discussion: AUs
I want to open up a discussion of sorts about AUs in Pokemon fandom.
I know that AUs aren't everyone's thing, but I personally adore them - especially love really intricate world building. But I feel like for an AU to be successful, it needs to maintain some integrity of the original series. In most cases, that is at least keeping the characterizations in tact while the characters interact in a different environment.
However, I feel that the more intricate the environment an AU stems from, the more integrity there needs to be maintained in order for it to be successful. Specifically, in the case of Pokemon, I especially feel like if you strip the series of Pokemon (those furry little critters), then the AU cannot and will not work. Even though a lot of the characters have strong personalities, Pokemon itself is too inherent to the identity of the series itself.
The problem that presents, then, is that you can't write a Pokemon AU unless if it's an AU of another Pokemon universe. For example, I personally couldn't write a WWII!AU with solider!Volkner and nurse!Jasmine because Pokemon obvious did not exist in WWII, even though their interaction in that setting could make for really interesting storytelling because I feel like they would lose too much of themselves.
I guess what I'm asking is - what do you think about AUs in Pokemon fandom? Do you also think that the actual existence of Pokemon limits what you can do in terms of world-building or am I too strict with my view of AUs? And feel free to share any awesome fic ideas you have. :3
I know that AUs aren't everyone's thing, but I personally adore them - especially love really intricate world building. But I feel like for an AU to be successful, it needs to maintain some integrity of the original series. In most cases, that is at least keeping the characterizations in tact while the characters interact in a different environment.
However, I feel that the more intricate the environment an AU stems from, the more integrity there needs to be maintained in order for it to be successful. Specifically, in the case of Pokemon, I especially feel like if you strip the series of Pokemon (those furry little critters), then the AU cannot and will not work. Even though a lot of the characters have strong personalities, Pokemon itself is too inherent to the identity of the series itself.
The problem that presents, then, is that you can't write a Pokemon AU unless if it's an AU of another Pokemon universe. For example, I personally couldn't write a WWII!AU with solider!Volkner and nurse!Jasmine because Pokemon obvious did not exist in WWII, even though their interaction in that setting could make for really interesting storytelling because I feel like they would lose too much of themselves.
I guess what I'm asking is - what do you think about AUs in Pokemon fandom? Do you also think that the actual existence of Pokemon limits what you can do in terms of world-building or am I too strict with my view of AUs? And feel free to share any awesome fic ideas you have. :3