Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue

X
News

Anime Based Directly On Pokémon Red And Blue Coming To Japan

by Kyle Hilliard on Aug 17, 2013 at 04:58 AM

There has always been a distinction between the Pokémon video games, and the anime starring Ash Ketchum and his buddy Pikachu. Starting in October, however, an anime special will air in Japan based directly on the original games.

In the trailer below, you can see that the special based on the old game stars Pokémon Red and Blue's (Red and Green in Japan) protagonist, and features his rival. You will also see Professor Oak give them their first Pokémon as well as their Pokédex.

When Pokémon Black and White 2 released, we spoke with the Pokémon games' current directors and asked them about the relationship between the show and the games. They said, "Basically it’s the same place. Looking at it as a parallel world, or in some select spots being a parallel world might be more accurate." You can read that full interview here. This special seems to eliminate the parallel worlds aspect of the original show.

[Source: Siliconera]

 

Our Take
I can't help but feel like the timing of this special is off. The fans of the original games, even the ones who continue to play the new Pokémon games, are probably no longer interested in watching a Pokémon anime. And the younger fans who are fans of the current iteration of the Pokémon anime probably don't have any nostalgia for the original games. Is this something you are excited about? Do you hope it makes its way to North America? Will you import the the subtitled version as soon as possible?