Pokemon ScarletandViolethave a lot to live up to. Coming off lukewarm critical reception toPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, as well as thepositive reception toPokemon Legends: Arceus, Generation 9 needs to stand out. AsScarletandVioletpromise to be the first mainline games set in an entirely open region, it’s on the right track to get ahead of its Generation 8 predecessorsSwordandShield.
The reveal teaser for these upcoming titles from Pokemon Day 2022 don’t reveal much, but fans have expressed interest inScarletandViolet’s art style alongside itsstarters Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Despite the lack of explicit details being shared about the upcoming Generation’s new region, clues in these starter names and throughout Game Freak’s trailer suggest they will be set in the Iberian Peninsula - Spain being the overwhelming inspiration. With that in mind, there are some strong contenders for popular trainers from past games who could make a cameo appearance in the Pokemon world’s version of Spain.
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Returning Characters in Past Pokemon Games
AllPokemonregions are connected much like their real-world counterparts, which has resulted in a lot of cross-pollination. Beyond cases like Kanto and Johto being directly connected or Unova’s Pokemon World Tournament hosting combatants from all over, many returning characters are more akin to cameos. For example, Johto’s Steel-type Gym Leader Jasmine appears in Sinnoh’s Sunyshore City, which hosts a lighthouse much like her home city of Olivine. This was also likely an allusion to the fact thatHeartGoldandSoulSilverwere the next titles in Game Freak’s pipeline.
Generation 7’s Alola region is rife with cameos, from Unova Elite Four member Grimsley offering players the Sharpedo Ride Pokemon to the post-game appearances of Red and Blue from Kanto, as well as Hoenn Frontier Brain Anabel.Fan-favorite Sinnoh Champion Cynthiaappears numerous times throughout the franchise, andPokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphirewent out of their way to add connective tissue like Mauville’s redesign being modeled after Lumiose City in Kalos.
Despite this recurring idea inPokemongames, the United Kingdom-inspired Galar region didn’t have much in the way of cameos.Pokemon ScarletandVioletshould make up for this, using characters who would either fit their Spanish influences or those who could simply flesh out the world.
Juan, Hoenn’s Second Water-Type Gym Leader
Of all thecharacters introduced in Generation 3, Juan is perhaps the most underutilized. He only appears inEmeraldversion, replacing Wallace as the Sootopolis City Gym Leader while the other Water-type expert moves up to take Steven Stone’s Champion seat. He’s said to be Wallace’s former teacher, but not much else is unveiled about the man. However, his flamboyant design is clearly riffing off the idea of a matador-like gentleman with a common Spanish name to match, and in some versions of thePokemonanime he speaks with intermittent Spanish phrases.ScarletandVioletwould be a perfect chance to give him character beyond being a replacement Gym Leader.
Kahili, Alola’s Golf Superstar and Elite Four Member
A number of returning Pokemon are confirmed for the new region - such as Magnemite, Seviper, and even Hisuian Zoroark - but one that would make perfect sense to come back isOricorio. The Fire/Flying-type Baile formof this Alolan Pokemon draws inspiration from flamenco dancing, after all. Alola’s Flying-type expert Kahili is the most notable trainer to use Baile Oricorio, and her introduction inSunandMoonreveals she traveled the world to improve her golf game before getting a call to serve in the new Elite Four of her home region.
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Alder, Former Unova Champion and Journeyman
MostPokemongames make reference to upcoming titles in ways that might not become obvious until later. Jasmine appearing inDiamondandPearlis one example, but there are also obtuse clues like the “Strange Souvenir” item inPokemon XandYthat made reference to the Tapu deities fromSunandMoon.Pokemon Legends: Arceusmines a lot out of its story being set in the past byincluding numerous ancestors forPokemoncharacters, but one less obvious reference to Alder could hint at a cameo inScarletandViolet.
Alder was the Champion inPokemon BlackandWhite, though his presence was undercut by a larger focus on N and Team Plasma. By the time jump inBlackandWhite 2he has passed the title down to Dragon-type expert Iris, spending more time at his home in Floccesy Town. He’s known for wandering Unova like a vagabond, helping up-and-coming trainers, and paintings throughoutLegends: Arceusdepict a similar man with fiery hair like his signature Pokemon Volcarona. Alder’s use of a Bouffalant could be used as some wayward connection to Spain’s traditional bullfighting, as not many notable characters are known for using the more fitting bull Pokemon Tauros.
Kalos and Galar’s Real-World Proximity Make For Perfect Cameos in Spain
Geographically, a Spain region would be directly connected to theFrance region of Kalos, similar to how Kanto and Johto are linked. Given Pokemon characters' propensity to move around, it would make sense for a Kalosian trainer to use the railway station in Couriway Town to visitScarletandViolet’s new region. Options are plentiful, from Electric-type Gym Leader Clemont investigating new means of generating power to Water-type Elite Four member Siebold expanding his culinary knowledge, or it could be as simple as Bug-type Gym Leader Viola working on a new photography project.
There isn’t necessarily one Kalos trainer who would be a perfect fit for this cameo, and the same could theoretically be said for a reference to Galar region trainers. As soccer (football) is a big sport in Spain,Galar’s Gym Leaderscould be just as popular inScarletandViolet’s region, with someone like Leon perhaps traveling after he loses his position as the invincible Champion. Regardless of what Game Freak decides, it would be smart for the developer to keep expanding its in-game universe using more natural cameos akin to those inSunandMoon.
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