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Contrasting Sequel Antagonists in the Pokémon series of games and animes.
Video Games
Generation II - Pokémon Gold and Silver and Crystal- The Rival character of Pokémon Red and Blue and Yellow, Blue, is a Jerkass rival who actively competes with Red, the Player Character, being that he wants to show off and brag about his Pokémon and shows little respect over them, even at one point blaming them whenever they lose against the player. GSC introduces the rival character Silver, who (at first) is not only a complete jerk who shoved the player rudely, but is also more abusive towards his Pokémon as well, unlike Blue who, despite being less respectful towards them, doesn't put them through bouts of cruelty. Their Pokémon team typing also contrasts. While Blue, later as the Champion, has an all-type team, the Pokémon types Silver has tends to incline between Poison, Dark, Steel, Psychic and Ghost, befitting his nature as a black-hearted trainer. While Blue was the Champion before being the Gym Leader of Viridian in GSC, Silver remained as the player's rival who has no desire to be a champion, where he instead becomes his/her's Worthy Opponent. Blue obtained his starter Pokémon legitimately, while Silver does it through illegitimate means by stealing it at Elm's lab. While Silver is the grandson of the well-respected Professor Oak, Silver is the son of Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket. They also contrast with their Character Development. Blue, after being defeated, resigned from his Champion post and takes over Giovanni's position as Viridian City's Gym Leader, where he also mellowed down his jerkass attitudes. Silver becomes much more friendly towards his Pokémon, as seen in his subsequent battles when he manages to evolve his Golbat into Crobat (who can be only evolved by maximum happiness), but still retains his status as the player's Worthy Opponent.
- Giovanni, the Big Bad of the Generation I games, is the leader of Team Rocket. Contrasting him in GSC is Archer, Ariana, Proton and Petrel, the four Rocket Executives. Unlike Giovanni who is a formidable trainer capable of battling the player by himself and is the mastermind of everything that happened three years ago, the Executives are weak on their own and only desire their leader's comeback. Archer contrasts to Giovanni, being that despite his status as the Dragon Ascendant and the Big Bad of Gold, Silver and Crystal, like the aforementioned reasons above he's only fulfilling his boss's (failed) comeback and is a much lesser threat than him.
- Two of the Gym Leaders of Johto are the opposite to their Kanto counterparts.
- Both Brock and Falkner are the first Gym Leaders the player encounter in their respective games, but their typings are on the opposite extremes. Brock uses Rock-type Pokémon while Falkner uses Flying-type Pokémon, with the former type being stronger against the latter type. While Brock's Pokémon are weak against two starters including Grass and Water, Falkner is advantageous against the Grass type starter.
- Blaine and Pryce, the seventh Gym Leaders, heavily contrast to each other. Like the diametrically opposite typing between Brock and Falkner, both Blaine and Pryce's Pokémon also have opposite typing and stats. Blaine uses Fire-type Pokémon and specializes in physical attacks while Pryce uses Ice-type Pokémon and specializes in special attacks. Character-wise, Blaine is hot-headed and an obsessive quiz-master, as well as a researcher, who is best friends with Mr. Fuji, while Pryce is a calm lone wolf who has been training himself and his Pokémon for over five decades.
