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Pokemon Origins
- By Damien Riley
Plot: Following the storyline from the games of Pokemon Red,
Blue and Green, this anime follows Red (you in the games) on
his Pokemon adventure to gather all of the badges, complete the
Pokedex and be the Pokemon Champion.
MUSIC: Every last musical piece from this 4-part OVA was taken
from the original Red, Blue and Green games and given a fresh
shine. That’s something that really takes you back to the days
when you didn’t use the internet to learn about everything in the
game before you go and play it.
PLOT: The plot is fairly simple
and laid out for you at the very
start: Catch all the pokemon and
be the very best like no-one ever
was. You see Red do this (not all
of it unfortunately) and more. He
has the clear antagonists shown
right away including the antihero.
CHARACTER DESIGN AND ANIMATION: Let’s start with the
animation this time. If I were to compare it to the TV series of
Pokemon, this would put it to shame. It feels more like an anime
should with the way everyone moves and grows from experience.
The very way everything got designed and animated down to
smallest of details was beautiful.
Now to the Character designs and all I can say is wow. With
Red and Green’s designs it looks like they were taken straight out
of the Pokemon Adventures manga (a great series to read by the
way) and put straight into the anime special. If you’ve played the
games then you’ll understand this more than anyone that never
played them.
Red:
Seeing Red and Green grow up is just beautiful because they
grow up in 4 episodes when Ash/Satoshi (the main anime’s
protagonist) hasn’t in 17 seasons. The attention to detail in
this is amazing! Small things
that many people might have
missed in the original games
have been incorporated into
this special including many
of the creepypastas that fans
made by finding these small
things.
OTHER NOTES: It is rumoured that the main anime for the X
and Y series is being done by the same people that did the
illustrations and animation for Pokemon Origins (it’s going to
be so beautiful).
PERSONAL RATING: This is drool-enducing for any pokemon
fan and has been something that those who grew up with the
original games have wanted for years. As much as I’ve praised
it though, I had to take a step back to see the minor flaws in
it. Following my usual attitude of not giving spoilers, I’m not
going to say what they are. Even with these flaws I do have to
rate it a very solid 8.5/10.
FINAL THOUGHTS: People may call me a Pokemon fanboy and they wouldn’t be wrong but I’m acknowledging
the problems these specials had unlike many of the other
huge fans. I still loved these and the updated music. I highly
recommend you watch this (it’s easy to find) or wait for the
english dub which will be released on November 11.
The hero and main protagonist, Red is an eager boy who is happy to help Okido
complete his new invention. An encyclopedia on all the pokemon in the world.
Green: The anti-hero who simply wants to be the very best trainer in the world. He helps
Red from time to time, even though it is reluctantly.
Professor Oak/Yukinari Okido: The inventor of the pokedex and the pokemon expert of the
Kanto region, Oak is the one who gave Red and Green their first pokemon.
Brock/Takeshi: The leader of the Pewter City gym, Takeshi specializes in rock-type pokemon
and teaches Red the difference between using a pokemon in battle and forming a
bond with them.
Sakaki/Giovanni: Sakaki is the leader of Team Rocket and the main antagonist, he uses the
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logic of “pokemon are just tools to be used and then sold”, the opposite of how a
trainer should think.
Anime Reign | Issue 2 | 2013