The Alola region changed everything. Seriously. When Pokémon Sun and Moon dropped in 2016, it felt like Game Freak finally decided to break their own rules. They tossed out the Gym Leaders we’d known for decades and replaced them with Island Trials. But the real heart of that shift wasn't just the gameplay mechanics; it was the pokemon sun and moon pokemon characters who inhabited this tropical archipelago. They weren't just cardboard cutouts waiting for a battle. They had baggage. They had family trauma. They had actual personalities that made the Alola region feel lived-in and, honestly, a little bit weird.
If you played through Gen 7, you know the vibe is different. It’s sunny, but there’s a lurking darkness under the surface, mostly centered around the Aether Foundation and the localized phenomenon of Ultra Beasts. These characters weren't just there to hand out TMs. They were there to tell a story about growing up and finding your own path, even when your parents are literal interdimensional-obsessed megalomaniacs.
The Tragic Brilliance of the Lillie and Lusamine Dynamic
You can't talk about pokemon sun and moon pokemon characters without starting with Lillie. She’s the emotional anchor of the entire narrative. When you first meet her, she’s hiding "Nebby" (Cosmog) in a duffel bag and can't even stand to see a Pokémon get hurt. It’s a far cry from the usual rival archetypes.
Lillie’s growth is the most significant character arc we’ve ever seen in a mainline Pokémon game. Her transformation from a terrified girl controlled by her mother to the confident trainer who heads to Kanto at the end of the game is genuinely moving. It’s a slow burn. You see her change her outfit—the "Z-Powered form"—which is basically her way of saying she’s done living under someone else’s thumb.
Then there’s Lusamine.
She is arguably the best-written villain in the franchise. Why? Because she’s not trying to blow up the world for "balance" like Cyrus or for "justice" like N. She’s a grieving widow who became obsessed with the Ultra Beasts to the point of insanity. Her relationship with Lillie and Gladion is messy. It’s toxic. It’s the kind of complex family dynamic you don't expect to find in a game marketed to ten-year-olds. Lusamine’s obsession with "beauty" and her desire to preserve things she loves in cryostasis is genuinely chilling. It makes the final confrontation in the Ultra Space feel personal, not just another boss fight.
Gladion: The Edge-Lord with a Heart of Gold
Gladion is Lillie’s brother, and he’s basically the "cool" rival. He walks around with his hand twitching and a permanent scowl, but he’s actually the one who took Type: Null—a biological weapon created by Aether—to save it from being destroyed.
He didn't leave home to become a champion. He left to protect a Pokémon that everyone else saw as a failure. That’s a recurring theme in Alola. The "failures" and the "outcasts" are usually the ones with the most depth. Gladion’s relationship with Silvally (the evolved form of Type: Null) is built on friendship, which is ironic considering the Pokémon was literally designed to be a synthetic god-killer.
Those Quirky Trial Captains and Kahunas
The Island Challenge replaced the Gym system, and with it came the Trial Captains. These guys are basically the local celebrities of Alola.
- Lana: She’s the quiet one who jokes about catching Kyogre with a fishing rod. You never quite know if she’s kidding.
- Kiawe: He’s dedicated to the traditional dances of Alola, which adds a layer of cultural depth that previous regions lacked.
- Mallow: The cook. Her trial is basically a scavenger hunt for ingredients, which sounds lame on paper but ends with a terrifying Totem Lurantis that ruined many a Nuzlocke run.
- Acerola: A literal descendant of Alolan royalty who hangs out in a haunted, abandoned supermarket.
These characters aren't just standing in a room waiting for you. They’re part of the community. You see them at the Pokémon Center. You see them interacting with each other. It makes the world feel small in a good way—like a tight-knit village where everyone knows your business.
The Kahunas, like Hala, Olivia, Nanu, and Hapu, serve as the "grown-ups" in the room. Nanu is a fan favorite for a reason. He’s the Ula'ula Island Kahuna, a jaded ex-cop who clearly doesn't want the job but does it anyway because the "island's guardian" chose him. His apathy is a perfect foil to the bright, energetic tone of the rest of the game.
Professor Kukui is Not Your Average Professor
Most Pokémon Professors stay in the lab. Not Kukui. This man spends his time getting hit by Pokémon moves to "study" them. He’s energetic, he’s supportive, and he’s also—SPOILER ALERT—the Masked Royal.
The reveal that Kukui is the one who founded the Alola Pokémon League is a great touch. He wanted his home region to be taken seriously on the world stage. He didn't just give you a Pokedex; he built the stage for you to become a legend. And his final battle in the original Sun and Moon? It’s one of the best "Champion" style fights in the series because it’s a celebration of everything you’ve done together.
Team Skull: The Best "Evil" Team Ever?
Let’s be real: Team Rocket is iconic, but Team Skull is just better.
They aren't trying to take over the world. They’re a bunch of kids who failed their Island Challenges and felt rejected by Alolan society. They’re basically a group of misunderstood punks who found a home with each other. Guzma, their leader, is a tragic figure. He’s a guy who was incredibly talented but couldn't cut it in the traditional system, so he decided to break the system entirely.
"IT'S YA BOY, GUZMA!"
That line became a meme for a reason. There’s an authenticity to Team Skull’s dialogue. They talk like actual street-level grunts. They move with this weird, rhythmic swaying. They’re hilarious, but also kind of sad when you realize they’re all just looking for a sense of belonging. Plumeria, the "big sister" of the group, is genuinely protective of her grunts. It’s a dynamic we haven't seen in any other villainous team.
The Impact of Ultra Beasts and the Tapu Guardians
While the humans get most of the spotlight, the pokemon sun and moon pokemon characters also include the Pokémon themselves, specifically the ones that drive the plot.
The Tapu guardians (Koko, Lele, Bulu, and Fini) aren't just legendaries you catch at the end. They are active participants in the lore. They choose the Kahunas. They intervene when the Ultra Beasts attack. They have personalities—Tapu Koko is curious and fickle, while Tapu Bulu is notoriously lazy.
The Ultra Beasts (UBs) are something else entirely. Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa... these things don't even look like Pokémon. They look like aliens. And that’s the point. They represent the "other." The way Nihilego fuses with Lusamine is one of the most "body horror" moments in a Nintendo game. It’s disturbing, and it raises the stakes far beyond "I want to be the very best."
Hau: The Rival People Love to Hate (But Shouldn't)
Hau gets a lot of flak for being "too nice." He’s the guy who constantly wants to get Malasadas and smiles even when he loses. But if you look closer, Hau is dealing with the pressure of being the grandson of a Kahuna (Hala). He’s masking his competitive drive with a laid-back attitude because he doesn't want to be defined by his lineage.
In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, his character gets a bit more bite. He actually gets frustrated. He pushes himself harder. He’s not just a happy-go-lucky kid; he’s a trainer trying to find his own identity in the shadow of a legend.
The legacy of these characters is why people still talk about Alola. They broke the mold. They gave us a story that felt human. If you're looking to revisit the region or dive in for the first time, pay attention to the dialogue. Don't just mash the A button. There are small details everywhere—like the way Acerola talks about her "uncle" Nanu, or the way Gladion slowly starts to trust you.
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Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough:
- Read the Aether Foundation Files: There are secret logs in the Aether Paradise that explain the backstory of Type: Null and the Ultra Beast experiments. It changes how you see Lusamine.
- Talk to Everyone in Po Town: The dialogue from the Team Skull grunts is some of the funniest and most self-aware writing in the series.
- Pay Attention to Lillie's Bag: Throughout the game, the way Lillie interacts with Nebby reflects her own growing independence.
- Check the Post-Game: The Looker and Anabel side-quest in the original games provides massive lore drops about the "Fallers" and people who have traveled through Ultra Wormholes.
Alola isn't just a vacation. It’s a deep, character-driven journey that proved Pokémon could be more than just a monster-collecting simulator. It gave us a cast that felt like a family—messy, complicated, and unforgettable.
To get the most out of these characters, focus on the "Ultra" versions of the games for more gameplay content, but many fans argue the original Sun and Moon actually has a tighter, more emotionally resonant story regarding Lillie and Lusamine. Try playing both to see the subtle shifts in character motivation. It's worth the double dip.