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The Kids
Charmander/Lil' Char
The Primary protagonist. Acts as a leader for the main trio, being the most responsible of the three.
- Arbitrary Skepticism: He has serious problems believing in the existence of the Articuno, to the point that when he's rescued by one in a blizzard, he initially thinks he's starting to hallucinate.
- Butt-Monkey: Especially in the early comics. Nowadays, he catches a break much more often.
- Children Are Innocent: The only one more innocent than him is Bulbasaur.
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: Based on a couple instances, it's clear Charmander would have liked his mom around more often. The 2018 Christmas special confirms this.
- Hilariously Abusive Childhood: Most of the strife between him and his father is played for laughs. Would you believe this trope was played even straighter in early comics?
- Lethal Chef: In "Cooking Lessons".
- Missing Mom: His mom is confirmed to be dead. According to Nekoama, it wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows for anyone.
- Nice Guy: There isn't a single bad bone in this Pokemon's body. In fact, out of all of the kids, he seems to be the most considerate.
- Only Sane Man: Tries more than often to be the voice of reason. It falls on deaf ears most of the time.
- Tragic Keepsake: A milder version of this, as the scarf he got on Christmas was made (rather poorly) by his mom. He still loves it.
Squirtle
The Secondary protagonist. A chipper troublemaker full of energy and determination who will not hesitate to rush into whatever he wants to do.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: It says it all when he commented having learned certain Water-type abilities by spitting at his own face.
- Cool Shades: One of his more defining characteristics.
- Fearless Fool: Often the one to make the more reckless decisions out of the gang.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The Foolish to Wartortle's Responsible.
- Foster Kid: Not that he minds.
- Happily Adopted: Blastoise adopted him following his parents' example of adopting Chari.
- Keet: He gets psyched for just about anything. He was doubly this when he was younger, if you can believe it.
- The Lancer: Always the first to go head-first into any situation, rarely exercising any caution.
- Not So Stoic: After boasting about how scary stories can't get to him, it's obvious that Charizard's story really got to him.
Bulbasaur
Buh Buh!
The Tertiary protagonist. The youngest of the trio, almost a baby in comparison to the others. Bulba doesn't speak like the others, but his friends can get him just fine.
- A Day in the Limelight: Gets his own comic story in "The Incredi-Buh Journey", in which he meets and helps the kids of the Johto starters.
- The Baby of the Bunch: Stated (and shown) to be the youngest. And it shows.
- Break the Cutie: Very briefly, but he did NOT take hearing about potentially dying in the Fall very well.
- Catchphrase: "Buh-buh!". Then again, that's ALL he says.
- Children Are Innocent: The youngest, therefore the most naive and optimistic of the gang.
- Intelligible Unintelligible: Despite Bulbasaur only speaking in Pokémon Speak, his friends can understand him perfectly. It seems like the older 'mons have more trouble, though.
- Pokémon Speak: Only Bulbasaur. Not even his cousin Ivysaur knows why he does that.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: It's almost criminal how adorable he is, really.
- Walking Techbane: His attempts to handle a computer result in Ivy having to bring it to Joltik for repairs... and Joltik later calling her on phone and warning her to never let her cousin near a computer again. Bulbasaur pretends having no idea what he's talking about.
The Teens
Charmeleon
Charmander's older brother. A jokester and a prank lover who teases his younger brother time and again. Even then, he's the friendliest of the teens, usually hanging out with his brother and friends when Wartortle and Ivy are not around.
- Berserk Button: Put his brother in a harmful situation and you'll discover how far he's willing to go for him.
- Big Brother Instinct: He's willing to go any distance for his brother if he's in danger. A nice example is when Char gets lost in a blizzard; the moment Charmeleon sees Lil' Char's scarf on Growlithe's mouth, he recalls being fully aware that she bullies his brother and has to be stopped by his father before he goes too far.
- Cool Big Bro: Has no problem hanging around with the kids, and multiple times is demonstrated to openly care for his brother.
- Death Glare: Gives a fierce one to Growlithe when he discovers she caused his brother to get lost in a blizzard, even striking a False Swipe at her to recover his brother's scarf.
- Dumbass Teenage Son: Shows a couple signs of this, but not much.
- Endearingly Dorky: Attempts to invoke this in order to attract a girl to have a summer fling with and win his bet with Ivysaur and Wartortle - wearing an incredibly tacky outfit to make himself noticeable and confidently making bad puns. Even he is slightly shocked when this actually seems to work on the Grovyle teen the group runs into at the volcano.
- In Touch with His Feminine Side: Has no problem letting two toddler Snubbul girls give him a makeover alongside Ivysaur and Wartortle, as long as he gets to share the pizza he brought.
- The One Guy: The only male out of the teen trio.
- One of the Kids: Likes to hang out with his little brother and his friends.
- The Prankster: He won't even hesitate to pull any on his dad!
- Taken to ridiculous extremes in the 2018 Halloween special, in which he and Ivysaur stage a whole zombie apocalypse with their friends, fooling even Wartortle.
Wartortle
Squirtle's older sister. More responsible than her brother, she's usually charged with taking care of him.
- A Day In The Lime Light: She gets her own brief subplot during the Alola arc hanging and flirting with a female Brionne.
- Cool Big Sis: She and Squirtle are on very good terms.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The Responsible to Squirtle's Foolish.
- Straight Gay: She gets a little bit of Ship Tease with a female Brionne during the Alola arc. Despite this, she's too gender-neutral in personality to qualify for either a Butch Lesbian or Lipstick Lesbian.
- Team Mom: Possibly, seeing how she's a bit more disciplined than the other teens.
Ivysaur
Bulbasaur's older cousin.
- Big Eater: Kind of like her uncle.
- Cool Big Sis: Acts like this to Bulbasaur.
- Hands-Off Parenting: Downplayed with her own parents. In "Home Alola" she gives a bit more info on her living situation: her parents like to travel a lot and she doesn't, so they have her stay with her uncle while they're out of the country. She seems perfectly on board with this arrangement, however, and shows no signs of resentment or hurt toward them.
- Once when she was a bulbasaur, she talked her parents into letting her stay home alone during the Christmas season while they traveled to Sinnoh. She ended up making a huge mess out of paranoia of a Home Alone-type situation, which resulted in her parents deciding that maybe they shouldn't be that hands-off and to have her stay with her uncle in the future.
- Language Barrier: Averted in regards to Bulbasaur. She understands him just fine. The other teens, not so much.
- Mundane Utility: She knows Leech Seed, but she used it for an elaborate prank in the 2018 Halloween special.
- Nice Girl: Doesn't seem to have a temper to speak of, and gets along with her cousin greatly.
- The Prankster: Shares this with Charmeleon.
The Adults
Charizard/Zard
Charmander's dad. A grumpy yet responsible adult who will go the mile to make sure his kids stay in line.
- Acrofatic: Despite putting on more than a couple pounds over the years, he's more than capable of winning a flying race against a Pidgeot. Twice, possibly.
- Actually Pretty Funny: He found Squirtle's Easter mishap to be more than chuckle-worthy.
- Abusive Parents: More emotionally so, but not nearly to the extent in the original comics.
- Affectionate Nickname: When Venusaur suggests giving nicknames to identify the now two Charmanders as he's not the only one anymore, Chari notes that her adoptive mother calls her "Charm", and nicknames him "Ander". It stuck with the gang, and changed all the way into "Zard" as he evolved.
- Berserk Button: Didn't take Pidgey's boasting about his dad seriously right up until he said he'd lose because he was "fat".
- Childhood Friends: Grew up together with Venusaur.
- Fantasy-Forbidding Father: As far as he's concerned, Charmander will be a Fire/Flying type and only a Fire/Flying type, as per the norm. note Zard: Welcome to life, son. It's disappointing.
[beat]
Charmander: Wait, but... Dragonite is a Dragon-type and we're not?
Zard: DO YOU THINK QUESTIONS WILL CHANGE THINGS? - Insane Troll Logic: Sends Charmander and Sandshrew out into the rain with some coats. His reasoning despite the obvious hazards of sending them into what might as well be an acid bath? "Dying builds character". It gets a littler harsher when you consider that his wife dying probably did build his character (in all the wrong ways).
- Jerkass: Stands out as one of the more mean-spirited characters.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite it all, however, he does have a wise and caring side as far as his kids are concerned.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Despite his incredibly harsh tone, most of the time he's not wrong about a situation. Comes with his experience as a former troublemaker.
- Like Parent, Like Child:
- In "The Good Old Days" flashback storyline, we learn that in terms of parenting he takes quite a bit after the way his mother was with him as a child.
- He used to be pretty reckless in his youth, just like his son. The only difference was that Charmander isn't accidentally setting trees on fire.
- Like Parent, Unlike Child: Conversely, his own father seems to have been a good deal more cheerful, laid-back and talkative than his son would be as an adult (while also being implied to have been mildly neglectful).
- Morality Chain: As shown in the 2018 Christmas special, his wife seemed to bring out the best in him.
- Noodle Incident: The Koffing Incident. As told by Venusaur, he and Zard decided to have some fun with Farts on Fire and managed to get a Koffing to collaborate on blowing his fumes against some dead foliage for Zard to set it on fire. What ensued almost resulted in a forest fire. Because of this, for a long time he was forbidden from using Fire-type moves, which he comments on when meeting Chari for the first time.
- Not So Above It All: Charizard was not impressed with Squirtle's ideas of how everyone can save themselves if the Ferris wheel fell at its highest point. A bonus panel has Charizard teasing Blastoise about how strong the windows are if an incident were to happen before being cut-off by Blastoise.
- Papa Wolf: He's decidedly not happy when his younger son gets lost in a blizzard.
- Parental Hypocrisy: Although he doesn't like his son's often reckless actions, he was rather guilty of being ten times worse when he was he son's age. Just ask Venusaur about the Koffing incident.
- Perpetual Frowner: It's saying something when one of the few times he smiled was when Squirtle messed up during an Easter egg hunt.
- A more benign example of him lightening up was when he won a race against Pidgeot on Father's Day.
- Pet the Dog: Gave Charmander a scarf his wife knit on Christmas Day. Despite its ragged condition, the kid treasures it.
- Slasher Smile: Nekoama has gone on record saying that making him smile is hard due to how out of place it looks on him. This trope is played in full when he tells a scary story during a camping trip.
- Sliding Scale of Parent-Shaming in Fiction: Charizard dances on a fine line between type II and III, being emotionally apathetic and even abrasive towards his son, but ultimately wanting him to become more savvy and independent as a result.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial:Zard: I was never that bad.
Blastoise: 'Zard, as your very best friend for these many long years, I have to be completely honest with you: that is a complete lie. You were the worst of us.
Zard, looking at Venusaur: Not true. We all know who was the worst.note - Took a Level in Kindness: Downplayed. He was downright abusive in the original comics. In the actual strip (especially in more recent strips), while he's hardly sunshine and roses, he's a decidedly more caring parent.
- Tough Love: His entire approach to parenting is this. He believes that by acting strict all the time, Charmander can get though life without having to be told what to do. Blastoise seems to agree with a part of this, as shown when he discusses with Pidgeot what to do when his kid gets stuck on a tree.Blastoise: Tell you what, why don't you go get some ice cream instead and he can wait until we're done to get down. Maybe he'll learn something.Pidgeot: Ha, you're hangin' around Charizard too much.Blastoise: Maybe. But do you see Charizard's kid in a tree?
- Tranquil Fury: His Papa Wolf mode puts him on this.Charizard: Where [Is my son?].Growlithe: I didn't take it! I didn't do anything wrong!—Charizard: *In a far more menacing tone* WHERE.
Blastoise
Squirtle's dad. An easy-going pokémon who dotes on his children.
- Doting Parent: Considers his children his biggest boon.
- Double Take: Tends to take a time for Blastoise to let some stuff sink in.Blastoise/Squirtle: Where's Charm?
Zard/Ander: Hey, we'd be on the news.
Venusaur/Bulbasaur: That'd be pretty cool.
Ander: *Turns to the Squirtle* Oh, she went into the cave already.
Squirtle: Oh okay.
Bulbasaur: Eh, we might get in trouble if we go to the news though.
Squirtle: Wait, she WHAT?? - Good Parents: Easily the best dad out of the three. The kids certainly agree. After all, who else has an ice-cream cake for every get-together?
- Foil: To Charizard, being a much more fun-loving and calm parent than him.
- Like Father, Like Son: It's revealed in "The Good Old Days" that Chari was his adoptive sister, which turns the fact he adopted a Squirtle of his own into this.
- Nice Guy: Patient, laid back, and wants nothing but the best for his children.
- Seen It All: Walking with Zard and 'Saur since childhood gave him enough experience to develop him from a scared Squirtle to a father who will know what to do when the kids get in similar situations. Case in point: he's the one who looks the least impressed when Lil' Char gets lost in a blizzard.
- Unflappable Guardian: The more competent of the parents, natch.
Venusaur
Bulbasaur's dad. A seemingly melancholic, laid-back guy, but a caring person and father/uncle nonetheless.
- Amicably Divorced: Despite being regions apart, he allows Bulbasaur to visit his mom across Johto on occasion.
- Big Eater: "The Good Old Days" reveals that he used to visit Zard's house just so he could have a second dinner. He seems to have kept this trait as an adult.Mama Charizard: Don't your parents ever feed you?
"Saur": Yeah, but I like to eat here first. - Bumbling Dad: Not exactly the brightest bulb around.
- Childhood Friends: He and Charizard grew up together.
- Good Parents: Despite his shortcomings, he truly does appreciate everything his son does for him.
- Hands-Off Parenting: Venusaur seems to content himself doing nothing as his son and his friends do whatever they want.
- Lazy Bum: His least endearing quality is his sheer unwillingness to do most work. It's not totally severe though, and Bulbasaur loves him all the same. Though his laziness might have something to do with him being divorced, with the emotional toll that implies.
- Parental Obliviousness: He just sort of leaves problems to resolve themselves when they happen.
- Stout Strength: Seemingly prides himself on this in the "Blizzard" episode.*Venusaur and Charmeleon look at each other*Charmeleon: ...How are you not cold?Venusaur: Thick Fat.Genius Bonus
Mamazard/Chari
Charmander's late mother. Blastoise's adoptive sister, an extremely energetic girl who at first scared the everloving light of Zard.
- Affectionate Nickname: Blastoise's mother used to call her "Charm", which evolved with her into adulthood as "Chari".
- Childhood Friend Romance: "The Good Old Days" reveals that she and Charizard met when they were Charmanders.
- Didn't Think This Through: Chari's habit of dragging Squirtle/Blastoise around is questioned by Ander/Zard.Ander: If you're worried about him, why'd you drag him out here in the first place?Charm: Because it's nice to include people.Ander: Yeah, to birthday parties, not dumb trips into murder caves.
- Genki Girl: Man did she have energy in herself as a child. Zard gets initially frightened by this when they first meet.
- Happily Adopted: She reveals in "The Good Old Days" that she is Blastoise's adoptive sister.
- Like Brother and Sister: She and Blastoise.
- Missing Mom: Word of God is that she passed away.
- Motor Mouth: Get her excited, and you get this.Chari: Oohhhhhmigosh, I've always wanted to visit a cave, did you ever read these stories y'know, about 'mons who get stuck in caves and have to evolve into horrible monsters oh man I wonder if that'll happen to us.
- Posthumous Character: According to Word of God, she's dead.
Other Characters
Sandshrew
A friend of the main trio.
- Ambiguously Jewish: Celebrates Hanukah, and thrives on Latkes during that time.
- Weaksauce Weakness: As with the rest of his kind, water is harmful to him. It doesn't stop Charizard from sending him and Charmander into the rain (with raincoats) to go outside.
Growlithe and Flareon
Two bullies who like to pick on the gang, especially Charmander.
- Alpha Bitch: Literally in Growlithe's case.
- The Bully: Growlithe is this in particular to Charmander, particularly because he hasn't learned the move "ember".
- Hidden Depths: Growlithe seems to really like "The X-Y Files". Three guesses as to what that represents in this world.
- Jerkass: Not the most particularly pleasant pokemon around.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Get drenched by Squirtle after their actions worsen the situation in the cave (and after they insult Bulbasaur).
- Too Dumb to Live: Flareon's solution to putting out a fire started by Growlithe is to use a fire move. The Clefairy's reaction is entirely justified.
The Johto Starters
A trio similar to the main trio, but featuring starters from the Johto Region. They include Cyndaquil, Chikorita, and Totodile.
Eevee
- Ascended Extra: First appears in "Rock Facts" as an incidental character who's mainly brought in to give the main trio some background information. However, the events of "Rock Facts" lead directly to "Never Growing Up," which explicitly centres around her.
- A Day in the Limelight: The "Never Growing Up" arc.
- Fantasy-Forbidding Parent: Everyone in her family evolves into Jolteons, and her parents are keen to keep it that way, but Eevee has her doubts about being stuck with that one choice.
- Odd Friendship: In "Never Growing Up", she manages to make friends with a creepy Misdreavus, who now hangs with her.
