Giovanni

Giovanni is a character who is the Gym Leader for Viridian City's Gym, and the Boss of the criminal organization, Team Rocket. As the Gym Leader, Giovanni holds the Earth Badge for the trainers that defeat him, and specializes in -type Pokémon.
In the Generation II games, Giovanni has disappeared inexplicably after his final loss to Red, leaving Team Rocket disorganized and confused.
However, he soon sets up a new evil organization named Team Rainbow Rocket in Alola and gathers all the other leaders from the past five regions.
==Appearance==
Giovanni is a tall, medium built, middle aged man. He has very short, flat, dark hair and small dark eyes. He wears a long sleeved black shirt with a large V neck that shows off a white undershirt, black slightly baggy trousers and black shoes.
==Personality==
As the manipulative leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni has a knack for being underhanded. His general attitude is untrustworthy to say the least, giving off a conniving or serious expression at times. It is revealed during his relationship with Mewtwo, that he sees all Pokémon as a source of power for his own will to abuse.
==Etymology==
The name Giovanni may originate from geo-, a prefix meaning "earth", as he is a -type Trainer. His localized name's Italian etymology likely alludes to the Sicilian Mafia, a crime syndicate based out of Italy, which Team Rocket's localized appearances (in Japanese, they're based on a Yakuza faction, a type of Japanese crime syndicate) are based on.
His Japanese name, Sakaki, is literally 榊 (sakaki, a sacred tree that the Earth Badge resembles). It may also include 坂 (saka, slope).
==Biography==
===Games===
====Red, Green and Blue====
Giovanni first appeared in Red, Green and Blue the Leader of Team Rocket. After he and his Team Rocket Grunts were defeated at both the Rocket Hideout and Silph Co., Giovanni escapes to an unknown hideout. Eventually, it is revealed that he is the Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym, and the final Gym Leader the player character faces. Upon defeating him, Giovanni states that he's giving up on Team Rocket, subsequently disbands the organization, and disappears, and is not seen again for the rest of the game.
====Yellow====
His role in Yellow is the same as it is in Red, Green and Blue.
====Gold and Silver====
Later on, in Gold and Silver, Team Rocket has reorganized, now functioning without Giovanni, and believes that he will return. The lost Team Rocket attempts several acts in order to call their former Leader, though he never makes an appearance.
====Crystal====
His role in Crystal is the same as it is in Gold and Silver.
====FireRed and LeafGreen====
In FireRed and LeafGreen, Giovanni retains his first role as villain and Viridian Gym Leader in the exact with the exception of passing the protagonist the TM (Earthquake) instead of the TM (Fissure). At the Sevii Islands, a group of renegade Team Rocket Grunts and Admins attempt to continue their schemes but are defeated by the protagonist.
====HeartGold and SoulSilver====
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, another branch of Team Rocket led by Executive Archer attempt to relaunch the team by committing several acts such as at the Slowpoke Well and the Lake of Rage. After being foiled by the protagonist, the new Team Rocket took over the Goldenrod Radio Tower to contact their missing leader but are once again defeated. Archer then disbands Team Rocket forever, much like his leader three years ago.
It was later revealed during the Celebi Event that Giovanni heard the broadcast from his radio in his hideout in Tohjo Falls. After being defeated, he disappears. During the event, it was also revealed that Silver was Giovanni's son who was abandoned by his father when he met his defeat at the hands of Red. This act reflects on Giovanni's selfishness.
====Black 2 and White 2====
In Black 2 and White 2, he appears at the World Tournament mode wearing his Celebi event outfit.
====Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon====
In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, he appears in the Alola region, where he has formed Team Rainbow Rocket. This new villainous team, in addition to Giovanni (who is the leader), consists of Archie from Team Aqua, Maxie from Team Magma, Cyrus from Team Galactic, Ghetsis from Team Plasma, Lysandre from Team Flare, and Faba from Aether Paradise, and numerous Team Rainbow Rocket grunts.
These individuals all hail from an alternate universe where they achieved their prior villainous goals and were brought to Alola through an Ultra Wormhole.
At some point late in the game, the player character enters the Team Rainbow Rocket hideout to put an end to their (currently unknown) plans, battling Giovanni in the process.
===Other appearances===
==Sprites==
Giovanni RB.png|Giovanni's Battle Sprite Red & Blue
Giovanni Yl.png|Giovanni's Battle Sprite in Yellow
Giovanni FRLG.png|Giovanni's Battle Sprite in FireRed & LeafGreen
Giovanni HGSS.gif|Giovanni's Battle Sprite in HeartGold & SoulSilver
VSGiovanni.png|Giovanni's VS Sprite in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Giovanni B2W2.gif|Giovanni's Battle Sprite Black 2 & White 2
Giovanni VS PE.png|Giovanni's Battle Sprite in Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee
==Pokémon==
===Red, Green and Blue===
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First Battle=
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Second Battle=
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Gym Battle=
</tabber>
===Yellow===
<tabber>
First Battle=
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Second Battle=
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Gym Battle=
</tabber>
===FireRed and LeafGreen===
<tabber>
First Battle=
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Second Battle=
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Gym Battle=
</tabber>
===HeartGold and SoulSilver (Special Event)===
===Black 2 and White 2===
(Pokémon picked randomly from the list. Rhyperior is certain to be the first.)
<tabber>
Ground-type Tournament/World Leaders Tournament=
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Kanto Gym Leader Tournament=
</tabber>
===Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon===
<tabber>
Ultra Sun=
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Ultra Moon=
</tabber>
===Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!===
<tabber>
First Battle=
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Second Battle=
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Gym Battle=
</tabber>
===Stadium===
<tabber>
Round 1=
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Round 2=
</tabber>
==Trivia==
*Giovanni's outfit in Generation IV and V seems to be based on a general's uniform.
*In Pokémon Yellow, Giovanni replaced Kangaskhan with Persian since Yellow was based on the anime.
*He may be inspired by one of the villains of the James Bond series, Blofeld. In the James Bond films and novels, Blofeld leads his own criminal organization, the S.P.E.C.T.R.E., to become rich and reign on the world. As a companion, Blofeld has a cat.
*In the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Celebi event, the rival is found out to be the son of Giovanni.
*He is considered to be the main antagonist of the entire Pokémon franchise.
**This is supported by his forming of Team Rainbow Rocket, which consists of team bosses from other regions.
==Gallery==
Giovanni Lets Go Pikachu Eevee-Concept Art.png|Concept art of Giovanni for Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee.
pl:Giovanni
Category:Villainous group leaders
Category:Team Rainbow Rocket