TV-Series
Description
Gurkinin is an elderly man and a recurring character in the Pokémon XY anime series, known as a master of Mega Evolution. He is the grandfather of Korrina, the Gym Leader of Shalour City in the Kalos region. His home is the Tower of Mastery, a location steeped in the history and traditions of Mega Evolution.
In terms of appearance, Gurkinin is nearly bald with a single lock of white hair on his head. He has large, prominent yellow eyebrows and grey eyes. His typical outfit consists of a sleeveless red jacket with black and red trim over a red undershirt, paired with grey rolled-up pants and black shoes with red soles. He wears a black fingerless glove on his left hand, which houses his Key Stone, the item necessary to trigger Mega Evolution.
Personality-wise, Gurkinin is portrayed as a strict and demanding individual who holds honor and tradition in high regard. He despises laziness and arrogance, often pushing his granddaughter, Korrina, to her limits to ensure she grows as a trainer. Despite his tough exterior and critical nature, he has deep confidence in Korrina's potential and a genuine care for her development. His actions are consistently motivated by a desire to protect the secrets of Mega Evolution and to ensure that only those who are truly worthy and share a strong bond with their Pokémon can wield its power.
Gurkinin's role in the story is primarily as a mentor and a guardian of Mega Evolution lore. He is the one who sets Korrina on her initial quest to obtain a Lucarionite, the Mega Stone for her Lucario, as part of her tradition as a new Gym Leader. He personally tests her abilities, first by sending his own Blaziken to challenge her, and later by battling her Mega Lucario with his own to demonstrate her lack of control. When Korrina's newly Mega-Evolved Lucario goes berserk during a gym battle with Ash Ketchum, Gurkinin intervenes with his own Lucario to stop the rampage and subsequently sends Korrina away to train with another Mega Evolution expert to master her bond with her Pokémon. Later, at the Tower of Mastery, he acts as the referee for the official gym rematch between Ash and Korrina. His role extends beyond his family, as he also tests and guides other trainers, such as Ash and his Lucario during a later visit to Kalos in the Journeys series, where he challenges them to prove their worthiness of Mega Evolution.
The key relationship in Gurkinin's life is with his granddaughter, Korrina. Their dynamic is central to his character. While he is proud of her, he is relentless in his critiques, believing that she must overcome every challenge to be truly ready for the responsibilities of a Gym Leader and a Mega Evolution successor. He is also the keeper of the family's secret documents on Mega Evolution, a privilege that Korrina must earn the right to read. He holds a position of respect among other powerful trainers and Mega Evolution users, serving as an authority on the subject.
Over the course of the series, Gurkinin's character is shown to be one of tough love that leads to growth. He witnesses Korrina's initial failure due to a lack of control, her subsequent training, and finally her honorable and brave performance in her gym battle against Ash, even in defeat. By the end of that arc, he openly expresses his pride in her development. His own wisdom is further demonstrated when he reveals that the "secret scroll" his family protects is actually a blank document he wrote himself, implying that the true secret to Mega Evolution is not recorded knowledge but the bond between trainer and Pokémon.
As a trainer, Gurkinin possesses notable abilities and powerful Pokémon. He is a highly skilled battler, easily able to stop a rampaging Mega Lucario with his own Pokémon's attacks. His known Pokémon include a Blaziken, which he used to test Korrina; a Lucario, which he can Mega Evolve and has demonstrated perfect control over against Korrina's berserk one; and an Alakazam, which he can also Mega Evolve, as seen when he tested Ash and his Lucario. His Key Stone is embedded in his glove, allowing him to facilitate these Mega Evolutions in battle.
In terms of appearance, Gurkinin is nearly bald with a single lock of white hair on his head. He has large, prominent yellow eyebrows and grey eyes. His typical outfit consists of a sleeveless red jacket with black and red trim over a red undershirt, paired with grey rolled-up pants and black shoes with red soles. He wears a black fingerless glove on his left hand, which houses his Key Stone, the item necessary to trigger Mega Evolution.
Personality-wise, Gurkinin is portrayed as a strict and demanding individual who holds honor and tradition in high regard. He despises laziness and arrogance, often pushing his granddaughter, Korrina, to her limits to ensure she grows as a trainer. Despite his tough exterior and critical nature, he has deep confidence in Korrina's potential and a genuine care for her development. His actions are consistently motivated by a desire to protect the secrets of Mega Evolution and to ensure that only those who are truly worthy and share a strong bond with their Pokémon can wield its power.
Gurkinin's role in the story is primarily as a mentor and a guardian of Mega Evolution lore. He is the one who sets Korrina on her initial quest to obtain a Lucarionite, the Mega Stone for her Lucario, as part of her tradition as a new Gym Leader. He personally tests her abilities, first by sending his own Blaziken to challenge her, and later by battling her Mega Lucario with his own to demonstrate her lack of control. When Korrina's newly Mega-Evolved Lucario goes berserk during a gym battle with Ash Ketchum, Gurkinin intervenes with his own Lucario to stop the rampage and subsequently sends Korrina away to train with another Mega Evolution expert to master her bond with her Pokémon. Later, at the Tower of Mastery, he acts as the referee for the official gym rematch between Ash and Korrina. His role extends beyond his family, as he also tests and guides other trainers, such as Ash and his Lucario during a later visit to Kalos in the Journeys series, where he challenges them to prove their worthiness of Mega Evolution.
The key relationship in Gurkinin's life is with his granddaughter, Korrina. Their dynamic is central to his character. While he is proud of her, he is relentless in his critiques, believing that she must overcome every challenge to be truly ready for the responsibilities of a Gym Leader and a Mega Evolution successor. He is also the keeper of the family's secret documents on Mega Evolution, a privilege that Korrina must earn the right to read. He holds a position of respect among other powerful trainers and Mega Evolution users, serving as an authority on the subject.
Over the course of the series, Gurkinin's character is shown to be one of tough love that leads to growth. He witnesses Korrina's initial failure due to a lack of control, her subsequent training, and finally her honorable and brave performance in her gym battle against Ash, even in defeat. By the end of that arc, he openly expresses his pride in her development. His own wisdom is further demonstrated when he reveals that the "secret scroll" his family protects is actually a blank document he wrote himself, implying that the true secret to Mega Evolution is not recorded knowledge but the bond between trainer and Pokémon.
As a trainer, Gurkinin possesses notable abilities and powerful Pokémon. He is a highly skilled battler, easily able to stop a rampaging Mega Lucario with his own Pokémon's attacks. His known Pokémon include a Blaziken, which he used to test Korrina; a Lucario, which he can Mega Evolve and has demonstrated perfect control over against Korrina's berserk one; and an Alakazam, which he can also Mega Evolve, as seen when he tested Ash and his Lucario. His Key Stone is embedded in his glove, allowing him to facilitate these Mega Evolutions in battle.