Satoshi's Journey in 2006

[FabuVinny]

We all know that once D/P is out in Japan, Ash will be off to whatever land it is set in. But let's have a look at what he will be doing before then.

We know from the map in the Oak's lab episode and the order of the Brains in the opening that that the final facilities will be:

• Pike in Fuschia City, (in the first episode of the year)
• Palace in/around the Seafoam Islands
• Tower near the Tohjo Falls
• Pyramid in an unknown location

So his actual route takes him along the sea, though with a Grassland Duel known, there may be limited exposure to water. The route to the Battle Tower is particularly interesting, though. Ash comes very close to Pallet Town, which would be the first time he passes through it in the middle of a saga. Though he missed it the first time he went through Kanto, so he may miss it. More interesting, however, is that he should also comewithin close proximity to Gary's island. We know the current record for bringing back old faces in this saga, but Gary is an important character and the two haven't seen each other since GCYL. After his housou episode, it would be very interesting. Hopefully, the writers can make an exception in his case.

So what of after the win in the Battle Tower? Actually, a return to Pallet at this point seems likely. (Especially if D/P gets delayed any further.) But where is the Pyramid? Johto? Orre? It's going to be an interesting wait for D/P.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Well, the Pyramid - if it's to remain a pyramid - is likely to be in a desert area. So, chances are it'll be either in a made-up place.... oooor (and this will depend entirely on D/P's release at least) on the Sevii Islands following a short trip there.

I have to say, it'd be odd for them not to include the Sevii Islands after forcing the Battle Frontier into Kanto like a circle shape into a square hole. They'd certainly do a fair job at expanding the BF if needed to patch up the time between now and D/P.

 

[Cybersai]

More interesting, however, is that he should also comewithin close proximity to Gary's island. We know the current record for bringing back old faces in this saga, but Gary is an important character and the two haven't seen each other since GCYL. After his housou episode, it would be very interesting. Hopefully, the writers can make an exception in his case.

While I would like to see Gary again, I wouldn't count on it. He's pretty much been written out of the show, and Ash and Gary don't share an interesting dynamic anymore. Gary also...hasn't been an important character since Johto ended. Important character in the past does not equal important character now.

So what of after the win in the Battle Tower? Actually, a return to Pallet at this point seems likely. (Especially if D/P gets delayed any further.)

If they do go back to Pallet, it'll probably be just for one episode, then Ash will be on the road again.

But where is the Pyramid? Johto? Orre? It's going to be an interesting wait for D/P.

Johto? Ha! Why would the writers force Ash to go all the way back there? And why would 6 Brains be situated in Kanto and the 7th be in an entirely different region?

The Sevii Islands is probably the best guess, since the Sevii Islands are more or less part of Kanto.

 

[FabuVinny]

While I would like to see Gary again, I wouldn't count on it. He's pretty much been written out of the show, and Ash and Gary don't share an interesting dynamic anymore. Gary also...hasn't been an important character since Johto ended. Important character in the past does not equal important character now.

Gary's housou does leave some potential for one episode, at least. You claim that Misty is not an important character in AG, yet she did return. And Gary is just below her. While not being as important means that the characters don't appear as often, it doesn't mean they are ignored altogether. If the writers want to bring him back for an episode, then those points won't phase them.

Johto? Ha! Why would the writers force Ash to go all the way back there? And why would 6 Brains be situated in Kanto and the 7th be in an entirely different region?

The Sevii Islands is probably the best guess, since the Sevii Islands are more or less part of Kanto.

The Tohjo Falls are right on the Kanto-Johto border. It is certainly closer than the Sevii Islands.

 

[Cybersai]

Gary's housou does leave some potential for one episode, at least. You claim that Misty is not an important character in AG, yet she did return. And Gary is just below her. While not being as important means that the characters don't appear as often, it doesn't mean they are ignored altogether. If the writers want to bring him back for an episode, then those points won't phase them.

Misty became a recurring character because she was a main character for the previous 5 seasons. It would be awfully mean of the writers never to show Misty again. It's the same deal with Tracey, he hasn't been important since the Orange Islands, yet we still see him from time to time as well. They are two former main characters, which is why the writers give them Hoso's together and appear together in AG. (With even a ship attached). Gary is even less important than Misty/Tracey, which is why out of these 3 written out characters, Gary is the least likely to appear again. I certainly like Gary and I'd love to see him, but in general his story is over. The hoso was a follow up episode that sounded "final" to me. I'm really not expecting to see him ever again.

The Tohjo Falls are right on the Kanto-Johto border. It is certainly closer than the Sevii Islands.

Yeah but who knows how the anime set up the regions differently from the games.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Ash had to get a ferry to Johto, so if he can get a ferry from that area to Johto - similarly he can get one to the Sevii Islands.

 

[FabuVinny]

Misty became a recurring character because she was a main character for the previous 5 seasons. It would be awfully mean of the writers never to show Misty again. It's the same deal with Tracey, he hasn't been important since the Orange Islands, yet we still see him from time to time as well. They are two former main characters, which is why the writers give them Hoso's together and appear together in AG. (With even a ship attached).

Ever heard of PalletShipping?

Gary is even less important than Misty/Tracey, which is why out of these 3 written out characters, Gary is the least likely to appear again.

Compared to two main characters, yes. But his importance pre-AG surely allows for one return.

I certainly like Gary and I'd love to see him, but in general his story is over. The hoso was a follow up episode that sounded "final" to me. I'm really not expecting to see him ever again.

Gary is doubting his decision. I hardly call that final. And even with the rivalry to a conclusion, (though Harrison did say that they would always be rivals,) why should he never be seen agian? I'm not talking about him recurring in the D/P saga. It's just one filler episode.

 

[Jo-Jo]

I'd consider Gary at least as important as Tracey. But maybe that's just me. You could probably chop Tracey out of the Orange Islands without affecting the plot, but you couldn't take Gary out of the anime without changing things rather drastically.

That's not to say I think he'll come back, but it gives him slightly better odds than any of the Kanto filler characters.

 

[Unregistered]

Unless they slow down the pace or have a mini saga inbetween I could see it(BF saga) ending right around mid year. They could explore the sevii islands. It would be nice to see it be more like a vacation and having a cruise and them explore around as well, or watching them hanging around at home in Pallet and Petalburg or do some focusing on Rangers.

 

[Cybersai]

We won't have time for a little mini-saga. Ash still has 3 more Brains (after Lucy), May still needs 3 more contests, and we still have another Grand Festival to go through. This is of course assuming that Ash doesn't have a league, because Brandon may be the "final" guy this saga. Also May might lose a contest, just like she lost two in Hoenn, so we will probably have more than just 5 contests this saga. Add in roughly 3 or 4 filler episodes between each Brain, and this will probably go on till around September-ish.

 

[Dark Chromium Dragonite]

The current arc revolves around the Ruby/Sapphire areas, right? Or has the Anime already bypassed those regions?

 

[Zhen Lin]

Indeed, we're back in Kanto now.

 

[TSS_Killer]

Even though Diamond and Pearl may not be released for a while, all I have to expect in the new year is a string of 30+ more filler episodes, reguardless of whether or not the games are released relatively early in the year.

 

[Unregistered]

We won't have time for a little mini-saga. Ash still has 3 more Brains (after Lucy), May still needs 3 more contests, and we still have another Grand Festival to go through. This is of course assuming that Ash doesn't have a league, because Brandon may be the "final" guy this saga. Also May might lose a contest, just like she lost two in Hoenn, so we will probably have more than just 5 contests this saga. Add in roughly 3 or 4 filler episodes between each Brain, and this will probably go on till around September-ish.

I dont think the other unregistered suggested a minisaga. IMO the Battle Frontier most likely will end right around where it started. Also we dont know if May will have a grand festival and last time they had it, it was 3 episodes and it all aired on the same day. Also your math doesnt quite add up. Going by that pattern this saga could be over by May. Although I think there will be a final battle similar to Drake in the orange islands to finish this saga up. A league I dont think would work after all Ash had to face an elite four member to determine whether he could enter the Battle Frontier. It seems to me that this should be a special think only really experienced trainers could enter.

 

[Doctor Oak]

It is possible the prize for beating the Frontier is entry into the next Pokemon League and thus giving Ash cause to go to the next land.

 

[Cybersai]

I dont think the other unregistered suggested a minisaga. Also we dont know if May will have a grand festival and last time they had it, it was 3 episodes and it all aired on the same day.

There will definitely be a Grand Festival, May isn't collecting ribbons for no reason you know. :/ I can't understand Japanese, but I believe one of the coordinators or someone mentioned a Grand Festival in one of the early BF episodes. Not only that, but May has two rivalries (Drew/Harley) that need to be resolved. She'll probably end up defeating both of them at this GF in any case.

And yeah, the Hoenn GF aired all in one day, but we had 2 weeks of no aired episodes because of that. TVTokyo pre-empted Pokemon for 2 weeks, and because of that, they aired all 3 GF episodes in 1 day.

Also your math doesnt quite add up. Going by that pattern this saga could be over by May.

Eh well, I didn't exactly count everything up correctly. I also think Ash is bound to lose to at least one Brain, as it would be cheap writing to see him beat all of them so easily.

Although I think there will be a final battle similar to Drake in the orange islands to finish this saga up. A league I dont think would work after all Ash had to face an elite four member to determine whether he could enter the Battle Frontier. It seems to me that this should be a special think only really experienced trainers could enter.

There could be one more powerful trainer after Brandon that Ash could only battle once he gets 7 symbols. Maybe Wallace will be that trainer, since he was shafted out from being in Hoenn because the games replaced him with Juan.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

I wonder, is it possible that the writers/animators could introduce more of the next generation Pokemon after the Battle Frontier saga?

I mean, they did that when they introduced Kecleon way back in the dub's 4th season ("The Kecleon Caper", which was way before R/S were released), and later, when they introduced Blaziken in the Johto League Silver Conference.

So, it could be possible that they could be planning to introduce some more new Pokemon through the anime (before D/P are released).

 

[Doctor Oak]

Well, Kecleon was actually the first R/S Pokemon revealed, at least 2 years before the games were out. The equivilant of Gonbe really.

Blaziken was really the only Pokemon that appeared in the anime without being announced long before (even though Coro Coro revealed it's anime appearence about 2 months before the event). We'll probably see a couple more D/P Pokemon creeping in as time goes on, but there certainly wont be another series or mini-saga over it.

 

[Unregistered]

Manyula is the only D/P Pokemon yet to be in an episode, perhaps one of the Brains will have it.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Oh, I didn't know that all the D/P Pokemon announced so far had already been in an episode (except for one)......

Anyway, hopefully, we'll see some more D/P Pokemon announced soon like you said, Doctor Oak.

I can't wait to see what the other new ones look like.