Would a complete reboot hinder your enjoyment of the anime?

[UxieLover1994]

EDIT: though I'll admit it's a little iffy. Changing the characters might not be THE answer. Like how Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon, and Beyblade keep changing the cast every few years, but those characters really aren't so different/better than the old ones. Or for something closer to home, how Kenta in The Legend of Thunder and Red in Origins are essentially Ash with an extra trait or two (come to think of it, I'm not sure if Red is really any different from Ash at all)...

Red and Ash have less in common than you think. Red catches 150 Pokémon (and uses an Articuno to battle Mewtwo), uses a bicycle, disbands Team Rocket by reminding Giovanni the true meanings of being a trainer, has no companions with him or an evil trio following him, doesn't have Charizard as a walking Pokémon, and actually becomes champion and uses Mega Evolution. Being hot-blooded, coming from Pallet Town, and owning a Pikachu (who only appears once) are probably the only things they have in common.

Origins just ended with Red going after Mew. And who knows. If Origins gets a GSC-oriented sequel, we're in for an epic battle between Ethan and Red.

Back to the main topic. Replacing Ash is a Morton's fork as if his replacement has the exact personality as him, people will get angry for the writers giving us an expy (bonus points if the replacement also has a male Pikachu who refuses to evolve). If the replacement is very different from Ash, people will complain that he/she is just far too different from the hero they're used to (bonus points if the replacements doesn't have a male Pikachu who refuses to evolve). But keeping Ash will only lead to people getting angry of him being a flat, predictable character who will be 10 forever.

 

[~ Blazing White Yang]

If anything I might be more motivated to check it out than with the current show. The 'main' journey has gotten more than tired, with filler side-quests, friends constantly being booted, and Ash never making truly consistent progress.

Throughout all of X&Y, I've actually found myself more interested in Alain and his side of the show than keeping up with fillers of the day or Ash's umpteenth Badge get. It's been refreshing to have a protagonist on the outside of all that.

 

[Matleo]

Pikachu would only need some new moves and posibility to change back to Volt Tackle if needed(2 extra moveslots to switch moves between battles) and maybe two forms like mega charizard but maybe a posibility to change between them?

 

[Hidden Mew]

EDIT: though I'll admit it's a little iffy. Changing the characters might not be THE answer. Like how Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon, and Beyblade keep changing the cast every few years, but those characters really aren't so different/better than the old ones. Or for something closer to home, how Kenta in The Legend of Thunder and Red in Origins are essentially Ash with an extra trait or two (come to think of it, I'm not sure if Red is really any different from Ash at all)...

A lot of us may be tired of Ash, Pikachu, and the TRio, but replacing them with characters that aren't very different from them isn't necessarily the solution the TV Show needs...

I'm not familiar with Beyblade's new characters, so I can't talk about that series, but why do you think that the new characters in Yu-Gi-Oh! and Digimon aren't so different or better than the original cast members? Aside from Daisuke and the lead from Young Hunters, most of the new lead characters have been well received. I also tend to hear more praise for Tamers than Adventure, or at least it's pretty even. Not too many of the leads are similar to Taichi either.

That claim is especially strange to me as a Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. None of the leads from the spin-off series are similar to Yami Yugi at all. Yusei might be the closest and even then, there are significant differences. I don't think that anyone looks at Judai, Yusei, Yuma or Yuya and just see Yami Yugi with a couple of new traits. Out of all of the complaints I've heard with both franchises, I don't think people have complained about either Digimon or Yu-Gi-Oh! changing its cast every few years. That has worked out pretty well for them all things considered. Whether or not they're better than the original cast is subjective, even though I feel like there's also a bit of being blinded by nostalgia given that my favorite Yu-Gi-Oh! characters all come from the spin-off series, but there is plenty of love for series after Yu-Gi-Oh! DM and Digimon Adventure.

I don't know if I'd consider Red from Pokemon Origins that similar to Ash. Red seemed much more serious than Ash usually is. Not to mention he was skilled enough to capture one hundred fifty Pokemon and beat the Elite 4. Kenta from the Legend of Thunder is a better example. It's been awhile since I've seen that special, so I can't say that how similar he was to Ash. He wasn't drastically different at least.

I do think that getting a lead character too similar to Ash could be a problem. Changing the cast works for Yu-Gi-Oh! and Digimon because the leads aren't doing the same exact thing, they couldn't have carried on with the original casts for multiple series like they've done with Ash and in some cases, other series aren't even set in the same universe. That gives them a lot more room to work with new characters. With Pokemon, I don't know if they'd want to start all over again in a new universe, but either way, a hypothetical new lead would still have a Pikachu, would still be going after the Gym badges and would probably capture the same kind of Pokemon Ash usually does. Stuff like that would be more of a possibility than a new Yu-Gi-Oh! protagonist being Yami Yugi 2.0 in my opinion.

 

[Zexy]

It would not hinder my enjoyment. I'm used to main characters in other long-lasting franchises' anime changing (like Yugioh) and I wouldn't mind going through the new regions with a protagonist who'd have a different personality. I don't honestly believe they'd do it as things are going, though.

 

[RileyXY1]

It won't hinder my enjoyment at all. I'll still watch the series like I have been for 15+ years.

 

[Gengarzilla]

I'd be alright with this, so long as they don't pull the retirement card with Ash in the process. That's just way too ooc for the guy. He should stay as an active part of the anime if we were to end up getting a new protagonist.

 

[Shoutmon]

Even if it was the same formula, it would be soo refreshing. Some people don't seem to understand a new protagonist also caries a new backstory, perspective and motivation.
Ash is such a basic character.

I'd be alright with this, so long as they don't pull the retirement card with Ash in the process. That's just way too ooc for the guy. He should stay as an active part of the anime if we were to end up getting a new protagonist.

What about just not mention him? In Digimon and YGO, it's almost a different universe and the past character don't appear 99,9% of the time. Nobody thinks Yugi stopped playing card games because Yusei or Yuya are the protagonists.

 

[Satoshi Da Ze]

I'd have to see what the new cast would be like.

Also Pikachu didn't receive much "help" from Gen 6. I don't think him staying in the shadows for so long this time had anything to do with the anime writers deciding to back him off but more due there not being anything new for him.
I don't get the hate some people have for him. I like his chill and mature personality, and he's supposed to be co-starring with Satoshi. He doesn't have to be the ace in every important battle but he could have had a liiiitle bit of more attention next time if you ask me.

Speaking of Pikachu... I doubt they will reboot the anime that way. Because of Pikachu. It wasn't a fast or easy process to pick a "main" Pokemon to represent the anime. I'll be surprised if they were willing to bother researching what Pokemon could replace him.

 

[CrystaI]

Speaking of Pikachu... I doubt they will reboot the anime that way. Because of Pikachu. It wasn't a fast or easy process to pick a "main" Pokemon to represent the anime. I'll be surprised if they were willing to bother researching what Pokemon could replace him.

The mascot of the entire franchise =/= The representative of the anime.
The former is irreplaceable, but the latter can be change depends on situation. Usually for the latter, it is the protagonist, or the important things/characters associated with the protagonist, or other main characters.
For example, the very first Gundam RX-78 is the mascot of the entire Gundam franchise, nevertheless the main mecha changes every season. If goes by your logic, should it mean RX-78 continue its usage forever, even it is for the exact same pilot being the protagonist 14 years later?

Provided that hypothetically the Pokemon anime does reboot every few years every generation, I don't think it is that difficult in looking for another representative. In any case, we had Pikaclone for every single generation. If not, we also had a bunch of starters, and quite a lot of popular standalone choices.
Unless, if one wanted to argue the Pokemon anime represents the entire franchise, then I will say Anime Pikachu is replaceable. But at the end of the day, Pikachu will remain to be the sole mascot of the entire Pokemon franchise, where this is something I agree completely.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Those who cheer for complete reboot hopefully understand what such concept brings with itself. Because things which may seem on first glance as fantastic and groundbreaking(new protagonist, new story, fresh face, fresh surrounding etc) may not be what they imagined and wished for in end regretting their decisions about in this case Pokemon completely erasing continuity, universe and history several generations of us grew up with and learned to cherish. love..

But once it happens there's no going back becoming late for regrets.
Because complete reboot doesn't guarantee that this anime will be any better than it is now. How new male hero will have entirely different story and purpose to follow, especially if gyms will forever be present in games as main quest(afterall pokemon as show never followed itself by how to tell innovative story, but in how to promote new pookemon and games as fast as possible even if its on expense of its quality).

And even if alternate pokemon series are entirely different delivering new things on table, fact that deeper character development, strong continuity, meaningful traveling companins whose relationships, role and story they deliver to adventure accounts for something. Having sensible, compelling and eventful character development full of unexpected twists.

This would only leave bad taste in my mouth considering how all of this could had been achieved through Ash and existing both current and past traveling companions. Witnessing to huge waste of potential, and stepping on abandoned and removed from franchise like garbage several unique characters from current timeline and continuity. Just to try out this new formula and ideas with someone else.

For example with just Ash alone we could see having writers touch on other neglected intricancies about character. Such as aura abilities discovering how his father was Aura Guardian, introducing whole new story plot aside from his gym quest,. Parallel following him struggling and fighting with doubt. In whether he should follow his heart and become pokemon master or preserve family tradition.

Portray how would Ash cope with sudden popularity and fame in case of becoming champion after winning league and defeating E4. Feeling burden of responsibility and fears of not letting everyone expectation down, Introduce elements from pst like his father and in what way this could shake his core.
Etc, etc.

We could see Misty on quest in trying to be recognized as water specialist advancing her water master career through element tournaments. Pass various tasks to become E4, dive deeper in her personality and how she feels about parents who abandoned her and sisters. Trying to find them and make peace with struggles from past and conflicts she formed as result of that. Questioning if desire to become top water trainer was really her genuine dream or just result of rebellion and disappointment in trying to prove herself as trainer to siblings and parents to no be rejected again.

Follow May as worldwide acknowledged coordinator promoting contests in other regions. Reassess what to do next in her life and if she feels she achieved everything she could in world of contests. Follow her new quests, in what way would old rivalries and relationships with rivals conclude. See her in mentor role passing knowledge to younger generations etc.

Have Jessie, James and Meowth get enlightenment in what they want to do in their life. Feeling they could get released themselves from shackles of Rocket organization, Giovanni and everything else they got dragged into. Having sensible story where they decide to turn leaf in their lives and get worthy evoloution of their roles and place in time and story.

Etc, etc.

And somehow discarding away all that potential, unexplored ideas and new promising subplots for characters I grew to like, got attached to and would like to see more being done with them. Doesn't seem attractive to me at all.

Just to follow new kid and characters I don't care about and likely wouldn't since it would always feel like they were allowed to excel in new universe thanks to sacrifice of Ash and other well known characters botching away their stories and unused material.
Not like there exists any guarantees of older replaced characters and Ash ever getting proper justice either. But at least as long current anime set in this timeline and universe exists, chance that something changes on meaningful scale with story being given wind in its sails going in new direction hope will be there. And with how long i have been watching Pokemon i would rather prefer to see this be first and only series just wrapping things up at some point in future retiring it all together after more than two decades through profound and impactful ending instead of getting one after another alternate show going on endlessly.

Could I really enjoy in completely different pokemon anime?
Where protagonists I grew up with and followed for 20 years just suddenly stopped to exist? Where whole agenda, storyline, rules and organization characteristic for this pokemon series and their timeline are thrown out of window like they never happened?

Where new show is nothing like animated series which allured me in my childhood and convinced to not give up on it being faithful viewer despite all my frustrations and disappointments I collected over the years thanks to bad moves and decisions from writing staff. Following new anime sterilized from charm, atmosphere, set up and mysteries which defined this anime? Instead of doing less lazy route and work on salvaging this pokemon show, main hero, part characters and through them carry out flag which foreshadows era of new changes, fresh ideas and entirely new storylines to follow through existing characters I like evolving them through it?

Chances are that I wouldn't even bother to follow new pokemon series, since everything I love and care about would be terminated and stop to exist from current show.

So thanks, but no thanks.

 

[CrystaI]

@pokemon fan 132

If reboot is not your taste just because it throws continuity out of the window, then the current negative continuity formula of current Pokemon Anime of soft reboot at beginning of every generation, no not even at beginning of every generation but often at beginning of next episode shall be your kind?

You can dream all day of the hypothetical situation of if Pokemon Anime do what the plot of Dragonball/Naruto/One Piece/Fairy Tail did, continue using the same character YET continue develop them, dig deep into their past and other layers of their characters, not only looking deep into Ash's dream of becoming Pokemon Master, but also deeper into other characters like May and Dawn's goal of top coordinator, and your beloved dearest darling sweetheart Misty dream of becoming Water Pokemon Master...... Yeah it must be fabulous if the show is like that. Not to mentioned I also said in my first post that I also followed Dragonball and Naruto because they had a developing story. I would had also continue watching without dropping and like the Pokemon Anime more if it was like that.

But in reality it isn't!!! Are you really expecting the screenwriter(s) and especially the director board of Pokemon Anime will now suddenly go back to utilize Misty/May/Dawn/Brock/Max/Iris/Cilan in the upcoming S&M? Currently will Serena/Clement/Bonnie follow Ash to Alola is also doubtful, many already expected such possibility is nearly zero. Besides, when the the game series did remakes like FrLg HgSs and just now ORAS, the anime didn't do anything gigantic to promote them, including utilize any past characters and/or past material from the respective past series. I don't really see how the 20th anniversary can be so influential where having the anime "Bring all together".

Sorry if I had break your dream. I'm just talking from a pragmatic viewpoint accounting from the observation of what we had practically experienced from the already-existed Pokemon Anime, not your hypothetical Pokemon Anime that exist only in your fantasy.

 

[Shadao]

The issue with anime is not Ash himself, but rather the cyclical nature of the show that inhibits Ash from going places that you would see in something like Dragon Ball Z or Naruto. If one were to have Ash continue on in the anime forever, he must have the rest of his cast from the very beginning coming along with him. Suffice to say, the XY anime last real reference to an anime supporting cast (not counting Team Rocket or Joys and Jennys) is Professor Oak, who was last seen in third episode of XY (not counting his lectures with Rotom). Even when one considers Team Rocket, they were already in danger of getting axed from the show in Black and White. Heck, they even broke Takeshi Shudo's insistence that Team Rocket will appear in every single episode of the show after their debut, and no real harm to the story was done.

Ash (Satoshi) right now is currently thriving in the XY anime as a character in my opinion. But that is only because they are taking the logical step of where his character would be when he no longer has older mentors or friends like Brock or Misty, the ace leader of his new group. But that status cannot last for long in a cyclical anime with the typical format of 8 badges and one League. Either the anime breaks free of that status quo or Ash leaves the anime as the main protagonist. Brock's departure from the show in DP in my opinion marks the end of the classical era that started with Pokémon, I Choose You. The excuses to keep Ash around wears thin when so many other aspects of the classical show are no longer present.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

To クリスタル:

Two wrongs don't make something right.

I never said how im expecting pokemon anime to suddenly turn in show comprised of on going story which develops its characters to meaningful levels. Anime with stable cast, strong continuity and plot driven journey which continues on with conflicts, challenges, relationship formed between characters and adventures from previous series treating it as one big story which overarch on multiple generations. Where we have other main characters beside Ash continuing to exist in universe
learning as much as we can about their history and families. Explore on their fears, struggles and hidden interests. See their pokemon teams properly developed and formed ready for tougher, more complicated challenge.

That idea lost its foothold once excessive cast replacing, soft resets in Ash knowledge and experience, highly cyclical nature and overuse of old ideas from past generations started to become norm for pokemon series.

BUT at sam e time i do not see anything good in doing complete and radical makeover after more than 20 years with alternate series where anything which used to represent pokemon anime is thrown out of window run over and aborted. Just to free up way for some random new character and its group of tag alongs for who I would have zero attachment and interest. Serving just like Ash as tokens/marketing puppets whose stories, aspirations and positions ultimately wouldn't matter being subsidiary parts subjected mainly and only to promotion of new pokemon and games.

Or as I said already if by some miracle those in charge of pokemon anime decide to do 360% shift of pokemon policy starting to have all those desirable things like: profoundly developed main characters, eventful and teaching storyline, original and innovative variations implemented in new protagonist quest and lot of gripping twists.

I would still have zero interest for simple fact of writers and director team with such act showing no respect or any good will in rectifying mistakes done with Ash and other long forgotten main characters(contrary to some belief Misty isn't the only one I care about) who already form template on which this positive changes could be build upon doing them justice. Stepping on potential and bodies (metaphorically speaking) of already beloved, recognized and popular characters to allow that completely unknown and without any credence group of characters. excell in this fields .
Being easy way out.

Awakening inside me not joy and acceptance but detest and frustration. Due to either unwillingness or laziness choosing not to salvage and turn current anime set in same timeline and continuity into decent, let alone great series. Something which in theory still has chance to happen doing justice to several characters as long reboot doesn't happen. Regardless of how utopian and un realistic that may be.

Likewise i wont live forever, none of us will. And I would like to see ultimate end of pokemon show becoming reality during my lifetime. Preferring that it happens with main hero and characters who started, carried out and promoted pokemon story on their shoulders through all this years. Characters, reality and setting of which I have been grow accustomed to, learned to love and appreciate feeling they deserve one last moment of glory and proper conclusion.

Preserving within pokemon some dignity finishing it on good note, rather than continuing endlessly with new protagonists in form of alternate series for who after 20 years with Ash there wont be much enthusiasm, interest and popularity like it used to be situation once with this pokemon anime. Forcing something whose date of usage has expired long time ago not having any eagerness and motivation personally to be part of it.

If someone could enjoy in complete reboot than by all means go for it. But after all this years as someone who has been part of pokemon ever since its roots, witnessed to all its ups and downs I couldn't enjoy and embrace entirely different and new pokemon show for several reasons elaborated on in my previous post.

 

[Shoutmon]

Just to free up way for some random new character and its group of tag alongs for who I would have zero attachment and interest.

And how do you know you will not like them? that sounds so close minded. You could say the same for Ash, people who don't like him aren't going to suddenly care about him.

The anime proly will never get a reboot but keep in mind thinking the old characters will suddenly come back is even more foolishh and unrealistic.

 

[ii kanji]

And how do you know you will not like them?

PF132 did not say he wouldn't like them:

Just to free up way for some random new character and its group of tag alongs for who I would have zero attachment and interest.

Indifference is a different thing altogether to dislike.
I'd never say that I couldn't like any replacement characters for the main cast, but at this point I'm only watching the Pokemon anime because I'm rooting for Satoshi, Pikachu and the TRio. That isn't to say that I haven't liked new characters or elements introduced into the show, but fundamentally they wouldn't be enough to keep me watching if you removed those 5 characters. In short, I've outgrown the concept of the anime and continue watching purely because of attachment to characters.

Which is why the following statement is irrelevant:

You could say the same for Ash, people who don't like him aren't going to suddenly care about him.

The people who don't like him are clearly watching the anime despite him and will continue to watch whether or not he is replaced.
Whereas the people who like him may fine well decide that without him there is no reason to continue watching the anime.
I imagine that the group of people who don't watch the anime purely because they don't like Satoshi who would start watching the anime if he left is negligible.

 

[Shoutmon]

People can be ok with Ash and still want a new protagonist. Not everyone who wants a new protagonist is an irrational Ash hater.

 

[Muur]

I'd be thrown off for a bit but not really., I think it'd be interesting - although they essentially do that anyway, with just the same Pikachu there. I think they change enough each time in that I don't mind.

Plus, the new Ash would just be the same though if it got rid of the Trio...

it'd be hilarious if they did it, the guy gets the final only to lose to Ash's Pikachu and Ash is like YAY I FINALLY WON A LEAGUE!

 

[pokemon fan 132]

And how do you know you will not like them? that sounds so close minded. You could say the same for Ash, people who don't like him aren't going to suddenly care about him.

The anime proly will never get a reboot but keep in mind thinking the old characters will suddenly come back is even more foolishh and unrealistic.

I didn't said anything about liking or disliking new characters. I just wouldn't care and have any drive to invest myself emotionally and single out my free time for that charade. There exists glaring difference.

Its not about being close minded, its about not seeing point that writers continue beating dead horse with entirely new series, new characters and environment detaching itself strongly from everything pokemon anime used to stand for and build identity around.
Looking at bigger picture in here personally not being type of person who is gonna satisfy itself with shallow and cheap temporary fun. Through addition of newly designed characters and plots. Being for me waste of time, money and resources.

When there exists massive potential, unused ideas and lot of directions through which this anime, Ash and every other characters right here and right now could be taken.

See them mature, develop various new sides of their personalities with past experiences, built friendship with Ash and relationship with others molding them as persons and trainers. Going through substantial, deeper character development. Not being anymore rookies and beginners but experienced, more independent, badass, knowledgeable and explored somewhat protagonists going in new, exciting adventures. Breaking new grounds with their careers, facing tougher challenges, dealing with new temptations and trauma which they learn to overcome thanks to skills and advices they gained in past in accomplishing their ultimate dreams reaching new stage.

Having unlike new characters strong foundation on which more delicate plots could be branched out and cultivated.

And only reason why instead of written above we have been dealing with inconsistent mess for past 20 years comes from wrongly set priorities, indifference and no organization whatsoever between writers, producers and directors to make reputable and sensible work out of already existing material.

Investing personally enough time already and passion for this pokemon show and developing strong attachment to this characters. Just to see everything erased and abandoned to try out what appears in my eyes as desperate and unneeded experiment in hopes of attracting kids back into one of pokemon franchise media (anime).

When its not characters and current show itself, but status quo and stale static formula dragged by predictable outlines and directions characteristic for pokemon series which is turning people away from following it.

 

[KrspaceT]

Depends on the character: I don't mind doing a Yugi to Jaden to Yusei style jumping, but Yusei to Yuma is a tad jarring.

If they do restart things, they need to ensure that the character who takes Ash's role is distinct, but not so different that everything just falls apart.