It took a while. For decades, the world of Pokemon felt a bit... homogenous. If you grew up playing Red or Blue on a lime-green Game Boy Color, the human cast was basically just various shades of beige. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has shifted. We've moved from the static, repetitive sprites of Kanto to the vibrant, global diversity of the Paldea region. Pokemon people of color designs aren't just a "diversity checkbox" anymore; they’ve become the literal face of the franchise.
Honestly, the evolution is staggering.
Think back to Brock. For years, he was the sole representative of anything even remotely non-white, and even then, his design was rooted in specific anime tropes rather than a clear ethnic identity. It was vague. It was safe. But as Game Freak started looking outward—moving the games' settings from fictionalized versions of Japan to New York City, France, Hawaii, and the UK—the character designs had to keep up. You can't make a game based on the United Kingdom or the Iberian Peninsula and only show one type of person. It doesn't work. It feels fake.
The Turning Point in Unova and Alola
When Pokemon Black and White launched in 2010, everything changed. By basing the Unova region on New York City, the developers were forced to grapple with a multi-ethnic reality. This gave us Iris. She wasn't just a "different" looking trainer; she was the Champion (eventually). Her design—huge, flowing hair and vibrant purple clothing—felt fresh. It felt like she actually belonged in a city inspired by NYC. Lenora, the gym leader from Nacrene City, was another massive step. She ran a museum and a library. She was portrayed as an intellectual powerhouse, a far cry from the stereotypical "tough" archetypes we'd seen before.
Then came Alola.
Pokemon Sun and Moon felt like a celebration. Because the Alola region is based on Hawaii, the developers leaned hard into Polynesian-inspired aesthetics. We got characters like Kiawe, whose design is a direct nod to traditional fire dancing. His skin tone, his movements, and his connection to the land felt authentic because they were rooted in a real-world cultural context. Olivia, the Kahuna of Akala Island, became an instant fan favorite. She wasn't just "diverse"—she was stylish, powerful, and deeply integrated into the lore of the islands.
Why Representation Matters for Competitive Play
It’s easy to dismiss character designs as "just pixels." But if you go to a VGC (Video Game Championships) event, you’ll see why this matters. The Pokemon community is one of the most diverse groups in gaming. For years, players of color had to choose avatars that didn't look like them.
Now? You walk into a tournament and you see players identifying with Raihan from Sword and Shield.
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Raihan is a masterpiece of design. He’s the Dragon-type specialist, he’s Leon’s rival, and he’s obsessed with selfies. He feels like a real person you’d meet in London or Birmingham. He’s got an edge. He’s tall, dark-skinned, and has a personality that jumps off the screen. When Game Freak creates a character like Raihan, they aren't just making a "Pokemon people of color design" to be nice. They’re building a character that people actually want to be. They are creating icons.
The Nuance of Hair Texture and Style
Let’s talk about the customization.
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the jump in hair texture options was a big deal. For a long time, "Black hair" in video games meant one of three things: a buzz cut, an afro, or cornrows. That was it. But in the recent generations, we’ve seen braids, twists, and fades that actually look right. The lighting hits the curls differently. This level of detail shows that the artists at Game Freak—specifically leads like James Turner (who has since moved on to his own studio) and the internal Japanese team—are actually paying attention to the global audience.
The "Marnie and Nessa" Effect
Galar (the UK-inspired region) gave us Nessa. If you were on social media when her design was first revealed, you remember the explosion.
Nessa, the Water-type Gym Leader, became a cultural phenomenon overnight. Why? Because her design is impeccable. She’s a high-fashion model and a top-tier athlete. Her blue-streaked hair and athletic build made her stand out, but it was her confidence that resonated. She wasn't a side character. She was a titan.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing.
The community went through a bit of a rough patch when "whitewashing" fan art of Nessa started appearing online. It sparked a massive conversation about why preserving the intended skin tone of Pokemon people of color designs is vital. When a character is designed with a specific identity, stripping that away feels like a regression. The backlash showed just how protective fans have become of this newfound diversity. They don't just want these characters to exist; they want them to stay exactly as they are.
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Beyond the "Main" Characters
It's not just Gym Leaders. Look at the NPC (Non-Player Character) classes.
- The "Backpacker" class in newer games.
- The "Rising Star" trainers.
- The "Office Worker" sprites in the DLC.
You see a mix. You see different skin tones, different facial features, and different styles of dress. In Scarlet and Violet, the school setting of Naranja and Uva Academy is a melting pot. It feels like a real school. You see kids of all backgrounds running around the courtyard. This makes the world feel lived-in. It moves the series away from the "protagonist is the only unique person" trope and makes the entire region feel like a global community.
Cultural Specificity vs. Generic Diversity
There’s a difference between a character who is "vaguely brown" and a character who is culturally specific.
Take Beau from the Pokemon Horizons anime or some of the newer trainers in Pokemon GO. There is an effort to include specific cultural markers. Whether it's the jewelry, the patterns on their clothing, or the way they interact with their Pokemon, these designs feel intentional. They don't feel like they were run through a corporate "diversity generator." They feel like they were drawn by people who appreciate human variety.
The Future: Where Do We Go From Here?
As we look toward Pokemon Legends: Z-A and future generations, the expectation has been set. There is no going back to the monochromatic days of Kanto. The fan base is global, and the designs are finally reflecting that.
But there is still room to grow.
We need more body type diversity. We need more representation of different abilities. But in terms of ethnic diversity and the portrayal of people of color, Pokemon has arguably become a leader in the JRPG space. They’ve managed to do it without it feeling forced or "preachy." They just made the world look like the real world.
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That’s the secret sauce.
When you make a world that everyone can see themselves in, everyone wants to play in it. It’s not complex math. It’s just good design.
How to Support Diverse Design in Gaming
If you want to see this trend continue, the best thing you can do is engage with it.
Use the customization tools. Don't just stick to the default protagonist. Explore the different hair textures, skin tones, and traditional clothing options added in the DLCs. The more the developers see these options being used in the game's data, the more they will invest in expanding them.
Follow the artists. Many of the character designers for Pokemon share their inspirations online. Understanding the "why" behind a design like Raihan’s or Nessa’s helps you appreciate the craft.
Voice your preferences. Game Freak actually listens to fan feedback more than people think. If you loved the representation in Scarlet and Violet, talk about it. Post your trainer outfits. Share your fan art that celebrates these designs.
The goal is a Pokemon world where every kid—no matter where they live or what they look like—can look at the screen and say, "Hey, that's me." We're closer to that reality than we've ever been. Let's keep pushing for it.