Ash's Journey Ended 3 Years Ago Today, And Pokemon Hasn't Been the Same Since

The Pokemon anime has been going strong for nearly thirty years now. For many, the series was a gateway to the anime world, just as the games served as many young gamers' first experience with the medium. A lot went right for Pokemon to become the global force it is today, and while the games played a big part in making the franchise as big as it is, you can't overlook the impact that the anime has had in reaching new fans and building the franchise up to what we know it to be.

A big part of why the anime was so successful was its protagonists. Over the years, Ash and Pikachu became one of the most iconic duos in anime. The series did a great job of pairing the two with memorable companions, but Ash and Pikachu's bond served as the Pokemon anime's biggest draw, making their adventures throughout Kanto and the other regions in the Pokemon world such a blast to watch. But nothing lasts forever, and after nearly a quarter-century, Ash and Pikachu's journey came to an end. The Pokemon anime is still going, with a new set of characters and stories for a new generation of fans. But the Pallet Town duo has left behind some big shoes to fill.

What Made Ash & Pikachu's Journey So Special

Ash was conceived as a parallel to Red, the protagonist from the Gen I games. Though both trainers were from Pallet Town and had similar designs, that's about where the similarities ended. Ash is a much more expressive character, winning over anime fans with his positive outlook and at times snarky attitude. Another thing that separated Ash from his game counterpart was his unusual choice of starter Pokemon. In the games, players get to choose between Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle as they set out to explore the Kanto region. But things worked out differently for Ash.

Ash was forced to take on a Pikachu as his starter after he'd overslept and lost out on the usual three options. While that's the in-universe explanation, the real-world logic behind the decision was that Pikachu could serve as a neutral starter that wouldn't show any partiality towards a single starter in the games. It ended up working great, as Pikachu's popularity in the anime led to it becoming the franchise's mascot for decades. Even though the two got off to a rocky start, their bond eventually grew into what served as the backbone for the Pokemon franchise over two decades.

Fans got to see Ash and Pikachu form a genuine friendship over the years, and even though Ash was shown to be a kind and caring trainer to all of his Pokemon, the connection he and Pikachu shared inspired fans throughout different generations to go out and be the best trainers they could be in the games.

Ash Went Through A Lot of Growing Pains As a Trainer

Ash was always presented as a caring and ambitious young trainer, but that didn't always translate to success in the anime. It took Ash a while to start stacking up some serious wins, with him often falling short of major accomplishments, be it championship wins or catching the kind of rare, legendary Pokemon that fans covet in the games. The series focused more on the journey and the joy of sharing it with friends rather than placing too much importance on individual accomplishments and accolades.

That's not to say Ash didn't accomplish anything in the two-decade-plus time he was the anime's protagonist. From constantly thwarting Team Rocket, to winning various Pokemon competitions and becoming the Orange League champion, Ash and Pikachu did a lot of great things on their journey.

• Indigo Plateau Conference — Top 16
• Silver Conference — Top 8
• Ever Grande Conference — Top 8
• Lily of the Valley Conference — Top 4
• Vertress Conference — Top 8
• Lumiose Conference — Runner-Up
• Manalo Conference — Winner

Ash's biggest win came in the form of his World Coronation Series championship victory over Leon. It was a massive moment for fans, with what felt like years of work finally paying off for Ash and Pikachu. After some tough losses over the years to trainers like Cameron, Paul, Sawyer, and others, this was a well-earned victory that showed Ash had made some great strides in doing what he set out to do when he left Pallet Town in the hopes of becoming a Pokemon Master.

After his monumental win, Ash set out on a new journey that saw him reunite with familiar faces. To Be a Pokémon Master was the final arc of Pokemon Journeys, and the last series to feature Ash and Pikachu. It was a sad but well-done farewell tour that gave fans one last look at Ash and Pikachu's adventures before handing the reins over to a new cast of characters.

So What's Going on With Pokemon Now?

Just because Ash and Pikachu said goodbye doesn't mean that the Pokemon anime was going to end. Instead, the series started fresh, with a new cast of characters and new stories for both a new generation of fans and older fans.

Pokemon Horizons focuses on protagonists Liko and Roy, who, alongside a group of trainers called the Rising Volt Tacklers, set out to search for a group of Pokemon called the Six Heroes while also trying to learn more about a mysterious Terapagos. The group travels alongside Professor Friede and his Pikachu, Captain Pikachu, on an airship called the Brave Olivine.

The new cast of characters is great in their own right, giving the series a chance to explore new things and offering fresh new stories that really feel different from what the Ash and Pikachu-led series was. That said, Horizons is still relatively new compared to its predecessors. There have been some real highs so far, and Liko and Roy are both different enough from Ash that you can appreciate their journeys and individual character growth. The future looks bright for the Pokemon anime despite taking such a big swing and retiring two of the franchise's most recognizable and beloved characters. Fans can still expect the same fun from the new series as they did with past entries, but on days like this, it's fun to look back at what made Ash's journey such a special one to follow.