What the anime could have been.

[Washingtonian]

I was a bit bored so I decided to go on TVTropes for my own amusement. I was curious to see what the anime could have been and TVTropes have listed a few scenarios that might of changed the run of the show. Here's a few that was listed.

-Ash's partner being a Clefairy instead of a Pikachu
-Ash's partner being a Jigglypuff that was mute at singing.
-Anime lasting through only Kanto with Ash defeating Gary Oak and winning the league.
-A grown up Misty segment shown in the first Japanese trailer of Mewtwo Strikes Back.
-That infamous new year episode that was never aired following the fallout of Electric Soldier Porygon.
-Anime lasting for only one and a half years.
-Pokemon Gold and Silver being released in late 1997 (the coincidence is that the first episode aired on April 1, 1997 so the Kanto run would of have been short).
-The Porygon incident never happening.
-The GS Ball arc not being aborted and the movie 4Ever never occurred.
-If the two earthquakes in Japan never happened and the missing episodes were aired (the unaired AG101 or the Whiscash episode and the Team Plasma arc of B&W).
-If Team Rocket trio were put on a bus instead of Misty in AG.

Either way. What do you think the outcome might be if any of those scenarios happened. Here's my musings on the outcomes of these what could have been's. Here's my take.

1. Ash's partner being a Clefairy would of have been odd. I wouldn't watch the anime in the first place if the Clefairy metronomed everyone.
2. Would have been a lot more interesting of a Jigglypuff that couldn't sing but again, I wouldn't be sure if it was a walking Pokemon or a Pokemon kept in a Pokeball.
3. Anime wouldn't have been widespread and probably would have never run for the 16-year run. I can imagine that the Bulbagarden forums would be mostly about the games and manga, not a lot about the anime. However, I do expect fanfics of what Ash's journey is like in Johto, Hoenn etc.
4. It would probably add a lot to the canon, but the mysterious segment that was never included in the final copy is already generating enough speculation.
5. It would be just another filler episode but a plot that was related to New Years (maybe Ash and the gang have to protect New Years from Team Rocket, lol).
6. Like I said about three, is never widespread.
7. I think the show might of been worst. The Kanto run would had to be rushed in order for Ash and the gang to start off the Johto saga. The anime probably would have many plot holes in that rush.
8. There's so many outcomes if the Porygon incident never happened that I don't know which one would fit my tastes.
9. The Johto saga would be hell of a lot better and it wouldn't be the filler arc as it is known today.
10. AG101 (or the Whiscash episode) would have been a filler episode and would not be thought of as much but the Team Plasma arc of B&W would have made the anime much better as it is now because Team Plasma actually exists in the anime.
11. For me, I would have been relieved if Team Rocket has been put on a bus and a new villain that takes its place. It would bring so many interesting stuff into the show. But however, I do know that it might cause a lot of controversy more or less than Misty.

Now, how about your takes and some what could have been's that I haven't mentioned yet?

 

[PockyAddict]

5. It would be just another filler episode but a plot that was related to New Years (maybe Ash and the gang have to protect New Years from Team Rocket, lol).

Actually it would just be one of those yearly flashback specials (aka clip shows of the 1997 episodes). I don't think it would have been a episode.

10. AG101 (or the Whiscash episode) would have been a filler episode and would not be thought of as much but the Team Plasma arc of B&W would have made the anime much better as it is now because Team Plasma actually exists in the anime.

Best Wishes would have still been the same up until the kami trio episodes (maybe it would have been plasma on thier), but I actually do not think that Best wishes would have changed that much, because the fillers between burgh's and elisa's gym battles would still have existed.

And AG101, is prob a filler episode with a COTD with a fro.

8. There's so many outcomes if the Porygon incident never happened that I don't know which one would fit my tastes.

The pokemon anime would have not had the bad publicity it had before coming west. And Since the 4 month break would'nt have existed then holiday hi-jinx and the snow way out episodes would be in order instead.

 

[Washingtonian]

The pokemon anime would have not had the bad publicity it had before coming west. And Since the 4 month break would'nt have existed then holiday hi-jinx and the snow way out episodes would be in order instead.

I'm going to think that Electric Soldier Porygon will be aired with a English dub on Kids WB instead of being banned worldwide.

 

[PockyAddict]

The pokemon anime would have not had the bad publicity it had before coming west. And Since the 4 month break would'nt have existed then holiday hi-jinx and the snow way out episodes would be in order instead.

I'm going to think that Electric Soldier Porygon will be aired with a English dub on Kids WB instead of being banned worldwide.

I sorta meant that. ^^; Yeah it would just be a regular episode with no controversy attached.

 

[Neo Blaze]

-A grown up Misty segment shown in the first Japanese trailer of Mewtwo Strikes Back.

I heard about this before, so I decided to look for the video:

Spoiler

[video=youtube;UXJrckR66lk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXJrckR66lk[/video]

I think this would've been a pretty good ending to the series, Ash winning a league, ending up with Misty and getting a child with her (assuming the little girl in the video is Misty and Ash's), that's an ending a lot of fans would probably hope for now, instead of Ash endlessly traveling regions, collecting Badges, losing in leagues. But it's an ending fans who are fed up with the anime as it is now only can dream of.

Had the Pokémon anime ended after Kanto, it could've gained a mythical status, as many people have good memories to the original series (me included). Many of these people have also given up on the anime long ago because it has been dragging on for so long and is so different to what it used to be, and many of the people who still watch it can't help but point out the downsides of the current anime (also me included, nothing has ever reached the level of the OS after it aired, IMO).

I know the idea was to end Pokémon after the first movie, but I think after they would've stopped they would've continued anyway - with Ash, or with another type of Pokémon anime - since it has always been an extra method to promote the games, and they still kept releasing games after the first movie.

 

[Washingtonian]

-A grown up Misty segment shown in the first Japanese trailer of Mewtwo Strikes Back.

I heard about this before, so I decided to look for the video:

Spoiler

[video=youtube;UXJrckR66lk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXJrckR66lk[/video]

I think this would've been a pretty good ending to the series, Ash winning a league, ending up with Misty and getting a child with her (assuming the little girl in the video is Misty and Ash's), that's an ending a lot of fans would probably hope for now, instead of Ash endlessly traveling regions, collecting Badges, losing in leagues. But it's an ending fans who are fed up with the anime as it is now only can dream of.

Had the Pokémon anime ended after Kanto, it could've gained a mythical status, as many people have good memories to the original series (me included). Many of these people have also given up on the anime long ago because it has been dragging on for so long and is so different to what it used to be, and many of the people who still watch it can't help but point out the downsides of the current anime (also me included, nothing has ever reached the level of the OS after it aired, IMO).

I know the idea was to end Pokémon after the first movie, but I think after they would've stopped they would've continued anyway - with Ash, or with another type of Pokémon anime - since it has always been an extra method to promote the games, and they still kept releasing games after the first movie.

During the grownup Misty sequence, an older Ash does not appear anywhere in the scene. Which brings me to a theory, what if Ash was to die at the end of the movie? Maybe Ash died somewhere in the middle of Misty's pregnancy and he never gets to see his own son.

Or maybe Misty adopted someone to be her son.

(And maybe Ash doesn't appear in any of those shots at all).

Now I'm speculating.

Also, Pokemon would be more fondly remember as it never suffered seasonal rot nor a lot of fillers.

 

[Neo Blaze]

-A grown up Misty segment shown in the first Japanese trailer of Mewtwo Strikes Back.

I heard about this before, so I decided to look for the video:

Spoiler

[video=youtube;UXJrckR66lk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXJrckR66lk[/video]

I think this would've been a pretty good ending to the series, Ash winning a league, ending up with Misty and getting a child with her (assuming the little girl in the video is Misty and Ash's), that's an ending a lot of fans would probably hope for now, instead of Ash endlessly traveling regions, collecting Badges, losing in leagues. But it's an ending fans who are fed up with the anime as it is now only can dream of.

Had the Pokémon anime ended after Kanto, it could've gained a mythical status, as many people have good memories to the original series (me included). Many of these people have also given up on the anime long ago because it has been dragging on for so long and is so different to what it used to be, and many of the people who still watch it can't help but point out the downsides of the current anime (also me included, nothing has ever reached the level of the OS after it aired, IMO).

I know the idea was to end Pokémon after the first movie, but I think after they would've stopped they would've continued anyway - with Ash, or with another type of Pokémon anime - since it has always been an extra method to promote the games, and they still kept releasing games after the first movie.

During the grownup Misty sequence, an older Ash does not appear anywhere in the scene. Which brings me to a theory, what if Ash was to die at the end of the movie? Maybe Ash died somewhere in the middle of Misty's pregnancy and he never gets to see his own son.

Or maybe Misty adopted someone to be her son.

(And maybe Ash doesn't appear in any of those shots at all).

Now I'm speculating.

My own theory is that Ash won the Indigo League, then married Misty and got a child, then started to battle other champions, hence why Misty is on her own with her child (weird by the way, that blue-haired woman show in that trailer is that pier master in the beginning of the first movie, what she's doing with Misty...?). This could also reflect back, seeing how Ash's father also isn't around, traveling according to Ash's mother.

But your theory is interesting too. Maybe he died from the wounds at a later age from the Mew vs. Mewtwo battle?

Also, Pokemon would be more fondly remember as it never suffered seasonal rot nor a lot of fillers.

True, that's exactly what I meant. The anime would not be judged on the negative things many fans think the anime suffers from now.

 

[Washingtonian]

But then again, I cannot imagine how many children who watch the movie will cry if the bittersweet ending did occur. But, I would appreciate a lot more since it didn't take the happily ever after route.

 

[garrison-san]

During the grownup Misty sequence, an older Ash does not appear anywhere in the scene. Which brings me to a theory, what if Ash was to die at the end of the movie? Maybe Ash died somewhere in the middle of Misty's pregnancy and he never gets to see his own son.

Or maybe Misty adopted someone to be her son.

That trailer is weird alright, but I personally wouldn't read too much into it. Odds are that the footage we saw was never intended to be in the final movie anyway.

There's also nothing to suggest that the girl in the trailer is related to either Ash OR Misty.

 

[Jukain]

*ignoring previous posts* Shudo had an interesting idea for how the pokeworld works, even if I disagree on it being that harsh. If it had been taken seriously, we could've had a lot of the things that most of us feel the anime lacks, prevalently character development. I honestly don't know how well having a new plot every gen would go, since I'm pretty sure they would use up all of their better ideas in Kanto and perhaps Johto, and then the rest would struggle to make their own thing, but pretty much have nothing left. I will agree it's a better option than what we got, but it would run stale after a while. (although even then, it would run stale slower than we did in Johto) Of course, if they just wanted to be random comedy, that could've been done, too, although please, for the love of Arceus, stick with that and not try to yo-yo back and forth.

 

[Caseydia]

I was a bit bored so I decided to go on TVTropes for my own amusement. I was curious to see what the anime could have been and TVTropes have listed a few scenarios that might of changed the run of the show. Here's a few that was listed.

-Ash's partner being a Clefairy instead of a Pikachu

Let me see if I can see what is being talked about here:

I would have wanted Eevee instead of Clefairy since it's still so much more marketable and cute now. But I think the writers had their hearts set on Pikachu from the beginning so I wouldn't want another pokemon to have been his starter. No matter what anyone else says.

-Ash's partner being a Jigglypuff that was mute at singing.

I would have loved it if he would have caught Jigglypuff instead of 30 Tauros he never uses.

-Anime lasting through only Kanto with Ash defeating Gary Oak and winning the league.

Hahahahah! Since Ash never won any real league and had already beat Gary in a six on six, I think the anime needed more time.

A lot of these things plus the ones underneath wouldn't have made the show any better. I like the anime. The only things that could have been better is Johto, part of IS and BW. Everything else was done pretty well.

 

[Mermaid]

^ More time? Kanto alone had roughly 80 episodes. Sagas that came later had 100+ episodes. That's a very generous amount that most animes wish they had. 80 episodes is about 4 seasons (assuming each season is 20 to 25 episodes long). With the right amount of planning they could fit the Ash vs Gary finale as well as aspects of the game that didn't make it in OS.

 

[PockyAddict]

And I also think that the grown up misty trailer meant nothing.since if I can recall correctly, takeshi shudo never really wanted ash in romance.

 

[97SaturnSL1]

the anime could have gone like this

Spoiler

like some others i know but fortunatly it didnt... that would have messed up the whole focus of the show by focusing on the humans and not the pokemon

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Apologies for late reply, but this thread caught my interest offering some interesting food for thought:
Naturally there was more than one direction in which anime could have been taken with several of alternate directions having potential to changed it for better or worse. Depending on what each of us would perceive as "good or wrong" based on what we ask from some anime and what can be considered as genuinely fun idea or couldn't.

Ill comment on those which imo would change most course of pokemon storyline affecting it on deeper scale:

Ash's partner being a Clefairy instead of a Pikachu

It sounds like interesting idea at first glance, though im not sure how much marketable someone like Clefairy could be and i have hard time picturing Ash having it as his main star instead of Pikachu. It may sound stereotypical from me to say this but i feel that someone like Clefairy is kinda girly and lumpy to have it wander around outside the ball like Pikachu does(i presume as potentially main mascot of series it would be out of ball like his current partner).

Needless to say i imagine there would be lot of relying on random moves like metronom which is kinda inherent for such species resulting in good chunk of battles being won or lost because of luck evolving in some sort of gimmick for comic purposes.

And i imagine lack of speed and agility would make situation all that harder for Ash to win vs some opponents against who Pikachu speed manage to score point for home. Like battle vs Clair Gyarados, Lt Surge Raichu, Pike Queen Milotic etc.

-A grown up Misty segment shown in the first Japanese trailer of Mewtwo Strikes Back.

It might be used as part of trailer like it was origionally intended to be foreshadowing perhaps series finale. In way of doing time skip showing grown up Misty and perhaps Ash in somesort of epilogue. Many people to this day speculate how that pink haired girl could've been Misty and Ash child, especially given how Pikachu was showed to be with them having writers planned to have Ash end up with someone at end of series. Personally im skeptic about whole thing, but i can understand why they would think that given how Misty romantic affection toward Ash was obvious at times.

Still absence of Brock and Ash raise up many questions still shading mystery on whole thing.

-Anime lasting for only one and a half years.

Anime would probably end after Kanto league with possible E4 arc bein included declaring Ash as underdog winer. Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn etc would never happen, Misty and Brock would receive only fraction of development, Ashs Charizard would either stay disobedient or there would be some sort of growth overcoming its differences with trainer right before the league(kinda rushed given how it would have evolved recently before hand but eh).,with that mysterious trailer from first movie being included.

Speaking of rushed development i must say im glad that anime continued.
Naturally producers would probably try to start out new series like they are doing with Yugioh but i doubt it would be nearly as popular as original series were with original trio around. If other anime which followed such format were something to go with like future Digimon or Yugioh incarnations not being even shadow of their former selves.

-The Porygon incident never happening.

Porygon line would never get bad reputation for apparently causing children to end up hospitalized(when it was all Pikachu fault tbh),with said pokemon and evo forms from its line getting proper debut and focus in anime to show of their qualities. Rather than ending forever banished from pokemon series.

Speaking of banned Kadabra seems to be touchy subject too avoiding to show it much in anime due to law suits from past netting it bad publicity.

-The GS Ball arc not being aborted and the movie 4Ever never occurred.

Johto would be infinitely better having on going plot, story which would push things forward for large part of saga giving to us promising arc revolved around rare pokemon and mystery surrounding it. While allowing that all three protagonists get more actively involved within plot playing vital part of it.

Also it wouldn't get bad reputation among fans labelling it as "filler region". Which is kinda unfair because many of those episodes weren't even fillers focusing on protagonists growth(there was development but its often overlooked there), return of past characters like Aya or introducing plots which influenced future storyline. Especially Master Quest which was plot heavy full of arcs. But i digress.

-If Team Rocket trio were put on a bus instead of Misty in AG.

Hoenn could have potential of getting even better imo considering how in that case we might have had for first time in history two girls in same cast. Since Misty would stay in case of TR being replaced and May would possibly join to promote contests this would bring doze of fresh air into cast allowing for some great , versatile dynamic. And it would provide opportunity to develop character more with Hoenn being wealth on water, new unique pokemon, specialists like Juan and groundwork through which expansion from Whirl Cup could be made advancing water master career . I imagine Team Aqua, Magma arc would be different too with presence of aspiring water specialist playing role in stopping their plans of eradicating water types from earth.

All i know is that many fans would be pleased feeling like she left while having room left to be done more and her presence added lot of subtle humor and flamboyant dynamic which i feel future region kinda lacked at times.
I imagine TR departure would cause lot of controversy, but than again original female leaving caused lot of uproar too with series managing to continue on without too much of set back. So im sure this would be the case for TR fandom too making amends with this eventually.

 

[Master Cyrus]

What if ash didn't oversleep?
What if ash went to school instead of being a trainer?
What if ash died/comad in episode 1?
What if ash lost his face from charzard?
What if ash evolved all his pokemon?
What if ash didn't release anything?
What if ash paid misty for her bike in episode 2?
What if the sprinklers never broke?
What if TR died from blasting off?
What if ash grew a brain earlier and charizard obeyed?

 

[Mermaid]

What if ash didn't oversleep? He would get one of the starters. It's not guaranteed that he will get the one that he wanted (squirtle)
What if ash went to school instead of being a trainer? He can kiss his dream of being a Pokemon Master goodbye.
What if ash died/comad in episode 1? Dream will be over plus a mourning parent
What if ash lost his face from charzard? Above answer
What if ash evolved all his pokemon? He would have gotten farther at the Kanto Pokemon League
What if ash didn't release anything? We would see Butterfree, Pidgeot, Primeape, and Haunter (yes, he didn't technically capture it, but he still gave it away though)
What if ash paid misty for her bike in episode 2? She wouldn't have followed him and became his friend.
What if the sprinklers never broke? Not sure of the reference. Trying to remember.
What if TR died from blasting off? Ash would have less issues to worry about.
What if ash grew a brain earlier and charizard obeyed? Ritchie would have gotten his ass kicked

 

[Pokémon Master Ash]

What the anime could have been?

It could have been a coming of age story, and a tale of a boy's dream being fulfilled with enough hard work, determination, and grit. The belief to never give up no matter what the odds were and face them head on would be the show's basis, and Ash/Satoshi's fundamental character which would never fade. Putting others before oneself, and sacrificing for them for the better good, because you're a good person/caring, would be the main lesson to take away.

It could've had writers that allowed the characters to age and not stay children for 15+ years.

It could've maintained the same protagonists and antagonists the whole way through. It could've focused on developing the characters rather than avoiding the issues with them and attempting to replace certain characters every 3-4 years while letting others get away scot free for no apparent reason other than "eyecandy" and such. It could've kept the characters fresh and well developed just the same as they were on Day 1.

It could've had a solid English voice cast the whole way through the run of the anime that could actually ACT (*gasp*), and wouldn't make people struggle to barely sit through episodes without being horrified by the sheer incompatibility of their voices with the characters they were cast as. We could've had a voice cast in the newer English dub seasons that didn't make boys/men sound constipated, as well as 15+ years older than they are, and girls/women that didn't sound like they were throwing temper tantrums, whining like babies while inhaling helium, or whining and speaking in extremely provocative, and frankly sexual, ways.

It could've had an unedited English dub of the show with no James Carter Cathcart and Z Pang America sheer bloodbath of script writing/dialogue, "jelly-filled donuts," sandwiches rolling down hills, and terrible catchphrases like "Dig it!" or "o'course; y'know," or "Pilfering us a bunch of Primo Pokemon," and various forms of outdated 90's slang like "FULL POWER," either.

It could've had voice actors in the newer English dub seasons for Ash and Meowth that would learn that after 200+ episodes of pronouncing the franchise's English name incorrectly, it is not pronounced "Polka-mon" or "Pok-eeee-mon," too.

It could've been an anime where the writers and the dubbers weren't clearly concerned more about the money than the fans at any cost. We could've had an anime that wasn't always targeted towards children. We could've had an anime where the characters took precedence over the money, and one where Pokemon were the primary focus, but the characters' personalities and romance, quests, and adventures were the secondary, yet still vital, focus.

That, my friends, is what the anime could have been. That is what I know it can be, and will sadly never be due to bad decisions made by the powers that be.

 

[Misty Calls Masquerain]

The anime could have been a heartwarming tale of friends who stick together through thick and thin...

 

[Pokémon Master Ash]

The anime could have been a heartwarming tale of friends who stick together through thick and thin...

Couldn't agree more. It's truly amazing to see how much worse the Pokemon anime has become over the years. It has completely lost what it once was: just a fun show for kids and really easy to relate and identify with the characters because of the excellent talents of the original English voice cast and simple, humble writing by Takeshi Shudo. Of course, kanji and riceballs are what Pokemon is really about to some people, I guess, but that was never why I watched the show.