Was Greninja given the boot?

[SinnohEevee]

Since they made Ash release his Greninja, do you think it was put on a bus and won't be seen again?

 

[Shadao]

Since they made Ash release his Greninja, do you think it was put on a bus and won't be seen again?

Give it a Charizard treatment for about a few years (particularly for an inevitable Gen VI remake) and we'll talk about "won't be seen again" notion.

 

[CrystaI]

When TPCi felt that the fanbase need some nostalgia to relive the liveliness, they will use it anyway.
But don't ever expect it will become anything plot important. From Anime staff's POV, request to nostalgia is merely fan-service.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

Depends on the writers' whims.

 

[SinnohEevee]

When TPCi felt that the fanbase need some nostalgia to relive the liveliness, they will use it anyway.
But don't ever expect it will become anything plot important. From Anime staff's POV, request to nostalgia is merely fan-service.

The past doesn't matter for them.

 

[Sakuraa]

I say there's a 50/50 percent chance he could be seen again. Maybe not in a major setting with Ash, but I think we could see him again.

 

[Likeitornot.]

Considering Greninja took the top spot in a popularity contest of 720 Pokemon in Japan last year, beating many classic fan favourites - and part of this pokemon's success was attributed to its appearance in the anime, I would believe it is fairly likely that they will showcase Greninja in some form in the future - like how Charizard returned in Best Wishes!.

Personally, I am satisfied with not seeing Greninja any time too soon in the near future.

 

[SinnohEevee]

A key difference between Charizard and Greninja is that Charizard was never released. Given how popular Greninja is, you would expect the anime to shove it down our throats in this and future series in order to continue milking it.

But why release it then?

~~I would like if Eevee one day becomes the most popular Pokémon~~

 

[Iteru]

A key difference between Charizard and Greninja is that Charizard was never released. Given how popular Greninja is, you would expect the anime to shove it down our throats in this and future series in order to continue milking it.

But why release it then?

~~I would like if Eevee one day becomes the most popular Pokémon~~

But released in what sense? That it happens to be in the wild or actually released from a Pokéball with no official owner?

There's absolutely no reason why it can't track Ash down for plot reasons, or hell, just go to Sycamore who can contact Oak, who can contact Ash at the Alola school/wherever he is.

 

[Max1996]

That it happens to be in the wild or actually released from a Pokéball with no official owner?

From watching the episode where it happened, I know the latter is not actually the case for Ash's Greninja.

 

[Shadao]

A key difference between Charizard and Greninja is that Charizard was never released. Given how popular Greninja is, you would expect the anime to shove it down our throats in this and future series in order to continue milking it.

But why release it then?

~~I would like if Eevee one day becomes the most popular Pokémon~~

I recall that Charizard was originally considered by many fans to be released, since there was no indication that a Pokémon ever returning back to its trainer back in those days. The 3rd Movie is all that it takes to prove them wrong. Solidified by its return for the final Johto Gym battle and the Silver Conference. And no, I don't think it's due to technicality of a Poké Ball.

Consider this as well. Wobbuffet got the boot for Best Wishes to make way for new Rocket Pokémon. But because it's so popular with the audience, they brought him back as a permanent main Rocket member since the XY series. Despite the fact there is no logical sense for Team Rocket to bring Wobbuffet at all, especially in Alola.

Thus, what determines a Pokémon's return is based on how popular the individual Pokémon is. Ash-Greninja is the first Pokémon since Charizard to be explicitly associated with Ash himself in mainstream attention. That is quite an accomplishment considering that most people are familiar with the original show rather than the new one. And it ain't going away as long the word Ash is put in front of the Battle Bond Greninja.

And for the record, the mighty Charizard has been known to take huge breaks throughout the anime just so it wouldn't overshadow Ash's new Pokémon. Give Greninja a few years before people start longing for its return. Just like Lucario and Piplup before it.

 

[hhhhdmt]

i agree that we wil probably see Greninja again but i do not see why he was released in the first place.

To me, releases are simply pointless. And to release Ash's first fully evoled water starter makes it even worse.

I am glad Charizard is with Oak now and not at the Charicific Valley. I hope Greninja returns and is eventually Oaked along with the rest of his pokemon.

 

[Almonds]

It is the number one most popular so it will come back for an episode or two at some point.

Or it could receive the treatment Charizard had during Episode N.

 

[Matleo]

maybe not this generation, but maybe in 5 more generations it will come back and be part of a great new team to battle a master League of All 12 big Regions.