In the anime series of Pokemon, Brawly is a Gym Leader who enjoys surfing and training his Pokemon simultaneously. His Pokemon moves are similar to waves, constantly changing and evading attacks during battles. He also owns an island with a training facility and battlefield that has numerous geysers. Initially, Ash loses to him due to relying solely on brute strength. However, in the rematch, his Corphish and Treecko use natural forces to defeat Brawly's Machop and Hariyama. During his match with Sapphire, his Makuhita evolved into Hariyama. She discovered that his Counter move could be countered by attacks that hit multiple times, such as Double Kick. Due to a misunderstanding, she expected Brawly's Pokemon to evolve as well.
Brawly joined Team Aqua in the Hoenn conflict because he wanted more opportunities for surfing. He changed his mind after Kyogre and Groudon began their rampage. His opponent during this fiasco was Mack, whom he defeated using direct strength instead of his usual strategy, at the cost of his own Pokemon. Brawly was last seen on the Pokémon Association's airship "Ba.Goon," recovering from injuries.