Pokédex
- Zukan redirects here. For the Japanese figures named after the Pokédex, see Pokémon Zukan figures.
A Pokédex (Japanese: ポケモン図鑑 illustrated Pokémon encyclopedia, sometimes also rendered as ポケモンずかん illustrated Pokémon encyclopedia) is an invaluable tool to a trainer in the Pokémon world. It gives information about all Pokémon in the world that are contained in its database. In the games, it lists the number of Pokémon seen and caught. In the anime, simply pointing it at a target Pokémon will give someone the Pokédex entry for that Pokémon. In both the anime and Pokémon Special, the Pokédex also confers all the information shown by the interface in the games; that is, a Pokédex can display a Pokémon's stats, level, and moves. Pokédexes in the games, anime, and manga are not given to all trainers, but given to trainers of exceptional potential and skill. Just the same, anime Pokédexes take the place of the trainer card in that they store the identification information of their owner. In the anime, Ash and Gary both received their Pokédexes from Prof. Oak, much like their game counterparts Red and Blue. Ash was notorious for using his Pokédex early in his journey in situations where he had no idea what was going on, and was just as notorious for always being behind Gary in Pokédex entries.
In the Pokémon continuity, the Pokédex was invented by Professor Oak. When a young "Sammy" Oak was accidentally warped to a future of his own time, Ash explains to him how the Pokédex works, unknowingly giving him an idea.
In The Evolution Solution it was mentioned that the Pokédex entries in Ash's Pokédex were written by Professor Westwood of the Seafoam Islands.
Pokédex entries are typically only two- or three-sentence bits of information about the Pokémon referred to. In some events it gives background information on the habitat or activities of this Pokémon in the wild; at other times it gives other bits of information on the Pokémon's history or anatomy. A typical entry would be one of Bulbasaur, which states:
"A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon."
To date, there have been five different numbering systems used: the National Dex, and various Regional Pokédexes.
Kanto (Generation I)
The first version of the Pokédex recorded data on the first 151 Pokémon, focusing on Pokémon mostly native to Kanto. It listed them in number sequence, and it recorded data on height, weight, number, species, cry, and nesting area. In Pokémon Yellow, the option to print Pokédex entries using the Game Boy Printer was added.
In the anime, the Pokédex model's program is referred to as Dexter, as well as the programs for most models of the Pokédex. When Misty got Togepi, Professor Oak updated this model with new software that included data on a handful of Johto Pokémon, and its voice gets redone. Its Japanese voice actor is 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki, its English voice actor is Eric Stuart and its Brazilian voice actor is Wellington Lima.
The numbering of Pokémon in this generation is the same as those in the National Dex. Therefore, see the first 151 Pokémon of List of Pokémon by National Dex number.
Johto
The second Pokédex had many improvements. Data on 251 species of Pokémon could be recorded. Pokémon could be listed in the Kanto (or National) order, a new order focusing on Johto, or alphabetically by name. It also included an Unown Dex that can be unlocked by capturing 5 different Unown. A new search option allowed users to find specific Pokémon by type. Entries were expanded to include a Pokémon's footprint (if it had feet). Also, the design of this Pokédex is markedly similar to that of Nintendo's Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color.
In the anime, its Japanese voice actor is 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki and its English voice actor is Eric Stuart.
For the numbering list introduced in this version of the Pokédex, see List of Pokémon by Johto Dex number.
Hoenn
The third Pokédex could record data on 202 species of Pokémon native to the Hoenn region. An upgrade called the National Dex was unlocked if a trade with Kanto was made in Ruby and Sapphire, or if the Elite Four were defeated in Emerald, which would allow 386 species to be recorded. Pokémon could also be listed by weight and size. The search option was expanded to include the first letter of a name, as well as color of the Pokémon. The most interesting addition was size charts that compared a 10-year old child to individual Pokémon in terms of height. This allowed trainers to get a better idea of how large individual Pokémon were, which often conflicted with depictions in the anime. The print option was removed, however, as no Game Boy Printer was made for the Game Boy Advance.
In the anime, this Pokédex model's program is referred to as Dextette instead of Dexter, and it has a female voice to match. Its Japanese voice actress is 林原めぐみ Megumi Hayashibara, its English voice actress is Rachael Lillis and its Brazilian voice actors are different from AG001 to AG040 until Alex Minei voices it from AG041 onwards and Márcio Marconato voices it from AG093 to AG103, then Wellington Lima voices it AG129 onwards.
For the numbering list introduced in this version of the Pokédex, see List of Pokémon by Hoenn Dex number.
Kanto (Generation III)
The fourth Pokédex could record data on 151 species of Pokémon native to the Kanto region. An upgrade called the National Dex was unlocked if the Elite Four were defeated, which would allow 386 species to be recorded. In addition to the improvements made in the Hoenn version, Pokémon were all organized into habitat categories, where similar Pokémon were typically listed together on the same pages (such as Jynx and Mr. Mime, for instance), and Pokémon who are cross-generation evolutions are also displayed next to each other, such as Onix and Steelix. Nest display was also expanded to include the Sevii Islands.
In anime, this model comes in both red and yellow. Its Japanese voice actor is 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki, its English voice actors are Eric Stuart (Template:4Kids) and Bill Rogers (Pokémon USA/TAJ Productions) and its Brazilian voice actor is Wellington Lima.
For the regional Pokédex list, see the first 151 entries of List of Pokémon by National Dex number.
Sinnoh
The fifth Pokédex can naturally record data on the 151 Pokémon native to Sinnoh, with the National Dex upgrade allowing for the 493 Pokémon available to players of Diamond and Pearl to be recorded. Strangely, some of the Pokémon first encountered in Generation IV are not in the Sinnoh Dex order, such as the two new evolutions of Eevee. Nest display includes time of day as part of its functions now.
In the anime and Pokémon Special manga, it seems that the color of the Pokédex casing is customizable. Dawn has a pink one, Ash and Berlitz have a red one, Diamond has a blue one, Pearl has an orange one and Paul has a dark blue one. This Pokédex also has a female voice, by 川上とも子 Tomoko Kawakami, by Michele Knotz in English, and by Leila Castro in Brazilian Portuguese.
Its appearance is similar to that of the Nintendo DS, and it may have a touchscreen as well. The placement of buttons and other features suggest it is based on the newest revision, the Nintendo DS Lite.
For the numbering list introduced in this version of the Pokédex, see List of Pokémon by Sinnoh Dex number.
This Pokédex, as shown in the anime by Paul, is able to scan a Pokéball to see what moves the Pokémon inside it can use.
In Pokémon Special
The Pokédex makes a signal when all the Pokédexes are close to each other. Another signal shows that they are being held by the correct owner, as seen in PS085.
Trivia
- For DP002, Professor Oak's lecture is about the Sinnoh Pokédex. He writes this Pokémon senryū about it: こまったら ひらいてみよう ポケモンずかん Komattara hiraite miyō, Pokémon zukan. "When troubled, let's open the Pokédex."
- In Pokémon Super Contests, there is a judge, who also serves as the MC, named Dexter.
- Most of the Pokédexes appear similar to one of Nintendo's handhelds. The Johto Pokédex looks similar to a Game Boy Color, the Hoenn Pokédex appears similar to the Game Boy Advance, the Generation III Kanto Pokédex looks similar to a Game Boy Advance SP, and the Sinnoh Pokédex looks like a Nintendo DS Lite.
- All five of Ash's Pokédexes have been red, while others have had other colors. May had a yellow one in Kanto, Paul has a black Pokédex and Dawn has a pink Pokédex.
- The Pokédex is both waterproof and voice sensitive.
- Pokédex entries in LeafGreen are identical to those in Red and Blue for the Generation I Pokémon, while those for FireRed are identical to those from the original Red and Green. Likewise, FireRed's entries for Generation II Pokémon are identical to the entries found in Silver, and the same is true of Pokémon LeafGreen and Gold.
