The Pokémon franchise is a huge one, being the home to some of the most well-known video games and anime on the planet. These video games and anime have many differences that pull them apart from one another, one being how the games constantly change protagonists for each region while the anime keeps the focus on Ash Ketchum no matter the region.

RELATED: Pokémon: 10 Characters Who Are Better Protagonists Than Ash

Just as Ash is based on the Pokémon Red & Blue protagonist, Red, his rival Gary is actually based on Red's rival, Blue. Much like the case of Red and Ash sharing many concepts but being very different, Gary and Blue are similar but different in many ways as well. These differences may lead fans of the franchise to have certain opinions on the iconic Pokémon rivals.

10 Gary Is Followed By Cheerleaders

gary oak cheerleaders

One thing that is noticeable about Gary when he is compared to his video game counterpart, Blue, is that he is a lot more of an intentional show-off. His show-off nature is also played for much more of a joke instead of him simply being a tough trainer like in the game.

This joke starts when fans are first introduced to Gary Oak. In the original episode when Ash picks his Pokémon, Gary follows along with him and picks his first Pokémon as well. Instead of simply leaving as Blue had, he takes off in a red convertible with his entourage of cheerleaders. This cheerleader squad follows Gary wherever he goes and cheers him on throughout the series.

9 Blue Travels Alone Without Friends Or Cheerleaders

blue pokemon

One common trend among Pokémon trainers in the video game universe of the Pokémon series is that despite their young ages, they travel alone on their journey to be the best.

This is also the case with Blue. Like his rival Red, Blue traveled the Kanto region alone with no one beside him but his team of Pokémon. This may be the reason the game protagonists tend to act much more independent and capable than the characters in the anime adaptations.

8 Gary Caught A Large Krabby

gary krabby

With so many different Pokémon filling the world of Pokémon it should be no surprise that some characters will have different Pokémon teams depending on the incarnation of the series.

RELATED: The 10 Best Pokémon Villains In The Anime, Ranked

This is another difference between Gary and Blue, as it is highlighted that the first Pokémon Gary caught was a very large Krabby. It was shown that this Krabby was much larger than the one his rival Ash caught. However, it isn't highlighted anymore and the Krabby basically disappears.

7 Blue Is Always A Step Ahead Of His Rival

blue vs red

One thing that no kid who grew up playing Pokémon Red & Blue will forget is running into Blue at each and every corner while making progress through the games.

Blue is constantly a few steps ahead of his rival Red. This is the opposite of Gary and Ash, as many times Gary is usually shown to catch up to Ash. Whether or not he was ahead in terms of badges at the moment, however, was an episode-by-episode basis.

6 Gary Became A Pokémon Professor

professor gary with ash and pikachu

After a while in the Pokémon anime, it was shown that Gary felt he became a Pokémon master. With his catching and battling skills perfected, Ash's once rival decided to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become a Pokémon professor.

He began this new journey by being an assistant of Professor Rowan as shown in the Diamond & Pearl anime adaptation. It's unknown if he's completed his new journey as of yet, as he doesn't appear in any following anime series.

5 Blue Becomes The Viridian City Gym Leader

pokemon blue gym leader

Blue constantly proved that he was one of the best Pokémon trainers out there throughout Pokémon Red & Blue. His strength led to him becoming the Gym Leader of Viridian City.

Many remember Giovanni being the Gym Leader of this city until Red defeats him. It is shown in Pokemon GoldSilver, and Crystal that Blue takes this position over after that incident. He still leaves the gym at times, as he hasn't stopped being a traveling trainer much like his rival.

4 Gary Defeated Team Rocket Many Times

gary oak with a poke ball pokemon

In Pokémon Red & Blue, Red took on Team Rocket and ended up besting the team despite being a child. Of course, in the games, this team was much more formidable.

In the anime adaptation, it was shown that not only Ash but Gary had taken on and defeated Team Rocket multiple times. Much like Ash, Gary defeated them in order to protect his Pokémon. Honestly, it isn't much of an achievement, as everyone knows Team Rocket is a joke in the world of the Pokémon anime.

3 Blue Was A League Champion

Champion Blue tossing a Poké Ball in Pokémon Origins

During his journey through the Kanto region, Blue becomes one of the strongest Pokémon trainers there is. He soon becomes a Pokémon League champion at Indigo Plateau.

RELATED: Pokemon: Ash's 10 Best League Battles, Ranked

However, he is soon defeated by Red, making the protagonist the new champion. Once his grandfather, Professor Oak shows up, he tells his grandson that he lost due to not understanding how to truly care for his Pokémon.

2 Gary Obtained More Badges

gary ash showing off gym badges

Throughout his time in the Kanto region, Blue was able to fight for and win eight badges, as shown in episode three of the Pokémon Generations anime OVA series.

This is one area where his anime counterpart, Gary, outdid him. Gary Oak was shown to have collected ten Gym Badges in the Kanto region alone.

1 Blue Remains A Traveling Trainer & Is One Of The Best

blue pokemon sun

It's constantly shown throughout the Pokémon games that the original two series main characters, Red and Blue, are still among the best trainers of all time and haven't stopped.

In the games, Pokemon Gold, Silver, Crystal, Black 2, White 2, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon these two trainers show up and always offer difficult battles. Unlike Gary and Ash, they actively grow and actually get visibly stronger.

NEXT: 10 Most Iconic Anime Squads