Nothing gold can stay, and our very own Ash Ketchum has finally reached the pinnacle of his journey in collecting Pokemon and battling them out to become a Pokemon master. Over twenty years in the belt, Pokemon will retire their original main character in favor of a new show with all new main characters. It’s the end of an era.
Like many other long-running television series, producers favor a modern reiteration of classics that fans love. Not everyone is happy, but it seems to be the right move, with the majority of watchers reminiscing over the journey of their favorite Pokemon catcher. It has been a bittersweet moment for Pokemon fans.
Sarah Natochenny, the voice of Ash Ketchum, was at the core of our Pokemon Lure. She helped create emotional ties to every Pokemon that Ash had caught. Whether it’s the infamously heart-breaking first movie or saying goodbye to Butterfree, she has brought tears in voice acting.
A vivid memory of the first Pokemon episode I ever watched comes to mind when thinking of the series: episode 67. I remember buying an old tape that came out and putting it in to watch when I was sick and staying home from school. I laid my head back on the pillow, falling into the sofa as it started to play.
The episode introduced a struggling Ash Ketchum and his turmoil in a relationship with his starter Pokemon, Pikachu. At this point of the show, Pikachu finds friendship with a surfing Pikachu known as Puka. As Ash, Misty, and Brock are running on the beach, the infamous Team Rocket turns up to steal the two Pokemon who are becoming best friends! As the fight ensues, Pikachu must trust the help of Puka to get out of the situation, and they do, sending Team Rocket back again to an ocean of surrounding Gyarados. The whole episode is ridiculous and chaotic but has a peaceful aura to the lovely anime it is.
You can’t help but love the creators’ creativity calling the giant wave that Puka surfs a “Humungadunga”. It was a vivid opening to the world of small, medium, and large creatures that would blanket the wild in the coming years, making me fall in love with all Pokemedia.
Pokemon has progressed throughout its time on television, introducing new generations and characters as Ash Ketchum went through his journey of catching them all. Multiple video games, different cards, new episodes, and many other eye-catching products became available everywhere.
Today, you still see children with Pokemon t-shirts growing up as I did. The tremendous influence of the show and hero has produced a timeless flow of old and new fans, along with parents who teach their children about the series. Whether it is kids and adults outside, looking for the latest Pokemon to catch in Pokemon Go shiny accounts, or finding the new legendaries in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, you can bet it’s still as popular as ever.
With Ash’s legacy now continuing, players and watchers have a variety of ways to continue their Pokemon journeys. Whether it be the new release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet or the continuation of the television series in a new fashion, fans have much to look forward to in the coming months. Every medium of Pokemon is being touched. Game Freak, the studio behind Pokemon, continue to welcome fans as the product continues to evolve. I can see Pokemon Go continuing to grow as people look for Pokemon Go items to use, eventually progressing with cell phone technology as well.
It may be the end of watching our precious Ash Ketchum grow as a person to reach his pinnacle, but the journey is what counts and boy, oh boy what a journey it was.
Where were you when Pokemon originally came out? Did you catch up with the show as the seasons progressed? Share your Pokemon stories in the comments or on social media!
Feature Image by Vincent M.A. Janssen via Pexels
