The Pokemon anime is well known for taking a lot of inspiration from the video games the series hails from (and the show's sometimes-profound lines influenced generations of fans in turn). It's no wonder, as the games and anime are closely connected, creating one of the most integrated, beloved and profitable media franchises in the world. The most recent game, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon Sword and Shield, got its own anime, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon Journeys. Like Pokemon anime th🦋e preceded it, it borrows heavily from the prior games.
There's a lot of joy in seeing familiarity on the small screen as well, and it can be a fun boost of nostalgia to see your favorite game mechanic represented through animation. Fortunately for fans, there are plenty of familiar gameplay elements, locations, characters and critters in this new show.
10 ♏ Iconic Locations And Familiar Sights ꦗ
Pokemon Journeys is heavily based on the region and setting from the game. Pokemon Sword and Shield takes place in the Galar region, which itself was inspired by the geography and culture of the UK. Journeys frequently visits to Galar in its episodes. Fans of the wider Pokemon franchise, however, will have gladly noticed that there's much more to Journeys than the Galar region.
Unlike tꦐhe other anime series, which are often centered around one region, Journeys takes the time to visit many of the other regions present in the franchise. For example, viewers were whisked back for another visit to the Kanto region, wh✨ere they were able to meet fan-favorite characters Brock and Misty one more time.
9 Fan-Favor💝ite Characters From Multiple Regio🧸ns
Pokemon Journeys doesn't just borrow the locations from the games. It'd be easy to just take a region such as Galar and throw in Ash Ketchum and Goh. However, Journeys is not afraid to feature many of the characters featured in the main games as well. We encounter many of the popular personalities, such as Bea, the formidable Fighting-typ𒁏e Gym Leader in Sword and Shield.
We also see Sonia, assistant to Professor Magnolia in Sword and Shield. She's even studying the same things as she was in Sword and Shield, such as the Darkest Day (a major conflict in both the game and the anime). Of course, Journeys has given fans cameos from past characters too. For instance, the Alola region, which had its own Pokemon Sun and Moon anime, features characters from the associated games, such as Professor Kukui. Journeys definitely has a lot of content.
8 ꧒ The Cont𝔉roversial Dynamax And Gigantamax Mechanic
Dynamax is a mechanic introduced in Sword and Shield. Dynamaxing a Pokemon greatly increases its size and HP, changing its moves to more powerful versions asꦓ well. There are even unique Dynamax forms, known as Gigantamax, and both are represented in Journeys. The anime introduces this mechanic early into its run, in fact, with a Gigantamax Snorlax posing a minor problem for Ash 🍸and Goh.
Since then, fans have seen beloved Pokemon such as Pikachu and Raboot getting the Dynamax treatment in the ani💧me as well. The Dynamax battles seen in the games translate to the anime quite well.
7 The Return Of Mega Evolution 🥀
Mega Evolution makes a return in Journeys, which is actually quite contradictory and exemplifies the unique nature of Journeys as an anime. Since Journeys primarily takes inspiration from Sword and Shield, it's a little jarring to see Mega Evolution make a return, as the feature was cut completely from the latest generation of games.
Even though the mechanic was quite popular, introducing neat new designs and boosts for certain Pokemon, it hasn't seen the light of day in Sword and Shield. Nevertheless, viewers do get to see some Mega Evolutions in Journeys, such as a cinematic fight between a Mega Lucario and Ash's Dragonite.
6 ๊ Cinematic Max Raid Battles
Raid Battles are a new social mechanic introduced in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon Go, offered in a different fashion in Sword and Shield. In the latter game, It allows a group of four trainers to battle together against a giant, Gigantamax version of certain Pokemon. It's a fun mechanic that helps emphasize the social aspect of Pokemon, and it makes an appearance in Journeys as well.
These battles are a little more grandiose and perhaps closer to their Go counterpart. We see a raid battle between Ash, Go, and many other trainers against a regular Lugia, and it's just a bunch of trainers sending their Pokemon against the Legendary beast. It's perhaps not so gracefully adapted, but still, a remarkable sight.
5 Shiny Hunting And Shiny Hunters 🀅
The term Shiny Pokemon, interestingly, was actually a fan creation. Shiny Pokemon have long existed in the games, as rare, uniquely-colore🐟d versions of Pokemon (which boast no advantages or differences beyond their rarity and alternate colors). The actual term "shiny" was never intended to take off in the first place.
That's why it's remarkable to see it officially used in Journeys. In one episode, Ash and Goh meet a special trainer who dedicates himself to collecting shiny Pokemon, not unlike 'shiny hunters' who play the game. The Trainer's Pokedex is quite limited, with the main star being a shiny Psyduck, but it's still amazing that fans were able to make an official term become canon.
4 🐠 Regional Pokemon And Alternate Forms 🔥
Regional Pokemon are Pokemon that have different forms based on the region they're native to/currently in (evolution makes things a little complicated). It's a mechanic introduced in Sun and Moon, and it has given some new life to old Pokemon who may no longer be as popular (though some worthy candidates haven't yet been given a regional form). For instance, Sun and Moon gave players certain variants such as Alolan Vulpix, which is Ice-type (and evolves into the Ice/Fairy Alolan Ninetales) instead of Fire-type.
Regional variants are present in Journeys as well, and Ash actually caught himself one. In one episode, Ash catches a Galarian Farfetch'd, which has a different design and different typing. While the original Farfetch'd is a Normal/Flying Pokemon, this new Galarian version is Fighting-type and evolves into the powerful Sirfetch'd.
3 ꧃ A Version Of The Wild Area
The Wild Area was a new area introduced in Sword and Shield. It was a step forward for the franchise, the closest fans have yet come to a true open-world mainline experience. The Wild Area occasionally crops up in Journeys as well (168澳洲幸运5开奖网:as well as in hilarious memes).
There are many things to do in the Wild Area that are represented in the game. It's the most common place to encounter wild Dynamax Pokemon. In the games, you can even set up camp and cook some curry. We'll probably see some of that cooking down the line in Journeys, which is a pretty iconic part of hanging out with your Pokemon in the games.
2 Excellent Music Track Remixes 🔯
Sword and Shield had a particularly unique soundtrack for a Pokemon game. There's a big EDM influence in many of the tracks in the game, especially during some of the more bombastic moments such as Gym Leader battles.
The unique music made its way into Journeys as well, and fans with sharp ears should be able to hear themes like the Gym Battle music remixed during some of the show's action sequences. They're particularly prominent during a Dynamax moment. The soundtrack for the game is unique and enjoyable, so it's good to hear some remixes in the anime.
1 Perhaps The Widest Variety Of Pokemo☂n The Anime Ha𓂃s Ever Seen
Of course, Pokemon isn't Pokemon without the cute, cool, and sometimes frightening creatures we grew to love. Journeys take a great deal of time to develop many of the Pokemon featured in Sword and Shield, particularly Scorbunny, the latest addition to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the list of ever-pop꧃ular Fire-type starters.
Since Journeys spans multiple regions, some very unique teams have been used on the show. Ash's team is comprised of Pokemon from various different generations, from Gengar to the new fossil Pokemon Dracovish. Co-protagonist Goh even caught a Suicune at one point! If that's not reinventing the wheel for the anime, then what is?
