Nini
| Nini ネネ Nene | |
 Nini | |
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Eye color | Brown |
| Hair color | Dark green |
| Hometown | Unknown |
| Region | Kalos |
| Trainer class | Performer |
| Anime debut | Pathways to Performance Partnering! |
| English voice actor | Jenny Emm |
| Japanese voice actor | Motoko Kumai |
Nini (Japanese: ネネ Nene) is a recurring character who appeared in the Pokémon anime. She is a Pokémon Performer and one of Serena's rivals.
History
Nini debuted in Pathways to Performance Partnering!, where she met Ash and his friends after Chespin and Pancham wandered into her practice area while fighting. She first accused the Pokémon of trying to harm hers but the group cleared it up with her. She mentioned that she planned on entering Pokémon Showcases in which Serena mentioned she'll do the same. Nini asked Serena and the others to judge her performance routine then asked for critiquing when she was done. Serena noted that her Farfetch'd should dance more in sync with Smoochum and Ash noted that Smoochum's Heart Stamp could be flashier. After taking notes, she then asked Serena if she could perform for her for reference.
Once Serena finished her performance, Nini noted that Pancham's dance didn't seem very compatible with Fennekin's dance. However she did notice that the dance was similar to her own Smoochum's dance. So she asked Serena if Pancham and Smoochum could do a dance routine together. Nini was pleased with the results so she asked Serena if she would trade Pancham to her in exchange for one of her Pokémon. Serena declined however.
Shortly after Team Rocket showed up in disguise with Jessie posing as a Pokémon choreographer to take advantage of Nini's situation. She enrolled Nini and Serena's Pokémon, as well as Chespin, into a phony dance class to keep their guard down enough to lure them into a trap. Once the trap was sprung and Team Rocket revealed, Nini demanded her Pokémon be returned to her. However, the team took off in their balloon leaving her and the others to chase them down. Her Pokémon were eventually returned to her some time later after Pancham and Chespin were able to settle their differences and defended everyone from Team Rocket. As the sun was setting, Nini shook hands with Serena before she left the group and told her to get ready for the next Pokémon Showcase.
In A Performance Pop Quiz!, Nini met up with Serena again and participated in the Anistar City Pokémon Showcase Rookie Class. During the Theme Performance, which consisted of a quiz about Pokémon, she was matched up against Serena and Lily. Her Farfetch'd managed to win the race, allowing Nini to answer the question. However, she answered incorrectly, allowing Serena, whose Pancham came in second, to answer correctly and earn a point. While Nini managed to score a point on a different question, she and Lily eventually lost to Serena and Pancham. Back in the dressing room, Nini congratulated Serena and wished her luck in the Freestyle Performance.
In A Dancing Debut!, Nini participated in the Couriway Showcase Rookie Class. After baking a Poké Puff with the help of all three of her Pokémon, she managed to advance to the Freestyle Performance, where she performed her Heartbreak routine. However, it was not enough to impress the crowd, and she ended up losing to Jessilee.
In Master Class Is in Session!, Nini entered the Pokémon Showcase Master Class that was being held in Gloire City. In the first round, she was matched against Concetta and Jessilee. She was doing a good job performing alongside her Smoochum, but Jessilee managed to overshadow her using the smoke from Gourgeist's Shadow Ball. When the results were announced, it was revealed that Nini had gotten fewer votes than Jessilee. As such, she was eliminated from the competition, which made her cry. She was later seen talking to Serena backstage.
Character
Nini carries a notebook with her, in which she writes down tips on how to improve her performances in Showcases. Although she can be described as a joyous and cheerful person, these traits of her personality do not translate very well to her performance style, as she tends to add dramatic aspects to her routines. This is seen by her signature performance, known as "Heartbreak".
After Nini lost the Master Class, she cried as her dream of becoming Kalos Queen would have to be put on hold. However, she showed how good of a friend she is by cheering Serena on and asking her to win the competition. After the Master Class ended, Nini was determined to start over and practice with her Pokémon for the next tournament.
Like Shauna, she knows that Serena has a crush on Ash and she thinks that Ash is dense.
Pokémon
| の | This article is missing information on this character's Japanese voice actor. You can help by adding this information. |
This listing is of Nini's known Pokémon in the anime:
| Debut | Pathways to Performance Partnering! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | Yuka Terasaki |
| English | Kayzie Rogers |
Smoochum performs with Farfetch'd and one of their routines is known as "Heartbreak". She was shown to have feelings for Serena's Pancham but her affection was not reciprocated. The two did perform well together, however. Jessie took interest in Smoochum, wanting to steal her so that she could perform with her. She would succeed for a short while but she and the other Pokémon were able to escape. Team Rocket kept on the Pokémon's trail and confronted them once more. Smoochum and Farfetch'd were both attacked by Inkay as was Serena's Fennekin leaving Pancham and Chespin to battle Team Rocket alone. They held them off long enough for Smoochum and Farfetch'd to be reunited with Nini.
Smoochum reappeared in A Performance Pop Quiz!. In A Dancing Debut!, Smoochum was used in the Theme Performance of the Couriway Showcase Rookie Class alongside Farfetch'd and Gothita, where she helped Nini prepare a Poké Puff, advancing her to the Freestyle Performance. There, she delivered a performance along with its teammates, but it did not receive enough votes to win.
In Master Class Is in Session!, Smoochum was used in the first round of the Gloire Showcase Master Class, competing against Jessilee's Gourgeist and Concetta's Scraggy. She was performing well, but was overshadowed after Gourgeist used the smoke from Shadow Ball to cover her opponents. As a result, Smoochum did not receive enough votes to win the round and was eliminated.
Smoochum's known moves are Powder Snow and Heart Stamp.
| Debut | Pathways to Performance Partnering! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | Yūji Ueda |
| English | Marc Thompson |
After Nini said she wanted to trade one of her Pokémon to Serena for Pancham, Farfetch'd became nervous, knowing that it was most likely the one to be traded. Much to its relief, however, Serena politely declined the offer. It was later kidnapped by Team Rocket along with Smoochum, Serena's Pokémon, and Clemont's Chespin. Farfetch'd used its leek as a guide to find their way back to their Trainers after they had escaped. Farfetch'd and Smoochum were both attacked by Inkay as was Serena's Fennekin leaving Pancham and Chespin to battle Team Rocket alone. They held them off long enough for Farfetch'd and Smoochum to be reunited with Nini.
In A Performance Pop Quiz!, Farfetch'd was used in the Theme Performance of the Anistar Showcase Rookie Class, which consisted of a Pokémon Quiz. It raced against Serena's Pancham and Lily's Solrock and won, giving Nini the chance to answer first. However, Nini answered incorrectly. Eventually, Serena managed to obtain three points, advancing to the Freestyle Performance. As a result, Nini and Farfetch'd were eliminated.
In A Dancing Debut!, Farfetch'd was used in the Theme Performance of the Couriway Showcase Rookie Class alongside Smoochum and Gothita, where it helped Nini prepare a Poké Puff, advancing her to the Freestyle Performance. There, it delivered a performance along with its teammates, but it did not receive enough votes to win.
Farfetch'd's only known move is Fury Cutter.
| Debut | A Dancing Debut! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | |
| English | Erica Schroeder |
Gothita first appeared in A Dancing Debut!, in which it was used in the Theme Performance of the Couriway Showcase Rookie Class alongside Smoochum and Farfetch'd, where it helped Nini prepare a Poké Puff, advancing her to the Freestyle Performance. There, it delivered a performance along with its teammates, but it did not receive enough votes to win.
Gothita's only known move is Psychic.
Showcases
Princess Keys obtained
This listing is of the Princess Keys Nini has obtained:
- Two unknown Princess Keys (prior to A Dancing Debut!)
- Unknown Princess Key (prior to Master Class Is in Session!)
Master Class ranking
Nini has achieved the following ranking in the Master Class tournament:
- Gloire Showcase - Top 28 (Master Class Is in Session!)
Other achievements
Nini has competed in the following Rookie Class tournaments:
- Anistar Showcase - Theme Performance (A Performance Pop Quiz!)
- Couriway Showcase - Top 5 (A Dancing Debut!)
Outfits
Anistar Showcase outfit
Couriway Showcase outfit
Showcase outfit in Freestyle Performance
Voice actors
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Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ネネ Nene | Possibly from ねんね nenne, baby |
| English, German, Spanish | Nini | From her Japanese name |
| French | Nali | Similar to her English name |
| Italian | Nenè | From her Japanese name |
| Korean | 네네 Nene | Transliteration of her Japanese name |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 寧寧 Níngníng | From the Japanese name 寧々 Nene |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 寧寧 Nìhngnìhng | From the Japanese name 寧々 Nene |
Related articles
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
