Cross-canon counterpart
Cross-canon counterparts are similar characters that appear in different parts of the Pokémon canon.
As a franchise with so many different forms of canon, different Pokémon media features multiple iterations of the same or similar characters, most of which have basis in the games' main and rival characters. The characters in each form of the Pokémon canon which are closely related in their design will most often be recognizable in any of their forms, and may have similar relations to other characters with or without counterparts.
For example, both Red and Ash are from Pallet Town, live with their mother, receive a first partner Pokémon from Professor Oak, and begin their journeys one step behind their rivals, Blue and Gary, respectively. However, Red and Ash do not coexist (with the two only meeting when Ash was transported from his world, into the world of Pokémon Masters EX), nor do Blue and Gary, as they are restricted to their specific canons.
Various other characters have differences between their game and alternate versions, such as Brock and Misty in Pokémon the Series, and Wally in the Pokémon Adventures manga. However, they are not truly different enough to be considered as separate individuals.
List of cross-canon counterparts
This list is based on the game characters, as they appear first.
Red's counterparts
- Ash Ketchum from Pokémon the Series and the Ash & Pikachu manga
- Ash Ketchum from the trilogy consisting of I Choose You!, The Power of Us, Secrets of the Jungle, as well as the special episode Distant Blue Sky!
- Ash Ketchum from A Ripple in Time
- Mirror Ash from The Cave of Mirrors!
- Alternate World Ash from The Gates of Warp! and Showdown at the Gates of Warp!
- Ash Ketchum from the The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
- Ash Ketchum from the Pokémon Newspaper Strip
- Ash from Pokémon Masters EX
- Ritchie from Pokémon the Series and The Electric Tale of Pikachu
- Red from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Red from Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire, Pocket Monsters DP, Pocket Monsters HGSS and Pocket Monsters BW manga
- Red from Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire (based on the Generation III design of Red)
- Satoshi from Pokémon Zensho manga
- Red from Pokémon 4Koma manga
- Shu from Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon! manga
- Red from Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga
- Red from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga
- Pokémon Trainer from Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Red from Pokémon Origins
- Red from Pokémon Generations
- Red from GOTCHA!
- Red from POKÉTOON
- Red from Evolutions
- Red from Pokémon Masters EX
Blue's counterparts
- Gary Oak from Pokémon the Series, The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga and Ash & Pikachu manga
- Blue from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Green from Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
- Shigeru from Pokémon Zensho manga
- Rival from Pokémon 4Koma manga
- Blue from How I Became a Pokémon Card manga
- Blue from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga
- Blue from Pokémon Origins
- Blue from Pokémon Generations
- Blue from Pokémon Masters EX
Ethan's counterparts
- Jimmy from Pokémon the Series
- Gold from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Kinnosuke from Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
- Gold from Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga
- Jō from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga
- Takashi from Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokéathlon manga
- Soul from Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic manga
- Ethan, a second Pokémon the Series-related counterpart, who made a brief cameo in the thirteenth movie
- Ethan from Pokémon Generations
- Ethan from GOTCHA!
- Ethan from Evolutions
- Ethan from Pokémon Masters EX
Silver's counterparts
- Silver from Pokémon the Series, who made a brief cameo in the Japanese opening of The Legend of Thunder!
- Silver from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Silver from Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
- Black from Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
- Tsubaki from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
- Silver from Pokémon Generations
- Silver from Pokémon Masters EX
Kris's counterparts
- Marina from Pokémon the Series
- Crystal from Pokémon Adventures
- Chris from Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
- Kris from Pokémon Masters EX
Brendan's counterparts
- Brendan from Pokémon the Series, who made brief cameos in the sixth, ninth and eleventh movies
- Ruby from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Ruby from Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga
- Rald from Pokémon Battle Frontier manga
- Omega and Alpha from Pokémon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom manga
- Brendan from Pokémon Ruby Sapphire Special Capture Comic! manga
- Brendan from Pokémon Generations
- Brendan from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer
- Brendan from GOTCHA!
- Brendan from Pokémon Masters EX
May's counterparts
- May from Pokémon the Series and Ash & Pikachu manga
- Sapphire from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Sapphire from Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga
- Haruka from Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪ manga
- May from Pokémon Ruby Sapphire Special Capture Comic! manga
- May from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer
- May from GOTCHA!
- May from Evolutions
- May from Pokémon Masters EX
Wally's counterparts
- Wally from Pokémon Adventures
- Wally from Pokémon Masters EX
Leaf's counterparts
- Green from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Blue from Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire
- Pokémon Trainer from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Leaf from Pokémon Masters EX
Lucas's counterparts
- Lucas from Pokémon the Series, who made a brief cameo in the eleventh movie
- Diamond from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Dia from Pocket Monsters DP manga
- Hareta from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga
- Kaito from Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas Major Capture Operation!! manga
- Kenta from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl manga
- Lucas from GOTCHA!
- Lucas from Evolutions
- Lucas from Pokémon Masters EX
Dawn's counterparts
- Dawn from Pokémon the Series
- Platinum from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Mitsumi from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga
- Yuki from Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas Major Capture Operation!! manga
- Dawn from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl manga
- Dawn from GOTCHA!
- Dawn from Pokémon Masters EX
Barry's counterparts
- Barry from Pokémon the Series
- Pearl from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Kazuki from Pocket Monsters DP manga
- Jun from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga
- Kento from Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas Major Capture Operation!! manga
- Barry from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl manga
- Barry from Pokémon Masters EX
Lyra's counterparts
- Lyra from Pokémon the Series
- Crystal from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Lyra from Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokéathlon manga
- Lyra from Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic manga
- Lyra from GOTCHA!
- Lyra from Pokémon Masters EX
Hilbert's counterparts
- Black from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Black from Pocket Monsters BW manga
- Monta from Be the Best! Pokémon B W manga
- Touya from Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends manga
- Shin from Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder manga
- Hiro from Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~ manga
- Hilbert from Pokémon Generations
- Hilbert from GOTCHA!
- Hilbert from Pokémon Masters EX
Hilda's counterparts
- White from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Hilda from GOTCHA!
- Hilda from Evolutions
- Hilda from Pokémon Masters EX
Cheren's counterparts
- Cheren from Pokémon the Series
- Cheren from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Cheren from Pocket Monsters BW manga
- Cheren from Be the Best! Pokémon B W manga
- Cheren from Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~ manga
- Cheren from Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends manga
- Cheren from Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
- Cheren from Pokémon Masters EX
Bianca's counterparts
- Bianca from Pokémon the Series
- Bianca from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Bianca from Pocket Monsters BW manga
- Bianca from Be the Best! Pokémon B W manga
- Bianca from Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends manga
- Bianca from Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
- Bianca from Pokémon Masters EX
Nate's counterparts
- Blake from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Arata from Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~ manga
- Nate from Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
- Nate from GOTCHA!
- Nate from Pokémon Masters EX
Rosa's counterparts
- Whitley from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Rosa from Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
- Rosa from GOTCHA!
- Rosa from Pokémon Masters EX
Hugh's counterparts
- Hugh from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Hugh from Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
- Hugh from Pokémon Masters EX
Calem's counterparts
- X from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Manabu Kadoo from Let's Play the Pokémon Card Game XY! manga
- Calem from Pokémon Generations
- Calem from GOTCHA!
- Calem from Evolutions
- Calem from Pokémon Masters EX
Serena's counterparts
- Serena from Pokémon the Series
- Y from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Serena from GOTCHA!
- Serena from Evolutions
- Serena from Pokémon Masters EX
Shauna's counterparts
- Shauna from Pokémon the Series
- Shauna from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Shauna from Pocket Monsters XY manga
Tierno's counterparts
- Tierno from Pokémon the Series
- Tierno from Pokémon Adventures manga
Trevor's counterparts
- Trevor from Pokémon the Series
- Trevor from Pokémon Adventures manga
Elio's counterparts
- Sun from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Elio from GOTCHA!
- Elio from Pokémon Masters EX
Selene's counterparts
- Moon from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Mana from the Pokémon Horizon manga
- Selene from GOTCHA!
- Selene from Evolutions
- Selene from Pokémon Masters EX
Hau's counterparts
- Hau from Pokémon the Series
- Hau from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Hau from GOTCHA!
- Hau from Evolutions
- Hau from Pokémon Masters EX
Gladion's counterparts
- Gladion from Pokémon the Series
- Gladion from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Gladion from GOTCHA!
- Gladion from Evolutions
- Gladion from Pokémon Masters EX
Lillie's counterparts
- Lillie from Pokémon the Series
- Lillie from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Lillie from GOTCHA!
- Lillie from Evolutions
- Lillie from Pokémon Masters EX
Chase's counterparts
- Chase from the Pocket Monsters Let's Go! Pikachu Let's Go! Eievui Adventure Start Comic manga
- Chase from Pokémon Masters EX
Elaine's counterparts
- Elaine from Pokémon Evolutions
- Elaine from Pokémon Masters EX
Trace's counterparts
- Trace from Pokémon Evolutions
Victor's counterparts
- Henry Sword from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Victor from Pokémon: Twilight Wings
- Victor from GOTCHA!
- Victor from Evolutions
- Victor from Pokémon Masters EX
Gloria's counterparts
- Casey Shield from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Gloria from Pokémon: Twilight Wings
- Gloria from GOTCHA!
- Gloria from Pokémon Masters EX
Hop's counterparts
- Hop from Pokémon the Series
- Hop from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Hop from Pokémon: Twilight Wings
- Hop from GOTCHA!
- Hop from Evolutions
- Hop from Pokémon Masters EX
Bede's counterparts
- Bede from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Bede from Pokémon: Twilight Wings
- Bede from GOTCHA!
- Bede from Evolutions
- Bede from Pokémon Masters EX
Marnie's counterparts
- Marnie from Pokémon the Series
- Marnie from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Marnie from Pokémon: Twilight Wings
- Marnie from GOTCHA!
- Marnie from Evolutions
- Marnie from Pokémon Masters EX
Rei's counterparts
- Rei from Pokémon the Series, who made a brief cameo in Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles
- Rei from Pokémon Masters EX
Nemona's counterparts
- Nemona from Pokémon the Series
- Nemona from Pokémon Adventures manga
- Nemona from Pokémon Masters EX