History AscendedExtra / Pokemon

* Matori was a very minor character in earlier series, existing mostly as Giovanni's secretary and to update the Team Rocket trio on current agendas; even her debut was at the end of the ''Diamond & Pearl'' serues. Come ''Sun and Moon'' and Matori is upgraded into a SitcomArchNemesis for Jessie, and sometimes pulls off heists herself with her own squad of Rocket grunts. Matori has even more involvement in ''Journeys''.

* In the original ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', the Kimono Sisters are only found in the Dance Theater in Ecruteak City. Defeating them and their Eeveelutions in battle earns the player [=HM04=] (Surf), but that's it. In the ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'' remakes, they're encountered both individually and collectively throughout Johto, and in ways that are actually plot-relevant. They also TookALevelInBadass, with their Pokémon going from level 17 to 38.

** Other Mythical Pokémon that have since received this treatment include Celebi (now freely available after beating the Elite Four in the Virtual Console version of ''Crystal'') and Keldeo (as a hidden fight in the Crown Tundra DLC of ''Sword and Shield'')

* While how much a [[OlympusMons Legendary Pokémon]] could be considered an "extra" may be up to debate, [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Rayquaza]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Giratina]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Kyurem]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Necrozma]] went from barely or never mentioned in the plot of their debut games and the wild {{Mons}} equivalent of a BonusBoss to much more important in the [[UpdatedRerelease third version]] / [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 sequel]] of their respective generations.

* This is taken UpToEleven with Marvin in the ''SWSH'' arc, who goes from a one-off Trainer in Route 3 to what's essentially the tritagonist of the arc.

* Unless you do the Battle Subway, it's possible to go the entirety of ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' without ever meeting either of the Subway Bosses. ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite2'' remedies this slightly by having a mandatory Double Battle against the both of them, but they're still largely inconsequential to the game. Come ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'' however, and it's revealed that Ingo, the older twin, is one of the Pearl Clan Wardens and [[spoiler:appears to have lost his memories from being sent back in time]].

* Pikachu was nothing in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. As explained [[http://chromagic.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-opinions-on-every-pokemon-ever_24.html here,]] it was turned from an insignificant unevolved Pokémon into the poster boy for the entire thing.

* Matori was a very minor character in earlier series, existing mostly as Giovanni's secretary and to update the Team Rocket trio on current agendas. Come ''Sun and Moon'' and Matori is upgraded into a SitcomArchNemesis for Jessie, and sometimes pulls off heists herself with her own squad of Rocket grunts. Matori has even more involvement in ''Journeys''.

* Speaking of Clemont, his [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling annoying little sister]] Bonnie: in the games, her only roles are hosting the Lumiose Gym/Prism Tower Pokémon Quiz. After becoming the champion, the player can get a ribbon from her if they have a Pokémon with maximum affection. In the anime, she's a main character alongside Clemont.

* This is taken UpToEleven with Marvin in the SWSH arc, who goes from a one-off Trainer in Route 3 to what's essentially the tritagonist of the arc.

* This is taken UpToEleven with Marvin in the SWSH arc, who goes from a one-off trainer in Route 3 to what's essentially the tritagonist of the arc.

* Some npcs in-game like Fisherman Wilton or Swimmer Jack are given significant focus. It might have something to do with both of their name being "Hidenori" in Japanese, the name of the mangaka.

* In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokemon Platinum]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold, and SoulSilver]]'', Caitlin just sat in a throne in the Battle Castle, never even battling you. In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', she's a member of the [[FinalBoss Elite Four]]!

!![[Anime/{{Pokemon}} The anime]]

* This is taken up to eleven with Marvin in the SWSH arc, who goes from a one-off trainer in Route 3 to what's essentially the tritagonist of the arc.

* For an "in house" example there's Professor Yanase who initially was just a scientist on the [[spoiler:control Rayquaza]] project and later is revealed to be Yanase Berlitz, Platinum's mother.

* Misty and Brock would qualify as this, as in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' they merely appeared as [[BossBattle the first two Gym Leaders]], while in the first few seasons of the anime they were main characters. In later series, the show repeats this with Cilan and Iris from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' and Clemont from ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY''.

* After just having occasional appearances alongside Delia Ketchum since joining her, Mimey was escalated to a recurring character for the ''Sword and Shield'' season.

The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise has many characters and Pokemon that are minimal in one form of media but become important in others. AnimeAndManga adaptations tend to do this. Any important NPC will probably have some plot significance for at least a chapter.

* While how much a [[OlympusMons legendary Pokémon]] could be considered an "extra" may be up to debate, [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Rayquaza]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Giratina]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Kyurem]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Necrozma]] went from barely or never mentioned in the plot of their debut games and the wild {{Mons}} equivalent of a BonusBoss to much more important in the [[UpdatedRerelease third version]] / [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 sequel]] of their respective generations.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', Samson Oak only appears on the third island, and has a fairly minor role in the story as a whole[[note]]He does appear earlier in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' and has a slightly bigger role providing Totem Pokemon to the player after they have collected enough stickers[[/note]]. In the anime adaptation on the other hand... he appears as the headmaster of the Pokemon School and appears far more often as a result.
* Zygarde. In the games it has been a postgame Legendary encounter in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' and ThatOneSidequest in ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' and was never given a follow up game to ''X'' and ''Y'' similar to other Legendary Pokemon in the past [[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon and future]]. The anime however had done it justice and gave it much significance in the ''XY&Z'' arc.

* In the original ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', the Kimono Sisters are only found in the Dance Theater in Ecruteak City. Defeating them and their Eeveelutions in battle earns the player HM04 (Surf), but that's it. In the ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'' remakes, they're encountered both individually and collectively throughout Johto, and in ways that are actually plot-relevant. They also TookALevelInBadass, with their Pokémon going from level 17 to 38.

* In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokemon Platinum]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold, and SoulSilver]]'', Caitlin just sat in a throne in the Battle Castle, never even battling you. In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', she's the third member of the [[FinalBoss Elite Four]]!