There are hundreds of characters in the Pokemon anime world, all of which are various degrees of brave, and all for different reasons. Some will be considered so for their physical acts of bravery, while others are brave for their compassion and confidence in themselves.

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It’s easy to be brave when you’re a Pokemon with powers, and even easier to be brave when you’re the trainer behind them. It also goes without saying that Ash, Misty, and Brock are among the bravest of the humans in the world of Pokemon, but take them away, you still have a collection of inspiring trainers and protectors.

10 Officer Jenny

Pokemon Anime Officer Jenny
Officer Jenny in the Pokemon Anime

Officer Jenny, though technically multiple people in this world, represents fearlessness in the face of evil. Running into battle against all the different criminal organizations - like Team Rocket- she’s even been known to stop Pokemon, like when she accused Pikachu of being a thief.

She takes her oath to protect and serve seriously, and does so with confidence. Even when she’s wrong, she accepts her mistakes and moves forward to be better and do better for the people she’s sworn to serve.

9 Cilan

Pokemon Cilan in suit

Never backing down from a fight, Cilan loves to win but also provide crucial feedback and wisdom to those he defeats. He thrives on knowledge, and is always seeking to know more about the world around him.

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When Ash first meets Cilan, he’s closed-minded despite his pursuit of knowledge. Through their many adventures, and the people they meet along the way, Cilan has become much more open-minded, which shows a unique bravery to learn and become a better person. Though he doesn’t exhibit a lot of physical bravery, it takes strength to allow your beliefs to be challenged.

8 Kiawe

Sun Moon Pokemon Anime Kiawe

A member of the Ultra Guardians - a task force formed to stop the Ultra Beasts - Kiawe is very serious about his work. He’s also extremely overprotective of his little sister, and will do anything to keep her safe.

Aside from going toe to toe with some of the biggest and strongest Beasts, he’s also a fire-type trainer, so Kiawe spends all his time dealing with the fiercest Pokemon. Though he’s quick to anger and start a battle, he typically wins.

7 Iris

Pokemon Iris climbs a tree

Iris’s fearlessness is often depicted as being a wild child - with her swinging off vines and climbing around. Her favorite Pokemon are dragons, as she believes they are all overwhelmingly good. She can read their thoughts and feelings easily, and has used dragon-types to achieve her position as the current Champion of Unova.

Ash constantly teases Iris for being a child and young, so it’s easy to shrug her bravery off as youthful ignorance, but she’s incredibly gifted as a trainer and confident in herself.

6 Clemont

Pokemon Gym Leader Clemont

An inventor whose inventions fail to work more often than they do, Clemont remains dedicated to his studies of science. His hunger for knowledge has elevated him to the status of Gym Leader of the Lumiose Gym, where he maintains his Pokemon.

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Taking this position seriously, he didn’t second guess having to defend his gym- and ultimately take it back with some help from Ash- when Team Flare attacked and took it over for their own personal gain. He fought tirelessly to regain his rightful claim of Lumiose Gym.

5 Pokémon Hunter J

J from the pokemon diamond and pearl anime

Brave for the exact opposite of nearly every other Pokemon character, J (or Pokemon Hunter J) is incredibly ruthless and disregards the well-being of anyone and everyone. She’s been known to put her own associates in danger for her own personal gain and wealth.

Since she only cares about money, she is extremely cold and calculating, which in turn makes her fearless in the face of danger and conflict. Even though her bravery is used for evil and ill-will, it shouldn’t go unnoticed by those around her so she isn’t underestimated.

4 Champion Cynthia

pokemon champions cynthia

The current Champion of the Sinnoh region, Cynthia displays both physical and mental bravery frequently. She’s a very powerful Pokemon trainer, taking on the biggest challenges with confidence.

Cynthia also dives right into helping with all major crises her friends find themselves in- especially when fighting against Team Rocket and Team Galactic. She doesn’t back down against the meanest of criminals, choosing instead to stand up for what’s right, even with the odds stacked against her.

3 Lillie

Screenshot of Lillie from the Pokemon anime

Another member of the Ultra Guardians, she boldly fights to capture and contain Ultra Beasts, a far cry from her previous stance with Pokemon where she was absolutely terrified to be around them, let alone touch them. She was forced to flee her home as a child when an accident involving Pokemon left her family in danger.

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Her mother was later kidnapped and put in harm's way again with Pokemon, but Lillie rallied herself and her wits and saved her mother, overcoming her fears and displaying true bravery.

2 Dawn

Dawn has a determined face

Dawn is known for her confidence and high self-esteem. She openly admits when she’s made a mistake, and does what she needs to in order to learn from and overcome her failures. She doesn’t handle losing well, though, and fell into a deep depression after a loss. She fought through her depression, overcoming it to win the Wallace Cup.

Despite her bravery being on a mental level over physical, it is extremely important, as she goes on to help Ash and Maylene with their own battles with depression.

1 Leon

Pokemon Sword Shield Leon Charizard
Champion Leon with his Charizard in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Leon’s bravery lies entirely in his self-worth. He’s the kindest and most compassionate character in all of the Pokemon anime, and even though his driving force is to be the absolute best, he encourages everyone to strive to be the best- especially those he defeats in battle. He reminds kind even in the face of those who wish him ill.

When he competed in the World Coronation Series at the Master Class level, and nearly lost with a wounded Charizard, but overcame his disadvantages with determination and a positive attitude to win.

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