A Tale of Aspiration: To Be a Pokemon Commentator
Hello everyone. My name is Jesus Coronel (@SupernovaSZ8) and I am a Pokemon commentator from California. I would like to share my journey in the community as an aspiring commentator. I reside in California, specifically the Los Angeles area, where the last regional of the North American season was held on May 25th. Southern California has its fair share of strong trainers and even one previous article writer, TokenFemale, who is from the area.
There is a meaning to being a commentator at any local, regional, or even World’s stage. You aim to be the best person at your job and have a more general outlook so that the work shown is appreciated. Commentator duties look easy to do on the surface, but it is more than just talking about the match that is being shown on the screen. You need to be able to talk about various things, such as player options and the things that each of them can go for, speak of the action that ensues on the field, and excite the audience so they are happy to be watching some great Pokemon battles.
Some things that Pokemon commentators generally do are talk about game situations, engage in discussions about how the game can be played out as it continues, and react when certain actions happen. When the action happens, one must be ready to electrify the crowd with the energy necessary to react as if you were playing the game yourself. Understanding both perspectives of the trainers on camera is necessary to get the best reactions out of yourself.
Some well-known casters are Aaron Zheng and Evan Latt in North America, and Lee Provost and Lou Akcos-Cromie in Europe. All of these casters are talented in different aspects and strengths, such as play-by-play reactions and the aforementioned talking about game situations. People like Evan, Gabby Snyder, Rosemary Kelley, Aaron, and Lou are known for their play-by-play commentary and how they can bring excitement to the audience as the game finds its way to the climax of action.
The other strength casters have is "color,” a term used to break down the details of the game, such as why the player made their moves in a specific way, what the pros and cons of the move were, and predict what can happen in the following turns based on how the players did in the turn prior. Casters like Len Deuel, Lee, and Jake Muller are all very good at detailing out how the game has transpired to a simpler degree. I may be more of an unknown commentator to a lot of people reading this article, and that is fine because sometimes the journey to being known takes a while for certain individuals.
The co-casters and production I work with are important to have in any stream featuring VGC events. In my local scene, co-casters like Dennis Geissler, Arnie Wolf, and William “GUCCI*SAN” Franco all helped out the commentary team with helpful insight. Troy Stafford Whiteley, the lead stream producer, has been a key person in making sure the stream is up and running. They make sure the microphones are all working and check on us when the next round after resting is set to begin. The tournament organizer, Miguel Campos, then helps judge the tournaments that happen to make sure they run smoothly without issues.
I have been doing commentary duties for SoCal’s VGC streams for around ten months now. I believe I have made my mark in the local commentary scene. Although it may look like I haven’t been around much in the Pokemon community, I have actually been playing competitively since the Sun and Moon era.
Since 2017, I’ve been actively competing against other trainers. I wouldn’t call myself the best in the world, but I can hold my own against others, online or in person.
My notable tournament results are as follows:
377th/73,060 in the 2018 November International Challenge
8th in Stall Wars 5, a small online tournament in 2019
2nd in Mt. Silver Weekly 7 in 2020
1st in Pokemonlabs Weekly 7 in 2020
4th in Gym Challenge 12 (Premier Challenge) in 2023
After all that time and experience as a player, I would get my first taste of VGC commentary on April 30, 2023. During SoCal’s premier locals at Psycho Turtle Collectibles in Pico Rivera, CA, the production crew at “POW?! Gaming” was incredibly friendly to me. It would be the first in-person tournament I would be attending. Although it was rusty in the beginning, mostly because of nervousness and some antsy speaking from time to time, I kept getting better and better as time progressed. Over time, I learned to be more calm when speaking, not rushing words into the microphone, so it comes out clean.
I did a few things to prepare myself for a day of commentary. The first thing I did was to look at VODs, then practice commentating on the matches as if I were there to get a feel for my skills on the mic. The second thing I did was watch regionals so I could see how other casters flow in tournaments. I would notice the presence they have on the mic and how they interact with each other, so I could apply it to my own presence. I find it important to rest when possible. It not only allows me to keep my voice and throat comfortable, but it also allows me to refresh and reflect on how I did in the short term in between rounds. This is how I can maintain consistent practice and learn that it proved to be helpful for the future tournaments I would be on the mic for.
Today, I am a commentator in SoCal and even got some opportunities to cast grassroots tournaments. One notable tour I commentated in was the Wide League. Not once, but twice. I will always be grateful and humble for the opportunities and fair criticism I have received as a commentator so far. In my ongoing journey as a commentator, I am currently waiting for my first big opportunity to commentate at regional tournaments in North America. When that time comes, I will do my best to give the audience the best version of myself on the microphone. I always seek to be the best commentator I can be.
I want to thank Arnie, William, Dennis, Troy, Miguel, and everyone who has known me for supporting my journey to get to where I am. I want to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to read my article. I hope I can gain your support to entertain you in the future.
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