I gueeeess you could argue that.

Subject: I gueeeess you could argue that.
Author: doctorlit
Posted on: 2016-05-11 03:41:00 UTC

It's something that bothers me, not just about Pokémon, but a lot of Japanese games, that seem to have very ambiguously light-skinned characters that could be either Asian or white. I guess there's a logic behind it, since a Japanese games two biggest audiences are Japan and North America, but I really wish they had just made them all clearly Asian, especially for four original generations that actually took place in Poké-Japan.

And yeah, the customization is back, but they still used the whitish (probably) defaults for the trailer, in the midst of all the Polynesian people.

—doctorlit is just super-tired of white protagonists, honestly

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Starters Alert! Starters Alert! by Mattman The Comet on 2016-05-10 13:45:00 UTC Reply

Stuff looks like something out of Spectrobes holy crap

*Hugs Popplio all alone, in a corner* (nm) by SeaTurtle on 2016-05-12 00:32:00 UTC Reply

You're not the only Popplio lover out there. by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-05-17 02:57:00 UTC Reply

According to this YouTube video commenting about the Popplio hate on the Internet, there's apparently a Popplio Defense Squad out there.

Myself, personally, I'll hold out until I figure out what the first Gym Leader specializes in and choose from there.
*joins you in the corner* by eatpraylove on 2016-05-13 15:28:00 UTC Reply

All the starters are adorable, but I don't want you to be alone in your love of Popplio.
For all the Popplio lovers: by Huinesoron on 2016-05-12 12:46:00 UTC Reply

Team Flipper is by far the most friendly. Compare Team Cat and 'Team' Owl.

h
And Spheal is a delight to draw.

hS

Allow me to express my feelings via Spheal by Scapegrace on 2016-05-12 14:34:00 UTC Reply

Oh, I'll do more than that. by Huinesoron on 2016-05-12 15:51:00 UTC Reply

I'll directly encourage and enable you to express your feelings via Spheal.

^_^! Or should that be ?

hS, yes apparently that bored

This has my Speal of Approval. (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-12 15:55:00 UTC Reply

And now there are more. ^_^ by Huinesoron on 2016-05-13 16:41:00 UTC Reply

The collection should be visible.

hS, but is this , , or ?
*snatches up mini-Missingno* (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2016-05-12 22:29:00 UTC Reply

You're not alone. I want one. Wobbles already has one. =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-05-12 00:56:00 UTC Reply

I Need A Rowlet by sjosten on 2016-05-11 23:23:00 UTC Reply

The long trend of me adoring Grass starters continues for another game.
You can't go wrong with Firekitty. (nm) by Matt Cipher on 2016-05-11 15:01:00 UTC Reply
*squee* (nm) by eatpraylove on 2016-05-11 12:44:00 UTC Reply
I'm getting the kitty. (nm) by Ozzielot on 2016-05-11 02:19:00 UTC Reply
I love them all so much... by MochiIsAwesome on 2016-05-11 01:50:00 UTC Reply

But Rowlet is honestly the cutest thing I've seen all year. I'm super happy because it sometimes feels like Grass gets given the short end of the stick... but this is too cute! Owl! Aaah!
Funny thing... by Seafarer on 2016-05-11 01:28:00 UTC Reply

I always get the Fire-type starter for my first run of a generation. Always.

But that owl.
It calls to me.
I MUST HAVE IT

#TeamRowlet (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-11 01:31:00 UTC Reply

I'm glad you're back. :-) (nm) by Seafarer on 2016-05-11 01:37:00 UTC Reply

Truth be told... by DCCCV on 2016-05-11 01:04:00 UTC Reply

I'm still more hyped for Pokemon GO, since I don't have a DS. I'm not sure if I like the starters that much, probably because peer pressure at my school says so. However, I am still a big Pokemon fan, and I will go wherever it goes!
There's only one choice, in my mind. by Phobos on 2016-05-10 19:29:00 UTC Reply

Always bet on Fire.

-Phobos

Yep, always bet on Litten. by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 23:30:00 UTC Reply

The mog with the oleaginous fur that makes fire attacks out of its own hairballs. That's canon.

#WaterTribe #AlOGla #PopPopplio

Not to be condescending; truly curious by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-05-13 04:22:00 UTC Reply

How/when did you run across the word "oleaginous"? I know that English has a bunch of weird words, but...

--SOH176, who learned "unintelligible" as a child via Animorphs

By paying attention in school, darling. =] by Scapegrace on 2016-05-13 09:37:00 UTC Reply

Now that's how you condescend to someone. =]

Seriously though, it's from my dimly-remembered Chemistry A-level. It managed to stick because I liked the word.

BIRB STARTER BIRB STARTER BIRB STARTER BIRB STARTERRRRRR by The Skarmory Who Says Squee on 2016-05-10 17:33:00 UTC Reply

And I guess this confirms that the next Fire starter is gonna be based on a tiger, huh? Seems like the Chinese Zodiac theory isn't disproven after all... For now, anyway. Circus sea lion looks neat, too, I hope they turn it into a big badass leopard seal or something. And what, no talk about the legendaries? I'm kinda hoping the lion one is Fire/Fairy or Fire/Psychic, since the moon bat looks clearly Psychic/Flying or Fairy/Flying.

Regardless, I WANT TWENTY ROWLETS TO FLY ME TO WORK EVERY DAY EEEER

Calling it. by Fasoula on 2016-05-11 15:40:00 UTC Reply

Moon Legendary is gonna be our loooooong overdue Flying/Dark bat.
Bird starter teamup? by Huinesoron on 2016-05-11 12:57:00 UTC Reply

hS

D'AWWWWW~! (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2016-05-11 23:07:00 UTC Reply
*squees at the cute* (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-11 15:45:00 UTC Reply

I think more adorability is possible. by Huinesoron on 2016-05-11 17:01:00 UTC Reply

Not among starters, but... well, any scene with Popplio and Spheal in it will be cute, right?

Not sure about the cats, though. Litten, Meowth, and Glameow, right? That's a lot of snobbishness and disdain right there. (Also, not as adorable.)

But I think I might do Seal-and-relatives Playtime tomorrow.

hS

Litten, Skitty, Glameow, Litleo, Purrloin, Shinx... by Fasoula on 2016-05-11 18:12:00 UTC Reply

As well as Meowth and Sneasel, but they break the quadruped streak.

Skitty, Litleo and Shinx are plenty cute without so much snoot. They seem pretty solid contenders for the Team Litty spotlight.

You make a good point. by Huinesoron on 2016-05-12 10:26:00 UTC Reply

Litten is not best pleased at being told to 'go and play with the other kids'.

(And Sneasel isn't in it because seriously, it's a weasel. Do you honestly think Purrloin and Glameow would let one of that sort into the playroom?)

hS

Oh gosh. That is absolutely adorable. (nm) by Fasoula on 2016-05-11 15:42:00 UTC Reply

Yikes, that's a difficult one. by Huinesoron on 2016-05-10 16:33:00 UTC Reply

Adorkable owlet or grumpy firekitty? I want them both! How can you go wrong with either-

nevermind

hS

The inevitable picture: by Huinesoron on 2016-05-11 16:42:00 UTC Reply

Noctis is decidedly nonplussed by the newcomer.

(This particular Rowlet is named Athena, because Florence Nightingale had an owlet called Athena and there is literally a book titled 'Athena an Owlet' so how could one not?)

hS

hS, may I request something? by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-11 22:37:00 UTC Reply

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
Draw the single most adorable picture of a Magnemite and an Unown there ever was.
Terrifyingly adorable.
Eye-meltingly adorable.
'We-can-weaponise-this' adorable.

I have faith.

I want to stress that you asked for this. by Huinesoron on 2016-05-12 09:09:00 UTC Reply

This is entirely on you.

On youuuuuuu.

hS

Can I at least share the blame? by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-13 08:12:00 UTC Reply

I don't think Scape ought to escape unharmed, is all I'm saying.

I have no regrets either way.
D'aaaaaw! look at his droopy bolt!
Awwwww! the Unown looks a bit like it has two legs in a running position!

AAAwwwwwwww!
Do= Do= Do= (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-05-12 10:36:00 UTC Reply

Is this a British thing? by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-13 08:08:00 UTC Reply

I've searched this up, and I just get a song by The Police, and the two songs I've heard from them are alright, but nothing much else.

Is this some sort of... Pom code?
Do you just like them that much?

... by Scapegrace on 2016-05-13 09:38:00 UTC Reply

They're emoticons.

Read them from right to left.

They're clown faces! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-13 12:24:00 UTC Reply

I've been sort of ignoring the existence of clowns up until now. I hope that's a suitable excuse.

That's fine by me. by Scapegrace on 2016-05-13 13:09:00 UTC Reply

Wobbles, on the other hand, is taking it as a personal insult. =]

Do= (nm) by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-13 13:46:00 UTC Reply

You take that back- by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 16:39:00 UTC Reply

Noctowl are precious and I love them. But then again, I love all Pokémon. Even Happiny. Somehow.

Huinesoron used HTML! Italics fainted... (nm) by Huinesoron on 2016-05-11 10:13:00 UTC Reply
I want to love Noctis. by Huinesoron on 2016-05-10 16:55:00 UTC Reply

But she keeps glaring at me. :(

hS

She just wants to know why you don't love her more. by Iximaz on 2016-05-10 16:58:00 UTC Reply

Besides, Rowlet looks like the kind of owl you'd want to deliver your post.

You just think that... by Huinesoron on 2016-05-11 10:12:00 UTC Reply

... because you think it's named after Rowling. ^_~

hS

*shifty eyes* Maaaybe.... (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-11 14:49:00 UTC Reply

Happiny are easy to love. Unown, on the other hand... (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-10 16:45:00 UTC Reply

Agreed. (nm) by eatpraylove on 2016-05-16 14:00:00 UTC Reply
Unown are a really interesting design. by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 16:53:00 UTC Reply

And they are also SO CUTE I MEAN FOR REAL HAVE YOU SEEN THEIR SPRITES IT IS A LETTER PARTY I LOVE THEM-

*breathes*

If you think those are cute... by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-10 22:53:00 UTC Reply

OOOOOOH, LOOK AT MAGNEMITE LOOK AT IT'S GAPING EYE!
IT HAS TWO MAGNETS ON ITS SIDE, IT HAS A POORLY SCREWED BOLT!

On a side note, magnemite has some real odd fanart.

YES YES MAGNEMITE YESSSS (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 23:28:00 UTC Reply

HHHHHRRRRRRRRRNNNNG, MAGNEMITE (nm) by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-05-11 06:17:00 UTC Reply

Does this work now? (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 16:40:00 UTC Reply
Dammit, screwed the HTML up, sorry. (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 16:40:00 UTC Reply

MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE. by Iximaz on 2016-05-10 16:21:00 UTC Reply

I've been hoping and hoping and hoping for a Grass/Flying starter for years now and IT'S AN OWL, DO YOU KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM RIGHT NOW AAAAAAA!

And it looks like the trainer customization is making a comeback, or at least, I hope so, and oh my Arceus the Moon Legendary looks gorgeous I want it.

HYPEHYPEHYPEHYPEHYPE
Fire kitteh! by TheShyIon on 2016-05-10 15:59:00 UTC Reply

Yup, that one's my favorite. Still can't beat the dragonless dragon, of course, but... kitteh. I approve.

Not that I have a DS that can play it, of course. (Mine is... a second-generation DS, I'm pretty sure.)

*dramatic sigh*

Little question. by Hardric on 2016-05-10 16:49:00 UTC Reply

What could be his other type when evolving, if he gets one?

Dark. I'd bet anything. (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-10 16:52:00 UTC Reply

See, that's what they want you to think. by Fasoula on 2016-05-11 16:10:00 UTC Reply

I'm betting it's a fake out. I think Litten will end up Psychic type, thus sparking a brand new trend of same-typed Fire starters to pick up where Emboar left off.

Heh, I remember that thinking with Fennekin. by Scapegrace on 2016-05-11 18:53:00 UTC Reply

It was about summed up by this guy:-

But yeah. Fire/Dark would be my guess, though it might go for some bomb moves in future - take a look at that tail and tell me it doesn't look like a fuse. Alternatively, and I freely admit I'm only going on the released 'dex entry for this, the fact that it vomits up its own hairballs and sets them on fire might point to its future self being a Fire/Poison type. Which would be AWESOME.

And won't happen ever, but it'd be AWESOME!

Oh well, I can dream. =]

*sneaks poke re:our collab* by SkarmorySilver on 2016-05-11 23:07:00 UTC Reply

The procrastination was on me this time, ok? Sorry 'bout that ^^; Hit me up on Hangouts whenever :)

Anyway, yeah, I'm betting on Fire/Dark myself, if only so I can train a Litten named "Darkfield". But honestly, now that you mention Fire/Poison, and given that he's probably gonna evolve into something like a tiger, you know what would be REALLY cool? The final evo being based on a manticore. It'd make sense - the tail already looks like it's got a cluster of spikes even if they're just hair, and manticores have been stated to be misinterpreted tigers. And just to go with the ballistics theme, maybe the tail could become a full-blown cannon that could shoot poisoned spikes like in some of the myths about the creature. Who knows?

Whatever happens, I want a manticore Pokemon. Wishful thinking, sure, but still.

Oh Arceus please no. D: (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-11 16:13:00 UTC Reply

Seconded. (nm) by TheShyIon on 2016-05-10 17:24:00 UTC Reply

Alola region makes me think of Hawaii (nm) by Matt Cipher on 2016-05-10 15:39:00 UTC Reply

Been confirmed for a while. by Scapegrace on 2016-05-10 16:26:00 UTC Reply

Polynesian/Hawaiian-themed style, plus someone pointed out that the wireframe from the announcement trailer was based on Hawaii's state bird. This is just the icing on the cake. =]

It really just kind of reminds me of Hoenn. (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-05-10 16:30:00 UTC Reply

Oh~ by doctorlit on 2016-05-10 14:56:00 UTC Reply

I got excited when they revealed Rowlet as a dual type, because I thought they were all going to dual at the base stage. Probably not a coincidence that it's mirroring Generation 1, where the Grass-type starter was the only one to be dual typed at the beginning. It'll be interesting to see if the other two follow suit, with Litten getting a second type for its final stage (Dark, based on it's coloration?) and Popplio staying pure Water.

Based on the name Alola, map, and general aesthetics of the background characters and areas, I think Sun and Moon appear to take place in the Honolulu analogue. Sure makes the default-white protagonists stick out like sore thumbs. '~'

Man, I need to haul tail and get through Pokémon Y. I only have four badges . . .

—doctorlit likes to take his time

Okay first of all by Pokemaniac on 2016-05-11 01:58:00 UTC Reply

Only one of the protagonists is default white (Unova), the others are variously Asian, or in the case of X & Y customizable. Secondly, the customization from X & Y is returning for Sun & Moon.

I gueeeess you could argue that. by doctorlit on 2016-05-11 03:41:00 UTC Reply

It's something that bothers me, not just about Pokémon, but a lot of Japanese games, that seem to have very ambiguously light-skinned characters that could be either Asian or white. I guess there's a logic behind it, since a Japanese games two biggest audiences are Japan and North America, but I really wish they had just made them all clearly Asian, especially for four original generations that actually took place in Poké-Japan.

And yeah, the customization is back, but they still used the whitish (probably) defaults for the trailer, in the midst of all the Polynesian people.

—doctorlit is just super-tired of white protagonists, honestly

Live Action trailer god bless by Mattman The Comet on 2016-05-10 13:48:00 UTC Reply

I'm not crying you're crying