History Characters / PokemonProtagonistsAndRivals

* SuddenlyVoiced: Red, unlike future heroes, actually makes the odd internal comment when examining objects (where future Player Characters merely get descriptions with the occasional exception), such as mentioning his dad when you check out the televisions in the Celadon Department Store, and remarks that he "should get going" when you examine the TV in his house and notes that they "better not touch it" when examining various pieces of technology. He also talks to Copycat, causing her to state his unseen dialogue.

* CuteShotaroBoy

* {{Badass}}: Implied through potential events that can transpire in the game, as well as Red's BonusBoss status in Gold and Silver. As a BonusBoss, Red's team is the highest levelled of any trainer in the entire series (Not counting battle facilities that automatically set levels to 100).

* CuteShotaroBoy: Especially in his original design.

* SelfFanservice: The fandom draws Red's original design as being a slick, red eyed, {{Bishonen}} with combed hair and a [[TheStoic poker face]](Who bears a striking resemblance to [[CodeGeass Lelouch Vi Britannia]]). In the original games though (even post {{Timeskip}}) he is unruly looking, with his hair and bangs, with HotBlooded undertones. He fit CuteShotaroBoy more than anything. His FRLG design is usually drawn much, much [[{{Keet}} cuter]] than he actually appears, as opposed to the scowling, determined-looking boy he's seen as in almost all of his canon appearances.
* [[SignatureMove Signature Mon]]: Pikachu. High levelled in the original games, in the remakes it's even more powerful; it now has access to both Pikachu's signature item, doubling its offenses, and its signature move, giving it a powerful attack. It's also even more high levelled, being the highest levelled Pokemon battleable in a trainer battle in the entire franchise.

!!Ethan (Hibiki)/Gold

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Game Freak wanted to program the option to play as a female way back in ''Red and Green'', but wouldn't be able to until ''Crystal''. Leaf had a different design with a LittleBlackDress, WhiteGloves, and - unlike every protagonist in the main series - no NiceHat.

* SuddenlyVoiced: Red, unlike future heroes, actually makes the odd internal comment when examining objects (where future Player Characters merely get descriptions), such as mentioning his dad when you check out the televisions in the Celadon Department Store, and remarks that he "should get going" when you examine the TV in his house and notes that they "better not touch it" when examining various pieces of technology. He also talks to Copycat... [[MindScrew maybe.]]

!! Kyouhei

* SpearCounterpart: To Mei.

!! Mei

* DistaffCounterpart: To Kyouhei.

* NiceHat: Like Kyouhei's, it's actually a visor.

* RealMenWearPink: Oddly enough, his Xtransceiver is pink, which contrasts with the red and yellow ones Kyouhei and Mei possess, respectively.

* {{Tomboy}}

* {{Keet}}

** Although in a surprising {{Meta}} example, in the original version, his team is beetwen the three starters, Gyarados, Pidgeot, Arcanine, Exeggutor, Rhydon, and Alakazam, with Alakazam, Rhydon, Starter and Pidgeot as his team's mainstay. Setting movepool aside, his team has a good balance of each type, AND he used the strongest non legendary Pokemon of their respective type. The fact that he used Alakazam, Rhydon and Exeggutor shows his in canon Team Building sense.

** Taking the extended storyline of FRLG into consideration, he certainlys count when a rather intimidated thief makes a remark about the way he is glaring at them.

* FanNickname: Red's FRLG incarnation is occasionally called "Fire" in the English-speaking fandom to separate his new design from his old one. He's almost universally referred to as "Fire" or "[=FireRed=]" by Japanese-speaking fans.* TheHero: In Gen II and the Gen IV remakes, Red is often referred to as this.

* FanNickname: Red's FRLG incarnation is occasionally called "Fire" in the English-speaking fandom to separate his new design from his old one. He's almost universally referred to as "Fire" or "[=FireRed=]" by Japanese-speaking fans.
* TheHero: In Gen II and the Gen IV remakes, Red is often referred to as this.

** Two of May's default names are Terra and Marina; also referring to Groudon and Kyogre.* PluckyGirl: NPC May is clumsy and shy but never lets ''any'' losses get her down.

!!Lucas and Dawn (Kouki and Hikari)

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lucas_dawn_5924.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Just so you know, these are the ''Platinum'' outfits.]]

* {{Adorkable}}: NPC Lucas has shades of this.

* ExposedToTheElements: Dawn, especially since Sinnoh's supposed to be the cold region. At least ''Platinum'' gave her sleeves.
* HairDecorations: Dawn's clips.
* HairColorDissonance: There's confusion about their hair color. Sugimori drew it a navy blue (or arguably black with blue hints) type color in their main artwork, but everything else except for ''Manga/PokemonSpecial'' has them with a lighter hue.
* LittleMissBadass: Dawn.

* MiniDressOfPower: Dawn. There is some minor confusion about whether it's really a dress or just a coat, though many would be more comfortable with the dress idea.
** Judging by the anime, she's wearing a minidress in Diamond and Pearl and a coat over that minidress that happens to be the exact same shape and size in Platinum.
* MissingMom: As an [=NPC=], though fanon has the female scientist in Rowan's lab as their mom.

* StrongFamilyResemblance: Dawn is basically Johanna ten or twenty years younger, with long hair.
** Lucas's hair and eye color matches Johanna as well, albeit not the same shade.
* ThemeNaming: Both their American names have to do with light- Lucas comes from the Latin "lux," which means "light," and Dawn comes from the time of day the sun rises. Works in Japanese too - the "kou" in Kouki and "hikari" can refer to the character for "light".
* {{Tsundere}}: Dawn as a [=NPC=]. Type B.

* ZettaiRyouiki: Dawn is Grade B.

!!Hilbert (Touya)

[[quoteright:199:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Black_White_boy_4252.png]]

* EightiesHair
* BadassAdorable: Much like the other protagonists in the series.
* TheCameo: If you picked Hilda, you only team up with him during double battles in the Battle Subway. Otherwise, he doesn't appear in the game.

* DisappearedDad: As the protagonist. Interestingly enough, if you check out the television in his room before choosing your starter, it mentions his father bought it for him. He never appears in the game, though.
* {{Expy}}: Out of all of the playable males, he looks the most like [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red]], especially when compared to Red's appearance (including his official artwork) in Generations III and IV. He even shared Red's hat tipping animation in the [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 sequel game]]. Considering the amount of throwbacks to the first and second gen, this was very much intentional.
* FanNickname: Black, since that was the name they used for him in the trailers, and male player characters are always labeled with the "first" game's name. Plus, nobody had done multi-battles and thus seen his CanonName yet. "Kuro" was also coined by screenshots on the official website and "Blair" by the demos that were played at the mall tour.
* [[spoiler:TheGhost: In the sequels.]]
* MeaningfulName: Hilbert means "magnificent in battle" or "battle bright." Touya comes from "fight" (which makes his English name fitting), "transparent" or "untainted" which establishes his role as the middle and leader of the group.
* NiceGuy: His nearly-unanimous {{Fanon}} interpretation. His characterization as an NPC also implies this.

* [[spoiler:PutOnABus: In ''Black 2 and White 2'' (instead of a PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo). According to his mother, Hilbert left Unova to search for N.]]
* SpearCounterpart: To Hilda. Their default names are even {{gender flip}}s of each other in both Japanese and English.

!!Hilda (Touko)

[[quoteright:240:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Black_White_girl_2898.png]]

* TheCameo: If you picked Hilbert, you only team up with her during double battles in Battle Subway. Otherwise she doesn't appear in the game.
* DisappearedDad: As the protagonist. Interestingly enough, if you check out the television in her room before choosing your starter, it mentions her father bought it for her. He never appears in the game, though.
* DistaffCounterpart: To Hilbert.
* ExposedToTheElements: During the winter months and whenever she pays the Cold Storage a visit. Especially noteworthy in the latter case, as the Workers there are all wearing protective clothing and Cheren and Zinzolin won't stop griping about how cold it is.
* FanNickname: White for the same reasons as Hilbert above. "Shiro" was also coined by screenshots on the official website and "Whitlea" by the demos that were played at the mall tour.

* HairAntennae: On her ponytail. Shown a bit more in [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/d/df/Battle_Subway_artwork.png this official art of a Battle Subway scene]].
* TheLadette: One of her most common {{Fanon}} interpretations.
* MeaningfulName: Hilda means "Battle Maiden." Touko comes from "fight" (which makes her English name fitting), "transparent" or "untainted" which establishes her role as the middle and leader of the group.

[[/folder]]

!!Brendan and May (Yuuki and Haruka)

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brendan_may_4414.png]]
The hero. Whichever one you ''don't'' choose becomes your rival. Also, note that, unless examples for both are given, what applies for May does not apply for Brendan, and vice versa.

[[AC: As the protagonist]]
* BadassAdorable: The protagonist has no problem standing face-to-face with a beast that can '''shift continents''', '''raise the sea''', or '''Hyper Beam them to death''', depending on the version. Or all three of them in Emerald.
** TookALevelInBadass: The protagonist ''saves'' the world from utter annihilation of the awakened pissed-off Legendary (depending on version of course) by either defeating or capturing them.

* DisappearedDad: So far, the only ''aversion'' in the main series--the protagonist's father is Norman, the Petalburg Gym Leader.

[[AC: As the rival]]
* BreakTheHaughty: You do this to Brendan if you play as May.
* CuteClumsyGirl: NPC May gives off this vibe.
* GottaCatchEmAll: NPC May, somewhat; after you fight her in Lilycove City, she seems to be more interested in filling her Pokédex than continuing training.
* PluckyGirl: NPC May is clumsy and shy but never lets ''any'' losses get her down.
* TheRival: Quite obviously, though to a lesser extent than the previous rivals.
* ShipTease: In ''Emerald'', the rival states ''"I just saw a huge green Pokémon flying across the sky!....I wish you were there, <player's name>."'' Take of that what you will, but the way [[{{Tsundere}} NPC Brendan acts toward you]]..
* {{Tsundere}}: Brendan plays a Type B version of this as a NPC.
* TotallyRadical: In ''Emerald'', their PokéNav nickname is "Rad Neighbor."

[[AC: As both]]
* MeaningfulName: Their Japanese names. Haruka means "Spring flower" but also means "far away", which goes with Norman's name Senri which can also refer to "1000 li" (2440 miles, but also an idiomatic way to say far away). Yuki, also known as Brendan, just means "bravery".

** Two of May's default names are Terra and Marina; also referring to Groudon and Kyogre.
** In ''Emerald'', one of Brendan's default names is "Rald."
* NiceHat: As is tradition, both protagonists have stylin’ hats - a ski cap/head band for Brendan and a bandanna for May.

* SkirtOverSlacks: May.

* ToBeAMaster: May as the protagonist, and Brendan as either role. (NPC Brendan states that he wants to take over a gym, while NPC May goes to help Birch with the research)

* DangerouslyShortSkirt: Leaf's skirt just barely covers her. It's barely longer than [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Dawn]]'s infamous skirt.

* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Due to the unchanged dialogue, this happens with Leaf. It's also quite apparent in the fandom.

* HimeCut: Leaf in her original design.
* LittleBlackDress: Leaf in her original design, complete with white gloves and matching shoes.

* PluckyGirl: Leaf.

!!Red and Leaf

[[quoteright:315:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/red_leaf_3403.png]]

The [[HeroicMime silent]] PlayerCharacter. An eleven-year old from Pallet Town who is eager to become a Pokemon trainer and set off on a journey across the world. In PokemonGoldAndSilver, Red returns as the BonusBoss at the peak of Mt. Silver.

* {{Badass}}: Implied through potential events that can transpire in the game, as well as Red's BonusBoss status in Gold and Silver. [[http://www.halolz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/halolz-dot-com-pokemon-redvsash.jpg Red's half of this picture sums up the implications, said implications being applicable to Leaf by extension.]] As a BonusBoss, Red's team is the highest levelled of any trainer in the entire series (Not counting battle facilities that automatically set levels to 100).

*** TookALevelInBadass: To the point they annihilation the entire Team Rocket organization, and become Champions later on.

* ComingOfAgeStory: At the end of the main game, Oak states that Red/Leaf's journey was one, remarking that "[he/she] has come of age."
* ContinuityNod: Leaf herself. She was a prototype female protagonist, that few remember since the only evidence of her is early official artwork and her ''Manga/PokemonSpecial'' counterpart.
** Red's team in Gold and Silver reflects the events of Red and Blue. He has a Pikachu and the final forms of the three starters, the Snorlax that was once blocking a path, and either Espeon or Lapras from the ones you acquire as gifts.
* CuteShotaroBoy: Red, especially in his original design.

* DangerouslyShortSkirt: Leaf's skirt just barely covers her. It's barely longer than [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Dawn]]'s infamous skirt.
* DevelopmentGag: Leaf herself. She is a tweaked version of a first-generation [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/6/6f/Sugimori_Starter_artwork.png female protagonist]] that never made it into the original games due to technological limitations (The original design was reused as Blue(JP)[=/=]Green(Eng) in the Special manga).

* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Due to the unchanged dialogue, this happens with Leaf. It's also quite apparent in the fandom.
* FanNickname: Leaf, actually. She has never been given an official name, although a [[DummiedOut beta double battle partner named Leaf was found in the data]].
** Leaf also sometimes gets called "Fuguri" (from Rī'''fugurī'''n) among the Japanese fans.
** Red's FRLG incarnation is occasionally called "Fire" in the English-speaking fandom to separate his new design from his old one. He's almost universally referred to as "Fire" or "[=FireRed=]" by Japanese-speaking fans.

* HimeCut: Leaf in her original design.
* HotBlooded: Red, according to his counterparts, at least one in-game line, (possibly, due to its vagueness) the manual, and an [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/b/b1/Kensugiart.png old]] [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/c/c8/Kensugiart2.png comic]] [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/7/70/Kensugiart3.png drawn]] [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/f/f3/Kensugiart4.png by]] Sugimori.
** Taking the extended storyline of FRLG into consideration, Leaf and Red both certainly count when a rather intimidated thief makes a remark about the way he/she is glaring at them.
* IconicItem: Both Red's original and remake {{NiceHat}}s.

* LittleBlackDress: Leaf in her original design, complete with white gloves and matching shoes.
** MiniDressOfPower: In the remakes, though it's more of a mini-skirt.

* PinkGirlBlueBoy: The Vs. Seekers, but only in the official artwork. In the game, you still get a blue one as Leaf.
* PluckyGirl: Leaf.

* SuddenlyVoiced: Red/Leaf, unlike future heroes, actually makes the odd internal comment when examining objects (where future Player Characters merely get descriptions), such as mentioning his/her dad when you check out the televisions in the Celadon Department Store, and remarks that s/he "should get going" when you examine the TV in his/her house and notes that they "better not touch it" when examining various pieces of technology. He/She also talks to Copycat... [[MindScrew maybe.]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Game Freak wanted to program the option to play as a female way back in ''Red and Green'', but wouldn't be able to until ''Crystal''. Leaf had a different design with a LittleBlackDress, WhiteGloves, and - unlike every protagonist in the main series - no NiceHat.
** The prototypical Red from "Capsule Monsters" still has a NiceHat and black hair but he lacks Red's coat and his hair is not as messy.
* WhiteGloves: Leaf's original design.

!!Ethan (Hibiki)/Gold

[[quoteright:193:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ethan_hgss_4043.PNG]]

* AwesomeBackpack: In HGSS, it has no limit on the number of items it can carry.
* BadassAdorable
* CanonName: [[AllThereInTheManual The manual for Gold Version]] refers to the player as "a boy named Gold", and the manual for Silver refers to the player as "a boy named Silver". His anime counterpart was named Jimmy (Kenta in Japan). In Generation IV, he was ''finally'' given a canon name: "Ethan".

* DressingAsTheEnemy: While liberating the Radio Tower in HGSS.
* {{Expy}}: Of Red.
* [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend He Is Not My Boyfriend]]: If you chose Ethan, Lyra says this to her grandma when you're with her in the daycare.
* HeroicMime: Copycat still somehow manages to mimic his speech, suggesting that he does speak but is not heard by the player.
* KidHero

* OneSteveLimit: In the original ''Gold & Silver'', a Pokémaniac on the S.S. Aqua had the name 'Ethan'. In the remakes, said trainer is renamed 'Morgan' to adhere to this trope.
* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: Played straight in ''Crystal'', averted in HGSS.

!!Kris

[[quoteright:181:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/KrisWalking_9303.PNG]]

* AllThereInTheManual: The back of the box for ''Crystal'' gives her CanonName (in the west) as Kris. This is often overlooked because [[SpearCounterpart Ethan]]'s CanonName wasn't given until two generations later.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Was not revamped for Heartgold and Soulsilver, instead being replaced by Lyra.

* GirlishPigtails
* HeroicMime
* MeaningfulName: Kris in ''Crystal''.

\\

\\

!!Brendan (Yuuki)/May (Haruka)

!!Lucas/Dawn (Kouki and Hikari)

!!Blue Oak (Green)

For information on Cheren, check the Gym Leaders Character Page.

* BrownEyes: In the remakes only.
** BlackEyes: In the original, though adaptations usually color them in as brown.

* BlueEyes

* BlueEyes

* BrownEyes

* BlueEyes: May.
* BrownEyes: Brendan.

* BlueEyes

* BrownEyes

* BlueEyes

* BrownEyes

* BlueEyes

** [[spoiler:His issues with strength and weakness also stem from him feeling like Team Rocket and his father were weak and fearing his own weakness.]]
* GrayEyes: Arguably silver colored.
** CurtainsMatchTheWindow[=/=]RedEyesTakeWarning: The intro for the remakes and his [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/d/db/Rediba_Silver_Title_Cutscene_Concept.png original concept art]] show him with red.

* BlueEyes

* GreenEyes

[[quoteright:208:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blue_frlg_6250.png]]

[[folder:Protagonists]]