Gardevoir

Gardevoir, known in Japan as , is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise. Designed by Game Freak for the video games ''Pokémon Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'' as part of a new creative philosophy to test the waters of what a Pokémon was expected to look like, its design was finalized by Ken Sugimori and is an evolved form of Kirlia and the final evolution of Ralts. It is accompanied by Gallade, a male Pokemon that evolves from Kirlia, introduced in ''Pokemon Diamond'' and ''Pearl''. Since Gardevoir's introduction, it has appeared in other media and titles related to the ''Pokémon'' franchise, such as the '' Pokémon Trading Card Game'' and ''Pokémon Unite''. It has been generally well-received, with critics praising its design and being regarded as one of the best Pokemon. It has gained notoriety for how often it is depicted in pornographic imagery.

Conception and design

Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the ''Pokémon'' series began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' for the Game Boy. In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train creatures called Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species, or evolve. The ultimate goal is to complete the Pokémon index (Pokédex), a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading to obtain creatures from all Pokémon species.

When designing the 2002 sequels ''Pokémon Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'', Game Freak initially wanted to not include any of the Pokémon from the previous games, with lead artist Ken Sugimori using this as an opportunity push the concept of what a Pokémon could look like. To this end, he wanted to try more "humanoid" designs, but also wanted to emphasize "cooler" designs, due to feedback the team had received that Pokémon was seen as too "babyish". Additionally, while the previous ''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver'' were bound to simplistic designs for the sake of the related anime and toy manufacturing, Sugimori said "screw it" and focused on more complex and fleshed out designs with these games. As the art team developed the Pokémon species, Sugimori would finalize their work and draw the promotional art, altering details as he felt necessary.

Introduced in ''Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'', Gardevoir is the is the third and final part of the species' evolution line. Originally classified as a Psychic-type Pokémon in ''Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'', with the release of ''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'' it received a secondary typing of Fairy. Despite its feminine features, Gardevoir are not exclusively female, with a 50/50 split of gender ratio when encountered in-game. Gardevoir start life as Ralts, a small bipedal with a white body, legs that drape outward and behind it, and green hair in the shape of a bowlcut that covers its eyes. Two round red horns protrude from the front and back of its head angled upward, which allow them to sense people's emotions. After acquiring enough experience, it evolves into Kirlia, gaining slight height while its hair now extends down the sides of its head, exposing its red eyes. Its legs are now green from the waist downward, while a white skirt shape extends from its waist horizontally, and its horns now protrude from the sides of its head instead. After acquiring enough experience, Kirlia can evolve into Gardevoir, though as of the ''Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' games male Kirlia may instead evolve into Gallade if exposed to a "Dawn Stone" item.

Appearances

Gardevoir first appeared in '' Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire'' as the evolution of Kirlia that does not occur naturally in the wild (the player must evolve Kirlia in order to obtain it). It later appeared in the games' remake, ''Pokémon Emerald''. In the paired games '' Pokémon Diamond and Pearl'', Kirlia gained a new evolution which meant that Kirlia may either evolve into Gardevoir or Gallade, the latter only possible under specific conditions. In '' Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen'', Gardevoir is not a naturally occurring Pokémon. It also appeared in '' Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver'' and '' Pokémon Black and White''. Gardevoir is given a Mega Evolution in ''Pokemon X'' and ''Y'', which allows it to become more powerful; Mega Gardevoir appears as the signature Pokémon of the game's Champion, Diantha. In ''Pokemon Scarlet'' and ''Violet'', a new Pokemon, called Iron Valiant, is introduced. This Pokemon is known as a Paradox Pokemon, a Pokemon from another time period, and resembles a combination of Gardevoir and Gallade.

Gardevoir also appears as a major character in ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team'' and ''Red Rescue Team'', as a minor character in '' Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness'', and '' Explorers of Sky'', and can be released from a Poké Ball item in the Super Smash Bros. series beginning in '' Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. Gardevoir is also a playable character in the spinoff games Pokkén Tournament and Pokémon Unite.

A Gardevoir appeared in the ''Pokémon'' episode, ''Rescue Ralts! Hurry Max!'' as a parent of a Ralts, one of the species on Gardevoir's evolutionary line. Additionally, in ''Mutiny in the Bounty!'', a Gardevoir belong to Pokemon trainer Melodi was stolen, but the psychic connection was too strong.

Critical reception

Since its introduction Gardevoir has been well received, placing 9th on The Pokémon Company's 2020 ''Pokémon of the Year'' poll which featured all Pokémon from throughout the franchise. In 2023, Centennial Media's ''The Ultimate Guide to Pokémon'' noted that after compiling monthly search histories of Google, Yahoo and Microsoft Bing, Gardevoir was the second highest searched Pokémon among internet users with an approximate total of 158,400 average searches per month. The addition of its Fairy-type as of ''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'' has also been praised, with Malik Umair of ''Dualshockers'' calling them the poster child of the typing due to its moves and design.

'' Paste'' writers Kevin Slackie and Moises Taveras named them one of the best Pokémon in the franchise in its eyes, praising its "beauty and grace" while citing its popularity with players across all game appearances. Cian Maher and Ryan Woodrow of '' USA Today'' named them both one of the franchise's best Psychic and Fairy type Pokémon, specifically stating that it exudes "the exact kind of mysterious energy that all Fairies should", as well as "widely revered as one of Gen 3’s best Pokémon today." Woodrow repeated these sentiments in an article for '' Sports Illustrated'', stating that Gardevoir has "a simple humanoid body that makes it look graceful, but the design of the head and arms bring in those weird elements that you want from a good Psychic-type". In 2015, '' Destructoid'' named Gardevoir the website's "favorite Pocket Monster", with Kyle MacGregor Burleson writing a poem praising the species' design and abilities.

However, some outlets were critical of Gardevoir's design and characteristics. ''GamesRadar''s Carolyn Gudmundson noted that humanoid designs were some of the most overused amongst Pokémon in the franchise, but in particular "things go wrong when a Pokémon design goes from 'bipedal version of an animal that's usually a quadruped' to anything that resembles a sexy woman". The staff of ''Fanbyte'' also described Gardevoir as one of the more "off putting" designs due to its gendered appearance, comparing it to a princess or ballerina. Graduate School of International Studies Assistant Professor Sukhee Han was also critical of this aspect in their study of gender across the series, feeling that it undermined its equal gender ratio in the games due to being indeterminate at a glance without the need of external information.

Cian Maher in an article for ''TheGamer'' was critical of Game Freak for a different reason. Calling them "one of the best Pokémon ever designed" and praising the method in which the player is introduced to its evolution line, he felt it was hampered by its gameplay and while still a strong contender, did not achieve the same level the game commonly afforded similar Pokémon. He acknowledged, however, that the species was routinely featured by Game Freak in subsequent games, and closed by stating "Gardevoir isn’t short on love from the people who work on Pokémon - it just isn’t being used to its full potential."

As a sex symbol

Gardevoir's feminine humanoid design has also led the fandom to heavily sexualize the species through fan works and discussions, while third-party companies have utilized its design in erotic-themed Adobe Flash games. Searches for pornography of the species have been prominent on sites such as Pornhub, while a June 2023 study of such content on Rule 34 websites such as Rule 34.xxx and Sankaku Channel noted a high volume of material compared to characters from other franchises, and the second highest of characters from the Pokémon franchise as a whole. An interviewee for '' Vice'' attributed this particular popularity to its more "human" and "pretty" feminine design, something they felt Pokémon titles prior to ''Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'' lacked. The high volume has resulted in multiple media outlets to comment on the reaction with disdain, or outright suggest one avoid searching for images of the species on Google, with ''USA Today'' in particular arguing that such presented a good argument for Game Freak to "stop designing humanoid Pokémon."

Several outlets have noted, however, that the heavy focus on sex appeal within the fandom has led to fans of the species being reluctant to say so to avoid negative connotations. In particular, ''TheGamer''s Editor in Chief Stacey Henley voiced her displeasure, having taken a liking to the species due to seeing her own transgender identity reflected in Gardevoir's evolutionary line, which culminated in "the most beautiful Pokemon I had ever seen". She added that while she understood the sexual appeal of the species for some due to its humanoid shape and "motherly vibe", it had become "impossible to have a conversation about Gardevoir, or to try and look them up online, because everything else is drowned out in a sea of ..questionable depictions of Garde." Regardless of this she was grateful that the games had leaned away from the fan reaction, presenting a "pure ..caring and nurturing" aspect of Gardevoir. She felt Gardevoir as portrayed in titles such as ''New Pokémon Snap'' represented its real characterization, and "not the one from the DeviantArt 18+ sections or the body pillows. Gardevoir is one of Pokemon's brightest stars, and it's a shame that they’ve been tarnished like this."

See also

* Pokémon and pornography

References

External links

*

Gardevoir on Pokemon.com

{{Pokémon directory

Pokémon species
Video game characters introduced in 2002
Fictional psychics
Fictional fairies and sprites
Video game characters who are psychics
Fictional humanoids

ca:Línia evolutiva de Ralts#Gardevoir
es:Anexo:Pokémon de la tercera generación#Gardevoir
ko:포켓몬 목록 (281-300)#가디안