Thanks to Hamada and Voyager for helping with edits.
One year ago, we celebrated Pokémon Day by discussing Red, the franchise’s trendsetting Pokémon Trainer. He was the protagonist of the series’ first installments, functioning as an avatar for players. Since then, he’s become a recurring character whom fans proselytize as a legendary battler. Red’s also a model Trainer, with many of the monochromatic games’ adaptations starring heroes in his likeness.
Ash Ketchum, seen in the original Pokémon anime (Image: The Pokémon Company)
Pokémon invaded the United States when I was in elementary school, quickly capturing the zeitgeist of children across the land. While the video games are Pokémon’s centerpiece, its ongoing anime inducted me into the multimedia franchise. I dutifully tuned in every Saturday morning on Kids’ WB, rooting for its hero to achieve his dream…
Ash Ketchum’s History
Game Freak’s Satoshi Tajiri was an avid bug collector in his youth, a fascination that evolved into the creature-collecting RPGs Pokémon Red and Green. Over a year after their release, an animated Pokémon adaptation spearheaded by production company OLM Inc. premiered in Japan. The show’s protagonist was christened Satoshi after the series’ creator. Satoshi’s English name was originally “Casey” before they settled upon Ash, and he was also given the surname Ketchum, a play on Pokémon’s western slogan. Visually, Ash bore a few alterations from his game counterpart, sporting small squiggles on his cheeks, green gloves, and a stylized hat and blue jacket. Unlike the games, Bulbasaur, Chamander, nor Squirtle were selected as Ash’s starter – Pikachu was, since OLM recognized its potential. In terms of characterization, the heroes were given “stereotypical personalities” to prevent overcomplicating them to kids, the target audience (the more multifaceted Team Rocket trio served as head writer Takeshi Shudō’s creative outlet).
Shudō, whose tenure spans most of the original series, wrote two novelizations that better depict his cynical interpretation of the Pokémon world. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
Pokémon’s ten-year-old lead had a rough start, oversleeping the day he was scheduled to get his first Pokémon. Professor Oak’s usual specimens had already been claimed, consequently leaving the rookie with a recalcitrant Pikachu. The Electric-type refused to cooperate with Ash, his mouse and Pokédex mocked him, and he was viciously chased by a flock of wild Spearow. However, things got better; Ash boldly defended Pikachu from the ill-tempered birds, earning the rodent’s respect, and he soon made traveling companions and lifelong friends in Gym Leaders Brock and Misty. The boy caught several Pokémon, acquired eight Gym Badges, and competed in Kanto’s Pokémon League. There, he outlasted his rival, Gary, before suffering a humiliating loss: Ash’s lethargic Charizard, ignoring his Trainer’s begging, refused to battle. Notably, animation director Masaaki Iwane confirmed the show was originally slated to run for a year and a half; Shudō had thought of potential endings involving Pokémon rebelling against humanity and an elderly Ash reminiscing about his youth.
Nevertheless, the show went on. Oak sent Ash to the Orange Islands, an errand that blossomed into another adventure. During this voyage, the energetic itinerant reconciled with his Charizard and earned his first major victory. Ash then trekked through Johto, Kanto’s neighboring territory, where he settled his vendetta against Gary. Thereafter, Advanced Generation established a new ritual for the bairn: when a new Pokémon generation begins, Ash’ll deposit his team at Oak’s ranch, change clothes, arrive at the new region, and eventually enter its League. Save for Unova’s, he steadily performed better each time, culminating in his Alola League triumph. Currently, the rover works as a research fellow, traveling the globe alongside greenhorn Trainer Goh.
In Japan, Ash has always been voiced by Rica Matsumoto, while Veronica Taylor assumed the role in English under 4Kids Entertainment’s dubbing reign. Sarah Natochenny has portrayed him in English since 2006. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
Movies following Ash’s exploits have occurred annually since 1998’s Mewtwo Strikes Back (however, he was absent from the live-action Detective Pikachu film, which sought to do something novel). Set in an alternate universe, another Ash stars in the first two Sun & Moon-era films and the upcoming one; this Ash retains his unique cap across his appearances.
Game Freak’s Junichi Masuda once described the anime and games as “parallel worlds,” a stance that’s endured. Nevertheless, Ash’s escapades transcend his realm, even impacting its source material; his Kanto scuttle molded Pokémon Yellow, and subsequent titles occasionally honor him through downloadable Pokémon. The Sun and Moon demo paid tribute to Ash’s Kalos ace by gifting players a Battle Bond Greninja, while a picture limning him adorns the Thrifty Megamart in the Alolan games proper. Smartphone sensation Pokémon GO incorporated Ash in its 2019 April Fools’ gag. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, when illustrating the concept of a Pokémon Trainer, listed Ash as an example. Additionally, the wayfarer’s featured in merchandise, various manga publications, a musical, and numerous spin-off games, namely Pokémon Puzzle League, Tretta, Ga-Olé, the SEGA Pico titles, and the Perdue series. In fact, Ash has grown emblematic of the franchise and medium that spawned him, becoming a frequent subject of homages in pop culture, from The Simpsons to The Late Show.
So, what’re my thoughts on Ash?
Ash’s competitive spirit shines against condescending jerks like Gary, Paul, Trip, and Guzma. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
Unlike its western contemporaries, Pokémon provided a zestful adventure and (along with Dragon Ball Z and Yu-Gi-Oh!) operated as my gateway into Japanese animation. Like his game parallel, Ash hailed from an unassuming town as I did, helping me feel a kinship with him. This feeling was furthered by how I could empathize with Ash’s goal; it didn’t matter how nebulous of a concept a “Pokémon Master” was, I shared his love of Pokémon and desire to be the very best. Through Ash’s journey, I vicariously explored Pokémon‘s world in ways software couldn’t replicate; I cried when he parted ways with his Butterfree, I lamented his loss in the Indigo League, and I appreciated the lessons I learned through his example.
However, some have grown tired of Ash in the twenty-three years he’s been on the air. They claim he’s a weak Trainer, that his Pokémon are unevolved, that he always releases his strong Pokémon, that he never uses his older ones. In particular, his portrayal in Best Wishes (which adapted Black and White, a soft reboot) is pilloried; though rarely as inept as people argue, Ash was weaker in BW than in its preceding series, a progression-halting regression fans perceived as a betrayal. And it is frustrating when he falters or fails; after all, if we can conquer a Pokémon League, why can’t Ash?
When intensely focused, Ash flips his hat backwards. He only did it once in Diamond & Pearl, during his battle against the stonewalling plot device called Tobias. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
The standards we hold the games’ protagonists, meaning ourselves, to are often incompatible with the anime’s internal logic. Whereas Pokémon are mindless lines of code to us, Ash’s are living creatures to him. Our Pokémon automatically evolve after sufficient grinding or exposure to an item, but not all of Ash’s will and some resist the process, happy as they already are. We never release our fighters because we’re never required to whilst one of Ash’s may, say, stumble upon its soulmate. Ash cares for his Pokémon, prioritizing their needs above his own. Nevertheless, Ash excels at nurturing his teammates’ potential, wins the majority of his battles, and his talents are praised by others. Yes, he makes mistakes (don’t we all?) and loses matches, unfortunate consequences of how the writers maintain tension. Ash is allowed to be – and usually is – inventive, strategic, and strong, just not overwhelmingly so.
Ash’s core characteristics – boundless enthusiasm, childish naivety, stubbornness, and a sizable appetite – endure across each series, though the finer points fluctuate. Only the original series conveyed a tangible delineation of growth in him, however. The Ash who defeated Gary harbored a significantly more capable disposition than the snarky, overconfident doofus we first met, a maturation that carried over into Advanced Generation. But while it was nice seeing him mentor newcomers May, Max, and Dawn, his progression as a person began stagnating, sometimes making minor strides, other times relapsing. AG, for example, concluded with Gary tempering Ash’s ego after his Battle Frontier conquest, an episode that indolently aped the message of their first battle. Occasional refreshers in battling theory or social etiquette are fine; transparently retreading antiquated arcs is not. Storyboard artist Masamitsu Hidaka even admitted that as older kids stop watching the show, they’re replaced with younger ones, a luxury that lets the writers recycle ideas.
Ash’s rapport with Team Rocket gradually fizzled away. He’d formerly exchange banter with them, while flavorless dialogue like this is now the norm. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
Static though he may be, the altruistic Ash was always a positive influence on his surroundings, a strength XY capitalized on. No longer reliant on older, wiser mentors, Ash was a seasoned veteran who helped catalyze his peers’ development. Admittedly, it was also refreshing seeing a series openly venerate the guy, though it came with limitations: the unbridled adulations his colleagues showered upon him left little room for distinctive dynamics.
Sun & Moon rectified that deficiency; although he wasn’t the “cool” XYZ shōnen hero anymore, Ash’s eccentricity was emphasized and matched by several equally vibrant personalities. Jettisoning tired traditions, Sun & Moon let the lad obtain a Mythical Pokémon and cultivate a predilection for the islands, their heritage, and more mundane ventures. Alola and Ash profoundly enriched each other, something best demonstrated by the latter inspiring the construction of the former’s Pokémon League. And Ash’s ascendancy there lit the internet ablaze with positivity; people were elated over his milestone and mainstream news outlets reported on it. He hasn’t softened since departing from the tropics either; in the new series, Ash caught a Dragonite (and following this article’s original publication, a Gengar) and hasn’t retrogressed into his rote Gym quest. Instead, he’s climbing the international rankings so he can directly challenge Leon, Galar’s champion. After years of monotony, Ash is finally advancing beyond his rigid routine.
Ash’s design has been refined over time (XY director Tetsuo Yajima gave him sideburns à la Red). For Sun & Moon, character designer Satoshi Nakano updated the Kanto kid with a more malleable look to suit its comical, laidback tone. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
When I was a kid, my friends and I lionized Ash Ketchum. We gathered at recess and talked about his exploits, expressing our hopes that he’d become a Pokémon Master. My childhood ended long ago, though Ash’s adventures continue perennially. His vigor and values remain an effective engine to propel the show, and I’m glad he’s still around, having fun, striving towards his goal, and entertaining kids worldwide as he had with me. That’s not to say he’s a deep character, and I sympathize with those who’d prefer a fresh lead. However, Ash’s story isn’t over yet. Matsumoto said as such, suggesting he may “go on to the next level,” and for the first time in nearly two decades, I’m eager to see what Ash’s future holds. Here’s hoping he nabs an Espeon!
Congratulations, Champion Ash! A Pokémon Master, that’s what you’ll be!
I’m grateful SM and the new series, their imperfections notwithstanding, are evolving beyond the anime’s fatigued formula. This moment was a highlight, fulfilling something I’ve wanted to witness since I was Ash’s age. (Image: The Pokémon Company)
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