Sketchit - Recurring Characters

Recurring Characters

Delia Ketchum (ハナコ, Hanako?)

Voiced by: Masami Toyoshima (Japanese), Veronica Taylor (4Kids, English), Sarah Natochenny (TPCI, English)

She is Ash's mother. Delia is very caring of her son, always reminding him to do his best. She is very talented, having won a beauty pageant and cooked a dish so popular that elite chefs at the Indigo Plateau have asked for its recipe. It is not known who is the father of Ash, but it isn't clear that Ash's parents have separated, although she has contacted him at least once since Ash left. She has a Mr. Mime housekeeper who helps her with chores and is also rather adept in battle. In the Japanese version, the name of Satoshi's mother was, for a long time, unrevealed (with her referring to herself as Satoshi no haha or referred as Mama-san, although the role was credited as Hanako). The name Hanako (and its English counterpart, Delia) was revealed during the second Pocket Monsters movie. She also is constantly reminding Ash to change his underwear.

Nurse Joy (ジョーイ, Jōi?)

Voiced by: Ayako Shiraishi (EP002-EP229, Japanese), Kikuko Inoue (Temp. Replacement from EP491-EP516, Japanese), Yuriko Yamaguchi (EP245-EP488; EP517-EP656, Japanese), Chika Fujimura (EP659-present, Japanese), Megan Hollingshead (EP002-EP316, 4Kids, English), Bella Hudson (EP323-EP418, 4Kids, English), Michele Knotz (EP425-EP656, TPCI, English), Alyson Rosenfeld (EP659-present, TPCI, English)

"Joy" is the shared last name of Joy family, in which most members are nurses. They mainly work in Pokémon Centers, but they also work in other locations. They are also often accompanied by a Chansey or Blissey (throughout Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh) or Audino (throughout Unova). Like Chansey, Blissey and Audino, all Nurse Joys are mostly hospitable, especially towards Pokémon. Brock, who claims to be able to tell the Joys just by minor appearance details (different-colored crosses on their hats; hair is slightly shorter; smile is wider; etc.), is infatuated with every Nurse Joy he meets, and often has to be restrained by a traveling companion. Although all of them look almost identical to each other, some do have different personalities, and a few even other occupations besides nursing. There is a Nurse Joy who is a body builder, a contest judge and even one who is scared of water Pokémon. In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl series, there was also a Nurse Joy who is married and has two daughters who both have the name "Joy" at the end of their names and looks exactly like their mother rather than their father. Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga author Toshihiro Ono cited her as one of his favorite characters to draw for the series, stating the reason as "because she's a girl".

Officer Jenny (ジュンサー, Junsā?, Junsar)

Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (EP002-EP632, Japanese), Chiaki Takahashi (EP663-present, Japanese)

"Jenny" is the shared last name of Jenny family, in which most members are police officers and maintain the law and order in the Pokémon world, and often opposes members of Team Rocket. The Japanese name, junsaa, means "police officer". Officer Jennies are often accompanied by Growlithe or a particular Pokémon that is of importance in a town or a personal preference to that Jenny, such as a Wobbuffet, Spinarak or even a Chatot. There are also many with trademark items to differentiate some, but are just as few as the Joys. The only differences are the symbols on their hats and their uniforms (which are different depending on their region.)

Raoul Contesta (コンテスタ, Contesuta?)

Voiced by: Koichi Sakaguchi (Japanese)

Mr. Contesta is main judge of the three contest judges of Pokémon Contests. He is usually the first one to comment on the Pokémon, and the one who offers advice to the Coordinators. He is critical, but fair in his judgments.

Mr. Sukizo (スキゾー, Sukizou-san?)

Voiced by: Yoshinori Sonobe

Mr. Sukizo is one of the three judges for Pokémon contests, alongside Mr. Contesta and Nurse Joy. His appearance resembles that of a male PokéFan, which may have served as inspiration for his design. Sukizo is a man of few words as the only thing he ever seems to say is "I like it" (好きですね). In the English adaptation of the series, his phrase is "remarkable".

Lyra (コトネ, Kotone?)

Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima (Japanese), Eileen Stevens (English)

Lyra is a female trainer from Johto who joins Ash and friends for a couple of episodes (from "An Egg Scramble! to "Bagged Then Tagged!"). Lyra is based on the female player character of the same name in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In "A Rivalry To Gible On", Lyra tried to make Dawn and Khoury a couple, but realized that she had feelings for Khoury.

Khoury (カズナリ, Kazunari?)

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima (Japanese), Christopher Niosi (English)

He is a male trainer from Johto who joins Ash and friends for a couple of episodes (from "An Egg Scramble! to "Bagged Then Tagged!"). He, like Brock, wants to become a breeder someday.

Don George (ドン・ジョージ, Don Jōji?)

Voiced by: Hisao Egawa (Japanese), Marc Thompson (English)

"Don George" is the name of the owners of Pokémon Battle Clubs (ポケモンバトルクラブ, Pokemon Batoru Kurabu?) throughout Unova. Like the Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys, there are many Don Georges that are all identical, but having different colored collars and wrist bands.

Luke (ルーク, Rūku?)

Voiced by: Minami Takayama (Japanese), Billy Bob Thompson (English)

Luke is a young Pokémon trainer and amateur filmmaker Ash, Iris, and Cilan meet with when they reach Nimbasa City. He uses his Zorua, Golett, and Leavanny to make films, and has Ash, Cilan, and Iris help him finish his latest film. He later joins them in signing up for the Don Battle tournament, using his Larvesta to reach the semi-finals.

Cynthia (シロナ, Shirona?)

Voiced by: Tomo Sakurai (Japanese), Emily Jenness (English)

Cynthia is the reigning Champion of the Sinnoh Pokémon League. Her side interests are in studying the archaeology and legends of the Sinnoh Region. She appears many times throughout the Diamond & Pearl series where helps Ash and his friends try to stop Team Galactic from reaching their ultimate goal. Successful, she later appears at the Sinnoh League tournament where she observes the battles as the league's Champion. She reappears in Best Wishes! Season 2 and reunites with Ash, as she has arranged to enter Unova's Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup for a demonstration match against a member of Unova's Elite 4. For the first few episodes of the Season, Ash and his friends (along with Dawn) stay at her villa in Undella Town.