Pokémon's main protagonist, Ash Ketchum has certainly made a name for himself over the past 25 years. Starting all the way in 1997, Ash's journey from Pallet Town all the way to the Galar Region as been filled with ups and downs, with crushing defeats, competitive rivals, reliable companions, and especially earned victories. All of these happened over the course of nearly 25 seasons, with the same amount of years spent on this journey. It's about time that many take a look back at Ash's origins, the course of his journey, and just really how much he has grown ever since then from the beginning. Both as a Pokémon trainer, and as a person.
Ash Ketchum, as many are familiar with, is a young kid coming from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region. However, unlike those that played the original games, Ash started off not with any starter but rather a certain red-cheeked yellow mouse. Pikachu became Ash's first Pokémon ever since, and certainly over the course of their journey, their bond grew and in battle were in sync. The young trainer also had companions, the first two he ever had being Brock and Misty, two gym leaders that stuck with Ash for the first two regions. However, aside from his humble beginnings, how far has Ash come ever since?
Trials, Tribulations, And Success
Ash has overcome various trainers, from Gym Leaders to even competitive rivals like Paul from the Sinnoh Region. However, that doesn't mean that Ash didn't have his fair share of casual losses, along with destructive losses. As early as the Kanto Region, Ash never made it more than five matches in the Indigo league before losing to Ritchie, another rival from the same region, and finishing only in the top 16. Of course, that loss wouldn't be the last, considering Ash would reach the league of every consecutive region, only to lose either short, or in the finals of that same league.
Despite that, it didn't mean that Ash doesn't have victories or wins that he can't be proud of. For one, in the Kalos League, he managed to reach the finals with the help of his team, and especially due to his bond with his Greninja which resulted in a rare evolution. In the Sinnoh Region, Ash had longstanding competitive streak to defeat Paul every time their paths crossed over the course of the journey. Through the huge losses, Ash managed to defeat him in the league, all while earning his respect and growing respect for Paul. Never mind his losses and personal victories, the last two regions, Alola and Galar, showcased some of the most youthful of Ash as a character, while showing his immense growth and accomplishments. Especially since he managed to become the Alolan champion, and soon in Pokémon Journeys reached the peak of becoming the World Pokémon Champion after defeating Leon.
How Ash Changed
Needless to say, there's more to Ash as a character other than what he manages to achieve. From the very beginning of the show, he's been portrayed as a 10-year-old with some likable traits and values, albeit in his early seasons he was also prone to being impatient, as well as adamant and pushy about his ideals. Then again, that is what 10-year-olds are like at times, and Ash's journey accentuated his strengths and flaws overall.
Fans tend to say that when Ash arrives in the Sinnoh Region, that's when his character matured and grew as the story progressed, being less hasty and much more tactical with his Pokémon's moves. Of course, that didn't mean that Ash's character never went through drastic changes in art design or behavior. Starting from the Alola Region, Ash's character changed to be more youthful and fluid in motion to work with the art. However, more than that, his selfless behavior grows the more he is exposed to people who need help.
Of course, that does beg whether his journey was a satisfying one to longtime fans of the show. Ash's character has grown, but at times regressed depending on the region and season he is in, an example mostly from the Unova Region. Despite all that, fans could be more satisfied with the journey even more than the destination and his victory. Many of them connected with Ash Ketchum, and often times that was enough for people to enjoy his character and his decision-making as a trainer and as a person.
Regardless, Ash's character and journey showed a lot of ups and downs, and very important trials for him to overcome. The fanbase may have liked him at times, and they could have disliked him at other times. The fans loved his performance in the Sinnoh Region, and many hated his wasted potential in the Unova Region. Many were shocked by his first league victory, and it's very likely many have shouted in joy upon seeing Ash finally reach his ultimate goal of becoming not just the Pokémon Champion, but becoming World Champion.
In conclusion, Ash's very actions and ideals have been the source of many fans' enjoyment of the series and their passion for Pokémon. It will certainly be exciting to see where he will make an appearance next with the new Pokémon season making its announcement. Of course, it will never change the fact that Ash has grown, and his journey was an eventful one for many people. A New generation of Pokémon fans will most likely enjoy the new protagonists, but Ash Ketchum will always be remembered as the first, and the most developed over the course of the Pokémon series.