From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Gold (game) redirects here. For the game titled "Pokémon Gold Version", see Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions.

This article is about the male protagonist whose default name is クリス in the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal. For the female player character in Pokémon Crystal with the same Japanese name, see Kris (game).

Ethan (Japanese: ヒビキ Hibiki) is the main playable character in Pokémon Gold and Silver and is the male choice in Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In Crystal, his female counterpart is Kris, while in HeartGold and SoulSilver, his female counterpart is Lyra.

In the core series

As the protagonist

Ethan's journey as a Trainer begins when Professor Elm asks him to run an errand for Mr. Pokémon, who lives north of Cherrygrove City on Route 30. Because he may encounter dangerous wild Pokémon along the way, Elm gives him a choice between three Pokémon to protect him: Cyndaquil, Totodile or Chikorita.

Ethan spots another boy his age watching Elm's Lab from outside. When Ethan tries to talk to him, the boy abruptly shoves him away. This boy, Silver, will become Ethan's rival.

Ethan continues onward and finally meets Mr. Pokémon and completes his errand. While there he meets Professor Oak who, upon realizing Ethan's bond with his new Pokémon, gives him a Pokédex. On his way back home, Ethan again meets Silver, who has stolen one of Elm's remaining Pokémon. After defeating the boy in battle, the boy tells Ethan his nameGSC/Ethan learns the boy's name from his dropped Trainer CardHGSS, and Ethan relays it to the police in New Bark Town. Professor Elm allows Ethan to keep the Pokémon he chose earlier, and also encourages him to compete in the Johto League.

Ethan begins on a Pokémon journey in the Johto region, facing off against its eight Gym Leaders, defeating and disbanding the revived Team Rocket, and becoming Pokémon League Champion by defeating the Elite Four and its previous Champion, Lance at Indigo Plateau. Along the way he also teaches Silver to respect Pokémon as living creatures and not just as tools for battle.

After being declared the Pokémon League Champion, Ethan then journeys by ship from Olivine City to Vermilion City in Kanto. Traveling around that region, he battles against another set of eight Gym Leaders. Upon getting permission from Professor Oak in Pallet Town, Ethan heads for Mt. Silver via Route 28. His journey comes to a close when, deep in Mt. Silver's cave, he faces the Champion from Pallet Town, Pokémon Trainer Red, who had been training there since shortly after he became Pokémon League Champion three years prior.

As a non-playable character

In Pokémon Crystal, if Kris is selected, then the male player character will not appear in the game at all (although his sprite will be used in a link battle with another game from Generation II as well as opponents in Viridian City's Trainer House).

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, if Lyra is selected to be the player character, Ethan meets her in New Bark Town at the start of the game. In this particular scene, he is seen with a Marill. He will always have Marill even if another starter Pokémon is selected. In addition, he doesn't appear to take the remaining starter Pokémon. His role in the storyline of HeartGold and SoulSilver is similar to that of Lucas/Dawn in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum if they are not chosen as the player character, while Lyra takes this place if he is selected as the player. He teaches the player how to catch Pokémon on Route 29 (replacing the Dude from Gold, Silver, and Crystal).

While playing as Lyra, his grandparents run the Pokémon Day Care on Route 34. He also gives the player the Fashion Case in Goldenrod Tunnel and the Vs. Recorder on Route 31. Naturally, this role is given to Lyra if he is the player character.

Pokémon

Ethan uses this party to show the player how to catch Pokémon when Lyra is selected as the player character in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Caught in tutorial

Mentioned

When called with the Pokégear at different locations, Ethan will mention he owns certain Pokémon.





In spin-off games

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

Ethan is the player character in the Challenge mode of Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. In this mode, he challenges the Gym Leaders and Elite Four of Johto in puzzle games.

Ethan pairs alongside Cyndaquil and its evolved forms Quilava and Typhlosion in Pokémon Masters EX.

Artwork

Sprites

Quotes

Optional names

Game Japanese English French German Italian Spanish Korean Gold ゴールド Gold

ヒロキ Hiroki

テツオ Tetsuo

タカシ Takashi Gold

Hiro

Taylor

Karl Gold

Julien

Jean

Jacques Gold

Daniel

Fritz

Karl Oro

Paolo

Diego

Carlo Oro

Hiro

Tomás

Carlos 골드 Gold

수호 Suho

인철 Incheol

강산 Gangsan Silver シルバー Silver

カモン Kamon

トオル Tōru

マサオ Masao Silver

Kamon

Oscar

Max Silver

Daniel

Pierre

Paul Silber

Thomas

Oscar

Hans Argento

Luca

Paolo

Max Plata

Kamon

Óscar

Max 실버 Silver

청운 Cheong'un

지겸 Jigyeom

찬호 Chanho Crystal クリス Chris

ヨウスケ Yōsuke

タケヒロ Takehiro

タカオ Takao Kris

Mat

Allan

Jon Chris

Benji

Nicolas

Jean Chris

Arnold

Gert

Jon Chris

Sergio

Giacomo

Manuele Chris

Antonio

Álex

Emilio HeartGold

SoulSilver ハート Heart HG

ソウル Soul SS

サトシ Satoshi

ケン Ken

カケル Kakeru

ジャック Jack

ジャン Jean

ジョン John

カモン Kamon

タカシ Takashi

テツオ Tetsuo

トオル Tōru

ヒロキ Hiroki

マサオ Masao

タカオ Takao

タケヒロ Takehiro

トウゴ Tōgo

ヒトシ Hitoshi

ヨシナオ Yoshinao Heart HG

Soul SS

Ash

Nic

Dion

Duncan

Jude

Ross

Shae HG / Shea SS

Darrell

Terell

Kris

Brad

Dwight

Talon

Lonny

Jess

Eric

Chase Heart

Soul

Dilan

Gurvan

Gabriel

Allane

Zack

Marc

Loris

Max

Damien

Tom

Greg

Kamel

Franck

Ralph

Seb

Daniel

Thomas Heart HG

Soul SS

Karsten

Gerd

Hans

Jack

Jan

John

Daniel

Helge

Uhland

Tobit

Ugo

Berno

Jon

Rafik

Boris

Thomas

Silvio Heart HG

Soul SS

Ash

Nico

Elmo

Mattia

Silvano

Rossano

Kamon

Karl

Gabry

Oscar

Dino

Daniel

Manuele

Ralph

Lucio

Paolo

Marco Heart HG

Soul SS

Ash

Llamin

Casio

Job

Chechu

Juande

Javi

Ral

Marino

Toilo

Nahum

Max

Morel

Ralph

Russ

Erminio

Quinn 하트 Heart HG

소울 Soul SS

지우 Jiu

캔 Ken

호진 Hojin

상우 Sang'u

쟝 Jyang

재범 Jaebeom

청운 Cheong'un

강산 Gangsan

인철 Incheol

지겸 Jigyeom

숙호 Sukho

찬호 Chanho

지훈 Jihun

윤호 Yunho

케이 Kay

다인 Dain

상현 Sanghyeon





Counterparts

In the anime

In the main series

Jimmy, the main protagonist of The Legend of Thunder!, is the first anime counterpart of Ethan, and seems to be based on him in the most basic sense, much more than Ash was based on his game counterpart, Red. Jimmy follows Ethan's design from Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like Ethan, Jimmy is from New Bark Town and receives a starter from Professor Elm. He also encounters the counterparts of Silver and Kris on his journey.

Ethan's second counterpart has a cameo appearance at the beginning of Zoroark: Master of Illusions, where he had a battle against Ash. This counterpart follows Ethan's updated design from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. It has been argued that this is Jimmy in an updated look, rather than a different counterpart, but this counterpart is identified as "Hibiki" (Ethan's Japanese name) in the Japanese DVD of the movie.

Pokémon

This is a listing of Ethan's known Pokémon in the anime:

Donphan Ethan used Donphan in a battle against Ash at the beginning of the thirteenth movie. During the battle, it fought Pikachu. It was not shown who won the battle. Donphan's only known move is Rollout. Debut Zoroark: Master of Illusions

In Pokémon Generations

Ethan made two brief appearances in The Lake of Rage. First, he and Lance infiltrated the Team Rocket HQ separately. He then communicated with Lance through his Pokégear about updates on their mission, and acted as a decoy for Lance's attacks.

Much like the other player characters depicted in Pokémon Generations, Ethan doesn't have any lines of dialogue.

In the manga

Ethan, like most player characters, also has several counterparts in the various Pokémon manga series.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Ethan's Pokémon Adventures counterpart, Gold

Gold from Pokémon Adventures is based on Ethan.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

Gold from Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys is based on Ethan.

In the Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic manga

Soul from Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic is based on Ethan.

In the Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokéathlon manga

Main article: Takashi

Takashi from Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokéathlon is based on Ethan.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga

Main article: Jō

Jō from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure is based on Ethan.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Gold from Pokémon Pocket Monsters is based on Ethan.

Trivia

Names

Language Name Origin Japanese ヒビキ Hibiki From 響き hibiki (echo; sound) English Ethan Biblically, Ethan/Eitan is believed to be the author of Psalm 89 and/or a harp or cymbal player in King David's court. German Klarin From Klarinette (clarinet) Spanish Eco From eco (echo) French Luth From luth (lute) Italian Armonio From armonia (harmony) or armonio (harmonium) Korean 심향 Simhyang From 심 (心) sim (heart) and 향 (響) hyang (echo) Chinese ( Mandarin ) 阿響 Ā Xiǎng From 響 xiǎng / héung (echo; sound) Chinese ( Cantonese ) 阿響 A Héung











