Couple bits to answer on that before I post the next bit, here - I didn't have your analysis in front of me at the restaurant so I couldn't remember everything to answer for!

Depth is a HUGE thing for me, especially when looking back at the old version. In many earlier writings I've found a disturbing lack of character growth and depth, and if there's one thing I can't stand in tales, it's two-dimensional characters. So it's very important for me to demonstrate my characters are capable of learning and growing and even - dare I say it in a Pokémon story? - evolving.

Even in the first iteration of this story, I wanted Professor Oak to be more than the good ol' fuddy-duddy they give us in the show, the game, the manga. I wanted a pragmatic, sincere mentor who shows he's willing to go out on a limb if he sees potential that can be harnessed and aimed in the right direction. This time around, especially, I also wanted him to show that he has high standards and expectations... hence why he's one of the most revered and respected names in the business.

And as for the bit about choosing which to keep and which to leave. Of course, in the games, the decision is half strategy and half arbitrary. You capture all the ones you can to begin with so you have as wide a range as possible, then you start honing the team you actually want with you. But I've spent a lot of time considering what happens to the Pokémon that aren't the trainer's favorites. Let's face it, everyone who plays the game has the ones that just sit in the boxes, collecting dust, because we only caught them for the PokéDex entry. Supposedly, the creatures are possessed of enough intelligence that at least some of them would be very saddened to find they're merely numbers in a file and that they're not really wanted or loved. Jason considers that abhorrent and cruel - as most of us would, when put in those terms - so he wants to make connections with his Pokémon, establish that he's not obtaining them just for the sake of the challenge thereto, but that there is a purpose they're meant for... that even though they might not see him, they'll still have a home and people that care for them as much as they should be.

Okay, well, that response was longer than I meant it to be, but it should cover a fair number of bases. On with the next segment!