If there’s anything that Pokémon Sun & Moon will be known for in several years, it’ll be its stories. While Pokémon X and Y moved the series out of pixel art and into 3D models, Sun & Moon moved the story of Pokémon games from pure text to animated cutscenes and emotive trainers.
Presenting this story, though, are its characters. From their designs to what they contribute to the story and world of Alola are invaluable. These ten especially are bound to be faces and personalities that won’t be forgotten soon in Pokémon history.
10 Hau
On first impression, Hau probably isn't many people’s favorite character. He shows up a frustrating amount more than other travel companions, interrupting you with cutscenes and some bizarrely difficult battles. As far as rivals go, he’s more irritating than helpful most of the time.
What makes Hau a fun character to have is his position in the game as your rival. By taking the starter Pokémon with a type disadvantage to yours, theories immediately started flowing that you’re Hau’s rival more than he’s yours. You act as an obstacle and challenge for him, and even if he’s a little annoying and weak he serves a satisfying purpose.
9 Guzma
In the world of Pokémon criminals, Guzma is a huge outlier. Compared to cruel masterminds like Pokémon Red & Blue's Giovanni, or ambitious eco-terrorists like Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire’s Archie and Maxie, Guzma is less of a criminal leader and more of a schoolyard bully.
Thankfully, that’s all he needs to be. With Lusamine as the real villain of the story, having Guzma and Team Skull as a repeated annoyance is a perfect fit and immediately makes his team more memorable than any other team boss.
8 Lusamine
While Guzma might be the fun enemy, the real threat to Alola is far from a bland villain. Besides her uniquely bright and futuristic style, she’s an overbearing parent at the end of the day, frustrated that her children won't listen to her and wanting to protect Pokémon. Unfortunately, she takes it to an unfortunate and world-threatening extreme.
For the plot, this ends up making her more engaging with an enemy. Seeing her children, Lillie and Gladion, stand up to her through the game makes for a much more satisfying conclusion than other Pokémon stories.
7 Samson Oak
Samson Oak is undoubtedly a joke. He’s clearly the same Professor Oak that Pokémon fans know and love, but with a tan, long hair, and a little more weight. In terms of aesthetics, he might as well be wearing a fake mustache and a top hat.
Does that make him any less entertaining, though? Absolutely not. Oak is the kind of wise and pleasing character that makes a veteran Pokemaniac feel at home, and seeing a familiar face with a fun coat of paint is extremely welcome. Seeing the futuristic Grand Oak in Pokémon Home, this is a tradition that the Pokémon Company might be looking to continue and is a wonderful recurring gag.
6 Nanu
Nanu may not have a massively significant role in Sun & Moon, but Nintendo’s pocket monster franchise has had only two types of cops show up: Officer Jenny, and several random trainers that look like they came out of a Disney cartoon.
When stacked next to those, Nanu the tired and ready-to-retire cop is a breath of fresh air. The time you spend on his island lets you experience him following the crime and looking for his successor as Kahuna, and while trainers aren’t his main priority he feels like an actual character living and functioning in Alola. Of all the Island Kahunas, he stands out in the best way.
5 Mina
Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon didn’t add too much to the story of Alola, but Mina was one of the additions that is much needed. While the Fairium Z is just a gift from her after the main story in Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon give you a full island-hopping adventure to earn it.
Besides, with fairy-type Pokémon only being introduced one generation prior, the personalities and faces of fairy-type gym leaders are still massively unexplored. This bubbly artist is another gorgeous character, standing beautifully and unique next to Pokémon X & Y's Valerie and Pokémon Sword & Shield’s Opal.
4 Sophocles
Sophocles is memorable less for his character and personality than for his look. While most Island Captains of Alola are lanky preteens in summer clothing, Sophocles greatly differs by being an angry, pudgy boy who looks more like his Togemaru than the other human characters.
Sophocles also is a part of Sun and Moon’s recurring wonderful theme of family, being the cousin of the Elite Four’s steel-type expert Molayne. Alola is a very friendly and close-knit world compared to massive continents like Kanto and Hoenn, and Sophocles has a lovely round face to match his lovely small world.
3 Gladion
Gladion is a necessary opposite to Hau’s childishness. He’s extremely serious, moody, and the closest thing to a goth in the entire Alola region, and a refreshing break from all the positivity you get from nearly every other character.
If anything, Gladion’s most similar to Pokémon Gold and Silver's rival, Silver, as both characters take their battling too seriously and are children of their game's respective villains. Unlike Gold and Silver, though, Gladion’s relationship to the villain matters to the story and gets explored, so his moody identity is far more than just some dramatic posing.
2 Kahili
Kahili is the best Pokémon character you’ll learn nothing about, at least from the games. She’s obviously a golfer, but the one golf course in Alola is locked off from players and just a background piece, making her hobby somewhat of a mystery. Her main appearance is at the end of the game as a member of the Elite Four, so she’s clearly famous, but not in a way you’ll hear about leading up to her battle.
Nonetheless, seeing a flying-type expert who isn’t a wannabe pilot like every other flying-type expert from Pokémon is surprisingly memorable.
1 Kukui
Kukui is undoubtedly the most memorable and entertaining Pokémon professor by far. While Hoenn’s Professor Birch and Sinnoh’s Professor Rowan are some lovely men, none of them are truly distinct like Kukui. Just from looking at his open shirt and self-satisfied smirk you know everything about his persona and his Alolan identity right out the gate.
Beyond his appearance, he’s also got far more going on in life than any of the other professors. He’s a proficient battler with a masked alter-ego, he’s friendly with you and wild Pokémon, and makes quick friends with everyone from you to your mom. You see him lots throughout the game, but every appearance is energetic and entertaining.