The Pokemon franchise is among the most profitable media properties in history. Video games are what started it all, but one major reason for the series' success, especially at the height of its popularity in the late 90s and early 2000s, was the anime. Despite being only a loose adaptation of the games, it proved to be enormously successful and a signifcant player in "Pokemania" alongside merchandise. Even the people responsible for bringing Pokemon to the West were aware of the anime's worth, since its North American premiere coincided with the release of Red and Blue.
The show is also partially responsible for shaping the public perception of Pokemon's identity, from how the eponymous creatures communicate to characters' personalities, and even the original Pokemon theme song being synonymous with the franchise itself. The show's decision to make the original games' first two Gym Leaders main characters was especially impactful. The Water-type specialist, Misty, might have left the main gang after five seasons, but her legacy is still felt to this day.
The Original Series
In Pokemon Red and Blue, Misty had a very limited role. She was the second Gym Leader and specialized in Water Pokemon, but she does not appear or after her boss battle. Despite her simplistic role in the games, the anime drastically changed her character. Unlike Brock, Misty is not introduced in her hometown, but instead during the very first episode. She is still a Water-type specialist, and starts off with her in-game team Staryu and Starmie, in addition to a Goldeen.
Unique to this version of Misty is her disdain for Bug-types, which is as strong as her stubborn love for Water-types. Despite these passionate relationships with specific Pokemon, she does not seem to be a professional trainer, and is implied to have barely more experienced than Ash. When the gang finally makes it to Cerulean City, the show reveals that Misty is not a Gym Leader. Instead, her three older sisters manage the Cerulean Gym. Misty still challenges Ash to a battle, which ends up being her first time fighting as a Gym Leader.
For the remainder of the Kanto and Johto seasons, Misty would be a tomboyish foil to both Ash and Brock’s shenanigans. She would frequently argue with the former over petty reasons, and constantly bring up that she is only travelling with him because his Pikachu destroyed her bike. She also introduced the running gag of pulling Brock away from women he was attracted to by the ear. Over time she became less hotheaded, particularly due to adopting a freshly hatched Togepi and catching several other Pokemon in the process. She would remain by her friends’ sides until the end of the Johto saga, and the bittersweet Pokemon episode where she parted ways with Brock and Ash is still remembered by older fans to this day.
The Third Generation
Although she was replaced by May as a travelling companion in the Hoenn saga, Misty was far from forgotten. After being directly mentioned by Ash in an episode, she returned for a short while. In these episodes, Misty’s character is a far cry from her amateur, neurotic self in the early episodes, highlighting her development. Her relationships with Ash and Brock are less toxic, she bonds with Max over their shared status as the youngest siblings in each family, and she is still the official Cerulean City Gym Leader. Most notably, she became confident and skilled enough as a Trainer to tame a Gyarados, which used to be the exception to her policy of worshiping Water-type Pokemon.
For an extra punch to the status quo, Misty’s Togepi - one of the most prevalent and iconic Pokemon from the anime - not only evolved, but was released to protect the other Togepi in the area. This moment was particularly poignant for several reasons. It represented the end of an era for Misty as a Trainer, and the anime as a story. Misty and Togepi were a very important duo. Togepi was one of the Pokemon that lasted the longest in its Trainer's party. It was one of the few Pokemon to never be in a Poke Ball and its mere presence started Misty's character development. Having Togepi not only evolve, but part ways with Misty is like evolving Ash's Pikachu or Team Rocket's Meowth and seeing them leave the Trainers that are essential to their characterization. In a way, what the Hoenn anime did was a bold move.
A Nostalgic Guest Appearance
When Pokemon Sun and Moon were adapted, a lot of things changed to stir up the formula, including the art style and animation. Nevertheless, that did not prevent the anime from providing nostalgic fan service to lure in older viewers who might have stopped watching the show. After years of absence, both Misty and Brock returned for a couple of episodes, all while wearing their original outfits for an extra layer of familiarity.
By the time she meets up with Ash in Alola, Misty has gotten rid of most, if not all, of her negative traits - including her infamous temper. Her “arguments” with Ash and Brock are clearly friendly banter with no malicious intent. Her Gyarados has become her signature Pokemon, to the point where it is capable of Mega Evolving. Her most impressive feat in this saga is finally being able to control her Psyduck’s temperament after decades of viewers watching her try to train it properly. Although she does not stay in Alola for a lot of episodes, her guest appearances in the Sun and Moon anime are satisfying for reasons other than nostalgia. Misty went from a relatively inexperienced Pokemon Trainer with a short temper and a complex about being in her sisters' shadows to a fully confident Water-type specialist that conquered one of her biggest fears and her biggest flaws.