Just in time for the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, we bring you a sequel Pokémon episode - with a twist! This time we ask the question: is the Pokémon universe truly solarpunk??? 👀👀👀

Press play to hear about the solarpunk elements of Pokémon (including sustainability, clean energy, and harmonious human-nature relationships ♻️🌱⚡️), the not so solarpunk elements of Pokémon (including capitalist💰 and colonialist mechanics), and the future potential of the franchise 🔴⚪️👾

Episode time stamps:

0:00 Introduction

3:28 Solarpunk elements of Pokémon

45:19 The not so solarpunk elements of Pokémon

58:43 The future of Pokémon

1:07:48 Good news from our world!

Want more? Here are some things that we spoke about in this episode that we recommend:

• Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of Sea (2006 movie)

• Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2009 movie)

• Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016 games)• Bulbapedia on Sunyshore City (https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Sunyshore_City)

• Interview with Junichi Masuda in Nintendo Power (https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Issue_240_April_2009/page/n43/mode/2up)

• How Does the POKEMON GOVERNMENT Work? (ft. BirdKeeperToby) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OefUCoIdfUg)

• Pokemon: The First Movie (1997)What is meat made of in the Pokémon games? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PRiSkGCK0w)

• Why Conservationists Should Heed Pokémon (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.295.5564.2367b)

• ‘It is a Pokémon world’: The Pokémon franchise and the environment (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1367877913501240)

• Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002 games)• From the top... | Pokemon Blazeblack Solarpunk Challange (#1) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpa8gQMrmCw)

• Herbelovedghast’s quote from ‘Tonight’s realization: Pokémon is a Solarpunk setting.’ (https://pocketseizure.tumblr.com/post/172519120467)

Good News Stories:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevz13xkxprohttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/backyard-biobanking-tasmania-alpine-plants-bushfire-threat/105730036