The sun, moon, and wormholes: Exploring ecological imperialism in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon

Abstract

This study aims to explore ecological imperialism, mechanics as meaning, and ecological literacy in the 3DS video games Pokémon Sun (2016) and Pokémon Moon (2016), developed by Game Freak, which are set in a Hawaii-inspired fictional region. Recognizing the Pokémon franchise’s worldwide appeal and the lack of postcolonial-ecocritical studies on Pokémon; the concepts of Ecological Imperialism and Entitlement by Graham Huggan and Helen Tiffin, Mechanics as Meaning by Catherine Canning, and Ecological Literacy by David Orr; and the descriptive-analytical research design, this study explores the varying relationships between the environment and living beings by identifying the anthropocentric and biocentric actions of human characters, which stem from entitlement or lack thereof; the natural and artificial islands of the Alolan region, the former teeming with biodiversity and the latter with inhumane experiments and suffering; and the Pokémon characters as parts of either the ecology of Alola as native biota or the invasive Ultra Beasts as portmanteau biota. With the gameplay expressing the wonders of biodiversity and the influence of living beings on one another, as well as the narrative addressing issues of invasive species and entitlement to space and life, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon can be considered ecologically literate games.