Quoted By:
48991367
>Sugimori: At one time, the protagonist would fight as well. But then we asked ourselves “If you can fight on your own, what’s the point of having Pokémon?”
literally no indication that has to do with the whips
concept art clearly shows the whips being used in a different manner
+
even in leafgreen/firered where they toned things down the tamer pokemon class retained its whip. the trainer iconography of having a lollypop and whip is the japanese equivalent of the expression "carrot and stick" - the lollypop representing the positive and the whip the negative types of reinforcement
btfo retard
