The Johto Pokédex

The Pokédex is similar in function to a personal digital assistant, designed to catalogue and provide information regarding the various species of Pokémon. The device itself takes on a new appearance with each generation of Pokémon games, often with more advanced features compared to previous versions. For example, later versions of the Pokédex have been able to sort the list of Pokémon based on internal numbering or alphabetical order. However, all Pokédexes have the ability to sort the list of Pokémon based on a National Pokédex numbering, as well as the numbering for their own region.

In the Pokémon continuity, the Pokédex was invented by Professor Samuel Oak ("Ookido Yukinari-hakase/Dr. Yukinari Ookido" (Japan)), a respected professor in the science of Pokémon. However, the information provided therein is often provided by other sources.

In the video games

In the video games, a Pokémon Trainer is issued a blank device at the start of their journey. A trainer must then attempt to fill the Pokédex by encountering the various different species of Pokémon. A player will receive the name and image of a Pokémon after encountering one that was not previously in the Pokédex. More detailed information is typically available after the player obtains a member of the species, either through capturing Pokémon, evolving Pokémon, or through a trade. This detailed information includes height, weight, species type, and a short description of the Pokémon. A player is considered a "Pokémon Master" once the latter is completed - that is, if the player has, at some point, had at least one of each species of Pokémon in their possession.

In the anime

Within the Pokémon anime, unlike the games, the Pokédex does not start blank and fill after encountering and catching Pokémon. Instead, the Pokédex acts as a portable reference tool, able to give information about a certain species of Pokémon even if a trainer has not seen or caught it. The Pokédex also acts as a form of identification, allowing trainers to partake in the various Pokémon League competitions. Unlike the Pokédex of the video games or the merchandise based on the video games, the Pokédex in the anime has a color screen, a statement to the color capabilities of the Nintendo Game Boy.

A Pokédex in the anime also appears to have either a speech synthesizer or a method to play prerecorded sound. In the English version, Ash Ketchum, the main character of the anime, sometimes refers to his Pokédex as Dexter, or, in the Advanced Generation series of episodes, Dextette. In the Japanese version, Zukan doesn't have a nickname, it is simply called "Zukan".

The Zukan is voiced by Shinichiro Miki in the original and the Pokédex is the voiced by Eric Stuart in the English version, and the Advanced Generation the Zukan is voiced by Megumi Hayashibara in the original and the Advanced Generation Pokédex is voiced by Rachael Lillis in the English version.

Merchandise

Because of the popularity of Pokémon, among some of the pieces of Pokémon merchandise is a toy Pokédex, similar to the ones found in the video games or anime.

The first model of Pokédex, corresponding to the Pokédex found in the first generation of Pokémon games, was manufactured by Hasbro in 1999. It was a correct scale device which included a small 1-bit LCD screen and contained information on 150 Pokémon. The device allowed for password protection and featured a small keyboard to allow users to input information about their favourites or species they captured.

In 2004 Hasbro on the likely request of Nintendo will offer an updated Pokédex which features the 386 species of Pokémon that exist in the third generation. This device will feature multiple advancements along with a 2-bit greyscale screen with a higher resolution. The device already released in Japan is expected to appear during the Autumn of 2004 in time for the December holiday season.

See also

• List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number
• List of Pokémon by Johto Pokédex
• List of Pokémon by Hoenn Pokédex number

External link

• Additional Images of the Pokédex