Paul (Pokémon)

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Paul
Paul as seen in Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl.
Japanese name	Shinji
Voice actor(s) (English)	Pete Capella
Voice actor(s) (Japanese)	Kiyotaka Furushima
First appearances
Anime episode	"Two Degrees of Separation!" (Season 10)
In-Universe Information
Occupation	Roaming Pokémon trainer

Paul, known in Japan as Shinji (シンジ, Shinji^?) is a human character from the multi-billion-dollar^[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media, created by Satoshi Tajiri.

Similarly to the names Satoshi and Shigeru, the name Shinji may be a reference toward Shinji Miyazaki, who composes and arranges music for the television series. The name Paul may be a reference to Paul Baron, a staff member at The Pokémon Company.

1 In the Pokémon anime
- 1.1 Pokémon
  - 1.1.1 On-hand
  - 1.1.2 Released
2 Notes and references

[edit] In the Pokémon anime

The Pokémon anime series and films are a meta-series of adventures separate from the canon that most of the Pokémon video games follow (with the exception of Pokémon Yellow, a game based on the anime storyline). The anime follows the quest of the main character, Ash Ketchum^[2]—an in-training Pokémon Master—as he and his friends travel around the fictitious world of Pokémon along with their Pokémon partners.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Paul is a roaming Pokémon trainer travelling through the region of Sinnoh, who develops a rivalry with Ash Ketchum.^[3] He captures Pokémon without the intention of properly raising them. Unlike most trainers, Paul indeed has no such heart for Pokémon; he catches and only cares about catching strong wild Pokémon just to crush other trainers with them. He even tries to make his Pokémon act cold, notably stopping his Chimchar from doing a victory dance. He is also known to release Pokémon that he finds utterly useless and weak.^[4] He successfully defeated Hyouta, the Kurogane City Gym Leader, before Ash.^[5]

[edit] Pokémon

[edit] On-hand

Chimchar

Chimchar is assumed to be Paul's "starter" Pokémon, although he had acquired an Elekid previously. He used it in a battle against Ash Ketchum where, after putting up a strong fight, it was eventually overcome by his Aipom.^[3] It later defeated Ash's Turtwig in a one on one battle at the end of "The Forest of Hesitation! Shinji Again!!".^[4]

Elekid

Elekid is Paul's powerhouse Pokémon. Often seen traveling with Paul instead of staying in a Poké Ball, it was first seen in the episode "When Pokémon Worlds Collide".^[3]

Ursaring

Paul caught Ursaring with his Chimchar in the Forest in "The Forest of Hesitation! Shinji Again!!".^[4] Due to its strength and power, he decided to keep it on his squad for the time being.

[edit] Released

Starly (3)

Paul captured three Starly. He quickly released two of them as they failed to learn Aerial Ace. The third one however did learn the move. Paul used this Starly in his battle with Ash Ketchum where it easily defeated Ash's Starly. Despite this, Paul decided to release this Starly as well.^[3]

Stantler

Paul caught and released a Stantler in the Forest in "The Forest of Hesitation! Shinji Again!!".^[4]

Azumarill

Paul was seen using this Pokémon against the first Gym Leader of the Sinnoh League, Hyouta, in the episode "Kurogane Gym! Hyouta VS Shinji!!".^[5] In "Zugaidos VS Pikachu" he gives Azumarill away to a passing trainer.^[6]

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Notes and references

^ “Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold" PR Newswire. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
^ Pokémon anime overview Psypokes.com. URL accessed May 25, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Pokémon anime, episode "When Pokémon Worlds Collide"
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Pokémon anime, episode "Forest of Hesitation! Shinji Again!"
^ ^a ^b Pokémon anime, episode "Kurogane Gym! Hyouta VS Shinji!"
^ Pokémon anime, episode "Zugaidos VS Pikachu"