Pokémon universe

The Pokémon universe is a fictional universe that encompasses the Pokémon media franchise, including stories and fictional works produced by The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures, Inc. The concept of the Pokémon universe, in both the fictional works and the general nonfictional world of Pokémon, stems from the hobby of insect collecting, a popular pastime which Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri enjoyed as a child.[1] Players of the video games are designated as Pokémon Trainers and the two general goals (in most Pokémon games) for such Trainers are: to complete the Pokédex by collecting all of the available Pokémon species found in the fictional region where that game takes place and to train a team of powerful Pokémon to compete against teams owned by other Trainers and eventually become the strongest Trainer: the Pokémon Champion. These themes of collecting, training and battling are present in almost every version of the Pokémon franchise, including the video game series, the anime series, the manga series, the film series and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Release timeline

1996	Red and Green
	Blue
1997
1998	Yellow
	Red and Blue
1999	Gold and Silver
2000	Crystal
2001
2002	Ruby and Sapphire
2003
2004	FireRed and LeafGreen
	Emerald
2005
2006	Diamond and Pearl
2007
2008	Platinum
2009	HeartGold and SoulSilver
2010	Black and White
2011
2012	Black 2 and White 2
2013	X and Y
2014	Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
2015
2016	Sun and Moon
2017	Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
2018	Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
2019	Sword and Shield

Although Pokémon battles between Trainers is popular in the Pokémon universe, the series also emphasizes the harmony between people and Pokémon. Pokémon battles are treated like a competitive sport where both Pokémon and humans have fun. Pokémon rarely sustain fatal injuries during these battles and they also can obtain remedies for their ailments in a Pokémon Center, a specialized hospital for Pokémon.

Main series regions

There are several regions that have appeared in the various media of the Pokémon franchise. Each of the eight generations of the main series releases focuses on a new region. Moreover, several regions have been introduced in spin-off games and two in the Pokémon anime, though most of these are still within the same fictional universe. Usually, the different regions are not accessible from one another via land (or at all within a single game). However, Kanto can be accessed from Johto and vice versa via the sea in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver versions.

Every region consists of several cities and towns that the player must explore in order to overcome many waiting challenges, such as Gyms, Contests and villainous teams. At different locations within each region, the player can find different types of Pokémon, as well as helpful items and characters. Many regions are on separate continents with the earlier introduced regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh) being based on parts of Japan, with later regions being based on parts of the United States (Unova and Alola), France (Kalos) and the United Kingdom (Galar).[2]

Pokemon world in relation to the real world[3]

Pokémon region	Real world location
Kanto Sevii Islands	Kantō,  Japan Izu Islands & Bonin Islands,  Japan
Johto	Kansai,  Japan
Hoenn	Kyushu,  Japan
Sinnoh Battle Zone	Hokkaido,  Japan Sakhalin,  Russia
Unova	New York City,  United States
Kalos	France
Alola	Hawaii,  United States
Galar Isle of Armor Crown Tundra	United Kingdom  Isle of Man,  United Kingdom  Scotland,  United Kingdom

Kanto

The Kanto region is the setting of Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow and their remakes, Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. Based on the real-life Kantō region of Japan, this setting started the precedent of basing the geography and culture of the game's region on a real world setting. This region is also visited in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Sevii Islands

Johto

The Johto region is the setting of the second generation of Pokémon games, which includes Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal and their remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Again based on an area of Japan, this game's geography is based upon the Kansai, Tokai and eastern Shikoku areas of the country. The game setting draws upon the Kansai region's abundance of temples, the architectural design of the Kansai region and its geographical sights, such as Mount Fuji and the Naruto whirlpools.

Hoenn

A map of the Hoenn Region

The Hoenn region is the setting of the third generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, as well as their remakes Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. This time being based on the Japanese island of Kyushu; the real world and game region share an abundance of smaller islands around the main one and a subtropical climate. Like Sinnoh, this region is known to have a large range of various natural environments, such as rainforests and deserts.

Sinnoh

The Sinnoh region is the setting of the fourth generation of Pokémon games, which encompasses the setting of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum.[4] It is based on the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaidō. The region was meant to have a "northern" feel, with some routes being entirely covered in snow.

Battle Zone

The Battle Zone (Japanese: バトルゾーン Battle Zone) is a sub-region of Sinnoh located on a separate landmass northeast of the mainland. Three settlements are located in the Battle Zone: the Fight Area, which holds the entrance to the Battle Tower in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and the Battle Frontier in Pokémon Platinum; the Resort Area, where one can find the Ribbon Syndicate; and finally the Survival Area, home in Platinum to the Battleground and a Move Tutor's home.

Unova

The Unova region is the setting of the fifth generation of Pokémon games, which encompasses the setting of Pokémon Black and White and their sequels Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. For the first time in the main series, the region was based on a region outside Japan, with Unova taking inspiration from the New York metropolitan area.[5]

Kalos

The Kalos region is the setting of the sixth generation of Pokémon games, which is where the games Pokémon X and Y take place. This region is inspired almost entirely by the northern half of Metropolitan France, with landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles having representations here, along with a French style of music and fashion. According to Junichi Masuda, the name "Kalos" comes from the Greek word κάλλος, meaning beauty.[6]

Alola

The Alola region is the setting of the seventh generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This region is based on Hawaii, marking the second time a main entry Pokémon game setting has been inspired by a U.S. state. The name itself is a play on aloha, the Hawaiian word for both "hello" and "goodbye".

Galar

The Galar region is the setting of the eighth generation of Pokémon games, which is where the games Pokémon Sword and Shield take place. This region is primarily inspired by Great Britain (mainly England and parts of Scotland), showcasing landmarks inspired by Big Ben and Hadrian's Wall. There are also two additional areas The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra which are based on the Isle of Man and Scotland respectively.[7] The Galar Region was also introduced in Pokémon Journeys.[8]

Spinoff regions

Pokémon Island

Fiore

The Fiore region is where the Nintendo DS spin-off game Pokémon Ranger takes place. Its name is Italian for "flower".

Almia

The Almia region is where the Nintendo DS spin-off game Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia takes place. The region is similar to Fiore, in that Pokémon Rangers are present instead of Trainers. One of the features of the region is a school.

Oblivia

The Oblivia region is where the Nintendo DS spin-off game Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs takes place. This region is an archipelago composed of several islands located far to the south of both Fiore and Almia. It has many ruins and legends.

Orre

The Orre region is where the Nintendo GameCube spin-off games Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness take place.

Trading Card Game Islands

The Trading Card Game Islands are where the Pokémon Trading Card Game and its sequel, Pokémon Card GB2: Great Rocket-Dan Sanjō! take place.

GR Island

Holon

Holon is a region introduced and explored exclusively in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It is a known habitat of the unusual δ Delta Species Pokémon, also introduced in the TCG.

Ransei

Ferrum

Pasio

Pasio is a region introduced in the mobile game "Pokémon Masters". It is an island made by the King of Pasio. This region, being man-made, does not have any natural wild Pokémon. Hoopa is thought to have brought some of the citizens there.

Chronology

Creation

According to Sinnoh legends, in the beginning, there was nothing but chaos. Then, at the center of the chaos, an egg appeared, from which hatched Arceus. Arceus then created Dialga, the embodiment of time, Palkia, the embodiment of space, and Giratina, the embodiment of antimatter, who was banished to another dimension. Arceus then created Azelf, Mesprit and Uxie; the spirits of willpower, emotion and knowledge respectively. At this early time, Mew the ancestor of Pokémon, appeared in the universe. After creating the Pokémon Earth, Arceus went into an eternal sleep.

After Arceus' creation, Groudon, embodiment of the land; Kyogre, embodiment of the sea; and Rayquaza, embodiment of the sky; were born. They are sometimes unofficially known as "the weather trio", as each of these Pokémon possess weather-changing abilities. The clash of these three Pokémon was said to have created much of the Earth's surface. Mt. Coronet was created at this point of time as Regigigas moved landmass to form continents and regions. Stark Mountain and Heatran were also created at this time.

Many years after, the prehistoric era began and the first prehistoric Pokémon came into being. The games state that scientists proved that prehistoric Pokémon roamed the land, as Fossils and other paleontological remains have been found to contain the DNA of Pokémon. The Mew population on the planet may have decreased at this stage, as they slowly gave way to other Pokémon species.

Evolution

According to myths of Sinnoh, Pokémon and people were originally the same species. Mew is the ancestor of all Pokémon, and the first human recording was in the Stone Age, millions of years before the modern era.

Works

Video game series

• Pokémon video game series
• List of Pokémon video games

Animated series and films

• Pokémon television series
• Pokémon film series

Card game and board game

• Pokémon Trading Card Game
• Pokémon Trading Figure Game

Books and manga

• Pokémon Junior (books)
• Pokémon manga
• Pokémon Adventures (manga)

Detective Pikachu game and film

• Detective Pikachu (video game)
• Detective Pikachu (live-action film)

References

1. "The Ultimate Game Freak: Interview with Satoshi Tajiri". Time. November 22, 1999. Archived from the original on March 14, 2005. Retrieved May 22, 2010., TimeAsia (Waybacked).
2. Puelo, Anthony (2019-11-20). "Pokemon: All Regions' Real Life Counterparts and Generation 9 Region Speculation". GameRant. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
3. "Pokémon world in relation to the real world - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia". bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
4. https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-diamond-version-and-pokemon-pearl-version/ The Official Pokémon Website
5. "Iwata Asks : Pokémon Black and Pokémon White Versions : A Brand New Pokémon World". The Official Nintendo Website. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
6. "Pokémon X and Pokémon Y: Honedge Revealed!". YouTube/The Official Pokémon YouTube channel. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
7. https://swordshield.pokemon.com/en-us/expansionpass/ The Official Pokémon Website
8. "Pokémon Journeys will see Ash travel to previous locales, as well as the new Galar region from Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield on Nintendo Switch". Retrieved 13 October 2020.