Is Pocket Monsters: The Animation canon?

[QueenLarissa]

Ok, so, there 's a book known as Pocket Monsters: the Animation, which was written by the former head writer of Pokemon, Takeshi Shudo, some years ago, The Book makes a lot of claims about the Pokemon anime that have never been mentioned or referenced in the actual show and at some points, seems to contradict the canon of the anime. My question is, is the novel still considered canon or not? Is it an alternate canon? Has anything ever been stated about this or what?

 

[prog rocker]

I don't think it's canon anymore.

 

[Silktree]

Not to the show's staff, but it's canon to me.

 

[yudgefudge]

canon!

 

[Shadao]

Ok, so, there 's a book known as Pocket Monsters: the Animation, which was written by the former head writer of Pokemon, Takeshi Shudo, some years ago, The Book makes a lot of claims about the Pokemon anime that have never been mentioned or referenced in the actual show and at some points, seems to contradict the canon of the anime. My question is, is the novel still considered canon or not? Is it an alternate canon? Has anything ever been stated about this or what?

It was made before anyone had any idea of how big Pokémon would be. And considering how different the visual novel was compared to the actual anime, it's more of a first draft of a script than something canonical. A guide as to how the anime characters were initially conceived and how they changed to better accommodate the audience's expectations.

Consider it like the Gold and Silver 1997 demo that featured unused Pokémon and story ideas. Some aspects may persist all the way to official Pokédex entries or lines that don't seem to offer any useful hints, but overall:

Not canon.

 

[JoeRunner]

I say anything that doesn't contradict the series is canon.

 

[Gengarzilla]

It certainly isn't canon as of BW. If it were, Chili would have outright lost his Gym Leader position after the consecutive losses to Trip, Ash, and Burgundy.