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Larry (Pokémon)

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Larry
Pokémon character
Larry from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
First appearancePokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022)
Voiced by

Larry, known as Aoki (Japanese: アオキ) in Japan, is a character in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. Introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, he serves as both a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member in the game's setting, specializing in Normal and Flying-type Pokémon. He is resembled to depict a stereotypical Japanese salaryman, and is known for his expressionless dialogue and personality. In the anime, he is voiced by Kōsuke Toriumi, while in the Pokémon Masters EX video game he is voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi in Japanese and by Yong Yea in English.

Since Larry's introduction into the series, Larry has received a highly positive critical response, being highlighted as relatable. He has also been described as a breakout character.

Concept and design

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Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Pokémon franchise began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy.[3] 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, both in the wild as well as those used by other Trainers.[4] Created for the 2022 sequels Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Larry is a "Gym Leader", a type of Trainer that acts as a boss players must defeat to proceed.[5] He also acts as an Elite Four member, serving as one of the four opponents that must be battled prior to the battle against the Champion.[6][7] Larry has been voiced in the Pokémon anime series by Kōsuke Toriumi in Japanese.[1]

Appearances

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Larry is a Gym Leader in Medali, a town in the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. He is described as a Japanese salaryman, and has a bland and deadpan personality.[8] He specializes in Normal-type Pokémon in the first battle, and serves as the third Elite Four member specializing in Flying-type Pokémon.[9][10] He can be rematched once more in the postgame, once again using his Normal-type team, and can also be rematched in the Indigo Disk DLC expansion for the game.[11] Larry later appears in the Pokémon anime series.[12]

Reception

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Jenni Lada of Siliconera praised Larry, stating how expressive and distinct he is from other Pokémon characters: "However, while he isn't as immediately flashy or memorable at a glance, the character development surrounding him is extraordinary. There's so much personality there, even with as few interactions as a person gets, and it makes him one of the best characters in the game." She opined that characters like Larry do not need to be "flashy" to be well received, describing how they provide a comforting feeling.[9] TheGamer's Ben Sledge posited similar ideas, citing Larry as a relatable character.[10] Larry has been described as a breakout character due to his popularity among fans of the series.[13]

Kotaku's Kenneth Shepard stated that "The work/life balance conversation woven throughout Larry’s story is the single most pronounced example of an ongoing thread throughout Scarlet and Violet," citing that, "Where in other Pokémon regions like Galar gym leaders are treated with a hint of celebrity, or like professional athletes, the Paldea region seems to undervalue their contributions... Larry's outright disdain for the whole capitalist process has made him analogous to characters like Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants, and fans have taken the comparison and run with it." He further states that "Larry's disgruntled worker persona has made him a bridge between Pokémon fans young and old. Where the kids find him a silly guy who gives them a challenging fight, adult fans familiar with the soul-crushing weight of the daily grind have found a kindred spirit. Who among us doesn't know what it’s like to hate their job, hate their boss, but still suck it up and do what we’re paid for so we can just go home and enjoy a little peace amid this capitalist hellscape? He is, as the kids say, "just like me, for real."[13] Despite his lack of distinguishable personality, he was praised as a highly unique character due to his realistic worldview. His dialogue has led to discussion about the in-universe position of Gym Leader being a fictional equivalent to a low paying yet important job.[14][15] Destructoid's Timothy Monbleau named Larry his favorite character of 2022, citing Larry as a highlight for adult fans of the series, praising his relatability.[16]

His blandness and lack of uniqueness have also been popular. His personality, despite appearing one-note at first glance, has been highlighted for its surprising depth.[17] Thomas Greatorex of GameRant cited that "Larry is a brilliant example of how to create an iconic Pokemon Gym Leader without the need for pompous outfits or unrealistic exchanges, instead leaning into real-world tropes to tell a subtle story that many players wish they couldn't relate to as much as they do."[18] Larry has also been the subject of shipping, in which two fictional characters are paired into a romantic relationship by fans. He was primarily shipped with the character Rika, another Elite Four member in Scarlet and Violet. The popularity behind the ship was cited to multiple factors, primarily due to the highly contrasting personalities of Rika and Larry, as Rika is primarily depicted with a more active and sometimes aggressive personality in contrast to Larry's calm and disgruntled demeanor. The popularity of both characters was also cited as a reason for its popularity, which has inspired a large amount of fanwork, such as fanart and fanfiction.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kōsuke Toriumi". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  2. ^ 『ポケモンマスターズ EX』イケおじ登場 アオキ役は堀内賢雄 カブ役は井上和彦. Oricon News (in Japanese). 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  3. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
  5. ^ Littlechild, Chris (2020-08-30). "Pokémon Sword & Shield: Every Gym Mission, Ranked". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  6. ^ Edmundson, Carlyle (2024-01-07). "Pokémon's Anime Has One Major Challenge Ash Still Hasn't Faced". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  7. ^ Lee, Julia (2022-11-18). "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Elite Four and Champion guide". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  8. ^ Cryer, Hirun (2022-11-21). "Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's most popular character is an apathetic gym leader called Larry". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2023-03-05. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  9. ^ a b Lada, Jenni (2022-11-27). "Larry May Be the Best New Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Character". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  10. ^ a b Sledge, Ben (2022-11-22). "Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's Larry Is My Spirit Animal". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  11. ^ Trama, Andrea (2023-12-28). "How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Indigo Disk Hints at One Fan-Favorite Trainer's Return in Future Games". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  12. ^ Edmundson, Carlyle (2024-04-03). "Pokémon Horizons' New Arc Is The Most Faithful Adaptation Of The Games". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 2024-04-06. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  13. ^ a b Shepard, Kenneth (2023-03-06). "Pokémon Fans Love This Gym Leader Because He's Just Like You, FR". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  14. ^ "副業しなきゃやってられない！？『ポケモン』のジムリーダーは意外に"薄給説"が浮上". インサイド (in Japanese). 2023-01-08. Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  15. ^ "【ポケモンSV】「非凡なサラリーマン」ジムリーダーのアオキが繰り出す切り札が社会人に効果ばつぐんと話題に". インサイド (in Japanese). 2022-12-03. Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  16. ^ Monbleau, Timothy (2023-01-06). "Check out Destructoid's favorite new video game characters of 2022". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  17. ^ a b Fujiwara, Hideaki (2023-03-04). "『ポケモンSV』アオキとチリの"日本でのカップリング人気"を海外ユーザーが不思議がり、理由を一生懸命考える。正反対（？）な2人". AUTOMATON (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  18. ^ Greatorex, Thomas (2022-11-21). "Why Larry is Subtly The Best Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Gym Leader". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
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