>>59042417Most Masuda regions are like this, especially since these protags also have anime buff (May, Dawn and Serena). These characters single-handedly carried their regions for basically decades now and are the only relevant characters anyone outside of the core Pokemon fanbase talks about
Contrast, any more story-driven game like Unova, Alola, Galar and Paldea still have tons of fans and fanart for the characters because there's more depth to them. Kanto and Johto are the odd ones out since they're the earliest in the franchise and Johto really needed HGSS for it to retain its identity to this day. Kanto is Kanto, Kanto characters persist the same way the Pokemon do just from sheer seniority. Though good luck hearing any genuine Kanto fans talk about characters they like outside of Red, Blue, Brock, Misty, Sabrina or Giovanni
