Gym Leaders and Elite Four Discussion Thread [Read First Post]

[Ver-mont]

I wonder if they ousted Lenora because she "resembled the mammy stereotype." I'm sad she's not a Leader anymore (unless she's taken up a Rock-type Gym or something, which really isn't very likely). I was excited that GF was finally creating characters of African American descent.

That was the first thing that came to my mind.
Someone pointed out that they would just create more controversy by ditching her, though. So I don't know.

[AceFlonne]

I wonder if they ousted Lenora because she "resembled the mammy stereotype." I'm sad she's not a Leader anymore (unless she's taken up a Rock-type Gym or something, which really isn't very likely). I was excited that GF was finally creating characters of African American descent.

I think so,Too bad,she was really challenging

[Nyarlathotep]

I liked the idea of a African American as Gym Leader too.
The diversity they added with Aloe, Iris and Renbu was pretty cool.

Before the three aforementioned, the only dark skinned character was Phoebe or am I forgetting someone?

Alder does look distinguished, though. I think it's because he looks exotic, with his giant red mane, vagabond duds and Pokeball adornment. I hope he has an integral part in the storyline and that he's battle-able. However, I'd like for a new Champion, just because I think someone like Drayden or Lt. Surge could do it better.

Yeah, I'd like a new champion too, provided that Adeku is battle-able. I also hope that they give him more two bugs. Two, because I think Baffuron fits him well.

[Ver-mont]

I liked the idea of a African American as Gym Leader too.
The diversity they added with Aloe, Iris and Renbu was pretty cool.

Before then, the only dark skinned character was Phoebe or am I forgetting someone?

At least from the main games, no.

Out of those, I really liked Lenora and Iris, but Marshal... not so much. I think it's the eyebrows. And the pants.
But thank God they didn't give him a hood and a cap like they originally intended to.

[Nyarlathotep]

I agree, Renbu's design isn't that good.
What is sad, because he is the only male dark skinned character, considering that Shizui is only tanned.

[R_N]

Marshal has a great design, y'all just hatin'

[Ver-mont]

I agree, Renbu's design isn't that good.
What is sad, because he is the only male dark skinned character, considering that Shizui is only tanned.

To the point he's bicolor, by the way. That's my only problem with his design, he's got completely different colors above and below the waist, it's too weird.

[Nyarlathotep]

To the point he's bicolor, by the way. That's my only problem with his design, he's got completely different colors above and below the waist, it's too weird.

But there is a lot of people like that in real life, specially in tropical countries.
The problem is that Game Freak took this to the extreme. His feet are white as paper and the rest of the body is dark brown.

I would like him more if his body were monocolor. He is very stylish.
And if he were specialized in some other type. There are so much masters in Water Type out there.

[Ver-mont]

But there is a lot of people like that in real life, specially in tropical countries.
The problem is that Game Freak took this to the extreme. His feet are white as paper and the rest of the body is dark brown.

I would like him more if his body were monocolor. He is very stylish.
And if he were specialized in some other type. There are so much masters in Water Type out there.

Exactly, they should have used a lighter tone of brown for the upper body, or a darker tone for the waist and feet.
Or, as you said, a single color for the whole body. The problem is just how completely different the colors are.

[Grei]

At least from the main games, no.

Out of those, I really liked Lenora and Iris, but Marshal... not so much. I think it's the eyebrows. And the pants.
But thank God they didn't give him a hood and a cap like they originally intended to.

I dunno, I would have liked it for him to be a "gangsta." Even though that likely would have caused a ton of problems with offensive racist accusations, I would have preferred that to the weirdo design that he has now.

To the point he's bicolor, by the way. That's my only problem with his design, he's got completely different colors above and below the waist, it's too weird.

I don't quite get why his feet are stark white. Is it supposed to be implied that he wears flippers? I feel like anyone who spends time swimming and walking around barefoot should have at least partially-tan feet.

[zomegax7249]

I dunno, I would have liked it for him to be a "gangsta." Even though that likely would have caused a ton of problems with offensive racist accusations, I would have preferred that to the weirdo design that he has now.



I don't quite get why his feet are stark white. Is it supposed to be implied that he wears flippers? I feel like anyone who spends time swimming and walking around barefoot should have at least partially-tan feet.

That would make me dispise Marshal less, but i would still dispise him. And also, since when does anything in pokemon ever actually make sense? Out of anything, i guess flippers would be the best reason for Shiuzi's white feet.

[Bardische]

Shizui is the half blood prince.

Maybe wherever Shizui lives the climate is ridiculous. I dunno. I'm still weirded out by his freakishly white feet compared to his upper body. Maybe it's just a fail on the designer's part, but it's just very weird. I dunno.

[Ver-mont]

Shizui is the half blood prince.

Maybe wherever Shizui lives the climate is ridiculous. I dunno. I'm still weirded out by his freakishly white feet compared to his upper body. Maybe it's just a fail on the designer's part, but it's just very weird. I dunno.

His waist is the same color as his feet, so it was hardly a mistake.

[Nyarlathotep]

It would be cool if Game Freak reveals the inspirations for the characters. Besides Aloe, we have Arty who is clearly representing both artists and androgynous men, Kamitsure who looks like a lot of models out there. Hachiku... a monk, maybe?

[Ver-mont]

It would be cool if Game Freak reveals the inspirations for the characters. Besides Aloe, we have Arty who is clearly representing both artists and androgynous men, Kamitsure who looks like a lot of models out there. Hachiku... a monk, maybe?

But they kind of did, didn't they? For Nintendo Dream. Lenora is a motherly and strong figure, Elesa is a model and was deliberately given a "robotic" appearance, Clay was made a little fat because the four previous leaders were skinny and he's a businessman following the "american dream", Iris and Drayden were designed as opposites...

[Nyarlathotep]

But they kind of did, didn't they? For Nintendo Dream. Lenora is a motherly figure, Elesa is a model and was deliberately given a "robotic" appearance, Clay was made a little fat because the four previous leaders were skinny and he's a businessman following the "american dream", Iris and Drayden were designed as opposites...

Oh, did they? That is interesting.
But aside from the age, skin color and gender, there are more opposite things between the two 8th leaders? And what about the triplets, Fuuro and Hachiku?

And there is also the GLs of previous generations...

[R_N]

Oh, did they? That is interesting.
But aside from the age, skin color and gender, there are more opposite things between the two 8th leaders? And what about the triplets, Fuuro and Hachiku?

And there is also the GLs of previous generations...

Well aside from the critical things you listed there's also hair, height, body size, personality, Shaga is based on a dragon's jaw, Iris the upper head, etc etc etc

Triplets had nothing but were probably designed from a gameply perspective like the monkeys were.
Skyla had nothing
Brycen was an actor. That was his inspiration: an actor who stopped liking acting and became a gym leader. Judging by his attire and pose, he was probably in action movies

[Ver-mont]

Oh, did they? That is interesting.
But aside from the age, skin color and gender, there are more opposite things between the two 8th leaders? And what about the triplets, Fuuro and Hachiku?

And there is also the GLs of previous generations...

Let me see what I still remember...

If I'm not mistaken, Drayden was meant to be the oldest and most seasoned leader, a gentleman and very smart, having studied a lot to understand the Dragon-type, while Iris was created to be the youngest and most promising one, and she came from the forest where she used to live alongside Dragon Pokémon. Something like that.

Shauntal's outfit is meant to resemble a black cat, Grimsley was based on vampires and given the colors of a roulette...

The professor was originally an older fat man, but they eventually decided to make a young woman resembling a businesswoman. I don't think they said anything about Brycen which we don't know from the games (he used to be an actor, and so on). I don't really remember what they said about the Striaton trio and Skyla, but I think it wasn't anything interesting.

[R_N]

Brycen was a veteran traveler and I believe considered to have been rich (might be mixing him with someone else)). He met Iris on his travels and took her in as a protege (I don't think adoption was mentioned).

Iris' stuff was mentioned before, but yeah designed as a "wild child" (I think those exact words were used?) and also explicitly not Black like Lenora & Marshal and friends. Just dark skinned (probably a deep tan, personally)

[Nyarlathotep]

Thanks! I was aware of the Elite Four inspirations, though. Shikimi's theme is awesome. xD

Iris looks like a Indigenous girl. Those people have dark skin, but not in the same shade as black people.