Why Ash is Going to LEAVE the Pokémon Anime SOON! 

So what do you think, is Ash gonna leave the anime? Would you like to see him replaced with someone else, or should he stay?

I don’t think they’re going to have Ash _entirely_ absent, and I don’t actually want them to; what I think they should do is have Ash as a mentor figure rather than the main character. I feel like Ash becoming a mentor to an assortment of other protagonists after a timeskip is probably the best direction they could go after this, especially since there might be actual riots if they try to use Ash losing as an excuse to try to go back to the old formula. I just think this would be a good compromise between people who like Ash, and people who want a new protagonist.

If anything I would like to see a mini series with Ash as a teen growing into an adult and see what his future really holds.

Team Rocket also seems to be moving on from Team Rocket and they seem to be appearing A LOT less. I mean I’m sure people are sick of the team rocket formula too, but ever since the Butch and Cassidy episode it just seems like they’re ready to move on

I just want a new series where Ash is a goal for the new protagonist to overcome. There are so many directions that story line can go. Either have Ash's child look up to him and wants to surpass him. Ash can mentor the next protagonist, and have them carry on his dream to become a Pokèmon Master.

Plus, his inclusion in Pokémon Masters is an indicator that he might have achieved his goal. Honestly, I think we shouldn't continue the main anime after Journeys and should finally have a Pokémon Adventures anime. Though, that is unlikely to happen.

We get a video like this every generation. It’s not gonna happen. Ash leaving the main series anime would be like Pikachu leaving the anime. If anything, they’ll create more or different Pokémon anime, which is why I think they’ve been experimenting with those RU-vid releases these past few years.

I see what you are saying but I feel Ash isn't leaving this anime. If they going to make him leave, they would have made him utilized all of his pokemon from previous regions like he did in the DP league instead of only 6 pokemon in this series. You would go with a bang, not this typical end where he uses the pokemon he caught in that specific season and use them in this tournament only. It just telling me Ash is going to the Paldea region, enroll in the academy, and become champion ranked at the end of that series because you can have multiple champion ranked trainers in Scarlet/Violet. Another way to make Ash "leave" is a timeskip but they don't want to do a timeskip because Ash is the eternal 10 year old. Also, they said being a Pokémon Master is more than being a champion, there is more to it and by being vague, they could make him to more things to achieve this Neverending goal.

Interesting, maybe Ash will become the mentor figure for the new protagonist in the future🤔

I'm here to announce that Ash Ketchum will be hanging up his cap next year and will be leaving the anime...

I can see ash leaving, but i dont want ash to leave. I like ash, he's pretty awesome. And I love Goh as a character, but I'm not sure if I would want him to replace Ash

I honestly would prefer Chloe over Goh. Or Chloe and Goh in Paldea. She does have the secondary mascot as her Pokémon after all.

The way I see it, there are two ways it should go. One is for Ash to win the Master 8 and his role as the main character ends. He becomes the Red of the world, a legendary trainer that inspires others. Sure, he can make sporadic appearances like champions have done in the past, whether to help with a crisis or give wisdom to a new trainer. I love Ash, but he's come so far and is running out of room to grow as is, and they can't go back to him entering a league and losing over and over. If Ash was actually allowed to grow up, there could still be plenty of great development, seeing how he deals with his place as he grows older, but that'll never happen. The second is, if Ash has to stay around, he becomes a travelling companion to a new main character. He serves as the experienced trainer helping out a new trainer rise up in the world, much like how Brock and Misty started for him even while they were learning more. We saw bits of this with May and Dawn as Ash showed his experience there, so if he needed to stick around, this would work well.

I think Ash is definitely rounding out his journey and will step down as protagonist but I don’t think he will be replaced by Goh. I think Goh is supposed to be a representation of the Pokémon Go player similar to how ash is a representation of Red. I think they will fill the spot with a brand new protagonist that we haven’t seen yet.

from the future… i hate you. you jinxed us.

If they don't want to retire ash just yet after journeys, my suggestion they should make a side series focusing on an older ash around his lates teen's (around 16) being the new world Championship after beating Leon those year's later. Focusing on teenager ash and bring back Serena as the main character would bring more story potential about being growing up. As they go around the world focusing defending title for ash and contests team tournament for Serena/ ash, but have the alola region be the main home base for ash and serena.

Goh isn't really a trainer, he doesn't battle much though. The show is mostly around battling pokemon, so how would they keep that going? It doesn't seem like his character for goh to start battling

Can you hear the silence? Can you see the dark? Can you fix the broken? Can you feel, can you feel my heart? Can you help the hopeless? Well, I'm begging on my knees Can you save my bastard soul? Will you wait for me? I'm sorry, brothers, so sorry, lover Forgive me, father, I love you, mother Can you hear the silence? Can you see the dark? Can you fix the broken? Can you feel my heart? Can you feel my heart? I'm scared to get close, and I hate being alone I long for that feeling to not feel at all The higher I get, the lower I'll sink I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim I'm scared to get close, and I hate being alone I long for that feeling to not feel at all The higher I get, the lower I'll sink I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim I'm scared to get close, and I hate being alone I long for that feeling to not feel at all The higher I get, the lower I'll sink I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim Can you feel my heart? Can you hear the silence? Can you see the dark? Can you fix the broken? Can you feel, can you feel my heart?

I wish a girl main protagonist was in the anime because it has never been seen and there should be gender variation in the anime in my opinion (Aside from the companions)

I wouldn't mind them making a new anime that has an actual timeline, progress and having a different storyline

Given how well other Pokémon amine-like projects such as Origins, Twilight Wings, Generations and the Pokétoon stuff have done, I wouldn't be surprised if they went with a different, new and fresh narrative. These other projects have been so well received and don't focus on Ash whatsoever. Whilst it would be sad and unfortunate to see Ash go I personally think that he could make for an amazing callback in the future of the mainstream anime. Regardless of if they lead with Goh or an entirety new character, I think that Ash could be there as a mentor and occasionally help the new protagonist with any issues they have.

I think it’d be cool if they did a timeskip into paldea(5-10 years) with a brand new protag while ash and goh are the 2 pillars of the Pokémon world( ash being the strongest trainer and goh having caught the most Pokémon out of every trainer) and the new main character aspiring to get to their level.

We began to see Ash doing a little bit more with research in Kalos, showing the end of reports given to Professor Sycamore about Mega Evolution. Paldea has Tera Forms. Becoming more of a reseacher could be a possible future for Ash.

Welp, you called it. But honestly, some of us (myself included) saw it coming.

I don’t think Ash is going anywhere. He’s been the main character from the beginning and his partner Pokémon is the mascot. He will prob still be the main character

Honestly I wouldn’t mind ash taking that sort of mentor role like Brock or Cilan had.

It was confirmed he'll be leaving :(

Apart from a couple of the movies, I haven't watched the anime in probably 20 years. But this makes sense to me. Pokémon could use a fresh face.

I really want this to happen. I’ve been watching the show since I was 6 (I am now 30) and I have been waiting for Ash to become a Pokémon Master the majority of my life. But with League loss after League loss, I was losing hope that that would ever happen. Especially since Kalos seemed the most promising and he still lost. But then Ash won The Alola League. A canon full tournament. It really does seem like they’re sending Ash off for all the reasons you mentioned. If they do, I will cry tears of joy. Ash finally achieving his goal was long, long, LONG overdue.

This is probably far fetched but there could be a time-skip of some sorts where Ash is older and his kid is the new protagonist in the next generation of the series. OR they might just keep Ash because I don’t want him to leave but I get why he could be possibly replaced.

After hearing the news today you were SPOT ON!!!!!

If another era of the anime comes, I want it to be maybe an anime heavily based on the games, and have a new protagonist every new season or series.

Anyone else getting tired of this theory?

He does leave and your theory is correct

this aged well

Future is now thanks to science

I don't think they will just remove pikachu from the anime. if ash is removed as the main character then he would 100% be a a support character like brock and misty were. Always there like the main character and thus the pikachu would be there too.

I don’t want him to

I think it would make more sense if the Scarlet/Violet anime took place at least a decade after Journeys so that it makes sense why no Paldean trainers were in the *WORLD* coronation series. I think Ash will either become a teacher at the school or be a father after moving to Paldea.

I don't want him to leave🥲

you called it future is now, next series he's leaving!

Even if ash leaves I find it hard to see them slapping goh as the next main character replacing ash because he's not ash & I wonder how they'll develop him then I don't want to see him be ash 2.0 basically destroying his character development from journeys so another new character makes more sense than goh as much as I love the character lol The main issue is where's pikachu then? Are they're going to have the new main character get pikachu? I can see people view that character as ash 2.0 I don't know how they'll develop this main character especially to be different from ash If ash does return then if he beats leon then him taking a mentor role makes the most sense otherwise I wonder how they'll top the world coronation series lol Whether ash wins the world coronation series or not the pokemon anime is in an interesting scenario in the future I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that pokemon journeys just continues in gen 9 & give ash & goh a reason to visit paldea too & also gives ash a new goal too heck I love pokemon journeys I wouldn't mind it not stopping for gen 9 🤣 it doesn't matter to be too much if ash stays

Thanks for having me on, bro!

If he leaves, I hope the new protagonist is a Girl!!!! Maybe even Serena, Chloe, or Dawn!!!

Yes, Ash's journey should come to an end especially after journeys. They could either make him an adult mentor or make him win the world coronation series and actually leave the anime. Going in another journey would really be stale as you said. It's time to say goodbye to our childhood hero by giving him the perfect ending!

We know now that ash is leaving the series. Ash has won and become a Pokémon master. In my opinion I will miss him very much but as said in this video it is the best send off for him. For years people have been wanting ash to leave and now that he is they are overly angry and sad saying pokemon won’t be the same. It’s true though. It won’t be the same but change is a good thing sometimes. I am looking forward to the new ideas and adventures this new blood will bring. I also think it makes sense for ash to leave the anime as since scarlet and violet is a “school based” game/region it won’t make sense for him to go there as the mc. I want to point out Alolah for an expand how people didn’t care for ash going to school to learn pokemon after being on the road for so long. There are some though who joke about how that helped him win the championship etc but others didn’t care how he actually got to that point with it being the first ever league for the region. So yeah some thoughts to chew on

They better make him grow up in the final episode. Or have him meet his father

I haven’t really watched the anime in years, why did they switch styles? I think the old, more defined style worked a lot better in action scenes

There plenty of times they could’ve taken him out ,a big one is x and y he had turned into a more serious trainer ,but then reset once sun and moon took stage…and if I’m being honest ,sun and moon could’ve survived without ash ,ash didn’t do much unlike the other *many* main characters,in conclusion I think ash stayed a little to long-

If Ash's story does come to an end, I really hope they would explore a darker tone of pokemon anime similar to origins or evolutions, they could also adapt the Pokemon adventures manga into anime.

I'd love to see Goh and Chloe go to the new region and explore it. Goh, being inspired by Ashs victory might inspire him to brush up on his battling skills.

I want a new Maincharacter, which is neither Goh nor Ash. But some of Ashs Pokémon should reach their final form, like Gibble or Snivy

If he wins I want him to continue as living legend changing the world, teaching trainers stuff, and learning new things that no one knew existed. I don't understand why that once the pinnacle is achieved writers can't come up with more. NEW GAME PLUS IS ALWAYS THE BEST PART BC NOW THE WORLD IS MORE SO AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. NOW YOURE THE BIG FORCE THAT THE WORLD HAS TO DEAL WITH. it's a no brainer

I really would like to see Ash Ketchum leave. I don't really watch the anime all that much anymore. I pretty much stopped watchinng the anime (regularly) around Pokemon Black & White: Adventures into Unova. If they actually do get rid of Ash Ketchum (for good), I might start watching the anime again. I like this idea. When it comes to Pokemon, all I do is collect the tcg and play Pokemon GO. I don't really play the main series games anymore. The last game I played was Pokemon Yellow. So I really want them to do this.

As much as I want Ash to be the most powerful trainer ever I still want to see him appear I wouldn't mind him becoming a Professor and just like with Cerise in Journeys he can appear a couple times

I mean I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Ash does leave the anime, and instead for Scarlett and Violet's anime-debut we get Goh and/or Chloe as the main character instead (more likely Goh tho, we don't focus much on Chloe) maybe even a new character, but honestly if Ash leaves then Team Rocket would have to as well- the Jesse, James and Meowth part that is, cause they just got chemistry with Ash and honestly they really wouldn't mesh as well with someone new.

I don't think Ash will be leaving Pokemon anytime soon. I think Pokemon did try to explore the possibility of replacing him with a new character and that's why we got a dual protagonist series with Goh in Journey's. The issue is however is that Goh hasn't exactly been liked by everyone. So much so that the ratings of Journeys crashed bigtime in Japan. He's a very one dimensional character who's goal is to just catch these Pokemon and do nothing. That format will ruin the anime franchise because it gives no room for the pokemon to have character growth. One of the main reasons why Ash's Pokemon are so loved is that most of them have some sort of likeable and memorable personalities and character traits that make them endearing to fans. Like an infernape moment would just never be possible again with Goh. Even the galar starters that he caught got very little personality growth despite being the "faces" of the new region. If they are indeed setting him up as the next main protagonist I don't think it's gonna work out well.

Knowing Ash, he will probably not be satisfied with just beating Leon, he will be told of some cool new reigon with strong trainers who didn't partake in the world coronation and Ash will want to fight them or discover the new pokemon.

It is not that Ash's story is done and he's done all he can do... It's that he's been 11 for 20yrs and he needs to grow up now so his story can progress. I want Ash to return to his hometown and win the Pokemon League.

Also if Goh becomes the main character I will eternally hate the writers. Goh just isn’t a great character his goal is impossible and unrealistic (yes it does give him a reason to stay in the anime forever so he can catch those new Pokémon, but what about the battles)? Goh doesn’t like battling, he’ll battle if he needs to, but just doesn’t and that’s one of the main reasons why people watch the anime. Also Goh has just completely taken over the screentime of the show. Like if there is an Goh focus episode it would be in a situation where only Goh can solve the problem. But in Ash focus episodes, Goh at least does stuff like catch a new Pokémon or solve a problem. Also Goh has ruined catching Pokémon in the anime for me. As catching Pokémon used to be special and wholesome, but Goh ruined that just by throwing a ball at a Suicuine and catching it. Like if anyone here wants Goh to be the main character that’s your opinion and stuff. But you can’t deny that if they made Goh the main character the anime wouldn’t have much feeling to it

Ash ain’t going anywhere, what I would like to see is him not being 10 years old anymore

Oh no! I dont think Ash leave the Pokémon anime because he's still the main hero. If Ash leave the Pokémon anime its like Dragon Ball without Goku, its like Naruto without himself, its like One Piece without Luffy and its like One Punch Man without Saitama

I think we also must keep in mind that just because older fans may be tired of seeing Ash after 25 years…. We’re not the target audience, Ash and Pikachu will always be fresh to a new generation of children tuning in, so I doubt they’d replace him and force in a new character. Goh’s good and may be able to carry an episode or two without Ash and Pikachu present, but an entire series? No, and his Grookey is not interesting enough to replace Pikachu as the perpetual following Pokémon of the series.

I just want them to make an anime that’s more mature and well-rounded. Even if Goh replaces ash’s as the main protagonist, the anime will still be rather childish. That doesn’t appeal to us older audiences. Pokémon has always been a major part of my life, but it’s become less so the older I grow. I wish Pokémon would direct some attention to the audience who have been fans since 1995-2000.

Here’s a bright idea instead of Goh REPLACING ash did it ever cross your minds they are setting up Goh for a spin off The equivalent of a Pokémon chronicles but with Goh as the lead and lasts longer Goh has his own show Ash has his own show It would work way better than replacing ash

as much as i would love a new protagonist because i feel like ash had lost a lot of his personality and has become very predictable and boring, i *hate* goh so much 😭

I just don’t like Gou I would prefer a new likable protagonist.

I seriously want ash to stay or have a kid that will be like him and will be the new ma trying to become a strong trainer to challenge his father and surpass him but ash will be shown watching over him and they don’t nerf him

Ash is not leaving. How many times must that be said? >:/

ASH IS THE BEST CHARACTER

I can explain shortly: he already did so much, he literally is a champion of so many regions, and at least gen 9 is coming soon, so it won't feel the same. I think, they might do the restart of the whole anime Upd: I wrote it before watching the video

Well if Ash becomes the most powerful trainer, there wouldn't be much to do with character development anymore 🤷‍♀️. I say give us a new character already.

I couldn't imagine the fact of ash not in the show

I always kinda wished Pokémon went the digimon route and gave us a new cast and protagonist per series

I think another detail to look at would even be Ash's team. He has a lot of popular pokemon that are a little surprising to realize he's never had. I know he had haunter and I know he worked with Lucario in a movie but I don't think those count. I could be wrong but it's almost a tying of loose ends here.

If goh becomes the main character people are gonna be pissed and marketing prices will most prob go down

Oh what do you know you haven’t watched the anime in 20 years you don’t know anything about it or ash Ash isn’t going anywhere he has said it himself the writers wouldn’t write those words for no reason I trust ash’s words over yours since it’s his experience In journeys he said beating leon is just one step and in past seasons like the finale of BW he said he’s never going to stop traveling until he befriends every Pokémon Ash himself is an official source so I’m going to trust what he has said previously on various occasions

Did u say FINALLY leave?!?! Ash should stay

I think that they should continue with the series by having ash go on and catch a lot of strong Pokémon like a quest to catch every legendary or something like that

My friends and I unironically joked Ash will become a professor too, as there is an Ash tree and the whole professor tree name thing they do.

I never want ash to leave I just want him to grow more and more. He's the best vehicle for pokemon. THE BEST🎯🏆👌

I think Goh should give Ash his Grookey.....Seeing as how its unevolved and Ash didn't get a Galar Starter.

He really pradicted this

My theory if this does happen: Ash leaves the show to defend his title as the Alola region champion. And, possibly re-reunites with some old friends. (*cough* *cough* Serena *cough*).

I haven't started the video yet, but Ash is definitely not leaving the anime. He's basically the mascot of the anime.

i ain't watching it without ash HAHAHA

You know I never used to like Ash but over the years I've come to see him as an icon of pokemon if he left the show it would be so weird

now i can see why its hard letting what you love go i wont watch pokemon without ash

I wouldn’t be affected that much. I mean, every new series is always the same formula: Ash starts a new journey, catches Pokémon, makes travel companions, defeats the gyms, (almost always) loses the championship, maybe another few episodes for an epilogue, then onto the next region A new protagonist would be nice. Actually, I would prefer if they make Pokémon more entertaining for people older than 11, in the same way Legends Arceus was a bit darker with an older protagonist (15 years old)

More specifically ash leaving the main protagonists spot, and maybe go taking over also leads into the main theme of scarlet and violet, past vs future, seen in its legendaries, koraidon the natural rideable dinosaur, and miraidon, the mechanical bike dragon, or more specifically it’s traditionalism vs advancement, it’s the 25th year of Pokémon coming up, and guess when scarlet and violet will be introduced here, this year, so if the ending of journeys leads to ash leaving the role of protagonist to goh makes total sense, in regards it seems to be the theme that the 25th year of Pokémon is trying to set, that it’s advancing form it’s more traditional route into a new more advanced era, it still will be normal, but more than ever before, it will be a harder reboot than black and white and anime sun and moon, scarlet and violet being like legends arceus, being an open world rpg, which was they always wanted though only got it in the wild areas in sword and shield, and the Pokémon anime dropping ash form the main protagonist role to become a mentor for new ones makes total sense.

If Ash is getting a farewell in the anime team rocket (Jessie, James, and meowth) should get a send off too

I think Ash should get some cameos but it's time for him to withdraw as main character. Maybe he'll go off and train on his own like Red did in Gold/Silver

I think it is time to make ash a minor character, but if they do get a new protagonist I do not feel they should make goh the new protagonist, instead I think they should either follow a random trainer that aspires to be like ash or potentially age ash up have him have children and maybe try and have the child live up to ash's legacy

It’s quite obvious they’re doing away with Ash to at least some extent, the anime was near perfect with few hiccups, until the end of DP. Unova was a disaster; it tried resetting everything and went too far, X&Y was a pickup from there and was quite good, but the damage was set in stone with Black and White. The anime ended for me, took me a while to see it but after Kalos I realized that was as good as it was gonna return to; Alola wasn’t as bad as Unova but was still too different. Journeys is FAR too different. Ash is gone, he’s been gone; and now, the current Ash will be leaving after this pathetic fan catering. They’re trying to make up for the past, pathetically I might add, and it’s simply too late. I didn’t just grow up, I recognize the anime was never perfect but it did take itself seriously and had its own identity, its own lore, and its own characters! I loved watching Ash grow along his journeys throughout the series. The anime was just finding its ground in the Indigo League, late indigo league and beyond is where it has established itself as there are no game references past that point(levels being brought up for example, that’s not a thing in the anime). The anime is its own Pokemon media! It has its own universe with its own laws, its own lore(especially the movies, I LOVE the movies) and it gets misunderstood by its writers and other Pokemon fans who just don’t understand it. The anime isn’t the same anymore, it strayed from the path and was messed up by its own writers; new or old, dunno.

this aged amazing

If it's a sendoff, it's a very bad one! No way they'll fire Rica-san from being a VA. And you know that they want Pikachu around, so only Ritchie could replace Ash. Still hoping that in SV he battles for sport and fun with his reserves, like in AG's BF.

I hope ash will be in scarlet and violet

I have to stop watching this video because it's too much for me I'm about to start crying and I've hardly seen 3:50

I still want Ash to leave because he came to far and achieved so much to the point they going need to end his journey. Ash may leave in this series and a new protagonist will take his spot or gen 9 will be his last appearance. Gen 9 could be where Ash is like a teacher to the three protagonist that travels with Ash or it could be a class. If we going to the pattern like gen 3 we have max and gen 6 was Bonnie so we can assume gen 9 may follow this pattern and we have a traveling series again. This time it’s the three new characters and one may take Ash spot in the anime but they may have a different personality that we can bond with. That’s all I have to say

Love yourself first and most Believe in yourself Quitters never win and winners never quit Don't give up and never give in Ignore those who try to discourage you Hang on to your dreams Take control of own destiny Take care of yourself Keep moving forward Stand up for yourself Stand tall and be brave Stay strong Act of kindness people