While the Pokémon franchise started out as a simple video game, it has evolved into so much more. Fans can now enjoy the Pokémon Trading Card Game, collect Pokémon merchandise, and of course, watch the Pokémon anime. This original television series premiered in 1997, a year after the first Pokémon video game hit shelves. This anime is still running to this day. While the Pokémon anime has received acclaim for presenting a faithful and enjoyable adaptation of the hit video game franchise, arguably its biggest claim to fame is introducing the world to Ash Ketchum.
Ash Ketchum has been the protagonist of the anime for the grand majority of its runtime. He only stepped down with the debut of the recent Pokémon Horizons series. Fans have been following the exploits of this plucky child for more than twenty years. He has visited locations fans know well from the video games and brushed elbows with the most iconic creatures each generation can offer up. Now that he’s finally being retired as the protagonist of the long-running anime, here’s a look back at the ambitious young Pokémon trainer’s adventures.
Ash’s Adventures In Kanto
The original Pokémon anime series sees Ash’s adventures begin in the Kanto region. Ash hails from Pallet Town, the same place where the player’s own journey begins in Pokémon Red & Blue. Unlike the protagonist of the video game, however, Ash does not begin with a traditional starter. Instead, he wakes up late on the day he was to receive his first Pokémon companion. The only creature Professor Oak has left is Pikachu who goes on to become his closest companion.
Despite the less than ideal circumstances of their meeting, Ash goes above and beyond in keeping his new companion safe. This culminates in the young protagonist “borrowing” a bike from aspiring Water-type trainer Misty and using it to keep Pikachu safe from some attacking Spearow as he rushes it to the nearest Pokémon Center. When Misty finds the bike in terrible condition, she vows to travel with Ash until he has enough money to pay her back for the damages. Meanwhile, the villainous Team Rocket goons Jessie & James witness Pikachu’s impressive power. They then make it their mission to kidnap the creature.
Following this initial adventure, Ash grows his Pokémon team. At the same time, he receives badges from the Pokémon leaders in the Kanto region. This of course follows a similar arc to that of the original games. Despite some occasional confrontations with his rival Gary, Ash eventually claim all eight gym badges and take part in the Indigo Plateau Conference. Ash placed just ahead of Gary in the event but his run was cut short when his recently evolved Charizard decides to disobey him.
Gold & Silver: Ash Ketchum Travels to Johto
After losing in the Indigo League, Ash travels to Valencia Island at the behest of Professor Oak. While there, he learns of the Orange Crew, an organization similar to the gym leaders he encountered in Kanto. He eventually overcomes these champions and earns a spot in the Orange League Hall of Fame. Upon returning home to Pallet Town, he learns Gary has been practicing to conquer the Silver League in Johto. Not to be outdone, the ambitious young trainer follows his rival to the new region just as fans were exploring it for themselves in Pokémon Gold & Silver.
Ash’s adventures in Johto followed a similar arc to his Kanto exploits. He lost in the final round of the region’s Grass Tournament. He was also defeated by his own friend Misty when they took part in the Whirl Cup together. Along the way, however, he manages to save a juvenile Lugia and its parent from the machinations of Team Rocket. The team is still hot on his heels and forever trying to capture his beloved Pikachu. Eventually, he claims all eight gym badges once again and takes part in the Silver Conference. While Ash does not win the championship, he does manage to finally defeat his longtime rival Gary, marking a considerable turning point in the trainer’s journey.
Ash Journeys to Hoenn in Ruby & Sapphire
Once again mirroring the main series of video games, Ash’s travels takes him to the Hoenn region. This is the setting of the Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire games. Ash elects to bring only his constant companion Pikachu with him on his journeys. This becomes tradition for the trainer moving forward. His old friend Brock joins him as well, along with companions May and Max. Once again, Ash focuses on earning gym badges. However, he is eventually drawn into the conflict between the rival villain gangs Team Magma and Team Aqua. The conflict escalates and Pikachu was temporarily possessed by local legendary Pokémon Groudon. However, Ash, his friends, and Team Rocket, manage to save the region.
Once again, despite placing highly in the local Ever Grande Conference, Ash is unable to secure a victory. On his way home, he takes part in some new adventures in the Kanto region. Ash takes on the exclusive Battle Frontier and its high-level trainers the Frontier Brains. The Frontier Brains are impressed enough with Ash’s efforts to offer him a place in their ranks. However, he declines in order to continue his journey.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Brings Ash To Sinnoh
Following his victory in the Battle Frontier, Ash again learns of a new region and journeyed out to Sinnoh, setting of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl. During his usual gym badge hunt, Ash strikes up a new rivalry with an arrogant trainer named Paul. Paul opposes Ash’s caring and cooperative Pokémon training methods in favor of a more harsh approach. Despite Ash’s moral objections to Paul’s style, the rival usually has the upper hand in their fights. This was especially true at Lake Acuity, where Ash suffers a particularly crushing defeat wherein he only manages to knock out two of Paul’s Pokémon.
During his adventures, Ash also manages to rescue the Sinnoh region from Cyrus, the ruler of Team Galactic. This once again mirrors the conflict of the games. The adventure sees the young trainer personally chosen by legendary Pokémon Azelf, one of the regional lake guardians, as a protector of the region. At the end of his journeys, Ash takes part in the regional Pokémon League Conference. During the contest, he finally takes down his rival Paul. He then went on to become the only trainer to have ever knocked out competitor Tobias’s Darkrai. He subsequently lost the rest of that match, and hence the championship. At the conclusion of Ash’s travels in Sinnoh, his old friend Brock finally parts ways, choosing to pursue a career as a doctor instead.
Ash Goes To Unova
Ash’s travels next takes him to Unova, from Pokémon Black & White. While taking part in regional tournaments, Ash is again called upon to foil a plot from Team Rocket. They are attempting to use the legendary Pokémon trio the Forces of Nature to control the weather and take over the world. Even though this scheme is personally supervised by Team Rocket leader Giovanni, Ash and his friends still manage to emerge victorious. Ash again manages to obtain the eight regional gym badges and take part in the Vertress Conference, where he lost after placing in the top 8. After this, Ash is drawn into another villainous scheme concerning the sinister Team Plasma. This team is attempting to use Reshiram’s power to conquer the world. Once again, Ash foils this evil group and saved the region.
Pokémon X & Y: Ash Arrives In Kalos
After once again dropping off all of his Pokémon companions with the exception of Pikachu, Ash moves on to the Pokémon X & Y setting of Kalos. During his travels, he is joined by gym leader Clemont, who is kicked out of his gym by a rogue robot he constructed to fill in for him while he is busy. Ash’s other companion is Serena, a young trainer who he’d saved as a small child. With their help, Ash once again travels across the region, securing gym badges, defeating Clemont’s rogue robot, and foiling Team Rocket.
Along the way, Ash forms a mysterious bond with his Greninja, causing the Pokémon to transform. This mysterious anomaly, referred to as the Bond Phenomenon, becomes a focus for Ash, and a source of strife when he fails to adequately harness its power. Eventually, however, he manages to perfect the process, and even claim the final gym badge in the process. Once again, however, he fails to win the regional tournament, the Lumiose Conference, placing as a runner-up instead. At the end of the conference, the villainous Team Flare enacts an evil plan to take over the world using the legendary Pokémon Zygarde. Ash and his Pokémon are captured as part of the team’s plans to exploit the Bond Phenomenon, but they manage to break free and bring down Team Flare leader Lysandre.
Ash Hits The Beach In Alola
Unsurprisingly, Pokémon Sun & Moon’s Alola region is Ash’s next stop. Upon his arrival, Ash enrolls in a local Pokémon school to learn more about Z-Moves, a powerful new ability. An encounter with guardian Pokémon Tapu Koko furthered his research efforts. Ash also obtains a Cosmog as a companion to take care of, which is bestowed upon him in a dream by flagship legendaries Solgaleo and Lunala. This Cosmog is named Nebby by Ash’s new companion Lillie.
Nebby is eventually kidnapped by Aether Foundation scientist Faba, who uses its power to summon the Ultra Beast Nihilego. With the help of Lillie and his friends, Ash manages to defeat Nihilego and free both Nebby and Lillie’s mother Lusamine, who had been possessed by the creature. During this adventure, Nebby evolves into a Solgaleo with the help of the guardian deities. After this adventure, Ash and his friends join an Ultra Beast response task force. The group is dedicated to studying and defending against these mysterious new creatures. Ash’s adventures with this organization, dubbed the Ultra Guardians, culminates in a climactic battle with Necrozma that briefly took the trainer and his friends into an alternate dimension.
With Alola safe from the Ultra Beasts, Ash enters the first ever Manalo Conference, which he wins after defeating Team Skull leader Guzma in the semifinals. Ash’s victory qualifies him to an exhibition match against the reigning champion, the Masked Royal. This mysterious figure is revealed as local mentor Professor Kukui during an invasion by Ultra Beast Guzzlord. In an unmasked battle with the professor, Ash and his Pokémon are able to defeat both him and Tapu Koko. The deity returns to fill in for Kukui’s final Pokémon and complete Ash’s training in Z-Moves.
Ash Becomes the Monarch
Ash next journeys to the Galar region, home of Pokémon Sword & Shield. There he witnesses the exploits of the region’s legendary undefeated champion Leon and vows to take him down. Ash and Pikachu’s impressive display during a battle against a Gigantamaxed Dreadnaw leads Leon to accept his offer of a duel, which Ash loses. Undaunted, the young champion vows to rise the ranks of the World Coronation Series and take on the legendary Leon again. His swift rise through the ranks is cut short by Fighting-type trainer Bea, who defeats him handily and causes him to lose confidence. Ash begins losing matches at an alarming rate. A motivational speech from his friend Goh puts him back on track.
Between matches, Ash and Goh continue investigating the Dynamaxing phenomenon that is afflicting the region, obtaining legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta in the process. Ash continues to rise through the ranks of the World Coronation Series. Along the way he encounteres old friends like Iris, Lillie, and Cynthia. Eventually, Ash successfully earns his rematch with Leon, and after a long and hard battle against the champion’s undefeated Charizard, Ash takes home the victory.
Ash’s Pokémon Master Journey
After becoming the new Monarch, Ash departs on a solo journey, vowing to fulfill his lifelong goal of becoming a Pokémon master. Along the way, he reunites with old friends like Brock and Misty and even foils some more schemes from Team Rocket. Eventually, Ash’s road takes him back to Pallet Town, where he reconnected with his old rival Gary. After some reflection, Ash came to a definition of Pokémon master that felt right to him. Namely, a Pokémon master is someone who can befriend any Pokémon. With this dream in mind, Ash sets off once again with his trusty Pikachu to accomplish his goal.
Ash’s journeys aren’t just a mirror to the ongoing adventures of Pokémon fans around the world. They serve as a model for aspiring trainers to look up to and follow. Ash’s adventures bring him face to face with some of the most powerful creatures in the Pokémon mythos. But through it all, he never loses his optimism, determination, and boundless love for the Pokémon he encounters. As he discovers for himself at the end of the show, becoming a Pokémon master isn’t about prizes or trophies. It’s about building bonds with the Pokémon in your care, and the friends you make along the way.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ash and his starter Pokemon appear in this screenshot from the anime..