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10 Darkest Pokémon Anime Plots That Reveal the Series Is for More Than Kids
Mar
The world of Pokémon is mostly a cheerful place, a universe where anyone of any age can travel alongside their beloved Pokémon. In every region, there are often a wide variety of obstacles in the path of several Pokémon Trainers, especially the hero. However, with the help of their Pokémon allies, good always seems to prevail in the end.
Despite the usually bright atmosphere, the Pokémon franchise is certainly no stranger to dealing with especially dark themes. The concept of death is mentioned often in several forms of media, discussing the demises of Pokémon and humans alike. Meanwhile, other themes, including war, poaching, and even the mistreatment of Pokémon, are all featured in the franchise, a surprisingly somber change from the usual joyfulness of the Pokémon world.
Pokémon Poachers Track Down Pokémon for Their Own Benefit
Pokémon Poachers Are a Common Sight in Any Medium
Just like in the real world, poachers exist in the Pokémon universe, seeking out any wild Pokémon they can catch. Also known as Pokémon hunters, these people are more often than not spotted with their own Pokémon, usually extremely powerful sorts; in fact, they are not against commanding their Pokémon to attack humans. A Pokémon poacher will usually seek out hordes of wild Pokémon or even rare varieties, all for the sake of making a profit. One such example lies with Pokémon Hunter J, who worked alongside her henchmen as well as her Pokémon.
One of the most well-remembered Pokémon poachers, however, remains the Iron-Masked Marauder. As a member of Team Rocket, this cruel Trainer wishes to find Celebi, the Time Travel Pokémon, in hopes of defeating his boss and taking over the world. To make matters worse, the Iron-Masked Marauder uses the power of the Dark Ball, a sinister type of Poké Ball. By throwing and catching a Pokémon with one of these Poké Balls, that Pokémon will instantly become evil, and yet obey the Iron-Masked Marauder’s commands.
A Girl Haunts Maiden’s Peak for Eternity
The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak Waits for Her Lost Love
Near the ocean in the Kanto region lies Maiden’s Peak, a cliff looking over the sea near a small town. During their travels, Ash and his friends learn more about the cliff and the somber story tied to it. Long ago, a young woman fell in love with another resident of the village, a man who later had to leave during a time of war. The maiden was said to have waited for ages on that very peak, and her ghost is said to still stand in the same spot eons later, awaiting the return of her love.
The nearby village has since held a festival every year honoring the maiden, and even creates boats with paper lanterns to release into the sea. These boats are said to represent a way to help lost spirits travel back home, a way to perhaps help the maiden’s long-lost boyfriend find his way back to her. During Ash’s visit, a Gastly was revealed to be pretending to be the maiden’s ghost. However, this Pokémon was not acting out of malice; in fact, the real ghost herself thanked Gastly for keeping her story alive, as perhaps it would help her lost lover find her.
Sabrina Is Perhaps the Scariest Gym Leader
Sabrina Is Obsessed With Perfecting Her Powers
Introduced in Generation I, Sabrina of Saffron City acts as the Psychic-type Gym Leader in charge of the Saffron Gym. Sabrina’s character differs in every medium of the Pokémon franchise, from the anime to the manga. In the games, Sabrina is shown to be a rather aloof yet fair Pokémon Trainer. However, she is a member of Team Rocket in Pokémon Adventures, a cruel foe that Red and his allies often cross paths with.
In the original anime, Sabrina is shown to be a cold Gym Leader with a fearsome reputation. During her battle against Ash, her link with her powerful Kadabra proves to be too powerful for Ash to defeat. After this loss, Sabrina shrinks down Ash and his friend and places them in a dollhouse, a place where Sabrina’s own parents are imprisoned. Thankfully, the heroes are able to escape and are advised by Sabrina’s father to seek out a Ghost-type Pokémon if they wish to defeat her. This plan proves to work very well, allowing Sabrina to smile for the first time in ages after meeting the cheerful Haunter.
An Evil Malamar Tries to Take Over the World
The Overturning Pokémon Hypnotizes Many Innocent Bystanders
Malamar, the Overturning Pokémon, is a Dark/Psychic-type introduced in the Kalos region. The evolved form of Inkay, Malamar, has a much more fearsome aura compared to its rather cute pre-evolution. This Pokémon is often said to have a rather cruel streak, using its intense psychic powers to hypnotize anyone into doing what it wants. A Trainer who can work alongside one of these Pokémon is a brave one indeed, especially if it gains the trust of the Overturning Pokémon.
In Pokémon the Series: XY, a wicked Malamar acted as a reoccurring antagonist, even hypnotizing Officer Jenny into becoming a pawn known as “Madame X”. This Dark/Psychic-type was determined to take over the world and even appeared before Ash and his friends, hoping to control them as well after hypnotizing Jessie and James. After this defeat, Malamar returned with two other scheming Overturning Pokémon, even managing to control two of the best scientists in the region. The three Malamar later left to travel to the future, but not without promising their revenge.
Chimchar Tries to Adjust to a New, Kinder Life
The Chimp Pokémon Is Finally Free From Paul’s Cruelty
During his adventures in Sinnoh, Ash meets a Pokémon Trainer from Veilstone City with a very different perspective on training Pokémon compared to his. While Ash is known to treat his Pokémon with compassion, Paul only sees them as tools, as a means of becoming a more powerful Trainer. As such, he is very cold to his own Pokémon, especially those that he views to be “weak”. Because he believes Chimchar is a poor fighter, Paul abandons the little Fire-type Pokémon, who later joins Ash’s team.
In his first days living with Ash, Chimchar is unable to relax, thinking back to his time with Paul. When Chimchar trained with Paul, he was constantly mistreated, forced to fight constantly and even picked on by Paul’s more powerful Pokémon, a sight the Trainer likely ignored. Chimchar is even afraid to take his time eating while with Ash, as he was only allowed a very short period of time to rest and eat when with Paul. Thankfully, with the help of Ash and his new friends, Chimchar is able to heal and even evolve.
Charmander Almost Dies in Indigo League
The Flame Pokémon’s Trainer Abandons Him in the Rain
Early in his days as a Pokémon Trainer, Ash and his friends one day find a lone Charmander sitting on a rock. As the Pokémon appears to be quite docile, and a species usually seen alongside Pokémon Trainers, the group realizes that Charmander is waiting for his Trainer to return. Apparently, Charmander was told not to move from that spot, and he refuses to leave. While at a local Pokémon Center, however, Ash finds Charmander’s Trainer and learns a horrible truth: Charmander’s Trainer has no intention of returning to the Fire-type Pokémon, as he’s “weak”.
As the rain starts to pour, Ash and his friends find Charmander still waiting on the rock, desperately trying to keep the wavering flame on its tail lit. A Charmander’s tail flame is incredibly important, and if it goes out, the Pokémon will die. By the time the group gets Charmander to the Pokémon Center, he is very weak; thankfully, the Lizard Pokémon makes a full recovery. Charmander later decides to join Ash’s team instead of rejoining his old Trainer, even sending the cruel young man away with a Flamethrower attack.
Ash Is Trapped in a Severe Snowstorm
Ash’s Pokémon Friends Try to Help as Much as They Can
During the events of the Pokémon: Indigo League episode “Snow Way Out!”, Ash and his friends are traveling through a mountain range when a fierce snowstorm suddenly descends upon them. Suddenly, Pikachu slips and falls down the mountain, with Ash leaping toward him. In the process, however, both fall down a small cliff, and are separated from the others. Thankfully, Ash is able to find Pikachu and later creates a snow cave in order to try and wait out the storm.
For a while, Charmander’s tail flame proves to work well, keeping Ash and all of his Pokémon warm. When Charmander’s flame begins to weaken, however, Ash decides to recall his Pokémon into their Poké Balls. While trying to fix the cave walls, Ash tries to recall Pikachu as well, but the Mouse Pokémon refuses. The two thus huddle together, trying to stay warm, when the other Pokémon also emerge from their Poké Balls, adamant about keeping one another warm in the snowstorm. Ash tears up at this gesture, especially as his Pokémon could very well freeze to death
