The official Pokémon Twitter account broke some hearts today when they announced the new Pokémon season, and specifically stated they would “commemorate Ash’s journey” beforehand.
An all-new Pokémon series has been announced!
Join 2 new characters and 3 Paldea starter Pokémon as they adventure through the Pokémon world! Plus, commemorate Ash’s journey with special episodes concluding Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series.
Coming soon in 2023 and beyond! pic.twitter.com/2lrM6W1dgW
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) December 16, 2022
A post on the official Pokémon website drove the stake through our collective hearts even deeper. The post specifically mentioned that the current season would “serve as an expression of gratitude” from Pokémon to all the fans who have followed Ash on his legendary journeys. The current season, titled Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, will wrap up Ash’s adventures following his historic win at the Masters’ Eight Tournament of the Pokémon World Coronation Series.
The upcoming eleven episodes, which begin airing in Japan on January 13th, 2023, will be titled Aim to be a Pokémon Master, and will mark the end of Ash and Pikachu’s adventures. Ash’s story first began in April 1997, when he overslept, woke up entirely too late, and raced to Professor Oak’s lab to get his starter Pokémon. Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander were already taken, and all that was left was a temperamental Pikachu. After some initial shocks, the two became fast friends, especially when Ash faced off against a horde of Spearow to protect Pikachu.
To say that Pokémon trainers young and old are sad would be an understatement (this writer is on the verge of tears), but Ash’s voice actresses are on hand to help turn the page on the anime series. Veronica Taylor, Ash’s original voice actress, replied to the dream-dashing tweet:
What a remarkable journey! 25 years of friendship, challenges, lessons learned, and so much joy! Bringing a voice to Ash was and continues to be a huge honor. Meeting so many of you along the way is truly the greatest honor of all. His story continues through each of you. ❤️
— Veronica Taylor (@TheVeronicaT) December 17, 2022
Veronica provided Ash’s voice from the first season all the way to the eighth in 2005. She also voiced May and Delia to perfection. Ms. Taylor marked the passing of Ash’s time as the star, explaining that it was her honor to voice the character as she looked back on Ash’s journey with fondness.
Ms. Taylor later quote-tweeted the soul-crushing announcement, expressing more sadness than before.
This announcement has really surprised me. I am filled with so much emotion…I guess I’d never considered Ash’s journey ending. I need a minute to process…
(This new beginning looks lovely.) https://t.co/OjhOTS5BNe— Veronica Taylor (@TheVeronicaT) December 16, 2022
Like the rest of us, she never thought that Ash’s story would end. I mean, Ash saw Ho-Oh on his first outing as a Trainer, which should have promised plenty of adventures.
It did, Ash had 25 seasons worth of adventures, but to those of us who saw him when he first met Pikachu, it seems like yesterday.
Veronica sent out one last tweet, as of this writing, and gave a message to her fans in the only way the original Ash Ketchum voice actress could. She brought life to Pokémon at the very beginning, and we should all be thankful to her.
To all of you Pokémon trainers out there…I choose YOU! I am so happy to be traveling on this spectacular journey with you, through all the highs and lows, we are truly in this together!❤️ @Pokemon #anipoke #OriginalAsh #Pokemon #AshKetchum #Pikachu pic.twitter.com/usyG6goHiM
— Veronica Taylor (@TheVeronicaT) December 17, 2022
Veronica Taylor’s immediate successor to Ash Ketchum’s voice, Sarah Natochenny, chimed in as well. She replied to the childhood-damaging announcement tweet in just as classy a fashion as Veronica herself:
https://twitter.com/sarahnatochenny/status/1603709125640310785
While clearly sad, Sarah expressed her gratitude for being able to voice the lead of Pokémon for 17 years, and looked forward with hope and optimism, and assured all that Ash would be with us no matter what.
Ms. Natochenny followed up with a tweet, including a picture of herself holding an Ash mask:
It’s been an extraordinary privilege to have been the English voice of Ash Ketchum for what will be 17 years. No matter what lies beyond his final chapter, he’ll live forever in the hearts of many generations to come. I'll keep him present for all of us in every way I can. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UZxPO4xD6E
— Sarah Natochenny 🥸 (@sarahnatochenny) December 16, 2022
She once again reiterated how honored she felt, and promised her legions of fans that she would continue to present Ash to the best of her considerable ability.
Many people expressed concern that Ash’s time in the Pokémon limelight would come to an end after his recent championship win. He had certainly come far in 25 seasons after all.
In that time, Pikachu had become a major mascot, and the Pokémon anime is even being streamed to Netflix.
It’s worth pointing out that, at the beginning of December, fans’ worries were put at ease when an official confirmed that Ash would be staying in Pokémon:
Hiraoka Risuke (Head of TV Tokyo's Anime Business):
“Satoshi's future will continue. We will be revealing information on how this adventure will turn out in future anime broadcasts”
It’s happening. Ash stays in Gen 9 just got confirmed #Anipoke https://t.co/P14uRrBrWT pic.twitter.com/K3rCTY9WPg
— Rafi (@ThePokeRaf) December 1, 2022
Well, that didn’t pan out. However, the upcoming season will be based on Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, and will follow the adventures of Riko and Roy, and the Paldea starter Pokémon Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Let us have hope for the future, while she show respect for the past, and relive the harrowing events of the St. Anne, and when we shed tears when Butterfree left the team.
Are you heartbroken over Ash’s departure from Pokémon? What is your favorite episode? What are your hopes or fears for the future? Let us know in the comments below.
