsDubbing: Some people love the English dub ({{Bowdleriz\|e}}ation aside), others outright hate it. Notably, Dogasu, usually a very harsh (and oftentimes 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.
42	* TearJerker: Cubone reuniting with the ghost of its dead mother, as well as the flashback telling Cubone's story.
43	* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:
44	** You'll see plenty of people complaining about the dub changing Charmander's horrifying scream into something far less frightful.
45	** There's also the people who dislike the DubNameChange from Green to Blue, despite the change matching Blue's English name from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Gold/Silver/Crystal]]'', ''[[VideoGameRemake HeartGold/SoulSilver]]'', ''and'' ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2/White 2]]''.
46	* 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.
47	* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: ''Origins'' goes out of its way to advertise ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' by showing off [[spoiler:the then-new [[SuperMode Mega Evolution]]]] courtesy of [[spoiler:Mega Charizard X]]. Having attached itself so, the more dated the sixth generation becomes, the more dated ''Origins'' becomes.
48	* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: It's still family-friendly, but its Gen I basis and existence alongside [[AnimationAgeGhetto the regular anime]] make it clear that ''Origins'' was made for '90s kids first and 2013 kids second.

Context YMMV / PokemonOrigins