Dawn (Pokémon)

Template:Pokémon character Dawn, known in Japan as Hikari (ヒカリ), is a human character from the multi-billion-dollar Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media, created by Satoshi Tajiri.

In the anime

The Pokémon anime series and films are a meta-series of adventures separate from the canon that most of the Pokémon video games follow (with the exception of Pokémon Yellow, a game based on the anime storyline). The anime follows the quest of the main character, Ash Ketchum—an in-training Pokémon Master—as he and several other companions travel around the fictitious world of Pokémon along with their Pokémon partners.

In the anime, Dawn is a ten year old girl Pokémon trainer from Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh. Her mother Johanna was once a Top Pokémon coordinator, having won the Grand Festival. Wishing to follow in her mother's footsteps, Dawn set out to become a Pokémon coordinator. Her starter Pokémon was a Piplup, received from Professor Rowan. She chose Piplup specifically because they already went through an adventure. Dawn also saw the legendary Pokémon Mesprit (similar to Ash, who saw Ho-Oh at the start of his journey).

Dawn came across an injured Pikachu whom she thought was a wild Pikachu thus Dawn and Piplup came forward and began trying to attack and capture it. Whilst defending itself from Dawn's Piplup, the Pikachu destroyed her bike (a running gag in the series— both May and Misty have had their bikes fried by an errant bolt of lightning). As it turned out, the Pikachu she came across was Ash's injured Pikachu. She and Piplup, again by themselves, helped save Pikachu from Team Rocket. She is currently traveling through Sinnoh with Ash and Brock. She also finds a rival in Zoey. In some of the episodes, Dawn tends to wear different clothing almost everyday. In contests, she usually puts on a fashionable dress. On the first episode, "Following a Maiden Voyage", she brought a suitcase full of contest dresses and clothing. However, her mother packed the necessary things in a small Pokémon bag (similar to the one in the games). She won the Floroama Ribbon with the help of Pachirisu and Piplup. She has a habit of saying "Don't worry!" even when the situation is worrisome.

Pokémon

• Piplup (Starter Pokémon)

Piplup is Dawn's starter Pokémon from the episode "Following a Maiden Voyage". Piplup had chased after Chimchar in Professor Rowan's lab in Sandgem Town after it stole its food and they got in a fight. Dawn found Piplup trapped in Ariados' web. She was able to free Piplup and they both escaped. Dawn and Piplup are best friends, though they tend to get into fights every now and then.

• Buneary

Buneary is the first Pokémon Dawn captured in the episode "Setting the World on its Buneary". Dawn has tried to capture a Buneary many times before but kept failing each time. Buneary is a female and has a crush on Ash's Pikachu, which can be spotted when it covers its face with its fluff and blushes. Later, it was defeated by Piplup and captured by Dawn.

• Pachirisu

Dawn found and captured a Pachirisu in the episode "I Got a Pachirisu!" Pachirisu tends to be hyperactive and runs away after she caught it. Pachirisu also zaps Dawn. (Compare to Pikachu and Ash in the beginning of the anime.) Dawn thought that she can't tame Pachirisu and released it. But after a battle with Team Rocket, Dawn recaptures Pachirisu and it became an active part of her roster.

• Buizel

Dawn caught Buizel in "Buizel! Road to Strength!!". Buizel is a strong Pokémon that defeated Ash's Pikachu, Dawn's Piplup and Zoey's Glameow. After a rematch with Dawn, Piplup defeated Buizel and it was caught. Buizel is very competitive so it dislikes losing. This was proven when it battled Lucian's Bronzong, after which that Buizel started to be more friendly.

In video games

Dawn is the female protagonist and player character of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. If the player chooses to play her, she will live in a house in Twinleaf Town. However, if the player chooses to play the male character, then she will be Professor Rowan's assistant and sometimes a partner in some Pokémon battles against Team Galactic grunts. As an NPC (non-player character), her house will be just south of Professor Rowan's lab in Sandgem Town.

Dawn is equipped with a few gadgets that will help her in her adventures. These consist of a Sinnoh Pokédex, a Pokétch, a bag and a bicycle. The Pokétch or "Pokémon Watch" is a new addition to the Pokémon series and is making its debut in Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. The Pokétch allows her to install several applications that will give her useful information during her quest for the Sinnoh League. These applications include a digital watch, a memo pad, a pedometer, a dowsing machine, a Pokémon list and so much more. Later on, she will obtain a bicycle that she can use to travel around Sinnoh on a much faster pace.