With the 30th anniversary of Pokémon upon us, it’s nice to take a look at what makes it so special to so many people. It’s also fun to look at the not-so-savory part of the universe as well. For example, the debate on whether or not it’s ethical to catch humanoid Pokémon and keep them in Poké Balls. This is something that has long been debated on the forums when it comes to Pokémon, and it’s finally time to decide what the answer is.
So, is it ethical to catch humanoid Pokémon?
Grounding definitions
Well, first, let’s define what a humanoid Pokémon is. Bulbapedia defines them as “fully bipedal, standing and walking on two legs. They also possess arms with which they could manipulate objects or deliver blows.” By definition, these Pokémon share characteristics with those of humans. Pretty simple, right? Not really, because we can break the whole argument down into one question: Is it ethical to trap a human in a Poké Ball? The answer, of course, is no.
Now, if we look at it from an intelligence standpoint, it’s absolutely not ethical. Canonically, Pokémon can understand tasks and commands given to them, both during battle and when exploring. Additionally, they have personalities and their own free will. This high level of thinking capacity isn’t something that should be ignored. Now I’m not saying that all Pokémon have a higher level of thinking, but a lot of humanoid Pokémon do. It’s an interesting part of their makeup that makes them different from other types of Pokémon in the universe.
Thinking out loud
This question lands on the far end of the ethicality spectrum and isn’t something worth diving into for the sake of this argument. But it does make one pause. For example, Mr. Mime is one of the most humanoid Pokémon that exists. Not only are they bipedal, but their faces are also extremely humanlike, they have a variety of expressions, and can act out things in order to communicate with humans if they need to. This level of ability should make you stop and think. And if it doesn’t, what does that say about how you view these powerful creatures?
Going off of that, Pokémon in general have been shown to be emotionally intelligent as well. They have feelings, they show their emotions, and they’re not subtle about it. This shows that they’re capable of a higher level of thinking than something like an insect, for example.
While this is mostly in the anime, Pokémon cry! This isn’t specific to just humanoid Pokémon by any means, but it is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Humanoid Pokémon really embody this, though. They come off as more human because of their features which, in turn, will obviously make us feel more for them compared to other, more monster-like Pokémon.
Pokémon can communicate in depth
The ability to communicate both through body language and telepathically is a huge red flag when it comes to catching a humanoid Pokémon. The Unovan Pokémon Zoroark can even disguise itself as a human; to the point of having a conversation and giving the player an item in Black 2/White 2. This isn’t something that we can chalk up to a simple nature, and instead should see as something that takes a higher level of thinking to do.
These creatures can even learn human language and actions.. In a classic episode of the original anime, Team Rocket’s Meowth shares the story of how he taught himself to speak and walk on two legs. Even Pokémon that don’t communicate in these ways do learn to communicate with humans, evidenced throughout the history of the games and anime.
Bulbapedia also notes that the majority of humanoid Pokémon lean either psychic or fighting type. While this isn’t something that would normally stand out, the combination of being bipedal and being a fighting Pokémon does. Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are two that stand out in particular. Designed, obviously, after well-known martial artists, they are extremely capable at pulling out fighting moves that other Pokémon could never even dream up. Hitmonchan also wears clothing, which isn’t something that you often see with Pokémon. This tells you enough about the Pokémon to recognize their own ability to dress themselves in a fun little outfit before going into a battle or out on the town with their owner.
Not so obvious one way or another
It’s important to note that, despite all of this, Pokémon canonically like their relationships with their trainers. The Pokémon we meet in the series seem pretty content with their lives, and we shouldn’t erase that part of the narrative. If they’re happy, that’s all that really matters. And at the end of the day, isn’t the point of catching a Pokémon to create a fun, healthy relationship with them?
Humanoid Pokémon fall into a weird spot ethically — they’re still labeled as “pocket monsters,” but their physical humanoid features should make you pause. Not only that, they’re intelligent to a certain level that should make everyone. If you think about it too long, it makes you question the world as a whole because once you ask the question of whether or not it’s ethical to catch a specific type of Pokémon, you have to ask whether or not it’s ethical to catch the rest of them.
It’s easy to hand wave Pokémon as simply monsters, but they’re our companions throughout our journey, and they deserve proper respect. You wouldn’t keep a dog in a cage all day, would you? At the end of the day, maybe we should all think twice when it comes to catching a humanoid Pokémon — or even catching Pokémon in general.
Featured images/screenshots via Nintendo/Game Freak/The Pokémon Company International, Warner Bros. Pictures.
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