Preview Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon

[Pokefan19]

A short preview shouldn't get people up in arms like this... I mean we don't even know the full story just yet. Graduation could mean a ton and remember, this series at minimum has 3 years, it's not like they don't have something planned

 

[Hidden Mew]

That's true but TPC cares what Japan thinks in general.
The West may be making fun of the new SM anime but the Japanese fans are doing the most ( Especially on Twitter )

That's a good point. I'm sure that they don't want any fans to be complaining about the anime in Japan, regardless of their age. Granted, I still think too many fans are judging a book by its cover and not being willing to give the series a chance, especially when a lot of the reactions resulted just from the poster before we saw the new art style in motion, but I can see why TPC wouldn't be thrilled about it.

OK, now with the anime on it's way and with the new Z-Move system on it's way, expect a few JoJo references coming up for the next few months during all the posing done with the Z-Moves

The Internet is way ahead of that. I've seen quite a few JoJo references ever since the Z-Moves poses were revealed in various fanart, so I'm sure that will keep happening. Along with Mean Girl parodies due to Ash being at school.

I just hope people give the series a chance. It could turn out poorly, but I'd rather actually see the series and give it a few episodes in order to judge it instead of thinking it's going to be bad ahead of time.

 

[Simpsons138]

The Internet is way ahead of that. I've seen quite a few JoJo references ever since the Z-Moves poses were revealed in various fanart, so I'm sure that will keep happening. Along with Mean Girl parodies due to Ash being at school.

I know that, but with the anime coming up it'll be even stronger now, I'm still wondering if Game Freak was inspired by JoJo for the poses

 

[Desdar300]

That's a good point. I'm sure that they don't want any fans to be complaining about the anime in Japan, regardless of their age. Granted, I still think too many fans are judging a book by its cover and not being willing to give the series a chance, especially when a lot of the reactions resulted just from the poster before we saw the new art style in motion, but I can see why TPC wouldn't be thrilled about it.



The Internet is way ahead of that. I've seen quite a few JoJo references ever since the Z-Moves poses were revealed in various fanart, so I'm sure that will keep happening. Along with Mean Girl parodies due to Ash being at school.

I just hope people give the series a chance. It could turn out poorly, but I'd rather actually see the series and give it a few episodes in order to judge it instead of thinking it's going to be bad ahead of time.

TBH I'm pretty stocked for the anime since it feels fresh but this backlash will lead them to go right back to the basics.
I think TPC is still figuring out how social media works, so the heads need to be prepared when ever they make a "wrong" move regarding anything.

 

[IncineROAR]

I was in a negative place about the anime (and game) earlier, but after giggling at Ash being chased by Bewear, I'm actually looking forward to the anime even if it doesn't really turn out that great, it'll be a refreshing change. 6 generations of league losses and the cycle repeating itself, it really is broken regardless of his loss at the Kalos league.

 

[Hidden Mew]

I know that, but with the anime coming up it'll be even stronger now, I'm still wondering if Game Freak was inspired by JoJo for the poses

It's possible that they were, even though my first thought when I saw the Z-Move poses was something from a Super Sentai series. But I also haven't seen much of any JoJo yet.

TBH I'm pretty stocked for the anime since it feels fresh but this backlash will lead them to go right back to the basics.
I think TPC is still figuring out how social media works, so the heads need to be prepared when ever they make a "wrong" move regarding anything.

I'm just hoping that they can use social media to their advantage rather than just trying to calm down any backlash among fans.

 

[swiftgallade46]

NOT a fan of this new design for Ash it's a HUGE step back from his XY design imo. It's a shame because they were finally starting to make him look older and more sophisticated. I hope his childish naive ways don't return with his younger looking (and very round?) design.

That being said, what we know of the plot so far doesn't bother me. It will be a nice change of pace. I just pray that this will not be a Unova repeat and that we will get to see some of Ash's old friends and old Pokémon.

 

[Simpsons138]

That being said, what we know of the plot so far doesn't bother me. It will be a nice change of pace. I just pray that this will not be a Unova repeat and that we will get to see some of Ash's old friends and old Pokémon.

Trust me, a lot of us don't want to have a Unova repeat at all, and if for instance Ash's Snorlax does make a return even if it is for a few episodes, give him Snorlium Z so that it can use Pulverizing Pancake, if it was good in the game then it can be good in the anime

 

[novalysis]

So, after reading all the gloom and doom speculation, I would like to provide an optimistic counter-speculation of how Sun & Moon's School plot could be potentially set-up to avoid a repeat of the Unova fiasco.

I think objections about the animation and character designs aside (I don't like it personally, and the trailer is full of QUALITY in some places and better in others), I have this suspicion that this School isn't an ordinary Poke-tech where graduating grants you access to Regional League tournaments without the Eight Badges. And so, I am going to present a possible theory about the School; though I do concede I am being too optimistic, and perhaps putting to much thought into what might be an attempt to pander and the pre-adolescent demographics harder.

TLDR: The School is a special school for aspiring Pokemon Masters whose journeys have proven that they have a high chance of eventually becoming Masters, with more time and an education that is specialized in training them towards the goal.

No, it's actually quite a special school with a small intake of very promising trainers who have traveled multiple regions, clearing the gym challenge consistently time after time, reaching very deep into League Tournaments into a routine basis, and possibly even having won League Tournaments before. They may have perform feats of merit that even gained them the attention and notice of Regional Champions - not just in one region, but in several.

However, these trainers face a big obstacle at their level: it's very hard to break in further to the level of the Elite Four and Regional Champions; from being League tournament winners or consistent finalist/semi-finalist/tournament favorites. Some of them may have never won the league but always come close. Some of them may have won the league, face the Elite Fours, and promptly wipe out 6-0 on the first Elite Four they face. In other words, there is a gap between being a young veteran like Ash is, and being an Elite Four member or Regional Champion. And this gap CAN discourage many promising potential Masters from simply terminating their journeys after too many failures. In other words, these trainers are in limbo between being regular League Tournament contenders, and Elite Four material - which is quite a big gap.

Ash's Heroics in Kalos, his narrow loss to Alain, and possibly even his performances all the way back in Sinnoh all qualifies him for the kinds of trainers that are invited into the school. And so he is invited to Aloha with the promise that he will encounter trainers much on the level of Shota or Alain as class-mates in this school.

If this is the case, this means that it's quite possible that both Liillie and Mallow are actually equals as trainers to Ash. They aren't Alola natives or new trainers just starting on their journey unlike prior companions. They have experienced multiple regions like Ash, participated in multiple championships, and have tasted both victory and defeat again and again. In other words, Mallow and Lillie are more similar to Korrina as companions, in the sense that they are battlers who speak the same battling language as Ash; rather than aspiring performers/coordinators like Serena, May Dawn and such.

I will add one more speculation. Mallow and Lilie fulfill the role of Battler-companion and Coordinator of in Ash's new Nakama. Mallow still dreams of being a Master through battling, just like Ash. In a sense, she fulfills Clermont role as Ash's fellow battle specialist; and sparring partner. If the same writers of XY carry over to Sun and Moon, a rewatch of the Korrina arc might be suggestive of just how Ash and Mallow's dynamics are going to look like.

Lillie was once a very good battler who often made it to Semis and finals in various leagues, but after various incident, both gave up the path of battling to becoming a Master and even the very idea of Pokemon battling became unpleasant (even if it might be a necessity at times) to her. Hence, she refocused her journey on other possible, peaceful paths as a trainer that involved far less battling, like Pokemon racing, or Performing, or Research or Coordinator. As such, she is closer in spirit to the female companion line of May-Dawn-Serena in terms of her focus and role in the world of Pokemon.

So, as for the School in general, I predict that the Classroom scene is a bit of a Fake-Out. Rather, each Island Trial represents actual, practical tests and assignments that Ash has to go through to get to the next stage. Each Island Trial assumes the person going through the trial is a veteran trainer, possibly with diverse teams at their disposal that these trainers can call in as needed, befriended across regions.

And along the way, either with a stable or rotating cast of class-mate companions, Ash starts to learn the respective back-stories, passions and even the vulnerabilities, self-doubts and even emotional wounds that many of his companions bear from their respective journeys. In a specially selected out-door Classroom of an Island populated by classmates from all over the Pokemon World admitted and invited for their high potential of becoming Pokemon Masters; in a program renown for counting a very large proportion of the past one to two generations of Pokemon Masters throughout the World as their alumni.

In a way, the anime might be a commentary at Children who manage to clear the game, enter into Wi-fi battling only to promptly get their hides handed over to them by much more experienced Pokemon battlers whose strategies move beyond simply type-advantages to encompass set-up moves, priority, stall tactics, para-flinching and EV/IV training.

Am I being too optimistic? Maybe. Is this made on fairly scant information? Yes. But I think too many of the post have been pessimistic in the opposite direction, so I think trying to show how the trailer could be interpreted optimistically might be a helpful antidote to much of the gnashing of teeth that seems to be happening right now.

 

[Arylett Charnoa]

I guess I'll give my two-cents as a relative non-fan of the anime.

Like a few people, I hate that new style. It does remind me of Yokai Watch and in general, the direction Sun and Moon's artwork has been going in with the games. It's not just the anime - the art STYLE (not designs, note, STYLE. There is a difference. I can like some of the designs far better if I see fanart of them) of the Pokemon from Sun/Moon looks more blobby, less shaded, and more pastel/sickeningly claylike than previous generations. I do think that the anime is trying to mimic the style of Yokai Watch as Sun and Moon appear to attempt to draw in Japanese children on a cosmetic level. These stylistic changes in both make me cringe horribly, and I can't wait until this whole fear of Pokemon being eclipsed by Yokai Watch in Japan goes away so that things can become less cartoony again.

Anyway, I'll probably give this season an attempt. Even though I've attempted every other season and lost interest in it. (And believe me, I've tried. Not just "first two episodes" try. I mean, first 20 to 40 episodes try. Of each season) But ONLY, believe or it not, because it is changing the formula. Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother. (Or so it claims. This school thing could just be a cover for more of the same)

Also, if he stays in a school, there might be a variety of classmates to focus on. Meaning less focus on Ash, who I find to be bland and unrelatable. Further, I see Lillie and Alolan Vulpix appear to play some semi-major role in this, and I like both of them and am interested to see them in more detail. I'll probably have it playing in the background whilst I'm drawing or something. And if I get tired of it, I'll stop watching. Really nothing to lose here for me.

 

[Playerking]

Here's the official preview from the Japanese Pokemon youtube channel.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_2ADXIyEa4

 

[Shadao]

I am virtually convinced we are seeing Ash around the age of 8 or 9. Especially at the end of that clip.

 

[toolazytothinkofausername]

So, we were all worried we'd be getting another BW after the great XY/Z, but instead we are getting something far worse - great xD

Seriously though, as much as I want to believe I'll get used to it over time, I just don't see myself ever liking this new artstyle. It just looks so ridicilously childish, I'm still having a hard time believing that this is actually a legit trailer for Pokemon. And it's not just the artstyle either, from what I've seen in the trailer, the overall atmosphere seems much more goofy and comedic too, but it's way too early to make that conclusion yet.

As for the story and setting - the trailer doesn't give me much hope in that regard either, but I'll hold off with my judgement on that for now. After all, a 30-second preview is not nearly enough to judge a series that's going to run for three whole years.

But even though it's just a short trailer, I'm extremely disappointed in the direction the series seems to be taking. After making XY/Z such an amazing series with so many great moments and even some mature elements, I had hoped that Sun & Moon would keep that up (or at least not completely ruin it), but I don't have much hope left after this trailer... That being said, I'll still give it a shot and who knows, maybe I'll end up somewhat enjoying it despite everything.

 

[Misty-Moo]

For everyone saying things along the lines of "Oh no, Ash is going to be an idiot again" I say don't worry, there's at least three occasions in the trailer where you can see him and Pikachu with serious expressions, so even though they look different, they're still the same. The appearance of many animated characters alters over time without them undergoing significant character changes, take Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny as an example.

 

[Jaye]

Maybe they should have waited until the upcoming two week break to show this trailer because what's happening right now I think is that there's a good level of mood whiplash going on. Viewers are seeing this high intensity and dramatic Team Flare finale and then being shown this bright and cheerful Sun/Moon trailer, and the jarring contrast is what's provoking such backlash.

But any new series will inevitably start off in a more cheerful and easygoing way because the stakes are lower and the tension has been dispersed. Even XY which is being lauded for being a great series started off this way - the first thing Ash did getting off the plane was announce himself and then fall down a flight of stairs. The supposed mature and competent Ash spent the first episode running around the city screaming like a kid, and then went to challenge a gym with only one Pokemon. He couldn't even mount a Ryhorn correctly early on!

So there has to be an element of tempering expectations here. It's unfair to the new series to go into it expecting the same level of dramatic stakes, tension and action of a series finale.

 

[Keshav]

Why they picked up Ash again as the protagonist? It's a bad idea IMO, since starting off with a fresh protagonist can help start the series anew.
XY was the best place to end his story. Make him win the league and then make him the Kalos champion. Since he battled Diantha twice and the second time, he almost defeated her ace, it would have made sense.
Make him marry Serena and settle in Kalos. Use his son as the next protagonist or any other new guy.
If the writers did that, the SM anime would have been much more popular since they would use a new protagonist and reboot would work perfectly there.

 

[Misty-Moo]

Let's compare the trailer with the first one for XY - there's no evil team, possible companions, action sequences or anything whatsoever to hint at the direction the series would go in, just Ash and Pikachu arriving in Kalos and shots of the starters.

Leaving the new designs aside, just because Ash is shown in the new trailer doing a couple of typically dumb things and having fun in the sun (and who wouldn't in a place like Alola?), it doesn't indicate the show is going to change in any significant way.

 

[PinkIceFox]

As someone who hasn't gotten back into watching the anime and heard great things about X and Y and saw a few episodes from the beginning of that series... that short trailer was enough to turn me off the anime completely.

The artstyle is unappealing. X and Y's looked amazing. It felt like a lot of hard work went into making it look great. And now we've got an Ash that looks like he's made of rubber. Monkey D. Luffy, who is literally a rubber person pretty much, seems more ridgid than Alola!Ash.

The air of the trailer seems a lot more comedic than serious, which is kinda weird after seeing what's going on currently in the ending of the XYZ anime. I think something like this would have been better received were it not coming directly after XYZ... and more after something like the first season.

Seriously, Ash has been through seven regions (counting the orange islands) and been in every League championship. He SHOULD one of the most experienced pokemon trainers in the anime's world (he's saved the world numerous times in movies as well). But he's going to school? Hopefully that's just an attention grab for the first episode or two or something and not the whole series.

Unless of course Oak sits him down and says "Look kiddo, why don't you go to a pokemon academy or something so you can actually manage to win a league?" and even then that's reaching for an excuse.

Ash is shown in the new trailer doing a couple of typically dumb things and having fun in the sun (and who wouldn't in a place like Alola?), it doesn't indicate the show is going to change in any significant way.

True, however a trailer should really be trying to get people into wanting to watch what it's showing off. And with what it chose to show off, I've been turned off to watching it initially. Maybe if it turns out okay I might consider watching it. But until it picks up I'm really not interested in looking at it based on what I've seen there.

 

[Desdar300]

[

So, after reading all the gloom and doom speculation, I would like to provide an optimistic counter-speculation of how Sun & Moon's School plot could be potentially set-up to avoid a repeat of the Unova fiasco.

I think objections about the animation and character designs aside (I don't like it personally, and the trailer is full of QUALITY in some places and better in others), I have this suspicion that this School isn't an ordinary Poke-tech where graduating grants you access to Regional League tournaments without the Eight Badges. And so, I am going to present a possible theory about the School; though I do concede I am being too optimistic, and perhaps putting to much thought into what might be an attempt to pander and the pre-adolescent demographics harder.

TLDR: The School is a special school for aspiring Pokemon Masters whose journeys have proven that they have a high chance of eventually becoming Masters, with more time and an education that is specialized in training them towards the goal.

No, it's actually quite a special school with a small intake of very promising trainers who have traveled multiple regions, clearing the gym challenge consistently time after time, reaching very deep into League Tournaments into a routine basis, and possibly even having won League Tournaments before. They may have perform feats of merit that even gained them the attention and notice of Regional Champions - not just in one region, but in several.

However, these trainers face a big obstacle at their level: it's very hard to break in further to the level of the Elite Four and Regional Champions; from being League tournament winners or consistent finalist/semi-finalist/tournament favorites. Some of them may have never won the league but always come close. Some of them may have won the league, face the Elite Fours, and promptly wipe out 6-0 on the first Elite Four they face. In other words, there is a gap between being a young veteran like Ash is, and being an Elite Four member or Regional Champion. And this gap CAN discourage many promising potential Masters from simply terminating their journeys after too many failures. In other words, these trainers are in limbo between being regular League Tournament contenders, and Elite Four material - which is quite a big gap.

Ash's Heroics in Kalos, his narrow loss to Alain, and possibly even his performances all the way back in Sinnoh all qualifies him for the kinds of trainers that are invited into the school. And so he is invited to Aloha with the promise that he will encounter trainers much on the level of Shota or Alain as class-mates in this school.

If this is the case, this means that it's quite possible that both Liillie and Mallow are actually equals as trainers to Ash. They aren't Alola natives or new trainers just starting on their journey unlike prior companions. They have experienced multiple regions like Ash, participated in multiple championships, and have tasted both victory and defeat again and again. In other words, Mallow and Lillie are more similar to Korrina as companions, in the sense that they are battlers who speak the same battling language as Ash; rather than aspiring performers/coordinators like Serena, May Dawn and such.

I will add one more speculation. Mallow and Lilie fulfill the role of Battler-companion and Coordinator of in Ash's new Nakama. Mallow still dreams of being a Master through battling, just like Ash. In a sense, she fulfills Clermont role as Ash's fellow battle specialist; and sparring partner. If the same writers of XY carry over to Sun and Moon, a rewatch of the Korrina arc might be suggestive of just how Ash and Mallow's dynamics are going to look like.

Lillie was once a very good battler who often made it to Semis and finals in various leagues, but after various incident, both gave up the path of battling to becoming a Master and even the very idea of Pokemon battling became unpleasant (even if it might be a necessity at times) to her. Hence, she refocused her journey on other possible, peaceful paths as a trainer that involved far less battling, like Pokemon racing, or Performing, or Research or Coordinator. As such, she is closer in spirit to the female companion line of May-Dawn-Serena in terms of her focus and role in the world of Pokemon.

So, as for the School in general, I predict that the Classroom scene is a bit of a Fake-Out. Rather, each Island Trial represents actual, practical tests and assignments that Ash has to go through to get to the next stage. Each Island Trial assumes the person going through the trial is a veteran trainer, possibly with diverse teams at their disposal that these trainers can call in as needed, befriended across regions.

And along the way, either with a stable or rotating cast of class-mate companions, Ash starts to learn the respective back-stories, passions and even the vulnerabilities, self-doubts and even emotional wounds that many of his companions bear from their respective journeys. In a specially selected out-door Classroom of an Island populated by classmates from all over the Pokemon World admitted and invited for their high potential of becoming Pokemon Masters; in a program renown for counting a very large proportion of the past one to two generations of Pokemon Masters throughout the World as their alumni.

In a way, the anime might be a commentary at Children who manage to clear the game, enter into Wi-fi battling only to promptly get their hides handed over to them by much more experienced Pokemon battlers whose strategies move beyond simply type-advantages to encompass set-up moves, priority, stall tactics, para-flinching and EV/IV training.

Am I being too optimistic? Maybe. Is this made on fairly scant information? Yes. But I think too many of the post have been pessimistic in the opposite direction, so I think trying to show how the trailer could be interpreted optimistically might be a helpful antidote to much of the gnashing of teeth that seems to be happening right now.

From the looks of things. it just seems to be a school to learn about Alola's culture in general.
Going here is probably how people become Trial Captains or just professors in general which if that's the case it really makes you wonder why Ash is here to begin with since gradating won't benefit him much given they let him even accomplish that at all. This is all speculation but this trailer just raises more questions then it answers for those who're worried.

 

[CrystaI]

Let's compare the trailer with the first one for XY - there's no evil team, possible companions, action sequences or anything whatsoever to hint at the direction the series would go in, just Ash and Pikachu arriving in Kalos and shots of the starters.

View: https://youtu.be/O_2ADXIyEa4

Thank you for providing the old Youtube link of first XY trailer for comparison. It just further affirm my opinion that SM will be sucks.

Don't you see, that although XY trailer didn't provide much information, only Ash arrived in Kalos and the three GenVI starters, but the overall atmosphere was there. Ash was determined to do great things in Kalos, and show a excited yet mature expression upon arrival. It matches with the overall tone and atmosphere of the whole XY and XY&Z saga.

Whereas the SM saga trailer atmosphere is just... goofy and flappy, telling me this is not an adventure show, but just slapstick comedy for laughing.