Impact of Pokémon on the Elementals Universe travels far and wide

Pokémon is a classic fandom and one whose inspiration travels far and wide all over the Elementals Universe, not just the Renegades Epic.

Ah, yes, the classic franchise that is Pokémon. If you grew up when I did, back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, you’re probably familiar with this one. For me, I am as far as Generations I and II go but after that, I lost interest. 

Still, it, along with the hit TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender, got me interested in elemental magic and its use in fiction. You can argue that Pokémon may’ve played a larger impact than Last Airbender, mainly because of the fact I like using the term ‘level,’ or the phrase ‘combat level,’ to explain my characters’ experience in honing their element.

The lower an Elemental’s level, the fewer moves they know. And those they can conjure, well, they’re not strong. As they level up, Elementals perform an array of stronger moves and their repertoire grows. 

But they don’t evolve, because that would just be silly. Instead, once they reach level sixty-five except for in rare instances, a sword manifests in their hand. With swords, they channel their magic faster and with more power, all with a smaller energy cost. They can also pinpoint their targets better. 

Oh, and if they’re strong enough, sword-wielding Elementals, also called Elemental Masters at such a point, can control their swords even if they’re not in their hands. And best yet, the strongest Elemental Masters out there can render their swords invisible, further throwing off opponents. 

Pokémon elements run strong in the Elementals Universe

Like Avatar: The Last Airbender, you’re getting the four classical elements of water, earth, air (wind), and fire. I also added spirit, which is sort of like a combo between ghost and psychic as far as the pocket monsters comparisons go. 

But I wanted more than just that, so smoke (inspired by the move smokescreen), wood, blood, and metal joined in. And still, they aren’t the only elements present, but they’re the ones you almost universally see. 

In rare occurrences, I also have ice and electric, something you’ll find in BattleFront (Chronicles of Rondure: Book II). I’ve also mentioned elements like rock, moon, sun, sky, and snow, just to name a few more. These Elementals, though, can only control such elements under specific circumstances. 

For example, Earth Elementals can control rock along with other elements of earth. But the rare Rock Elemental can only control rock, and nothing else. Snow Elementals can only control water if it’s snow, and Ice Elementals can only control ice, but not snow or water. Water Elementals, however, can control snow, water, and ice. 

Also, Elemental Swords won’t manifest for any Elemental who can’t control one of the first nine that I mentioned: air (wind), water, earth, fire, spirit, smoke, wood, blood, or metal. Still, they can make their own swords and, by way of an incantation and a ritual, give them special properties. 

Nods to the franchise in the Elementals Universe

So many pop culture elements (no pun intended) inspired the Elementals Universe that I’ll write a book on them someday. Star Wars inspired Sentrys of Terrene, while Harry Potter played a major role in the Terrian Chronicles. 

For all of my works in a major subsector of the Elementals Universe called the Renegades Epic, MCU’s Infinity Saga inspired it, albeit from a fantasy perspective. Pokémon may’ve been a larger inspiration than all of the above since elemental magic spans an entire universe. 

My Arcane Elemental Academy series isn’t in the Renegades Epic, but it’s in the Elementals Universe. And I have a few other works cooked up that also fall outside the Epic, even with elemental magic prevalent. The common denominator? Elemental magic with that Pokémon twist inspired them, too. 

Anyway, there is a nod or two toward the franchise. Developed in Japan, I have quite a few characters of East Asian descent with Japanese names like Mina Hirai, Asuka Nakamoto, and Amiya. These characters land in Chronicles of Rondure, while Braden Hawk’s love interest, Kira Myoi, is a major character in the Terrian Chronicles.

Kira’s dad, Satoshi, is a name I took from the franchise. Satoshi Tajiri created Pokémon, so that alone is a nod. Then there’s Ash Ketchum, whose name in the Japanese version is Satoshi. In the Terrian Chronicles, Satoshi goes by the name Ash at times. 

In Cursed Mage, Ella Kinnunen quips that Kaija Jokiharju mastered the ‘splash’ technique, saying “it does absolutely nothing but annoy an opponent.” Yeah, we all know where that came from.

More pop culture nods in the Renegades Epic

The Terrian Chronicles might be my most interesting series. Since it takes place in an alternate version of our own world, there’s a lot of pop culture mentions. Of course, the Harry Potter inspiration shines early in the work, when Tarja Titan quips “I’m going to Hogwarts,” which she immediately compares to Celestial University. 

Star Wars is mentioned in passing in BattleFront. Although the work is part of the Chronicles of Rondure series, one character, Rokko Streets, made trips to Terra (Earth), and acknowledged watching the movies. 

Braden’s also a big NFL fan, specifically of the Arizona Cardinals, which leads to Tarja following the team. At one point, Kira acknowledges that Braden, who is from Eastern Ohio, chose the Cards over the much more successful Pittsburgh Steelers. 

And this is all the tip of a larger iceberg. So, if you want a dose of funny pop culture nods amidst a backdrop of elemental magic with some sword and sorcery in modern societies, you may like some of my books. Not sure where to begin? Why not start with the very first novel, Wind Wielder?