History of Poké Balls

The development of Poké Balls in the Pokémon world has gone through a number of stages. This can be shown through certain Pokémon titles such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus, where the item was recently created; and through multiple games where companies and factories are shown developing new Poké Ball types. The animated series has also displayed numerous ancient and historical variants of the Poké Ball.
==In the core series games==
===Poké Ball history===
 
In the past, Poké Balls were originally crafted by hand by carving out Apricorn fruit, and people such as Kurt of Azalea Town still make Poké Balls using these older methods. Raifort's classroom at the Naranja Academy or Uva Academy in Mesagoza teaches about these older Poké Balls.
In , a game taking place in Sinnoh's past as Hisui, Professor Laventon mentions that Poké Balls are a recent invention.Professor Laventon, : "And that's where Poké Balls come in! Poké Balls are a recent invention, you see. Throw one of them at a Pokémon, and..." He also makes the claim that shrink down to fit inside a Poké Ball and that they may feel comfortable inside. When Hisui was first being settled, Poké Balls were made in a similar manner as they are in Johto, also using Apricorn fruit harvested from Hisui's own land. Unlike the fruit in Johto, these Apricorns are brown in color. The were crafted from a combination of , Tumblestone and Wood, though wood is not used in the game's crafting recipe. They emitted steam when and what appeared to be a firework was set off from their tops when Pokémon were caught. They relied on a Pokémon's natural ability to shrink down when scared or injured.
Professor Laventon, with the help of either or , had also developed the Origin Ball, which was made out of Origin Ore and the left over pieces of the Red Chain.
Additionally, Leif claims that people in Kanto were already able to tame Pokémon,Leif, Jubilife Village: "You know, we had people back in Kanto who also were able to tame Pokémon. They knew what they were doing in battles, too." () suggesting that some sort of catching device was made before the Galaxy Team had come to Hisui.
In older times, the invention of the Poké Ball was seen as potentially problematic and as a symbol of containment and restriction towards the Pokémon held within them. The Diamond and Pearl Clans had a distaste for this invention since they believed it would harm their relationship with their Pokémon who they viewed as brothers and sisters, whereas the Galaxy Team distrusted and feared Pokémon, opting to use Poké Balls for protection. All three groups would eventually warm up to the use of Poké Balls and Pokémon, perceiving the tool as a form of companionship.
In , during the Memory Link event , Drayden claims Poké Balls did not exist when he was a young boy.Drayden, : "When I was little, Poké Balls didn't exist yet." It is unknown if he means they had not been invented at all or just had not made their way to the Unova region. In and their remakes, Professor Rowan also claimed Poké Balls did not exist in his childhood, though this appears to have been retconned with Legends: Arceus showing they at least had Apricorn Poké Balls in the time of Rowan's ancestor, Kamado.
The modern is created and manufactured by multiple companies and people. An Illustrated Book of POCKET MONSTERS, Tamamushi University Pocket Book, and a Pokémon Daisuki Club page state that modern Poké Balls were developed in 1925 from the research of Professor Westwood of Celadon University. He got the idea when experimenting on a , which curled up into a ball and shrank down small enough to fit in the professor's glasses case. Currently, they are mass produced by the Silph Company in Kanto, the Devon Corporation in Hoenn, and the Poké Ball Factory in Kalos. Silph in particular is known to have created multiple Poké Ball prototypes, including the Master Ball. However, they can also be made by individuals using personal devices such as Hyde's Cram-o-matic, which was inspired by Kurt's ability to craft them with Apricorns. Faba of the Aether Foundation had recently created the Beast Ball, a special type of Poké Ball used to contain Ultra Beasts and he also mentions that the downstairs labs of Aether Paradise is where they develop new Poké Balls for "the sake of Pokémon conservation."
The Cram-o-matic can create any Poké Ball at the time of with exception of the Master, Beast, Dream, Park, and Cherish Balls. The Item Printer found in the Blueberry Academy League Club Room is also able to produce multiple types of Poké Balls, including most of those that the Cram-o-matic could not. The Item Printer requires materials dropped by Pokémon instead of Apricorns.
According to Cyrus's computer in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum as well as , a modern Poké Ball would limit the power of and , hence Team Galactic's decision to create another instance of the Red Chain.
In , , Lusamine uses a crate to contain Nebby. Concept art from the games' development explains that this cage has a Poké Ball-like construction to it.
During the events of The Indigo Disk, Kieran captures in a Master Ball, knowing the ball's capture performance. Terapagos eventually destroys its Master Ball when it transforms into its after Kieran attempts to withdraw it back. This is the only time a Master Ball has been seen breaking with any sort of failure on a wild Pokémon in the core series.
In Alola, special Poké Ball-like objects are used with the . In Galar, Poké Balls are affected by the Wishing Stars fixed onto Professor Magnolia's Dynamax Band as they are enlarged, subsequently causing a 's Pokémon to Dynamax or Gigantamax; they can also be used to capture Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon when around . In Paldea, Poké Balls can become stallized, allowing a Trainer to capture wild Tera Pokémon in Tera Raid Battles.
Aether Paradise contains a jamming signal for all empty Poké Balls that may be used against the wild Pokémon that the Aether Foundation is taking care of. This can be seen when the player battles against an unexpected in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Despite this, Trainer-owned Pokémon may still come out of their Poké Balls and be used to participate in battle. The time machine found within the Zero Lab contains a similar jamming signal. When the Paradise Protection Protocol takes control, any Poké Ball not owned by Professor Sada or Professor Turo, empty or not, will be locked.
===Pokémon storage history===
According to Professor Elm in , before the invention of Poké Balls, people would walk with their Pokémon instead. This can also be seen in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, where many members of the Diamond and Pearl Clans, including their wardens, do not use Hisuian Poké Balls, with the exception of Ingo as he had traveled back in time to Hisui from a time where modern Poké Balls existed. During the events of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a Pokémon wielder can hold up to six Pokémon at once if they were contained in Hisuian Poké Balls. A wielder without these devices, such as a warden or , will instead just whenever necessary. They can be seen with a maximum of three Pokémon, whereas the player can only have one.
When a person has caught more than six Pokémon, they will go to the pastures in Jubilife Village, managed by Marie. These pastures are accessed by the player, Ingo, members found at base camps, and Cyllene's . These Pokémon are not always found within their Poké Balls and can be seen within the pastures themselves.
The current mechanisms for Pokémon storage have similar restrictions, with Pokémon Trainers being able to carry up to six Poké Balls with Pokémon at a time.
The Pokémon Storage System, invented by Bill, is the modern equivalent to the pastures, where a Trainer can hold all their other Pokémon when they have more than six in their party. Prior to Pokémon Sun and Moon, a Pokémon caught while having a full party will automatically be sent to a Pokémon Box. Starting in Pokémon Sun and Moon, and with the exception of and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, there is an prompt for the player to specify whether they wish to move a caught Pokémon to their party or a Pokémon Box.
Originally, a PC was required to access the Pokémon Storage System, but the introduction of the Pokémon Box Link allows a Trainer to have access to their storage anywhere. As of , there is no longer any reference to the Pokémon Storage System as such, and the Rotom Phone replaces Pokémon Box Link. Kanto, Paldea, Kitakami, and Blueberry Academy lack PCs with Pokémon storage functionality.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the player is able to carry around / as a seventh Pokémon. This is possibly due to its Poké Ball being registered to Professor Sada/Professor Turo instead of the player. Initially, this Pokémon is only usable as a ride Pokémon, but in the post-game, it becomes able to be added to the player's main party, allowing it to be used in battles. Riding it again switches it back out of the usable party of six.
The Pokémon Storage System is managed by different people depending on the region: Bill in Kanto and Johto, Celio in the Sevii Islands, Lanette in Hoenn, Bebe in Sinnoh, Amanita in mainland Unova, Cassius in Kalos, and Molayne in Alola. Brigette and Grand Oak are also known to take on this role for the , , and software.
==In the spin-off games==
===Pokémon Masters EX===
In , many Trainer-owned Pokémon are still kept in their Poké Balls with the exception of , who keeps his outside at all times, including in certain animations. Pasio has no wild Pokémon, however, many Trainers still carry empty Poké Balls and may catch any Pokémon that may appear.
In the Together in an Unknown Land story event and 's sync pair story, some history on Pokémon in relation to Poké Balls is revealed. Many Pokémon from the past seem to be afraid of the modern Poké Balls found on Pasio,Akari: "True. But my Pokémon are scared of these new modern Poké Balls." () causing improper synchronization with sync stones. However, Akari's was caught on Pasio, allowing for the synchronization to work better with the modern Poké Ball, which words as a "Pasio Poké Ball."Akari: "That's it! I DO have a new Pokémon! I caught it in a Pasio Poké Ball!" () Akari also describes the modern day Poké Balls as being "strange", "futuristic", and "new and modern".
In Travelers from a Distant Past story event, and also learn about Poké Balls, previously disliking the idea of containing Pokémon in Poké Balls as they saw it as a form of restraining them. Learning that Poké Balls are a symbol of partnership and trust between Trainers and Pokémon, they put their and in modern-day Poké Balls.
Like in , Hisuian Poké Balls were made from scratch.
==In animation==
===Ancient history===
====Pokémopolis====
When Dr. Eve was exploring the ruins of Pokémopolis during The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis, she discovered a number of old artifacts. A handful of these relics contained ancient, giant Pokémon, and so can be seen as forerunners to the contemporary Poké Ball. These objects were named by a stone tablet that had inscribed on it the legend of Pokémopolis. The "Unearthly Urn" and accompanying spoon contained a giant , which, to activate, one had to insert the spoon into the Urn. It appeared that the Alakazam could do this autonomously from within the Urn using its psychic powers. The "Dark Device" contained a giant . It is unknown what initiated its release. Finally, the giant paintbrush/bell that was discovered contained a giant , and was activated by the of a regular-sized .
File:Unearthly Urn.png|Unearthly Urn, containing the giant 
File:Unearthly Spoon.png|The Unearthly Spoon
File:Dark Device.png|The Dark Device, containing a giant 
File:Pokémopolis Paintbrush.png|The paintbrush/bell containing the giant 
====Pokélantis====
A relic that looks very similar to a contemporary Poké Ball was discovered in the tomb of the King of Pokélantis. It was revealed during the course of Battling the Enemy Within! that it contained the spirit of the King, possibly indicating an alternate use for Poké Balls in ancient times. It was erroneously rumored that the orb contained a , which would have made it much more similar to a modern Poké Ball.
File:Pokélantis Poké Ball anime.png|The orb found in the King's tomb
===Recent history===
====Sir Aaron's staff====
Featured in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, the crystal in Sir Aaron's staff was used "hundreds of years ago" to contain his apprentice . This can be seen as a forerunner to the contemporary Poké Ball. The ubiquitous Poké Ball design can be seen in other places in the beginning of the movie, but it is unknown what they relate to.
File:Sir Aaron staff.png| holding the staff
File:Sir Aaron art.png|Sir Aaron holding his staff
====Giant stone Poké Ball====
A giant stone Poké Ball was said in Claydol Big and Tall to have been created "in olden times" by the White Sage to contain a rampaging giant which had escaped from an identical stone Poké Ball. It was also said in this episode that this event was contemporaneous with the first creation of Claydol, which is cited as taking place around 20,000 years ago. However, this was read by Sigourney from an "ancient text" that he had a lot of trouble translating earlier in the episode.
File:Giant stone Poké Ball anime.png|The giant stone Poké Ball
File:White Sage.png|The White Sage
====The Odd Keystone====
The Odd Keystone can be seen as a Poké Ball forerunner, in that it was used to capture 500 years ago. In The Keystone Pops! an reveals that Spiritomb was defeated and imprisoned by an Aura Guardian. The method and reason for the confinement are currently unknown.
File:DP056.png|The Odd Keystone
File:Aura Guardian Pikachu.png|The Aura Guardian who defeated 
====The Captain's Poké Balls====
In A Shipful of Shivers, it was revealed that the kept his and inside contemporary looking Poké Balls, approximately 300 years before the present. The old Orange League Winner's Trophy, which is also more than 300 years old, is featured in this episode as well, and appears to be based on a contemporary Poké Ball design.
Chronologically, these are the first Poké Balls that offer capture and control to the Trainer.
File:Captain Ball.png|300+ year old modern Poké Balls
File:Old Winners Trophy.png|The old Winner's Trophy, being held by the 
====Lokoko's Poké Ball====
In Just Waiting On a Friend, Lokoko was the alter-ego of an elderly whose Poké Ball was contemporaneous with a diary that was at least 200 years old. While the style of this ball is quite different from the modern Poké Ball, there is a statue in the same 200+ year old mansion which depicts a modern looking Poké Ball.
This Poké Ball differs from its modern descendant in other ways as well. The button is on the top of the ball rather than on the side, as can be seen top left in the picture opposite. It also lacks the internal mirrors that modern Poké Balls have, as can be seen top right opposite. It is also extremely fragile, as can be seen bottom opposite, as it shattered after simply being dropped, which is an everyday occurrence for a modern Poké Ball, though this is perhaps a consequence of its age. This may also be due to it being modeled from a porcelain handicraft.
File:Lokoko Poké Ball anime.png|Lokoko's Poké Ball
File:Old mansion statues.png|A contemporaneous statue of a modern looking Poké Ball
====Sam's Poké Ball====
A Poké Ball with a simple capture mechanism can be seen in Sam's possession in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, 40 years before the present day. It had a red twist top that needed to be turned to release the Pokémon inside. This Poké Ball fits the description provided by Kurt of the basic method of turning Apricorns into Poké Balls by simply hollowing them out and adding a capture mechanism. Judging by the other older Poké Balls seen in the animated series, it is unlikely that this Ball is indicative of all Poké Balls 40 years ago. Therefore, this Poké Ball may have been homemade, cheaply made, hurriedly made, or come from some other source. An alternate hypothesis is that this is an early model of non-Apricorn Poké Ball and that this is the oldest, and therefore most primitive, fully mechanical Poké Ball yet shown.
Sam's Poké Ball has distinct similarities to Lokoko's Poké Ball with the button (or button equivalent in Sam's case) on top of the ball rather then opposite the hinge and it is used while gripping the button half rather then 'clasped' in the hand with the hinge in one's palm.
File:Sammy Old Poké Ball.png|Sam's Poké Ball
===Controlling items===
There are generally two aspects to a typical modern Poké Ball, capture and control. The majority of the historical devices above capture the Pokémon in question, but generally offer no control over it once it has been released again. The following historical items offer the opposite of this, granting control but not ownership to the holder.
====The Queen's mask and staff====
In Control Freak!, an ancient tablet discovered by Tierra revealed that thousands of years ago a Queen could control Pokémon within the boundaries of her own village using high frequency waves. As soon as the Pokémon went outside her village boundaries, the waves were disrupted, or she lost possession of the staff, the controlled Pokémon would turn against her again.
File:Control Queen statue.png|A statue of the Queen, wearing the mask and holding the staff
File:Unmasked Queen.png|The Queen's statue unmasked
File:EP196.png|The staff in action
====Marcus's armor====
In Arceus and the Jewel of Life the antagonist Marcus controlled a and a with special sets of armor. Much like the Queen's mask and staff, the controlled Pokémon would turn against the controller as soon as the effects were no longer being felt and the Pokémon were outside of their control.
File:Marcus Bronzong.png| being controlled
File:Marcus Heatran Armor.png| being controlled
====Blue and Red Orbs====
In Gaining Groudon and The Scuffle of Legends, the Red Orb controls and the Blue Orb controls . According to Lance, "The Red Orb was created long ago by evil people to control ancient Pokémon and use them as weapons..."
Archie invokes the Red Orb with the words "Convey our will to Kyogre, great Red Orb, and allow this great power to be released now".
A side effect of the use of the Orbs is possession. During these episodes, and Archie become possessed by the energy inside the orbs.
File:Blue Orb anime.png|The Blue Orb
File:Blue Orb activated.png|The Blue Orb controlling 
File:Blue Orb possession.png|The Blue Orb possessing Ash's Pikachu
File:Red Orb anime.png|The Red Orb
File:Red Orb activated.png|The Red Orb controlling 
File:Red Orb possession.png|The Red Orb possessing Archie
====Red Chain====
The Red Chain is used by Cyrus to take control over the Legendary Pokémon and so as not to reduce their power by capturing them in a Poké Ball.
File:Red Chain anime.png|The Red Chain
File:Palkia Dialga controlled.png| and being controlled by the Red Chain
==See also==
* Poké Ball
* Apricorn
* History of the Pokémon world
* Timeline of events in Pokémon the Series
==References==
Category:Pokémon animated series
*
it:Storia delle Poké Ball