Ash and Pikachu to leave in Fifth Generation?

[CrazyYanmega]

I was surfing the internet for Pokemon news yesterday when I came across an alarming article. Please read it here.

http://www.toonzone.net/blog/blogs/192/huge-pokmon-announcement-piplup-to-be-the-new-mascot/

Despite the fact that this was posted on April Fool's Day, a lot of the evidence described seems to support this theory. Does anyone have any other information supporting/disproving this article, and how will you react if/when Ash and Pikachu leave the anime?

 

[Sith Droideka]

Ash and Pikachu will never leave. And that article was April Fools.

 

[Quest]

It's an April Fool's day article. There is no "official" website link, i.e. one of those Japanese Pokemon websites I can't think of the name of right now.
Rest assured Pikachu will not leave for a long, long time.

 

[Iteru]

Is Tajiri even in control of the anime? lol

 

[Duckgon Z]

Piplup is a 4th Generation mascot and will be phased out as soon as Nugurl and her bird starter come along.

Pikachu and Ash are never leaving the show.

 

[Trainer Yusuf]

No. Lock plz.

Also, mascot of Gen 5 will be Flareon and Weavile.

 

[Falconwing]

Haha, like Pokemon is going to kill of its big star. It'd be like Disney getting rid of Zach Efron.

 

[Sith Droideka]

Or Micky Mouse?

And besides, isn't the "Piplup is a mascot therefore Dawn will stay" rather common in debates about Dawn's future? This is like saying Munchlax or Togepi will become the main mascots, which they did not.

 

[Rex Kamex]

Even if Dawn and Piplup stay, Piplup wouldn't replace Pikachu, and it never was trying to.

 

[CrazyYanmega]

I hope that you guys are right, because I am all at once excited by the shipping possibilities for Ash, and saddened that he might leave.

 

[KasuKAPL]

No, they never will, Ash and his yellow mouse are both a vital part in the merchandising xDU Piplup and Dawn are the mascot and the eye candy of IV Gen but they'll leave the main cast when V Gen start (Yay!) and other mascot and other eye candy will replaced them for advertising V Gen xDU But Ash won't be replaced. But it would be interesting if he will o0o

 

[J J M]

Yeah, an obvious fake. Surprised anyone takes it seriously.

 

[Piplup]

What IS people's problem with thinking there has to be ONE star and ONE mascot in the show?
For the DP series - Dawn is the equal star to Ash and Pip is the equal mascot to Pika... yes, it is possible to have more than one star/mascot
I hope Dawn will stay for next gen, but the recent climax preview convinced me Dawn will win the GF and leave
We have absolutely no reason to believe Ash/Pika will leave (it might happen one day, but I doubt it'd be in the near future)

 

[Sith Droideka]

We know that Dawn is the equal star and Piplup is the equal mascot. The merchandise and movies convinced us of that. But the main, longest star is Ash, and Pikachu, and they will remain on the show until the epilogue while Dawn goes to Kanto or Hoenn or Johto.

 

[ii kanji]

Is Tajiri even in control of the anime? lol

No. In fact, isn't Tajiri basically distanced from the franchise altogether now? He's not even involved with the games to my knowledge.

So basically, as that's the premise of the whole article, even without reading it, you know it's BS.

 

[Iteru]

Well, I have to give it to Tajiri. Make millions and then get out quick.

 

[Hellion]

Sounds like fake.

 

[Semidos]

For the DP series - Dawn is the equal star to Ash and Pip is the equal mascot to Pika... yes, it is possible to have more than one star/mascot

Ehh, sad truth. I hate that fact. But whole show is running around Ash and his Pikachu. Dawn was temporary star for DP.

Anyway. This is fake.

 

[severus6]

Definitely an April Fools prank. This show has always been about Ash becoming a Pokemon Master, and he is not nearly at his goal yet. To drop Ash before he reaches he becomes a Pokemon Master would just leave leave a cliffhanger.

 

[Aladar]

The writers would never ditch Ash. Until he becomes Master. And if the show continues after that, Pikachu would probably stay. Not the same one but the species is a world recognised phenomena. In other words, there is getting rid of Ash. There's no getting rid of Pikachu.