In the first few games of the Pokémon franchise, users can choose the name of their playable character. Team Rocket are gay/lesbian solidarity and Meowth is a messy bisexual. James replies: ‘Yes, and that’s the kind of trouble I stay out of!’ Jessie says: ‘Listen to me kid, when you get involved with the opposite sex you’re only asking for trouble.’
In Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One, Jessie and James weigh in on marriage. While it’s probably more likely he’s talking about going ‘straight’ – as in leaving a life of crime – many believe it’s an allusion to his sexuality.īut if Jessie and James are not gay, they’re at least asexual. James also says in one episode: ‘It’s times like these that make me want to go straight.’ Misty says: ‘James! I thought you were male!’Īnd James replies: ‘So what? As long as I’m beautiful, it doesn’t matter.’ The episode escalates with James getting a blow-up chest and competing against Jessie and Misty in a beach beauty contest. Jessie prefers a more masculine look, while James loves embracing his feminine side. In the episode, both Jessie and James talk about their love of drag. There’s also an episode of James with fake boobs that never made it to English-speaking audiences. Then Jessie says: ‘I think that costume came right out of his closet.’ Meowth chimes in: ‘That outfit – where’d he get it?’ Then James dresses up in a form-fitting Moltres costume and says: ‘I am a flaming Moltres!’ In the episode, Team Rocket’s Butch (yes, the character’s name is Butch) and Cassidy – an obvious reference to American criminal Butch Cassidy – convince James his perfect Pokémon is the legendary fire bird Moltres. The most obvious clue is in episode 52 of season three, entitled The Fortune Hunters. While it’s never actually explicitly mentioned, there are several obvious moments when it’s implied Team Rocket’s Jessie and James aren’t straight. There are a tonne of reasons why LGBTI audiences connect with the Pokémon franchise. ‘And that love of Pokémon never really left. My partner and I love going on Pokémon Go walks most weekends,’ he said. Kyle Stewart, 30, from England has been playing Pokémon throughout its 22-year history. And that sense of nostalgia keeps bringing audiences back.īut looking around in the movie theatre made me realize the cultural impact it has on LGBTI people. The music, narration and lead character will all be familiar to a veteran viewer of the franchise. It’s a film that delivers on the formulaic success of the brand – featuring cute characters, new storylines and plenty of rainbow motifs. This film makes a total number of 21 feature-length films for the franchise. Last week, I went to go see the latest movie release – Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us. There’s something about the franchise that draws LGBTI audiences in, appealing to specific areas of their gender identity and sexuality. | Photo: James BesanvalleĪ lot of people within the LGBTI community love Pokémon. Now, as an adult, it’s equal parts nostalgia, escapism and belonging bringing me back to Pokémon each time.Īnd I’m not alone. With every new release, it transported me deeper and deeper into the franchise. Over the next couple of years, the games reached North America, Europe and Australia. The Pokémon franchise officially began in 1995, but the first game didn’t come out in Japan until February 1996. Then I’d come home and play Pokémon Blue, while my twin brother played Pokémon Red right next to me. I’d trade Pokémon cards with my friends during lunch. Then I’d go to school and draw Pokémon with my best friend during recess.
I’d wake up and watch the TV show over breakfast. I was about seven years old when I first became aware of Pokémon.