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One ofPokémon’s least developed villains is without a doubt Chairman Rose ofSwordandShield, who offers very little justification as to why he’s performing the actions that he does, which ultimately lead to disaster. However, with the addition of one small scene, the anime managed to repair his character, proving one of the anime’s essential duties in the franchise.
In the games, Chairman Rose is seeking to harness the power provided by Eternatus, a dangerous Legendary Pokémon, in order to ensure Galar has enough energy for “a thousand years.” Rose consults Leon about his plan, butLeon’s focus is on the tournamentwhich will be taking place tomorrow, and asks that Rose delay his plans until after the tournament. Rose is unwilling to delay even this brief period, despite his plan not really requiring immediate action, and he accidentally sets into motion the events of a new Darkest Day by releasing Eternatus and having it threaten the Galar region.
Rose’s Motivations Are Far Better in the Anime
In the anime, events play out very similarly to the games. However, there is no imminent tournament which must be considered. Instead, Ash and Goh are awoken by a sudden rash of Dynamax Pokémon rampaging, and attempt to help before being separated. Goh goes with Sonia and is able to unveil Rose’s connection to the incident. Eternatus suddenly emerges from the power plant in Hammerlocke, leading Ash to confront Rose in Hammerlocke Stadium. As Ash battles against Rose, Rose reveals a portion of his backstory which wasn’t made clear in the games.
The anime’s version of Rose reveals that his father once worked in the coal mines of Galar, gathering the material needed to produce energy in Galar’s past. However, Rose’s father died during a mining accident, leaving young Rose to grow up alone. This simple change automatically explains why Rose sees the depletion of Galar’s energy reserves as such an imminent threat–he already knows the consequences of the old system of energy generation far too well, and doesn’t want anyone else to suffer without a father the way that he had to.
It’s a bit of a basic motivation, but it’s still far more explanatory of Rose’s actions than anything revealed inthePokémonSwordandShieldgames proper. Obsessing over how to help Galar meet its energy needs was likely a way for Rose to cope with his loss, and it became the sole driving force in his life, propelling him to success. He used his success to scout promising trainers, like Ash and Leon, in the hopes that they might be able to catch and control Eternatus, making his job of extracting energy from it all the easier.
The Anime Hasn’t Improved on Every Villain
Pokémon’s Anime Often Changes Villains, But Not Always For the Better
While Rose’s situation was greatly improved by the anime’s explanation of his backstory,not everyPokémonvillainhas been so lucky as to improve in their anime portrayal. Perhaps the biggest example of the contrary is Rose’s immediate predecessor, Lusamine. In the games, Lusamine is a similarly obsessed figure, desperately trying to gain access to Ultra Space and the bizarrePokémonwhich live there after losing her husband in an Ultra Wormhole. Lusamine’s obsessions lead to her even losing herself as she fuses with an Ultra Beast, forcing the player to defeat her.
IntheSun & Moonanime, however, Lusamine is far less obsessive, although she retains an interest in the Ultra Wormholes from her missing husband. While Lusamine’s obsession drove away her children Lillie and Gladion in the games, her relationship with the two kids is very different in the anime. Although they’re still not on great terms, Lusamine comes across as less deliberately neglectful and more absent-minded. Following her experience fusing with the Ultra Beast Nihilego,Lusamine even becomes a more heroic character, assembling the Ultra Guardians to protect Alola.
Lusamine in the games is generally considered one of the better executed villains in the series, so many fans were disappointed at this different take on the character. Still, though, this comes down to a different interpretation of Lusamine, one a little more in line with herUltra SunandUltra Moonpersona, and the anime has enhanced her character, just in a less villainous way. Both Lusamine and Rose are great examples of how thePokémonanime can change the characterization of the games' villains, making them more relatable and less one-note.
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Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
