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How would you feel about a "playable" male travelling companion?

C

CrashBash

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I'm partly surprised this hasn't been discussed before, and if it has, I apologise, but this is something that's just come to my attention and it...partly intrigues me.

When we look at Ash's main male travelling companions that were also in the games (so that means ignoring Tracey and Max), we see that all three were Gym Leaders. When we look at the females, we also see two gym leaders (although technically Iris was game exclusive), but then we also have May, Dawn and Serena, who were the female "avatars" of their respective game.

So, basically, we've had three "playable" female characters being bought to the anime as main characters, and yet no males. The question is, how would you feel if that were to change in the not-too-distant future? Would you welcome it? Or not?
 
I actually wouldn't mind that. It would be quite interesting to have a swap, where the male partner is the "male avatar" and the girl is a Gym Leader (or another important character).

However, I don't see that happening, since they always edit Ash in a way that he resembles the male hero. But who knows, they could always do like in AG and give him anime-exclusive clothes.
 
I wouldn't mind them adding a male protagonist as a main character. In XY we have Clemont, who is probably younger than Brock and Cilan, which means that the third member can be around Ash's age.

The other thing, though, is that when they are in a new region, Ash is the male protagonist and they add the female player to the main cast. Usually Ash's new clothes are inspired by the male protagonist which in XY kinda look like Calem's.

Basically, in the anime, Ash is always the main male character, while the female will be replaced in each new series of Pokemon.
 
While it would be cool to have had Ethan, Brendan, Lucas, Hilbert, Nate or Calem traveling with Ash at some point, we can't forget that Ash is (loosely based off of!) Red. So there is a male PC in every anime series, because Ash is the anime counterpart of the most overrated trainer in existence. In fact, I'm sure that Red is about as "unbeatable" as Ash is. But that's a topic for another thread.

To go back on topic, I'd love to see more PC's, even if it's in a side series (Jimmy/Gold/Ethan and Kris/Marina/Crystal in Raikou's special episodes) or if it's in the main series itself (technically, Ritchie or Richie is also a counterpart of Red...) but it probably won't happen with Ash still around.
 
That would actually be pretty nice. I've always wanted a male coordinator anyway (not that that would happen anytime soon). But yes, Ash having a healthy dose of male protagonist bromance throughout a region would not only be a fresh concept, but interesting as well. Just imagine the clashes between superiority and other male bigotry. Or we could have them be foils to one another, and learn from each other; things that wouldn't be as easily relate-able with the opposite gender. And thus the female character would have more of a background, Brock role (if Serena doesn't fill this trope enough already).

However, there does lie the problem of the male protagonists' goal. We can't have them both attempt to win 8 badges. Not for the whole series at least.
 
I'd really like that. Then people wouldn't have another female travelling companion to compare to previous female companions. ._.
 
Kaen Hosha said:
That would actually be pretty nice. I've always wanted a male coordinator anyway (not that that would happen anytime soon). But yes, Ash having a healthy dose of male protagonist bromance throughout a region would not only be a fresh concept, but interesting as well. Just imagine the clashes between superiority and other male bigotry. Or we could have them be foils to one another, and learn from each other; things that wouldn't be as easily relate-able with the opposite gender. And thus the female character would have more of a background, Brock role (if Serena doesn't fill this trope enough already).

However, there does lie the problem of the male protagonists' goal. We can't have them both attempt to win 8 badges. Not for the whole series at least.
Click to expand...

Someone like Brendan (or Ruby from the manga) would have been perfect - a guy who is a skilled trainer AND a coordinator :)
 
I wouldn't mind at all. It'd be nice if they could break the cycle at least once before the franchise disappears. However, I'd be just as happy if they used the male protagonist of the games as a recurring rival for Ash. I just wanna see it happen someday, how it happens isn't as important.
 
I admit i had desire to see some of male protagonits from games step into this show for a long time. Not by replcing Ash, because i like shows with stable protagonist which works his way forward or at least it should.

But in general seeing some like Brandon, Lucas, Hilbert or Nate for example. Follow on their starting journeys, exploring new places, catching pokemon and gain more life, personality and backstory as their characterization unfolds out in quest of accomplishing whatever goal they might have in mind seem pretty cool in theory. While making them more human like through show.

Obviously if they were joining Ash battling gyms would likely be out of question, so writing staff would have to improvise and find other creative ways to expand onn this characters. Which is doable as Alain example showed being on quest to master mega evolution defeating other mega users.

This idea also could have mean writers pulling of Brock case by letting Ash traveling female friends stay for longer continuing on next region. Im not gonna hide, id loved if May stayed for Sinnoh feeling she had room to grow more and for Misty Hoenn was massive opportunity to explore on her water master career, fears which encounter with Surskit would help unfold, arc focused on legendary Kyogre(well Kalos with E4 Siebold, mega evolution is another one, but thats beside point) etc.

So thats another thing which should be taken in mind. Because if from Hoenn and onwards instead of girls, male companions were replaced its not impossible than in that scenario writers would allow Ash female friends stay for longer and develop them more.

Alternatively writers could just instead of adding male protagonists from games in main traveling group, just have them put in rival type of role competing with Ash for badges and winning league trying to leave better impression on trainer scene than he does. Im not sure how that would work out but it would still be another way to get better know thius characters, add more charm to them, see them in some quality action and play important role in anime.
 
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They likely won't have a male travelling companion because the writers believe Ash is the character who represents the male player character, often having him wear an outfit that resembles that of the male player, such as how his current outfit resembles that of Calem. This is probably because Ash is based on Red and they want to continue that tradition.
 
I would love to see this, actually. I get a bit sick of them dragging gym leaders from their gyms for questionable reasons.

Brock, Cilan & Clemont all went through this. Iris to a point as well, although in the anime she wasn't a gym leader, but was being considered as the sucessor to Opelucid Gym.
 
I'd be just as open to a male companion based on a playable character as I am the females. I doubt it would ever happen since Ash always takes that position, but I'd welcome it. I'd also like to eventually have a male companion that doesn't cook for a change.
 
It's not like these female character actually do what the main character is supposed to. The Anime's premise always has Ash as the eon chasing Gym leaders.

I hope they make sequels to Pokemon origins for the other generations. I love May and Dawn and Hilda and hope they'd make them the lead, since they only have the males for the first 2 gens.
 
I wouldn't be against it.

Would hope they'd have the female in there for some reocurrning role.
 
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