APokemon Theory: Why Ash never ages+What is a Pokemon Master?

Anime Psyclone

Anime Psyclone

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Ash. He never ages whatsoever. And he wishes to be a Pokemon Master, a term never used in the game. So... Question one: Why does Ash never age? Question two: What is a Pokemon Master and how is it different to a Champion/Gym Leader/E4/Kahuna?

To answer Question One, Ash saw Ho-Oh, a Pokemon that can grant eternal happiness. I think Ash would be eternally happy to be a Pokemon Master and make friends, with both people and Pokemon. But this gets even crazier once we answer the second Q.

Becoming a Pokemon Master might not have anything to do with completing the Pokedex or becoming a Champion, and that’s why Ash keeps on losing the league and never catches every Pokemon he sees. It might have to do more with bonds and loving your Pokemon. And, oh does Ash excel at those two things, considering he often puts himself in harm’s way to save his Pokemon. And, I think, when Ash realizes that, he’ll start to age again, but it won’t matter to him as long as he’s with his Pokemon! He considers them family, I’d say.

Also, side note. I have another theory about his Pikachu.

  • Do you agree or disagree with this theory?
  • What other Anime evidence can you find that supports this theory?
  • What Anime evidence disproves this theory?
  • What do you think a Pokemon Master is?
  • What is Ash’s relationship with his Pokemon like to you?
  • What other types of theories would you like to see discussed in a future APokemon Theory?
 
Can this discussion called as "theory"? Because there is nothing scientific behind this. Besides, the Bulbapedia page already provided most of the answers.
Though, I wouldn't mind giving out my humble two cents.

There was a similar thread in another forum, where many people provided more meaningful answers than Bulbapedia. I'll just copy-paste some specific posts at that thread.
I suppose I'll start with how being a "Pokemon Master" would work in the real world. To me it is nothing more than an ideal similar to the way that being a soldier or a scientist would be. A lot of people would probably see the title of Pokemon Master to be romanticised and most of these are either people who've never owned a pokemon or are younger people who are still learning about being a pokemon trainer. Like in the real world, it is very apparent that there are definitely icons that fit this image such as Blue or Lance and even the player characters from the games once they become the champion.

But of course, I like to believe that a lot of people, once they become trainers, find out that being a pokemon trainer requires a lot of effort and most people only have one or two badges on them before deciding if they want to keep going or perhaps consider becoming something else. Trainers like Red would probably be incredibly dedicated to being a pokemon trainer and for most of the average population I don't think they'd be able to handle most of the responsibilities that came with it - especially when their cute little pokemon become big and they suddenly find that taking care of a Tyranitar isn't the same as taking care of a sweet little Larvatar. :p
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to be the very best, the best there ever was

But that may be it for some characters - to be the best at what they want to do. I think NPCs in the games showcases that, e.g. Contest participants wanting to be the best at Contests rather than the more commonplace battling aspect. Then there's spinoffs like Magikarp Jump showcasing champions of... well, making Magikarp Jump high! I'd say there is a lot of room for different goals, very easily supported by canon.

In my fic worlds... nobody was particularly trying to become the Champion. Wes was still figuring out stuff and trying to make do with a rough past and whatnot in a barren region. In my (currently badly updated) fic the main character (a gym trainer) is more wanting to be the best trainer for her Pokemon rather than to be the best battler or whatnot. At least for starters. There are others also training in the Gym who want to move up the ranks and say become a Gym Leader or Champion, and others who just want to try out the job for a while and enjoy a different aspect of the Trainer journey.
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I think there's a little more basis in the official sources for the legitimacy of the term than that. In Red/Blue, Lance begrudgingly calls the character a "Pokemon master" after their battle. I can't speak to what he says in the Japanese script, though. In any case, I think we get so used to everything in Pokemon being rigidly defined and quantifiable that we often balk at the sight of anything vague.

I imagine that the closest parallel to "Pokemon Master" in real-world sports would be the highly subjective term "future Hall-of-Famer." (That's Hall of Fame as it's used in our world's sports, not Pokemon's.) By definition there can be no criteria for designating a sports player who will definitely one day be voted into their sport's Hall of Fame, but at the same time only someone totally ignorant of basketball for example would dispute that LeBron James is going to the Hall of Fame after he retires; same with Clayton Kershaw in baseball and Jaromir Jagr in hockey. There's no career-long achievement award or official status for active players of these sports, but fans know a "future Hall-of-Famer" when they see one. It's a vague, technically meaningless designation that nevertheless carries a mountain of weight among fans, press, and the players themselves.

I didn't know about the Pokemon Company's official answer to the question, and I think it actually makes perfect sense and I'm inclined to take them at their word. It may be that no Pokemon trainer can define what a "Master" is, but they all know one when they see one.
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The below quote is my answer in the same thread.
Only Ash used this calling of "Pokemon Master", no other trainer ever ever said this word under any situations.

From my understanding, this statement of "I wanted to be a Pokemon Master" is as vague as any other children saying "I wanted to be a rich man" or "I wanted to be a scientist" or "I wanted to be a businessman". It is not the same as something solid like firefighter or police or lawyer or doctor where that noun comprise people of a specific profession doing specific jobs, having a clear norm and prerequisites and require specialized knowledge plus diploma to become these roles, additionally having certain specialized organization to administrate the ones who had already become such and constantly evaluate the overall standard within its industry. I also don't think it is any honorary title in the similar sense like Duke or Earl given by the British Queen or Ironman given to the topmost performer in the Ironman Triathlon.

Rich man, scientist, businessman, and even Pokemon Master, the things they have in common are: These are not name of a profession nor any honorary title, there is no clear standard nor particular requirement to become such, there are also no professional organization or entity to evaluate the ones that may suit this "role". How much money do you need to consider yourself as "rich man" and how will you earn that money? Every academic field nowadays can be called as science so what will you study and what kind of research are you going to do such that you can called yourself as "scientist"? Everything can make into a business so in order for you to be a "businessman" what kind of business are you going to do? Likewise, what things do you need to expertise in order for you to called yourself "Pokemon Master"?

As described by Samayouru and I also agree to his view, this "Pokemon Master", is nothing more than a label branded by some naive layman to the ideal status of a pokemon trainer. Likewise how the label "rich man" used to indicate the ideal status of people living an upper class life, how the label "scientist" used to indicate the ideal status of academic researchers especially in natural sciences, how the label "businessman" used to indicate the boss who owned a business.
But, when one become an adult and step yourself into this wide world, you shall realize that this "rich man" "scientist" and "businessman" are basically non-existent. This is because the one who are rich will never label themselves as "rich man", the one who study science will not label themselves as "scientist", and also the one who engage in a business will not called themselves as "businessman". Instead, we had more specific terms to indicate a specialized profession where you require certain professional skills and knowledge to become one. E.g. Entrepreneur, CEO, directors, botanist, historian, artist, astrophysicist, etc. These terms doesn't entail any ideal condition of that profession, but only entail the job and responsibility of that profession.

So, it is understandable why Pokemon franchise never give an explicit definition to the term "Pokemon Master", because it is in the same conception as "rich man" "scientist" and "businessman": IT DOESN'T ENTAIL ANYTHING!!!
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Regarding on the question of Ash never ages...... other than plot-induced status quo, I can't think of any in-universe explanation, other than the only possibility which is the Ash in each saga is a different Ash in alternative universe. So we are not watching the story of one single individual Ash, but the combined story of multiple Ashes. In short: Multi-universe theory


Next time, I wish for theories with some scientific background, not just a controversial topic that is sensitive within the fandom (Though, I wouldn't mind about it, because I LOVE controversial debates)
 
CrystaI said:
Can this discussion called as "theory"? Because there is nothing scientific behind this. Besides, the Bulbapedia page already provided most of the answers.
Though, I wouldn't mind giving out my humble two cents.

There was a similar thread in another forum, where many people provided more meaningful answers than Bulbapedia. I'll just copy-paste some specific posts at that thread.






The below quote is my answer in the same thread.


Regarding on the question of Ash never ages...... other than plot-induced status quo, I can't think of any in-universe explanation, other than the only possibility which is the Ash in each saga is a different Ash in alternative universe. So we are not watching the story of one single individual Ash, but the combined story of multiple Ashes. In short: Multi-universe theory


Next time, I wish for theories with some scientific background, not just a controversial topic that is sensitive within the fandom (Though, I wouldn't mind about it, because I LOVE controversial debates)
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My next theory is that Ash’s Pikachu can’t evolve. At all. If it touches a thunder stone it won’t evolve.
 
AnimePsyclone said:
My next theory is that Ash’s Pikachu can’t evolve. At all. If it touches a thunder stone it won’t evolve.
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That's definitely not possible. Pikachu had the option to evolve two times. It wouldn't be as significant if Pikachu could not evolve at all. The inability to evolve would've been used as a plot point instead of the thunder stone episodes.
Pikachu's just a spoiled brat who dosen't want to grow up
 
PkmnTrainerV said:
That's definitely not possible. Pikachu had the option to evolve two times. It wouldn't be as significant if Pikachu could not evolve at all. The inability to evolve would've been used as a plot point instead of the thunder stone episodes.
Pikachu's just a spoiled brat who dosen't want to grow up
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Still, Pikachu touched a Thunder Stone and is still a Pikachu.
 
Please note: The thread is from 9 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
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