Giovanni (game)

Giovanni (サカキ Sakaki) doubles as the Gym Leader for Viridian City's Gym, and as the Boss of the criminal organization Team Rocket. As the Gym Leader, Giovanni holds the Earth Badge for the trainers that defeat him, and specializes in Ground-type Pokémon.

In the Generation II games, Giovanni has disappeared inexplicably, leaving Team Rocket scrambling and confused.

In Anime
Giovanni in the anime series serves as the Head of Team Rocket, never really shown taking action in field work, but rather sends the grunts and other members for that. Jessie, James and Meowth along with other members, are constantly striving to please him in their actions, usually without his compliance.

Giovanni has only been shown once as the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym in the episode The Battle of the Badge, facing off against Gary. In this episode he used Mewtwo, which he was controlling with a machine, against Gary's Pokémon, brutally defeating him. By the time Ash challenged the Gym, Giovanni left on account of an emergency, leaving Jessie, James and Meowth in charge. Ever since the destruction of the Gym, he had never returned to it.

In Game
Giovanni first appeared in the Generation I games as the Leader of Team Rocket. Eventually, it was revealed that he was the Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym, and the final Gym Leader the player faces. Upon defeating him, Giovanni states that he's giving up on Team Rocket and disappears.

Later on, in the Generation II games, Team Rocket still functions without Giovanni, and believe that he will return. The lost Team Rocket attempt several acts, in order to call their former Leader, though he never makes an appearance.

In the Generation III remakes, Giovanni retains his first role in exactly the same way, with the exception of his updated appearance.

In Generation IV, Giovanni is still missing, but appears as an optional battle in the Celebi Event where it is revealed Silver is his son.

Trivia

 * Giovanni is believed by some to be the father of Ash Ketchum. This is due to his relationship with Delia Ketchum while they were teenagers
 * Giovanni's name may come from the word GEO for the first part of his name. Geo is latin for Earth and this is because he is a Ground type trainer.
 * It may also be a pun on how most 20's and 30's American gang members had Itallian names like Alfonso (Al) Capone. Giovanni is a very Italian name and this is because he is a gang leader himself (Team Rocket).

Voice Actors

 * English: Ted Lewis (current)
 * English: Craig Blair
 * Japanese: Kenta Miyake (current)
 * Japanese: Hirotaka Suzuoki