Original post by Ape Gone InsaneI think it is entirely fair to ignore the roots. The discussion at hand is focused on the films and TV series. Games offer a limited narrative, and like many franchises which start off as video games, they then develop - the development is outwards. In the modern context, many games incorporate moral messages and underlying themes. But I refuse to believe a game like Pokemon does (especially one of violence which is a game mechanic than a point of narrative), or it would be fair to then use that in this argument. You're unlikely to find any morals or signs of friendship in a Black and White gameboy game where the focus is interactive entertainment and fighting - in the same sense as something like Street Fighter. Pokemon, in many aspects, is derivative of fighting games.
The overarching tagline that you've brought up, "Gotta catch 'em all", is just a poor choice of words that have been ported over from the video games. In the video game sense, it makes complete sense to have that tagline. The tagline is the purpose and overall quest in a nutshell. You don't simply collect all the badges, and defeat the Elite Four. There has to be that element of re-playability (which Pokemon is famous for). That comes in the form of the tagline, to encourage you to capture every Pokemon once you've defeated the Elite Four. It's the last quest, the quest for total completion.
In the TV series and films, I hardly ever see that tagline in play. My memory of Pokemon is, of course, fuzzy from not watching it for such a long time. But if I recall correctly, 'catching them all' is not what the purpose highlighted in the show is. Becoming a Pokemon Master is, but not catching and enslaving every single Pokemon that can be found. Ash's capture count does not approach the 'triple digits'. He does not throw a Pokeball left, right and centre in an attempt to capture every Pokemon. In fact, many of the Pokemon under Ash are ones he has rescued from being mistreated by other Trainers. The number of Pokemon he has, in series 1 or the first film, is the size of a medium sized family. His Pokedex, as a substitute to capturing, actively documents every encounter. On that basis, I would say it is closer to pets.
On regards of the central point being violence in fighting, the focus in the films and TV series is on the nurturing of the Pokemon he is close to, the ones he has captured. They grow stronger the more they fight. They evolve. I would argue that's the rules that have been written for the world. Fighting is growing. And it's not violent fighting either. Each Pokemon is born with a set of attacks and type, each Pokemon utilises that against other Pokemon. It is nothing more than play fighting. Even in the video games, Pokemon are treated when they are tired/fainted at the Pokemon center. There is a whole establishment dedicated to treating them.
Where there is a negative theme, it is amongst the 'villains' who seek to indiscriminately capture Pokemon or enslave them to do their bidding. And it is clear, always clear, in the TV series and films that Ash and his gang are against this philosophy. Time and time again, whether they are faced with a villain or a legendary Pokemon, they will state the paragraph about how Pokemon are their friends, how Pikachu is his best friend. The bond between Pokemon and Trainer is stronger and more apparent than the bond between the humans themselves. I've never seen any real signs of friendship between Ash's friends - Misty and Brock. But Ash's friendship with Pikachu is done to the point of exhaustion. As is his struggles with Charizard.
I'm certainly not advocating that Pokemon has this unparalleled message. But I'm certainly against the view that that the themes it presents are 'usability - using a Pokemon for your own purpose'. I'm certain that the clear theme and moral message it presents is one of friendship between a trainer and between a Pokemon. And this is stronger than anything you see between the human companions themselves. And I certainly don't think it fair to bring the video games into this, I would view them as pretty distinct even though there are numerous similarities.