The month of June started out strong for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the upcoming ninth generation of main series Pokemon games. June 1st saw the debut of a brand-new trailer, revealing more information about the still unnamed region and the Pokemon that inhabit it. But it wasn't just the new creatures players will be able to catch in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that were shown off in the trailer. Fans were also introduced to several new characters they will get to meet when the games release.
Each Pokemon region so far has been inhabited by a host of colorful NPCs with unique personalities and roles within the Pokemon world. These include the Professor, who helps players set off on their journey, the Gym Leaders and Champions they must challenge to become the very best, and the rivals and antagonistic Teams determined to bring their journey to a halt. The first trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet revealed only the three starter Pokemon and the player character, so fans were excited to meet some of the region's NPC residents in June's broadcast.
A Double Act - Professors Sada and Turo
Fans were surprised to see that, instead of a single Professor as in past generations, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's new trailer shows off Pokemon Professors available to help players get started as a Pokemon Trainer. Professor Sada is a young woman with long light brown hair, who is shown wearing traditional-looking jewelry and a feathered collar underneath her traditional lab coat. Professor Turo is a slightly older-looking man with dark hair and a beard, who wears what looks like futuristic purple plate armor underneath his lab coat. This has led fans to speculate that the game may feature a 'past versus future' theme, which would also connect with the new Legendary Pokemon revealed in the trailer.
Unlike previous Pokemon Professors, Sada and Turo do not at first glance seem to be named after a tree or plant. However, both Sada and Turo are existing Spanish names, lending further credence to the fan theory that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's region is based on Spain. "Sada" is a Castilian name with Basque roots meaning 'from the town of Zare,' while Turo can be a shortened form of the popular name Arturo. Sada is also a town in Spain, while Turo de la Peira is a neighborhood in Barcelona. An official post on the Pokemon blog confirms that Sada will be exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet and Turo to Pokemon Violet.
A Possible Rival - Nemona
The trailer also shows the player character, alongside their newly acquired Starter Pokemon, battling against a female Trainer named Nemona. In battle, Nemona uses a new Pokemon revealed for the first time in the June trailer, a small orange-and-yellow creature with large ears. It seems to be an Electric-type Pokemon, as it responds to Fuecoco's fire attack by releasing a burst of electricity. Reliable Pokemon news source Serebii.net indicates that the new Pokemon's name may be Pawmi, and that it may be Generation 9's equivalent to the 'electric rodent' type first popularized by series mascot Pikachu.
Nemona herself is speculated to be a rival to the player character, as the first battle the player engages in is traditionally against their rival. However, Nemona shows off a laid-back rather than a competitive or angry personality, expressing a desire to keep the Pokemon battle fun because it is the player's first time battling. No other information about Nemona is revealed in the trailer, but she seems initially more similar to Generation 7's Hau or Generation 8's Hop as a rival who still has a friendly relationship with the player.
Other NPCs Appear Briefly
Only a few other NPCs made brief appearances in the new trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. One unnamed man, who may be a scientist, is shown informing the player that they can play cooperatively with up to three friends, similar to a co-op mode debuting in Pokemon Sword and Shield's DLC. A small boy, who may be this generation's variation on the ever-popular 'Youngster' trainer type, challenges the player character to battle. He uses a Chewtle, a turtle-like Pokemon first introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Many other NPCs can still be shown in future trailers, including the villainous Team, any Gym Leaders, and even the region's variation on Nurse Joy, the friendly healer who runs the Pokemon Center. With Pokemon Scarlet and Violet now confirmed for a November release, fans are hopeful that more trailers featuring more characters will be revealed prior to the game's debut.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release on November 18, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.
