The Pokémon anime has introduced many characters over the course of its two-decade run, some taken from the game series and some original to the show. Some characters’ stories and personalities were greatly changed from their game counterparts, which annoyed some fans who did not like the anime’s interpretation of the character.
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The anime can also be slow with character development, with plenty of filler episodes in between the more plot-heavy arcs leaving characters seemingly unchanged for longer than some viewers would like. However, there are plenty of characters who started out unlikeable but became fan-favorites as the story moved forward.
10 Paul Learned To Care For His Pokemon
When Paul was first introduced in the Diamond and Pearl anime series as one of Ash’s rivals, he was initially a cold and aloof character. He demonstrated no affection for his Pokémon, and was hard on them. However, after being defeated by Brandon, he changes his attitude towards his Pokémon and starts being kinder to them. Though he remains mostly stoic, he also becomes nicer to the people around him, developing into a more tolerable character that fans grew to appreciate.
9 Dawn Was Overconfident At First
Dawn started off as an overly-confident character when she was introduced and typically cried when she lost. That, in addition to her obsession with her appearance, made her seem vain and arrogant, which made many fans dislike her at first. As the series progresses, she becomes less concerned with her appearance and her confidence becomes less overblown. By the end of the Diamond and Pearl series, she was a truly likable character, and fans were happy to see her make a return years later in Journeys.
8 Iris Took A While To Grow Into Her Potential
In the anime, Iris was not the Gym Leader and Champion she had been introduced as in the games. She was a wild child who constantly tried to prove herself as more mature than Ash, and this change in her personality was unwelcome by fans.
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Over the course of the Black and White series, she becomes more mature and gets into fewer arguments with Ash, progressing towards the achievements of her game counterpart. She reappeared in Journeys, now as the Champion of Unova, which pleased many fans of both the anime and the games.
7 Drew Was A Bad Rival At The Start
Drew was a rival to May in the Hoenn region and, at first, he seemed to be a lot like Kanto’s Gary. He was overconfident and insulting to his opponents, causing fans to write him off as just another irritating rival. He is later shown to be more than just a thorn in May’s side, working together with Ash to stop Harley from being able to sabotage May. He also tries to cheer her up when she is feeling down, proving himself to be far more likable than he was first shown to be.
6 Alain Learned To Care
An original character in the anime, Alain is shown to have a tendency to push people away, especially the ones he cares about. He leaves his friend Mairin behind initially, even though he cares deeply for her, and displays a cold attitude when he meets Ash and his friends. However, when Team Flare reveals their insidious intentions, he willingly fights against them, and once the conflict is over he becomes more friendly and goes on a journey with Mairin. Though he started out with an unlikeable nature, his growth and character made him memorable.
5 Bonnie Bonded With Squishy
One of the youngest traveling companions Ash has had in the anime, Bonnie initially does not have much to add to the story. She often gets in the way and wanders into trouble.
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Later in the story, she ends up caring for a Zygarde Core she nicknames Squishy, and their relationship quickly becomes one of the most heartwarming aspects of the X and Y series. When Squishy is captured by Team Flare, she is the one that frees him in a heartbreaking scene, making her a fan favorite.
4 Gladion Became Less Angry
Though not as blatantly disrespectful as some of the other characters Ash has faced, Gladion is shown as angry and distant from others, especially his sister Lillie. It is later revealed just how much he cares for Lillie, but he blames himself for being the cause of her fear of Pokémon. He actively fights to save his mother when she is taken by an Ultra Beast, and he gains a healthier relationship with her and Lillie, deciding to journey with the both of them at the end of the Sun and Moon series.
3 Misty Has Nostalgia On Her Side
At the beginning of the Pokémon series, Misty often displayed extreme emotions, especially anger. She would get angry at Ash, and though he typically deserved it, her wild mood swings became annoying to some fans. By the end of Misty’s tenure as a companion, she had become less volatile and more likable. When she made a reappearance in the Sun and Moon anime, fans were overjoyed to see her again, if not for her character then for the sense of nostalgia that came from seeing her again after so long.
2 Lusamine Is Given A New Character
In the games, Lusamine is presented as completely unlikeable, selfish, and willing to harm her own children to accomplish her goals. The anime redefines her character, making her a caring but misguided individual who has made mistakes.
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She drives her children away with her actions but feels remorse, and later tries to atone for what she has done and rebuilds her relationship with them. Though the anime’s changes to characters are sometimes controversial, Lusamine’s new character was welcomed, giving her complexity beyond just an abusive and uncaring mother.
1 Team Rocket Is Good At Heart
Team Rocket has a long-standing reputation as being villainous comedic relief, trying unsuccessfully to nab Ash’s Pikachu if not some other Pokémon. Their likability comes partially from nostalgia and their bumbling tendencies, but they have also proved themselves as not all bad. The group has stepped in to help Ash and his friends multiple times and has teamed up with them when they share a common enemy. Though they will likely never give up their quest to steal Pikachu, they have earned their place as fan-favorites over the years.