History Characters / PokemonProtagonistsAndRivalsKanto

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Some of the early promotional artwork and comic depict him as spunky and occasionally smiling. He also "talks" through Copycat's dialogue. Starting with Gen 3, the series has put emphasis Red being a quiet boy with a serious expression.

* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: Zigzagged. He has suffered one canon loss to Ethan, but that wasn't an official bout, rather just a personal challenge. As Champion, Red was never actually defeated-- he just chose to leave to seek greater heights, entirely of his own accord. When Lance because the new Champion, he didn't actually beat the last one, he just occupied the vacant space because someone had to, and he was just that good. This makes Red one of the only Champions in the series to never be succeeded by way of being surpassed, and technically retaining an undefeated record.

* TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers: Unlike Giovanni, Blue has a mixture of types for his Viridian Gym battle.

However other games and merchandise have since featured a trainer by the name Leaf, using her Gen III remake design, based on when she was first made playable.

->Voiced by: Brandon Winckler (''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'' - EN)

* PowerTrio: Despite SchrodingersPlayerCharacer below, as of the ''Let's Go'' games the three Kanto trainers are marketed together, and seen congregating in the lobby together in ''Masters'' as if they [[AffirmativeActionGirl all know each other well]] instead of just Red and Blue as a duo.

** Being paired with Eevee for ''Masters'' offers a [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation new take on her name.]] Just as there are many different colors a leaf can be, there are eight forms an Eevee can ultimately take. Leaf thinks it best to let Eevee decide its own evolution, therefore not tying it down to a certain color (such as green).

* {{Troll}}: Teases the player by throwing Poké Balls at them as if they're a Pokémon [[spoiler:after they've beaten her, asking if they (and the Mewtwo the player's just caught) will join her Pokémon team, before smiling and running off.]] She continues to do this whenever you talk to her afterward, which combined with her blank stare and smile, make [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation some players]] question [[{{Yandere}} if she's actually joking or not]].

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Early promotional artwork and comic depict him as spunky and frequently smiling. He also "talks" through Copycat's dialogue. Starting with Gen 3, the series has put emphasis Red being a quiet boy with a serious expression.

* SuddenNameChange: In the ''Official Fan Book of Pocket Monsters'', [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/9/90/GameFreak_1997_fanbook_MC_Satoshi.jpg Red was originally called Satoshi (サトシ)]] in a special preview of the ''Gold and Silver'' games, which is also Ash Ketchum's Japanese name. It was later changed to Red in the actual games for reasons unknown.

* TheAce: The most accomplished rival in the series. What makes Blue unique is that he consistently outmatches you and becomes champion before you, giving the final battle a personal tone.

* MythologyGag: Red's ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'' team is reminiscent of Ash's team during the ''Orange Islands'' arc, especially with Lapras replacing Espeon. Additionally, his Pikachu knows all the moves that Ash's Pikachu knew during the ''Diamond and Pearl'' series: Volt Tackle, Iron Tail, Quick Attack, and Thunderbolt.

* AlmightyJanitor: She hasn't been given a backstory, so whenever she appears she's just a random trainer with a power level on par with Red and Blue.
** Leaf appears for the first time in ''Master'''s as part of a Pokémon Masters League tournament with an unevolved Pokémon next to Gym Leaders, Elite Four members and the like. In her sygna suit trailer, she appears with Red and Blue and mega evovles her Kanto starter right with them as if they've been a team for a while.
* AmbiguousSituation: Are Green and Leaf AlternateUniverse versions of the same person? There's been no official statement either way. The fact that they share design motifs in their costumes, the same hair style, the same battle poses, and are both based on the same piece of artwork, makes it clear that they may not be completely separate individuals. Unlike Kris and Lyra, they've never been confirmed by WordOfGod to be separate, and have never appeared in the same continuity (Kris appeared as Marina, separate from Lyra in the anime even before ''Masters'')
** ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' raises an interesting question on the matter: As an AlternateContinuity of the original Kanto games, naturally all major characters from said games make an appearance (along with two new player characters and their rival). You would think the female character being named Green would settle that, but the character is consistently referred to as "Leaf" in media not directly tied to ''Let's Go.''

* MeaningfulName: Like the other OG Kanto trainers she takes a canon name from a Version name, in this case the remake "Leaf" Green Version.

* AmbiguousSituation: Are Green and Leaf AlternateUniverse versions of the same person? There's been no official statement either way. The fact that they share design motifs in their costumes, the same hair style, the same battle poses, and are both based on the same piece of artwork, makes it clear that they may not be completely separate individuals. Unlike Kris and Lyra, they've never been confirmed by WordOfGod to be separate, and have never appeared in the same continuity (Kris appeared as Marina, separate from Lyra in the anime even before ''Masters'')
** ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' raises an interesting question on the matter: As an AlternateContinuity of the original Kanto games, naturally all major characters from said games make an appearance (along with two new player characters and their rival). You would think the female character being named Green would settle that, but the character is consistently referred to as "Leaf" in media not directly tied to ''Let's Go.''

* SequelHook: Before your rematch with Blaine, he asks if you know "a young lady named Green," and admits "it's not as if [he knows] the whole story," implying that Green's story may be explored in a hypothetical Let's Go Johto.
* SignatureMon: The starter that rounds out the Kanto trio, based on Red's choice.
** Of the Kanto starters, she's most often seen with the [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/0b/Early_Leaf.png Squirtle]] [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/6f/Sugimori_Starter_artwork.png line]] in early promo art for ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red and Green]]''. She also has Blastoise in ''Pokémon Adventures'' and ''Let's Go'' as a [[https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f3/RGB_guidebook.jpg nod to her original artwork.]] "Leaf" echoes this in her [[https://www.twitter.com/kotobukiyas/status/1048377301530947584?s=21 Kotobukiya ArtFx J figurine]].

!!Leaf (リーフ ''riifu'']]

Her story and identity as an individual when the Kanto trio appears together, and in regards to Green, is still ambiguous.

!! Green / Blue (ブルー ''buruu''

A version of the Kanto trio, based directly on Gen I, would finally appear in game when ''Let's Go'' reintroduced Green alongside Red and Blue as BonusBoss Master Trainers. Since then, the role of a female trainer on associated with Red and Blue has gone to Leaf (see above).

Her story and identity as an individual when the Kanto trio appears together, and in regards to Leaf, is still ambiguous.

Her story and identity as an individual when Kanto trio appears together, and in regards to Green, is still ambiguous.

Her story and identity as an individual when Kanto trio appears together, and in regards to Leaf, is still ambiguous.

* PerpetualFrowner: It started with official Generation I art, most of which depicted him with a serious frown. From Generation III onward, he has always been depicted like that in artworks and in-game, being the only protagonist to not be smiling in his official art since then. This even carried forward into his ''Sun/Moon'' design, where he's basically an adult. He also appears with a scowl in his default Nendoroid face, his 3DS theme alongside Blue, and in ''Masters''.

* PerpetualFrowner: It started with official Generation I art, most of which depicted him with a serious frown. From Generation III onward, he has always been depicted like that in artworks and in-game, being the only protagonist to not be smiling in his official art since then. This even carried forward into his ''Sun/Moon'' design, where he's basically an adult. He also appears with a scowl in his default Nendoroid face, his 3DS theme alongside Blue, and in ''Pokémon Masters''.

* TheStoic: He is described by a worker on the S.S. Anne as the strong silent type, and Blue sarcastically calls him a chatty gossip in the remakes. See HeroicMime and PerpetualFrowner above. This was further emphasized with his PerpetualFrown from Generation III onwards, and the fact he doesn't utter a single word when facing the player in his appearances as an NPC.

* TheAce: Implied through potential events that can transpire in the games, as well as Red's BonusBoss status in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver''. As a BonusBoss, Red's team is the highest leveled of any trainer in the entire series (not counting battle facilities that automatically set levels to 100). Put simply, he's the very best. Like no-one ever was.

* MergingTheBranches: When fought as a BonusBoss, he traditionally has all three Kanto starters in his lineup.

* PerpetualFrowner: It started with official Generation I art, most of which depicted him with a serious frown. From Generation III onward, he has always been depicted like that in artworks and in-game, being the only protagonist to not be smiling in his official art since then. This even carried forward into his ''Sun/Moon'' design, where he's basically an adult. He also appears with a scowl in his default Nendoroid face, his 3DS theme alongside Blue, and in Pokémon Masters.
* PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo: He reappears in ''Gold and Silver'', ''[=HeartGold=] and [=SoulSilver=]'', ''Black 2 and White 2'' and ''Sun and Moon'' as a BonusBoss.

* SignatureMon: His highest-leveled Pokémon (as well as ''the'' highest-leveled Pokémon not counting Battle Facilities) is his Pikachu. In ''Yellow'' canon, it is his actual starter Pokémon. He is also strongly associated with the three fully evolved normal Kanto Starters, although adaptations prefer using Venusaur (Pokémon #1) and Charizard (His version namesake) moreso than Blastoise.
** In the games, [[SeriesMascot Pikachu]] is always the highest leveled Pokémon used by Red as an NPC trainer in each game it appears in, and the highest leveled Pokémon you could face in a trainer battle in the entire franchise overall. The anime has only solidified the connection further, and he always sends it out first.
** Before any adaptations or sequels it was [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/6f/Sugimori_Starter_artwork.png pretty]] [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/5/55/Rival_artwork.png solidly]] [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/7/70/Kensugiart3.png the Bulbasaur line]], such that Pokémon #001 goes to the first protagonist. While all three of his starters have used the Starter Ultimate Moves, and Mega Evolution, only his Venusaur is equipped to use Z-Moves in ''Sun and Moon.'' Likewise in ''Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee'' Red has a Venusaur on his team to match [[https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f3/RGB_guidebook.jpg his original artwork.]] He also is seen owning a Bulbasaur during the first episode of ''Generations'' and it's his [[Manga/PokemonAdventures manga equivalent's]] starter in [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:Red,_Green_and_Blue_Adventures.pnganother throwback to the same artwork.]] And while Charizard may have been Ash's ace, Bulbasaur was his longest tenured Kanto starter, being the first to join and last to leave the party officially.
** In many other adaptations such as ''Pokémon Origins'' and one short in ''Generations'', Charmander is Red's preferred starter instead. Which makes sense, since it fits his overall demeanor and name a lot better. Ash Ketchum, Red's official Anime counterpart, likewise had a Charizard as his powerhouse for the majority of the original series, being his only fully evolved Kanto starter making him both the "Charizard Trainer" when they faced Mewtwo, and setting up that his Gary would have a Blastoise when they finally fought. His Sync Partner in ''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'' is Charizard, and while he uses all three Kanto starters in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series, Charizard is slightly more associated with him than the other two while Ivysaur is slightly more associated with Leaf.

* PerpetualFrowner: In all his sprites and ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'' official art. Notably, he's the only protagonist to not be smiling in his official art since the third generation. He also appears with a scowl in his default Nendoroid face, and his 3DS theme alongside Blue. This even carries forward into his ''Sun/Moon'' design, where despite being basically an adult now, he still can't seem to crack a smile! Exemplified [[http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/BnPH18gCcAA9jsu.jpg_large.jpg in his Nendoroid model.]] [[{{Adorkable}} Look at the face]] [[WhenHeSmiles of the version of him holding the Master Ball!]].

* TheStoic: He is described by a worker on the S.S. Anne as the strong silent type, and Blue sarcastically calls him a chatty gossip in the remakes. See HeroicMime and PerpetualFrowner above. He seems to be a bit more cheerful in ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', however, if his artwork is any indication.

** In ''Red and Blue'', his sprite as the Champion had him wearing a leather jacket, which isn't seen again in ''Gold and Silver'' or the first generation remakes. It later returns in his design for ''[=HeartGold=] and [=SoulSilver=]''.

* HellBentForLeather: In Generation I, except for ''Yellow'', he wears a black leather jacket upon becoming the Champion. He wears it full-time in Generations IV and V.

[[folder:Leaf / Green ''[-(Blue)-]'']]

!!Leaf (リーフ ''riifu'' / Green / Blue (ブルー ''buruu''

The Kanto trio would finally appear all together, when ''Let's Go'' reintroduced her alongside Red and Blue as BonusBoss Master Trainers, using a design similar to her originally artwork, and under the name Green to match her counterparts during an era similar to Gen I, ''Pokemon Yellow Version'' specifically. Other appearances such as ''Masters'' have instead used the name Leaf based on when she was first made playable. Outside of the name change there are no strong differences between these two incarnations, and no WordOfGod on whether they are separate characters or not.

As the female option for the PlayerCharacter, her story is exactly Red's: a child from Pallet Town who was given the task to catch them all for the Pokédex and ToBeAMaster. She would also appear in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' (in her ''[=FireRed/LeafGreen=]'' design) as a female option for the Pokémon Trainer character opposite of Red. What her story is as an individual when all three appear together in games such as ''Let's Go'' or ''Masters'' is still unknown.

** She shows up without explanation in ''Let's Go'' as one of the toughest Pokémon Trainers around, with a Kanto starter seemingly from Prof. Oak, implying she might be somehow related to Red and Blue.

* CanonName: Leaf was the closest thing she had to a canon name for a good long while, owing to its status as her default name in internal data, plus the promotional name used for the female character in ''VideoGame/PokemonFireRedAndLeafGreen.'' In fact, not long after an official statuette available in Japan cemented her name as "Leaf" and ''Masters'' confirmed it further. There's the odd hiccup in her history with the name Green, see the soft split below.

** In other continuities its the general rule when all three starters are chosen that the Rival will have the advantage on the male hero, the male hero will have the advantage on the female hero, and the female hero has the advantage on the Rival. As such, she gets Venusaur when Red has Charizard, and Blastoise when he has Venusaur.

* DecompositeCharacter: Leaf and Green are treated like separate characters despite looking similar. The general consensus seems to be that Leaf is the female player character, with Green as the NPC.

* MeaningfulName: Like the other OG Kanto trainers she takes a canon name from a Version name, rather than a real name like every other Generation. Either the third spot in the Red/Green/Blue trio; or the remake name Leaf. [=LeafGreen=] itself may have been a solution internationally, but that would end up as [=LeafBlue=] in Japan.

* SignatureMon: The starter that rounds out the Kanto trio. As Red is usually Charizard or Venusaur and Blue is either Blastoise or Charizard, she's either Venusaur or Blastoise.
** Of the Kanto starters, she's most often seen with the [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/0b/Early_Leaf.png Squirtle]] [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/6/6f/Sugimori_Starter_artwork.png line]] in early promo art for ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red and Green]]''. She also has Blastoise in ''Pokémon Adventures'' and ''Let's Go'' as a [[https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f3/RGB_guidebook.jpg nod to her original artwork.]] This carries into her [[https://www.twitter.com/kotobukiyas/status/1048377301530947584?s=21 Kotobukiya ArtFx J figurine]].

!! Tropes specific to her appearance as a boss in ''Let's Go''

** ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' raises an interesting question on the matter: As an AlternateContinuity of the original Kanto games, naturally all major characters from said games make an appearance (along with two new player characters and their rival). You would think the female character being named Green would settle that, but the character is consistently referred to as "Leaf" in all other media (from figures to spinoffs, and all other Generation I character retain their usual names, which begs the question: why would one character warrant two names across two incarnations when this isn't the case for any other character in the game?

* CanonName: The first official use of the name "Leaf" was a Kotobukiya figure pairing her with Squirtle. Despite this, ''Let's Go'' would temporarily overrule it by introducing a similar character by the name "Green," only for "Leaf" to return in ''Pokemon Masters,'' leading to the possibility that Leaf and Green are entirely separate characters -- aside from the fact that they are the same character in ''Manga/PokemonAdventures''.

* DecompositeCharacter: ''Let's Go'' introduced Green. She's based on the same concept art as Leaf but has a different CanonName.

* {{Troll}}: Teases the player by throwing Poké Balls at them as if they're a Pokémon [[spoiler:after they've beaten her, asking if they (and the Mewtwo the player's just caught) will join her Pokémon team, before smiling and running off.]] That said, she continues to do this whenever you talk to her afterward, and the blank stare and smile she has makes it rather unclear [[{{Yandere}} if she's actually joking or not]].

* {{Troll}}: Teases the player by throwing Poké Balls at them as if they're a Pokémon [[spoiler:after they've beaten her, asking if they (and the Mewtwo the player's just caught) will join her Pokémon team, before smiling and running off.]] That said, she continues to do this whenever you talk to her afterward, and the blank look she has when doing this makes it rather unclear [[{{Yandere}} if she's actually joking or not]].

* {{Troll}}: Teases the player by throwing Poké Balls at them as if they're a Pokémon [[spoiler:after they've beaten her, asking if they (and the Mewtwo the player's just caught) will join her Pokémon team, before smiling and running off.]]
* {{Yandere}}: A very lighthearted version in ''Let's Go''. After beating her, her [[spoiler:tossing Poké Balls at the player in order to get ''them'' and their Mewtwo to join her team has a strange interpretation of the trope.]]