AN ADULT'S GUIDE, FROM
By Tiffany, Brandon, Maya, Dylan and Christopher
A KID'S PERSPECTIVE
Leeward YMCA Waikele A-Plus
As Told To Betty Shimabukuro
Star-BulletinThis we know about Pokemon: It is a TV cartoon, a video game, trading cards, comic books and countless plastic toys. It is a multimillion-dollar industry that has captured the hearts and allowance money of kids from preschool to high school. And it comes from Japan, birthplace of Tamagotchi, Power Rangers and Hello Kitty.
But what the heck is it really about?
In capsule form: Pokemon (for Pocket Monsters) are creatures that roam free until captured by a Pokemon trainer, whose job it is to collect as many of the 150 Pokemon species as possible. Once captured, a Pokemon lives in a Pokeball and becomes fiercely loyal to its trainer. It goes to battle against other Pokemon in organized matches that are like a cross between professional wrestling and cockfighting.
But that's an adult perspective. To explain the finer points, we assembled a panel of experts in Pokemon. They range in age from 5 to 8 and gain their knowledge mostly from the TV show and the Nintendo game, a little from the trading cards. From here on, we'll let them speak.
THE GOOD GUYS
The main guy is Ash (bottom right). He's a Pokemon trainer and he's trying to get all the Pokemon -- with his friends, they're trying to help -- so he can get Mewtwo (the 150th Pokemon and the ultimate prize).
THE BAD GUYS
Their names are Jesse (the girl) and James and their Pokemon is Meowf (evolves into Persian). They are called Team Rocket. They're crazy. They try to steal Ash's Pikachu because they can't find their own. They have two other Pokemon who fight for them and their names are Koffing (evolves into Weezing) and Ekans (evolves into Arbok). They're very bad guys and we don't like them, and Jesse, she always sticks her bellybutton out.
A LESSON IN EVOLUTION
Pokemon can grow levels. During their fights they get stronger all the time and they start evolving. Some can evolve two times. Most of them start out cute and evolve into something scarier -- a little bit, not that scary, though. It's not like you're going to get shot, not that kind of scary.
POKEMON MATCHES
They are held in the tall grass and sometimes in a gym. The trainers throw their Pokeballs, and they say, 'Charmander (or whoever), I choose you!' and the Pokemon comes out. They start fighting. Trainers tell the Pokemon what to do and then they do it. They use their attack powers. Every Pokemon has four attacks -- like Koffing's sludge attack and Pikachu's thunderbolt. If it gets hurt the trainer calls it back into the ball and he can throw out another Pokemon and then they fight until somebody wins and they get money to buy more Pokeballs. If your Pokemon gets hurt you can fix it up with a potion, or if you don't have potion you just have to run away.
POKEMON CENTER
It's like a hospital for Pokemon who get hurt in matches. They have doctors and nurses and computers to fix them up. There's a computer inside you could put back your Pokemon. If you want to put back your Vulpix and get a Wigglytuff you can.
FAVORITE POKEMON
WHY WE LOVE POKEMON
It's very famous. It's really funny. It's kind of good. Oh, I wish it was really real. We could play with them and we could help them.
OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS
From left: Maya Rohfeld, 8; Tiffany Abe, 8; Christopher Gianan, 5; Dylan Tolentino, 7. Not shown: Brandon Kuakini (he had to leave early). They are all students at Waikele Elementary, where Pokemon trading cards are banned, as they are in many schools, as disruptive. Also, younger children sometimes lose out unfairly in the trading.
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