Iris (anime)

Iris is a wild girl Ash met while traveling in the Unova region, Ash first encountered Iris by mistaking her hair for a Pokemon (since he saw her in a bush picking berries and used his Pokedex, which told him that the Pokemon was in her hair.) He then throws a Poke ball at her head. She then yells at Ash but soon becomes quick friends with his Pikachu, by hugging him and poking his cheeks which caused him to zap her. Her goal used to be a secret to Ash and Cilan, though it is revealed in BW030 that her goal was to become a dragon master. She also wishes to see the legendary Pokemon Zekrom. She appears to be a wild child and has been seen swinging from vines in forests in order to get from place to place. and that's why she doesn't need a bike, like Misty, May, and Dawn.

Iris, like Ash, Dawn and Misty seems to have her partner Pokémon stay out of its Poké Ball on most occasions. Her partner Pokémon being Axew, the Tusk Pokémon. However, despite the fact it doesn't go into its Poké Ball, Axew does jump into Iris' hair whenever Iris decides to actively go somewhere.

Unlike May or Dawn she practically radiates confidence. On the tomboy scale she is between Misty and May. Her expressions unseen by others suggests a sly, almost manipulative, but well meaning nature. Like Misty at the start of their journey, Ash is in the dark that Iris may or may not be a Gym Leader. Also like Misty, Iris thinks Ash is a little kid but helps him out since he doesn't know a lot about the Unova region.

Voice Actress

 * English: Eileen Stevens
 * Japanese: Aoi Yuki
 * Dutch: Sophie Hoeberechts

Trivia

 * Iris is considered the first Black character in the Pokemon anime, with Lenora being the second and Marshal being the third.
 * Iris is currently the only main character to travel with Ash in the anime series to keep her Japanese name.
 * Iris is the second dark-skin toned person to travel with Ash. The first was Brock. (Though her skin tone is darker than Brock.)
 * Iris is the fourth main character besides Ash, Misty and Dawn who keeps their partner Pokemon out of its Pokéball.
 * Iris doesn't have a bike. Ergo, she is the only female to have traveled with Ash who has not had their bike destroyed by Ash's Pikachu.
 * Iris is the second of Ash's companions to have an -type Pokemon. The first was Dawn.
 * Iris is named after the Iris Flower which is native to Africa and North America.
 * In BW034, Iris was revealed to have a fear of -type Pokémon, the same way Misty has a fear of -Type Pokémon.
 * Iris' fear of Ice-type Pokémon may be a reference to -type Pokémon being weak against -type moves.