The Kanto Region and its History
• A Modern Land with Ancient Roots: Kanto is a highly developed region, known for its technological and scientific advancements, such as the Silph Corporation which created the Master Ball. However, it also has a deep, mythical history.
• The Kanto Myth and the Legendary Birds: An ancient myth of the Kanto region tells of a time when eight great clans, with the three most prominent being the Rainbow Clan (Venusaur), the Cascade Clan (Blastoise), and the Volcano Clan (Charizard), often warred with each other. Their conflict drew the attention of the Legendary Birds: Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. The birds descended upon the land, plunging it into chaos.
• The Hero Kan and the Formation of Kanto: A hero named Kan united the eight clans by defeating their masters in battle. After all the clans were united, they launched a final assault on the Legendary Birds at Mount Silver, driving them away. Kan was declared the first king of the united land, which was named "Kanto" (meaning "Kan's Land"). This myth is said to be the foundation for the structure of the Pokémon League, with the eight gym badges representing the original clansThe Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
• Mew, the Progenitor: The Mythical Pokémon Mew is widely considered to be the genetic ancestor of all other Pokémon. It's said to contain the DNA of every Pokémon species, which is why it can learn nearly any move.
• Mewtwo, the Ultimate Clone: Mewtwo is a Legendary Pokémon that was created in a lab by scientists who cloned Mew's DNA. This experiment was led by Team Rocket's leader, Giovanni, at the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island. The scientists were trying to create the most powerful Pokémon in existence, but the result was a creature with a malevolent heart that was too powerful to control. Mewtwo eventually escaped and destroyed the mansion.
• The Legendary Birds: Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are a trio of legendary Pokémon that represent the elements of ice, lightning, and fire, respectively. As mentioned in the Kanto myth, their presence once brought chaos to the region. They are incredibly rare and powerful.
Team Rocket: The Villains of Kanto
• A Criminal Syndicate: Team Rocket is the primary antagonist organization in the Kanto region. Led by the powerful and ruthless Gym Leader Giovanni, their goal is to steal Pokémon and use them for profit and world domination.
• Notorious Crimes: Team Rocket is responsible for many of the nefarious plots in the games, including:
• The Pokémon Tower Incident: Team Rocket grunts kill a mother Marowak in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower while trying to steal its Cubone. This act causes the ghost of the mother Marowak to haunt the tower, preventing anyone from reaching the top.
• The Silph Co. Takeover: Team Rocket occupies the Silph Corporation in Saffron City to steal the company's technology, including the Master Ball.
• The Exploitation of Pokémon: They are known for their cruel methods, such as cutting off Slowpoke tails to sell on the black market.
• Giovanni's Defeat: The player's journey culminates in a final confrontation with Giovanni, who is revealed to be the Gym Leader of Viridian City. After being defeated, Giovanni disbands Team Rocket, promising to dedicate himself to training Pokémon legitimately. However, this is not the end of the organization, as they resurface in the Johto region in the next generation.
• Marowak's Ghost: The ghost in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower is a deceased Marowak. Its Pokédex entry in later games explains that Marowak is a mother who died protecting her Cubone from Team Rocket. This is one of the first and most tragic pieces of individual Pokémon lore in the series.
Gengar and its Shadow: Gengar is known as "the Shadow Pokémon" and is said to be a malicious creature. The Pokédex entry for Gengar in Pokémon FireRed states, "It is said to be a ghost that has been cursed. It hides in shadows to avoid detection." In Pokémon Sun, it says, "Should you feel yourself attacked by a sudden chill, it is evidence of an approaching Gengar. There is no escaping it.
• The Pain of Psyduck: Psyduck's constant headache is a core part of its character. When its headache becomes too intense, it can unleash powerful psychic abilities. However, these abilities are uncontrollable and a direct result of its pain.
• Starmie's Alien Origins: Starmie's Pokédex entries often hint at an otherworldly or alien origin. Its core, which glows in different colors, is said to communicate with stars. Pokémon FireRed's entry for Starmie is particularly telling: "It is believed to be extraterrestrial in origin. Its core, which is shaped like a gem, glows in different colors."
The Player and the Rival
• The Protagonist, Red: In the first games, the player character is largely a silent protagonist. However, in the Gold and Silver games, it's revealed that the player character from the original games, now named Red, became the champion of the Indigo League and can be found at the top of Mt. Silver. His team and actions in the sequel games are considered the canonical journey of the Gen I protagonist.
• The Rival, Blue: Blue, Professor Oak's grandson, is a key figure in the lore. The games hint at the strained relationship between him and his grandfather, who seems to hold the protagonist in higher regard. This motivates Blue to constantly challenge the player. One fan theory even suggests that the rival's Raticate is killed during the battle on the S.S. Anne, which is why he is seen later in Lavender Town and no longer uses the Raticate. This theory isn't explicitly confirmed but adds a layer of depth to the rivalry.