Line #61 AdaptationPersonalityChange/Pokemon


1	Being a large franchise with [[AdaptationOverdosed loads of adaptations]] and characters who can be interpreted in various ways by various people, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' adaptations are prone to [[AdaptationPersonalityChange changing character's personalities.]]
2	----
3	!!Anime/PokemonTheSeries
4	* The [[DubPersonalityChange English dub]] changed several characters personalities in early seasons. For example, Gary was made into more of a JerkAss (making him more similar to his game counterpart, Blue) while Misty's cocky tendencies (in Japan she frequently referred to herself as the "most beautiful girl in the world") were toned down.
5	* Elesa goes from TheStoic in the games to a GenkiGirl in the anime, though the games would later characterize her in a similar way.
6	* Lt. Surge and Clay go from {{Eagleland}} beautiful to boorish.
7	* Iris goes from cherishing her GenkiGirl tendencies and being oblivious to social views regarding her status to a BrattyHalfPint KnowNothingKnowItAll (at least outside the topic on Unovan Dragon-types) to admonishing others for being "childish" in order to cover for her own insecurities. She [[CharacterDevelopment grows out of this by the end of the Black/White series]] and becomes more like her game counterpart.
8	* Cilan goes from a ShrinkingViolet in the games to a LargeHam.
9	* Skyla goes from a NiceGirl to an ArrogantKungFuGirl with a side of JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
10	* Brock doesn't have much of a known personality, but there are no signs of him being a pervert who coos over every mature-enough girl he meets or of him being a TeamMom.
11	* Falkner goes from an honorable NiceGuy in the games to a narrow-minded, hypocritical {{Jerkass}} before Ash defeats him.
12	* Erika is very much an {{Ojou}} in all of her incarnations, but her anime version seems more casual, and she lacks her SleepyHead traits from the games. She also has more of a temper. Her portrayal in ''Anime/PokemonIChooseYou'' is a TruerToTheText portrayal of her game characterization, which was carried over to the character's reappearance in ''Pokémon Journeys''.
13	* Misty doesn't have much dialogue in the games but she seems mild-mannered and nice. Most adaptations use the game's interpretation, but the anime makes her one of the most iconic {{tsundere}} characters in anime. ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' [[RetCanon made her a bit more angry]] than in ''Red and Blue'', but she's still not up to par with her anime counterpart.
14	* Sabrina in the games is a pacifistic ReluctantWarrior and a CreepyGood person who is not remotely malicious. In the anime she has an evil SplitPersonality, but her "true" self at the end of her arc seems more in-line with her game self.
15	* Lucy goes from the {{Narcissist}} to a friendly [[SugarAndIcePersonality sugar and ice]] NiceGirl and [[PromotedToLoveInterest possible love interest]] to Brock!
16	* Anabel (the teenage Frontier Brain version) goes from [[GoodIsNotNice arrogant and somewhat sadistic]] to a NiceGirl and possible love interest ([[ObliviousToLove though not really]]) to Ash.
17	* Bianca in the games can be energetic largely [[CuteClumsyGirl by accident]] or when trying to catch up to someone, and her personality was mild-mannered and deeply insecure. She was also very smart, eventually becoming Professor Juniper's apprentice. Bianca in the anime is a GenkiGirl who is incredibly outgoing and overconfident, while also suffering from frequent bouts of AdaptationalDumbass and AdaptationalJerkass.
18	* In the games (and ''Anime/PokemonOrigins''), Mewtwo is a BloodKnight that supposedly has the most savage heart among Pokémon due to his genetic makeup. In its animé appearances, it's not so much savage, but rather mistrustful to those it doesn't know. Though Mewtwo in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' is found alone in an area where mistreated Pokemon live, implying it is lonely and has been abused, [[RetCanon bringing it closer to the anime version]].
19	* Jasmine goes from a ShrinkingViolet in the games to a confident badass in the anime, at least when it comes to kicking Team Rocket's ass and battling other Trainers aggresively. She keeps her kind demeanor, though, but clearly doesn't hesitate here when speaking. On a side note, when her Ampharos is sick, she's just as fragile and depressed as in the games, but that only lasts one episode before the personality switch.
20	* Clair goes from an ArrogantKungFuGirl, {{Jerkass}}, {{Tsundere}} adult with massive SoreLoser issues whom Lance can't respect to a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, [[TheStoic stoic]] woman whom Lance ''does'' respect without hiccups.
21	** Egregiously, when she shows up during Decolore Islands, she went from TheStoic to an adult GenkiGirl fascinated with dragons.
22	* Cyrus goes from a very emotionless PerpetualFrowner [[TheStoic stoic]] adult to being just like any other evil villain. He is also [[AdaptationalVillainy far more malicious]], trying to create a new world that will exclude everyone but himself rather than one where everyone lacks spirit because he genuinely feels human spirit is the source of all suffering.
23	* Even some Pokemon get this, on the species level no less--for instance, Spearow in the games is a tiny bird that isn't very good at flying and is as likely to flee from you as it is to fight. The anime opts to portray them as vicious little flying nightmares whose EstablishingCharacterMoment consists of them swarming the protagonist and his partner Pokemon [[DisproportionateRetribution simply because the former threw a rock at one of them]]. ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' used the anime characterization when a group of Spearow attack a Pokémon at the start. This is likely because the line has NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast, particularly in the original Japanese in which their names contain "Oni-" (Demon).
24	* Viola is a huge shutterbug, but she goes from that to rarely taking any photos, though she is depicted as a badass fighter.
25	* Korrina in the games is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure in the field of Mega Evolution with TheGadfly flavor mixed in and many rollerskating puns she says. In the anime, she's an oblivious and inexperienced GenkiGirl BloodKnight (albeit she gets better after her arc is over) without the rollerskating puns (or her personal rollerskating derby).
26	** To a lesser extent, her grandfather goes from ReasonableAuthorityFigure to a funny old man (due to putting too much emphasis on a scroll written with Gym Leader hygiene tips he hid in the giant Mega Lucario statue).
27	* In the games, Lillie [[spoiler:has a DarkAndTroubledPast]], and as such is very shy and reclusive. In the anime, aside from being afraid to touch Pokémon (while her game counterpart instead just hated seeing Pokémon battle), she's more outgoing. [[spoiler:She also has a ''different'' DarkAndTroubledPast]].
28	* In the games, Lusamine is a [[AbusiveParents cold]], [[MyBelovedSmother controlling]], BitchInSheepsClothing. The anime, on the other hand, has her being an [[AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents overly-affectionate]] WomanChild, with her daughter [[spoiler:Lillie]] being unafraid to visually and vocally show her exasperation toward her.
29	* Ash in the AlternateContinuity film ''Anime/PokemonIChooseYou'' has slight differences from his mainstream incarnation. He's more of a "normal" everyday kid instead of a StockShonenHero. He's bighearted but doesn't go around helping people every other day. Ash has some AdaptationalJerkass and AdaptationalIntelligence elements as well, being more brash and easily agitated than his main counterpart while also being slightly less of an IdiotHero, but at the same time he isn't nearly as bratty and stubborn as his Kanto counterpart. Ash also doesn't display [[MenDontCry shame towards crying]] like Ash used to in the Original Series.
30	* Sophocles in the games is an introverted boy. In the anime he is much more sociable and even a bit cocksure and snarky, leaving his insecure side more a case of an InferioritySuperiorityComplex.
31	* Olivia is much goofier and more affectionate than in the games, her suaveness brought down by being the perennial victim of {{Slapstick}}. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Also, she wears a jacket due to her original appearance being too provocative to younger audiences.]]
32	* Kahili goes from TheStoic BloodKnight PerpetualFrowner to PerpetualSmiler who uses Toucannon as a ''real cannon''.
33	* Red in the games is implied to be TheStoic and quiet. Ash is HotBlooded and talkative, much like [[CharacterizationMarchesOn Red was in Gen 1 artwork and promotional material]]. ''Anime/PokemonOrigins'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''’s “Subspace Emissary” would also portray Red/Pokémon Trainer as more energetic and brotherly, similar to Ash.
34	* Unlike her crybaby incarnation from the games, Whitney didn't even shed a tear when she lost to Ash.
35	* Gary's post-Kanto CharacterDevelopment is different than Blue's. Gary is a lot more humble and aloof. This is because Gary uses a [[EarlyDraftTieIn earlier version]] of Blue's ''Gold and Silver'' personality.
36	* While Hapu retains her formal speech patterns from the games (as a result of not being used to speaking with trainers her own age), her character is initially much more impulsive; presumably as a result of taking the reins of Island Kahuna from her late grandfather Sofu and Tapu-Fini not willing to recognize her in the role; straddling the line between AdaptationalJerkass and AdaptationalAngstUpgrade. This contrasts her portrayal in the games as being more friendly and supportive towards challengers, though by the time of the Poni Island Grand Trial, she does become closer to her characterization in the games.
37	* In the games, Byron is a very serious and stoic Gym Leader. The anime made him a [[LargeHam Giant Ham]] who constantly declares his love for digging, fossils and his own Pokémon, while large explosions somehow appear behind him. He is also quite the {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, to the point it took him a while to notice his fossils were stolen because he was admiring the hole Team Rocket dug. This actually made him [[EnsembleDarkhorse quite popular]] in the fandom.
38	* In the original ''Red and Blue'' games Giovanni was the BigBad, but something of a NobleDemon who even pulls a HeelFaceTurn and disbands Team Rocket after his defeat (this proves temporary in future games and remakes but he retains sympathetic qualities). In early episodes of the anime, he is a much more malevolent entity, posing as a BadBoss to the Team Rocket trio and viewing most other beings besides his Persian as merely pawns to his ends. Interestingly, later seasons and ''Anime/PokemonOrigins'' evolve him a bit closer to his games portrayal, most noticeably his GracefulLoser qualities and a few PetTheDog moments when the trio actually contribute something meaningful. He remains more sinister than his game counterpart however.
39	* Both Colress from the ''Black and White'' games and Xerosic from ''X and Y'' share the dubious honor of going from members of their respective teams who are simply in it ForScience who eventually [[HeelFaceTurn turn face]] to straight villains in the anime with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
40
41	!!''Manga/PokemonAdventures''
42	* Red is a HotBlooded StockShonenHero, unlike TheStoic that would be canonized in later ''Pokémon'' games.
43	* Blue Oak is cocky, arrogant, flashy, and before CharacterDevelopment set in in future games, quite a bit of an obnoxious brat, said to have little respect for his Pokémon. ''Adventures'' Blue is TheStoic and WiseBeyondHisYears, often acting as the OnlySaneMan around his peers. He started out cockier and brattier but [[CharacterizationMarchesOn changed a few chapters in]].
44	* Green/Leaf, being a HeroicMime like her [[DistaffCounterpart male counterpart]] Red is stoic and quiet in ''Pokémon [=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]''. In ''Adventures'' Green is a flirtatious and mischievously cunning PluckyGirl who gives Red plenty of grief. ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' gives Green a similar personality albeit more friendly and much less abrasive. ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'' also portrays Green as energetic and happy in contrast to Red.
45	* Misty uses her original, more even-tempered personality. The ''Gold and Silver'' games made her more into a FieryRedhead to [[{{Retcanon}} go with]] her anime portrayal.
46	* In the games, Erika's main trait is that she's a {{sleepyhead}}. Despite her several appearances in the manga, [[AdaptedOut this never appears]].
47	* Some of the normally neutral, or even heroic, Gym Leaders (such as Koga, Lt. Surge, and Sabrina) and Elite Four characters were made into villains and anti-villians; especially in the first and second generation arcs. For example, Lance in the games is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who is somewhat hotheaded at worst, but Lance in ''Adventures'' is a misanthropic WellIntentionedExtremist who is basically [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite N]] if he were a genocidal maniac.
48	* Silver in the games is an unpleasant, selfish, grade A {{Jerkass}} of a kid who hits the protagonist and constantly complains, unashamedly seeing his Pokémon only as a means to an end, having a NeverMyFault outlook on everything, always in denial about his losses, making a point of the fact that he doesn't have any friends, and [[SocialDarwinist despising the weak with a burning passion]], frighteningly obsessed with being a strong trainer and in the original games going as far as to say he wants to ''exterminate'' the weak, with his CharacterDevelopment focusing on him getting rid of all of that and growing up into a better person. Silver in ''Adventures'' is a completely different character, lacking all of these qualities, being more of a StockShonenRival and IneffectualLoner, having a previous friendship in Green, treating his Pokémon with respect even if he doesn't name them, being much calmer and far more mature, and none of his trademark obsession with strength being present.
49	* Ruby's exclusively into contests, despite being Norman's child, which would've put him in the protagonist's role in the games. While the player certainly ''can'' do contests to their heart's content in-game, they're an optional sidequest instead of the main goal. He's also rather CampStraight, which is a trait that neither the hero nor rival versions of him have in either the original games or their remakes.
50	* Sapphire's portrayed as a {{Tsundere}} BookDumb WildChild who takes on Hoenn's gyms. In the games, when May is Professor Birch's daughter, she ''is'' TheRival, but is more of a NiceGirl who focuses on her Pokédex, while the player is the one who puts more effort into the gyms.
51	* In ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' (and ''Platinum''), [[TheRival Barry]] was a hyperactive, silly kid who tended to blunder a lot, and frankly somewhat of a dunce with a horrible case of AttentionDeficitOohShiny and a touch of CloudCuckooLander, often charging into situations that may be unsafe without thinking, but possessing a heart of gold. He is dead-set on becoming the Pokémon champion and as strong a trainer as his father, seeing you as his rival. His ''Adventures'' counterpart, Pearl, while also hyperactive, is actually the OnlySaneMan of the PowerTrio between him, his extremely mellow, kind, but somewhat stupid childhood friend Diamond, and the highly intelligent but emotionally stunted {{Ojou}} with NoSocialSkills Platinum Berlitz, is a lot more cautious than Barry, and his goal here is forming a BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine duo with Diamond, meeting Platinum and being roped into going on a journey around Sinnoh completely by accident.
52	* A similar case to Sapphire is the above-mentioned Platinum Berlitz; in-game, the apprentice of Prof. Rowan, in this case the NPC Dawn, would be a friendly, plucky NeutralFemale who doesn't do much to affect the plot, but is there as your friend and somewhat of a guide. Platinum on the other hand is an unusually sheltered yet serious and studious girl, and has been promoted to a role closer to the player character, battling and taking on gyms. Meanwhile, Diamond, who would be the player character in the games, has no interest in gym battles or battling in general.
53	* Looker's CloudCuckoolander and FunnyForeigner status is nowhere to be seen in his appearances, with him coming off more as a ButtMonkey.
54	* If ''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'' is to be believed, then Hilbert is generally level-headed while Hilda is more HotBlooded. With the characters of Black (Hilbert) and White (Hilda), it's the exact opposite, and taken to extremes given that Black is a straight-up IdiotHero and White a NeutralFemale, although they both improve in those regards through CharacterDevelopment.
55	* Strangely enough, the highly-praised complex AntiVillain N was actually [[AdaptationalVillainy simplified]], with his sympathetic traits being toned down and becoming generally much creepier. Once he makes his HeelFaceTurn, however, he transitions into being like his original game self.
56	* Bianca isn't quite as shy as she is in the games, nor is Cheren quite as obsessive with becoming the strongest. [[spoiler: But then, it appears that [[TookALevelInJerkass he's become like his game self]] in the Pokémon League, pursuing strength. However, it turns out to just be a brainwashing from Team Plasma.]]
57	* While not as energetic as her anime counterpart, ''Adventures'' doesn't portray Elesa as someone who usually poses as an EmotionlessGirl like in the games. She's much more cheerful.
58	* Shauna is a peppy GenkiGirl in the games, but does a complete 180 and is a pessimistic LittleMissSnarker in this manga.
59	* Lusamine and her son both have AdaptationalJerkass traits. Lusamine's emotional abuse is more emphasized and Gladion is implied to dislike women in power as a result of his mother. Gladion is also more aggressive than in the games.
60	* As a result of Lusamine's AdaptationalJerkass, Lillie is a bit more timid and [[AdaptationalAngstUpgrade shell-shocked]] in the manga.
61	* Lana is a shy ShrinkingViolet, which contrasts heavily with her game personality. [[spoiler:Or not. In battle, her more aggressive side comes out]].
62
63	!!''Manga/PokemonDiamondAndPearlAdventure''
64	* The usually GenkiGirl Candice is presented as TheStoic.
65	* Cyrus is much more dramatic and excitable than in the games.
66	* Hareta is a HotBlooded WildChild whose main goal is to meet Dialga (although he does end up getting badges along the way). The in-game version of Lucas is either a HeroicMime who's always lived with his mother, or a NiceGuy more focused on his Pokédex.
67
68	!!''Manga/TheElectricTaleOfPikachu'':
69	* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', Sabrina has a very malicious SplitPersonality that terrorized the entire Saffron City with her psychic powers [[ForTheEvulz because she could]]. ''Manga/TheElectricTaleOfPikachu'', despite being an adaptation of the anime, averts her villainy and [[AdaptationalHeroism turned her into a heroic, motherly figure.]]
70	* Ash and Brock are both more [[DirtyKid blatantly perverts]], and even Misty is a CovertPervert (in a scene that was {{Bowdlerized}} in translation) due to the adaptation being HotterAndSexier. (This was before Ash gained notoriety as a ChasteHero, when he was still known to [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness show interest in girls at a few points]]).
71
72	!!''Manga/PokemonZensho''
73	* Sabrina is portrayed as more open and nice than her more stoic CreepyGood game counterpart.
74
75	!!Miscellaneous
76	* WordOfGod is that Elesa is supposed to come off as an EmotionlessGirl. This can be seen in all her official art and game sprites. She's only shown to be NotSoStoic when she breaks character after being defeated. Despite being a TruerToTheText trailer based directly on the games, ''Anime/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2IntroductionMovie'' shows Elesa excited and smiling while being challenged by Nate.
77	* ''Theatre/PokemonLive'':
78	** Brock and Jessie are given CharacterExaggeration. Brock is much more hormonal and has no serious moments, while Jessie is even more campier than in the anime.
79	** James is a bit more snappy and stands up for himself more.

Context AdaptationPersonalityChange / Pokemon