Pop Culture WI: Original Pokémon anime was similar to Origins??

Gan

Banned
There's no doubt that the Pokémon franchise has been an important part pop culture for the last 20 years, and(unfortunately) the anime has influenced how people think of that franchise.

What if the anime had been drastically different? What if the original anime was similar to Pokémon Origins(but with enough episodes for a decent series)?

Basically the protagonist is Red, and his first Pokémon is Charmander. He journeys through Kanto, beats the gyms, Elite 4 and champion, then fills up the original Pokedex.

Also, Pokémon make normal animal sounds, rather than saying their own name.

How much would this affect the franchise's rise in popularity? Negatively, positively, or not at all?

How else would the franchise, if it still reaches at least OTL popularity? What would Game Freak do for a mascot?

What about future installments? Do you see new protagonists for each new generation? How would that affect the success of the series?
 
Probably comes across as even more like a commercial for the games. The OTL Origins anime was a sort of throwback/promotion.

I don't think it'll affect the games too much (they'll rise, sink from the super-fad, but stay popular), but I can see it being less imaginative and successful-every generation of games gets a season with a new protagonist that just railroads through the plot of the game in question.
 
The region starters (or at least Charmander) would be the franchise mascots rather than Pikachu. None of the movie's featuring the Legendaries (such as the First Movie) would be made or at least be vastly different from what we know them to be if the anime is strictly following the game.

The spin off games (Mystery Dungeon, Conquest, Colosseum, XD, so on) might get adapted as well, likely miniseries with little affect on the main plot to the one going on in the main Anime.

The Gen III games started to let players pick which gender their player character was. So if the anime wants to spice up the character roster, they'll have both of the game's gender options as the main characters.

I don't think it'll affect the games too much (they'll rise, sink from the super-fad, but stay popular), but I can see it being less imaginative and successful-every generation of games gets a season with a new protagonist that just railroads through the plot of the game in question.

I agree. Eventually an Origins style anime series would have to differentiate from the game plot somewhat at some point.
 
Probably comes across as even more like a commercial for the games. The OTL Origins anime was a sort of throwback/promotion.

I don't think it'll affect the games too much (they'll rise, sink from the super-fad, but stay popular), but I can see it being less imaginative and successful-every generation of games gets a season with a new protagonist that just railroads through the plot of the game in question.

Yeah, the Anime won't be as 'creative'. I mean, on one hand, Ash gets to do better. But on the other, if Ash wins against the Elite Four as Red...

Then you might see the games be extremely different. If Red (referring to this anime version) is going to win the first game, and they still want an anime for the second generation (Silver and Gold), then they have several options.
1. Make the anime have a different character each generation. Like Red for Generation 1, Gold for Generation 2...Kind of like the Manga.
2. Make the games all have a starting-over Red. This idea isn't as good, and probably won't even happen. Remember, the anime was made FOR the games. Kinda like the tail bucking the dog. Maybe Red is 'starting-over' in a new region after winning the old one.

In truth, Ash winning Indigo League isn't good for the franchise. Ash winning Sinnoh (where he was closest) is definitely positive and would be a net benefit.
 
One of the things Origins is famous for online is that really vicious Squirtle-Charmander fight. If the anime had more things like that, would it air in the West (and subsequently EVERYWHERE) at all? Nintendo may just commission a Western animation company to pump out a 13-to-40 episode series. Pokemon fans online talk in hushed tones about this much more mature and cool show that aired in Japan.

(Which means it'd be Digimon - because Saban ain't making a cartoon if he can dub someone else's! - that becomes the big global anime hit of the late 90s over Pokemon.)
 
One of the things Origins is famous for online is that really vicious Squirtle-Charmander fight. If the anime had more things like that, would it air in the West (and subsequently EVERYWHERE) at all?

Maybe the show would attract a much older audience among teens and young adults. Or a company like 4kids would be hired to adapt to tone the show down (read: censor it).
 

Gan

Banned
The Gen III games started to let players pick which gender their player character was. So if the anime wants to spice up the character roster, they'll have both of the game's gender options as the main characters.

I wonder how well a series featuring tag-team trainers as protagonists would go? Gen III does introduce double battles.
 
I wonder how well a series featuring tag-team trainers as protagonists would go? Gen III does introduce double battles.

Double Battles would likely become a sort of "gimmick" for the Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald anime but would likely fad out after that season. After all, doubles battles are hardly seen despite Ash usually traveling with two fellow trainers.
 
EARLY TRIPLE BATTLES PLEASE!

Perfect way for the partners to get equal attention and battle scenes.

Another thought that just came to me is that an anime that follows the games much, much closely Pokemon Yellow and the Team Rocket Trio will be butterflied away to some extent.
 
Perfect way for the partners to get equal attention and battle scenes.

Another thought that just came to me is that an anime that follows the games much, much closely Pokemon Yellow and the Team Rocket Trio will be butterflied away to some extent.

Nooooooo Pokemon Yellow was my childhood!
 
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