The end of Ash due to 20TH anniversary?

[GaryOak123]

i was thinking could the 20th anniversary of the anime or video game be the end of Ash. It would be a decent send off, and could be the perfect time after the anniversary. To start a new era with gen VII coming out and a new main character. Now there are many questions that go with this, how would ash's story end? I thought Ash could either win the kalos league and then go on to face an elite four from kanto or maybe kalos. Or another alternative could be Ash doesn't win the kalos league and gets an invitation to a master tournament or something where all the best trainers in the world are invited. Such as all the elite fours, the frontier brains and old characters such as gary, misty, brock, may could all compete even some gym leaders and heck lets include profesor Oak. And they could all compete in a major tournament in a mini series. My second suggestion is much less likely, but i do believe the 20th anniversary could spell the end for Ash and pikachu. The next question is who would the new hero be now Pokemon could take the line of that of things such as Yugioh and replace the main character every new generation, however i dont think that will happen. So in my mind there are 2 options we get a new charcter from a new region with a new pokemon from that region, or we get Ashs son, i think that is less likely again but would be cool, what do you guys think, would you be upset to see Ash go, i think i would, but a new start could be a good thing for the anime.

 

[Beth Pavell]

Given that we've had seventeen seasons of Ash, being tweaked here and there, I doubt it.

And given the nature of the fandom, I suspect that a big old send off bringing back everyone's favourites would just trigger a wave of complaints anyway

 

[henrymidfields]

Well, it would be a bit sad, but as long as they have something decent, I'll be happy. Sure, they may take the easy way out by Ash losing, and moving onto the next region. I am having a feeling that the writing+executive crew in XY are starting to learn the lessons from the previous arcs. The possibility of Ash winning, or at least having a more dignified end, is higher this time around:
- Most of Ash's battle this time around are quite awesome to watch - especially XY001-002, where I think Ash actually took a level in badass, (although that could be partly due to how much of a dumbass he was in BW) comparable to how he usually is in the movies.
- Battles that Ash lost are better justified too: Viola's skill is implied to be E4 equivalent (Duchess -> Grand Duchess), and she had much less hesitation to go all-out (Vivillion using TMs, Surskit using Ice Beam) than say, Brock or Misty. Korrina is way more experienced. (And her Lucario is a monster in the games; trust me, I had my whole party wiped out in my Pokémon Y. And I wasn't even underlevelled!) Diantha is Champion, and on a related note, Paul lost 6-0 to Cynthia, so the Champion's skill may be entirely different to any pre-E4 trainer.
- Then we have Ash x Serena, which seems to be heading for canon.

TV Tokyo made these changes already, so there is no excuse for a status-quo-based approach like during the previous arcs. Actually, there was no excuse in BW either, given the amount of BW1+2-unique post-game content.

What would be good, though is have Ash come back where really needed. Such as in the movies, against the regional villains, or something similar to Alain where there is a higher-tired battle special, all three which the stakes are higher. Ash can work with the Gen 7 protagonist to form the crew for the vs Villain arc. Say that part of being Champion is to be part of Pokémon G-men like Lance was.

 

[Piplup]

I find it hilarious people still believe this is a possibility.............

 

[Grabbergirl]

I highly doubt it

 

[Hidden Mew]

Ash being the main character for twenty years would be more of a reason to keep him around than to get rid of him. He's been around for so long that it is just not possible for him to be replaced at this point.

 

[henrymidfields]

Ash being the main character for twenty years would be more of a reason to keep him around than to get rid of him. He's been around for so long that it is just not possible for him to be replaced at this point.

At least we could upgrade Ash. Even after winning the tournament, he needs to beat the Elite 4, and he'll most likely lose to one. Even after being Champion, he needs to train to retain his title, and there's probably the Champion league that Ash may participate in. And of course, we can continue the adventure with Ash as a mentor to the Gen 7 PC equivalent. Or Ash being part of Pokémon G-Men like Lance did.

I'll just say, I don't know. I feel that nothing can be ruled out yet. As I said before, as long as they don't repeat the same mistakes for this and future generations, I'm happy either way.

 

[Iteru]

Ash ever leaving is wishful thinking. If he goes than the anime does too.

 

[Hidden Mew]

At least we could upgrade Ash. Even after winning the tournament, he needs to beat the Elite 4, and he'll most likely lose to one. Even after being Champion, he needs to train to retain his title, and there's probably the Champion league that Ash may participate in. And of course, we can continue the adventure with Ash as a mentor to the Gen 7 PC equivalent. Or Ash being part of Pokémon G-Men like Lance did.

I'll just say, I don't know. I feel that nothing can be ruled out yet. As I said before, as long as they don't repeat the same mistakes for this and future generations, I'm happy either way.

Considering that Ash has been the main character for this long and they've had plenty of opportunities where he could have been replaced that they didn't take, I think it's pretty safe to say that we can rule out Ash being replaced. I understand why people would want to replace Ash and I honestly wouldn't lose sleep if he did, but getting rid of the main character after following him for nearly two decades doesn't make any sense marketing wise, which is pretty important for a show like Pokemon. I also can't see Ash beating the Elite 4 or becoming a Champion.

 

[CrashBash]

The fanbase would either rejoice or rage, but realistically, it's not going to happen. Ash has pretty much been with the series from the beginning, and to remove him now would be a big mistake.

If the company were going to replace Ash, their best bet would have been with the Advanced Generation series, and then have a new protagonist each following arch.

 

[PockyAddict]

That will never happen, he and pikachu are mascots of the the anime and pikachu is the company mascot. So Nope, that ain't ever gonna happen.

 

[CrystaI]

Not really all that impossible as many of the people in here implied. I just read one shocking news right before I come to post this comment in this thread, which somehow makes me agree with the OP.

The Naruto manga artist announced to end the Naruto manga after 15 years of serialization. The last chapter will be published in 10th November of this year on Weekly Shonen Jump, and the last anime movie NARUTO -- THE LAST on 6th December.

Naruto was even longer than Dragonball series, but still it finally decided to end. If Naruto series could have the courage to end its story after 15 years, I don't see why Pokemon cannot.

Now let's just see currently the other comparable long manga One Piece when it will end...

 

[Hidden Mew]

Not really all that impossible as many of the people in here implied. I just read one shocking news right before I come to post this comment in this thread, which somehow makes me agree with the OP.

The Naruto manga artist announced to end the Naruto manga after 15 years of serialization. The last chapter will be published in 10th November of this year on Weekly Shonen Jump, and the last anime movie NARUTO -- THE LAST on 6th December.

Naruto was even longer than Dragonball series, but still it finally decided to end. If Naruto series could have the courage to end its story after 15 years, I don't see why Pokemon cannot.

Now let's just see currently the other comparable long manga One Piece when it will end...

A series ending isn't really the same thing as replacing a main character. As far as I know, the story of Naruto is going to end and the author isn't making a new Naruto series with a some new character being the new lead. That's what people want with Ash being replaced. They want his story to end and new Pokemon anime series to start with a new lead, which is impossible that this point.

Besides that, Naruto and Pokemon aren't really similar series. Naruto doesn't exist primarily as a means to market merchandise and promote the newest games like Pokemon does. There are plenty of merchandise for a series like Naruto, but they're created due to the success of the manga and anime series. The Pokemon anime exists because of the games and its main reason for existing is to continue to promote said games. Naruto isn't under executive control to keep going on to promote new products like Pokemon is. Unless a series starts being unsuccessful and not turning out as much profit as people would like, I'm pretty sure manga authors are usually able to keep their series going as long as they want.

 

[Pokeplayer150]

I think I can see that happening. I mean, if there was any time for the anime to get a fresh start, it may as well be then.

 

[Iteru]

namely Ash's growing competence.

The problem with that is Ash was arguably at his most competent during DP and for BW was "dumbed down". If he looks too good they'll nerf him so they can continue using him, hence top 4 vs top 8 for DP to BW.

 

[Piplup]

The series seems to be dropping a lot of hints that this could be its conclusion, namely Ash's growing competence.

I'm shocked anyone can dare say this... back in the DP days? yes, ok... but after the disaster that the BW series was? no, you can't talk about any "growth" because they'll just do a 100% full reset to him whenever they feel it's needed (so yes, he's shown as a more experienced/mature trainer again in XY, but I have no doubts we'll go through another BW-reset at some point in the future)
I hope that maybe the TRio will be written out eventually, at least... because at this point I want to break something the moment I see them (and they did break the "appear in EVERY ep" rule so who knows...)

 

[Dr. Buni]

Ash is never leaving the show.

 

[Pokeplayer150]

namely Ash's growing competence.

The problem with that is Ash was arguably at his most competent during DP and for BW was "dumbed down". If he looks too good they'll nerf him so they can continue using him, hence top 4 vs top 8 for DP to BW.

Good point.

 

[Osprey]

Ash is never gonna leave. Or age. Or get permanently smarter. Basically, he'll stay the same until Game Freak and the Pokemon Company completely die.

I mean, if Ash was gonna leave, he might as well also leave Pikachu behind the next time he goes to another region. Those things just don't happen.

 

[Pokeplayer150]

The series seems to be dropping a lot of hints that this could be its conclusion, namely Ash's growing competence.

I'm shocked anyone can dare say this... back in the DP days? yes, ok... but after the disaster that the BW series was? no, you can't talk about any "growth" because they'll just do a 100% full reset to him whenever they feel it's needed (so yes, he's shown as a more experienced/mature trainer again in XY, but I have no doubts we'll go through another BW-reset at some point in the future)
I hope that maybe the TRio will be written out eventually, at least... because at this point I want to break something the moment I see them (and they did break the "appear in EVERY ep" rule so who knows...)

Sorry, I was trying to only refer to his strength during XY (I removed that to avoid further confusion). But aside from that, I agree with you on that last one. It seems the TRio are being used nowadays as nothing more than an excuse to bring conflict to the show (even when there's already a more well-done conflict). Also, as competent as he his now, Ash is still as annoying and bland as he was in the past. All in all, I think that the show needs to end because it has become too tired to continue, I should have said that originally.