Tracey Sketchit
Tracey Sketchit is a Pokémon Watcher who debuted in the Orange Islands arc of the classic Pokémon anime series. Traveling alongside Ash Ketchum and Misty across the Orange Archipelago, he joined the group to observe wild Pokémon in their natural habitats. Following their journey, he realized his dream of working as a research assistant for Professor Oak. Created as an anime-original character, Tracey is defined by his passion for documenting Pokémon behavior through detailed artwork.
Overview
Tracey Sketchit is a Pokémon Watcher who debuted in the Orange Islands arc of the classic Pokémon anime series. Traveling alongside Ash Ketchum and Misty across the Orange Archipelago, he joined the group to observe wild Pokémon in their natural habitats. Following their journey, he realized his dream of working as a research assistant for Professor Oak. Created as an anime-original character, Tracey is defined by his passion for documenting Pokémon behavior through detailed artwork.
Appearance
Tracey has down-turned eyes, short dark hair, and subtle facial stubble. He wears a distinctive red headband around his head, paired with a green-toned short-sleeved shirt and pants. He is frequently pictured carrying a sketchbook to record Pokémon observations.
Personality
Tracey is driven by intense curiosity and a deep passion for understanding Pokémon behavior. While polite, courteous, and exceptionally good-natured, he can sometimes be oblivious to social cues, occasionally voicing unnecessary comments at awkward moments. His accommodating personality often leads to him being dragged into troublesome situations by others. Alongside his knowledge of Pokémon ecology, he exhibits a sharp mind capable of recalling scientific details such as chemical formulas.
Abilities
As a skilled Pokémon Watcher, Tracey possesses exceptional observational skills and thorough knowledge of Pokémon ecology. His most remarkable ability is drawing Pokémon with extraordinary speed and precision. He also displays solid investigative and deductive capabilities when tackling mysteries. In battle and fieldwork, he relies on his Pokémon team, which includes a sound-sensing Marill, a veteran Scyther, and a Venomoth that evolved from Venonat.
Background
Tracey's background and origin remain entirely unknown, making him unique among the main traveling companions. He first joined Ash Ketchum and Misty during their travels through the Orange Islands, aiming to meet Professor Oak and present his observation reports. At the conclusion of the Orange Islands voyage, Tracey separated from the group as Ash headed to the Johto region, securing a position as Professor Oak's resident lab assistant. Since then, he has remained at the laboratory caring for Pokémon and assisting with research, making recurring appearances throughout subsequent series.
Relationships
Tracey formed a strong friendship with Ash Ketchum and Misty during their journey across the Orange Archipelago. Misty's eldest sister, Daisy, frequently takes advantage of his accommodating nature. He deeply reveres Professor Oak, serving as his dedicated research assistant and caregiver for the laboratory's Pokémon. In side stories, he collaborates closely with Ritchie on investigative cases.
Trivia
Tracey was designed by Ken Sugimori, who also designed Ritchie. He was created to temporarily replace Brock during the show's international expansion over concerns about how Brock's design would be received abroad; however, Brock's unexpected overseas popularity led to Tracey stepping down from the main cast after roughly eight months. After a 17-year absence of voice-acted dialogue since Advanced Generation episode 133, Tracey returned with spoken lines in the final episode of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.