Why? WYNAUT?

Anime Background

The Pokémon anime is set in a fictional world where creatures called Pokémon roam the lands. People and Pokémon learn to work and live together in their world. Some people keep Pokémon as pets. Others, known as professors, study Pokémon and the mysteries behind them. And still others partner with Pokémon to enter competitions like battles and contests.

Most of the anime focuses on Pokémon trainers. Anyone may apply for a license to train Pokémon once they reach the age of ten years old. If they are accepted, they receive their first Pokémon and a Pokédex (an encyclopedia of all known Pokémon) from a local Pokémon professor. They then travel across the region on their quest to capture more Pokémon and win battles and contests. (Trainers competing in contests are commonly known as coordinators.)

In order to capture a Pokémon, a trainer must throw a Pokéball at it. However, this is likely to fail if the Pokémon in question is unwilling. Generally, a Pokémon may be captured after being weakened through battle or if it is willing to go with the trainer.

Pokémon Battles

A Pokémon battle is fairly straightforward. Two Pokémon use their various abilities to attack each other until one is unable to continue. It is much like a martial arts match, except with the addition of all sorts of elements like fire, poison, steel, and so forth. Certain battles, known as double battles, allow each trainer to use two Pokémon at once. These are not as common as the standard single battles.

Some of the best trainers are designated as Gym Leaders, and they are the keepers of coveted badges. The goal of most other trainers is to reach the Pokémon League, a tournament to decide the best trainer in the region. To qualify for this tournament, a trainer must earn a certain number of badges (usually eight). A badge may only be obtained by defeating a Gym Leader in battle. The rules for these battles vary from Gym to Gym. Most Gym Leaders focus on one type of Pokémon and are trained to test the limits of their challengers, not just to beat all comers.

Pokémon Contests

Pokémon Contests are a little different, generally consisting of two stages. In the first, a Pokémon must use its moves to earn a high score. The best scores come from impressing the audience and judges with brilliant and precise combinations. Common winning strategies include using attacks to draw some design or to simulate a natural effect, such as snowfall.

Once the first stage is complete, the top scorers (usually four or eight) battle head-to-head in a single-elimination tournament. Each battle lasts no more than five minutes. If either trainer's Pokémon are knocked out, the other trainer wins. A battle may also be decided by points. Trainers lose points when their opponent excites the judges with beautiful attacks, creative combinations, and skillful evasion. A trainer loses when his or her points drop to zero, or by having fewer points when the time limit expires.

The eventual winner of a Contest earns a ribbon, and anyone who earns five ribbons may compete in the Grand Festival, a massive Contest to decide the top coordinator in the region. The rules for the Grand Festival are sometimes modified from a standard Contest, as they may consist of multiple preliminary stages before the battles begin. The Grand Festival Champion earns the prized Ribbon Cup.

Pokémon World

The world of Pokémon is loosely based off the real-life country of Japan. Fans often note similarities between regions in the series (such as Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh) and Japanese provinces. It is also notable that most of these regions are surrounded by water, much like the many Japanese islands.