Pokemon and the Environment.

Pikachu, some say it looks like a pig. I think it's a mouse.

I was playing with the Pokemon Emerald video game and found out that it has some lessons to be learned by players of the Pokemon series, especially for the younger audience. The Pokemon universe is much like ours, filled with other life forms besides humans. This includes Pokemon that look like rats, rhinoceros, cat, dog, pig, butterfly, flowers, mushroom, octopus and so much more. But of course, they have dragon type Pokemon too that only exists in myths in our world.

Vileplume- Definitely a Rafflesia

Now, I’d like to point out that catching a Pokemon and keeping it in a Poke Ball feels barbaric, it’s like catching an animal and putting it into a very tiny cage. Secondly, making your Pokemon obey you and fight for you is not nice at all, even though the fights are not fatal (something like a betta fish fight). But of course, these are not the impressions that the developers want us to have of the Pokemon series, they never meant that. I’m just pointing out what I see. Maybe there are reasons behind this; maybe inside these electronic Poke Balls are huge compounds where the Pokemon can live and rest properly, which aren’t mentioned in the video game, just maybe.

Marill- A mouse

In the game though, the NPCs (Non-player characters) were actually programmed to say some really nice things about the Pokemon, like how much they love them and how close they are to their Pokemon pet. There was one part of the game where a guy was complaining about the sounds made from the activities of excavating the caves. “He” said that the noises were making the Pokemon cranky and uncomfortable. Is this a reference to the sound pollutions in our world? There was another NPC that could check the level of happiness of your current Pokemon. You can raise the happiness stats of each Pokemon by bringing it around in your active party, feeding it vitamins or sweets, or even better, bring it to a Pokemon spa. Some Pokemon evolve and become a stronger version simply by being happy. This I think could encourage children to treat their pets nicer (Remember to feed your pet and give them lots of treats and spending time with them, and this will result in a better pet, just like in the game). Another part of the game had me picking up berries and then replanting them, the NPC reminded me to plant them back after i destroyed the tree. Is this a reference to the deforestation issue?

Goldeen- A goldfish

Some of the game’s characters, or antagonists, care for the well being of the Pokemon, although for the antagonists, the methods shown is a little more selfish. For example, trying to expand the sea so that more sea Pokemon get to live; while the others try to explode a volcano in order to make more land available for surface Pokemon.

Dustox- A moth

I can’t help but to think that the Pokemon Universe is so similar to ours and that they emphasize on the Pokemon (which I think really resembles all the animals and plants of our world). I wonder what the other players think, do they feel that the Pokemon games or anime are more than just the fights and ‘Gotta Catch Em All’ theme that they had going? Do you think that the Pokemon games and concept bring awareness to the younger generations? This is just a thought.