When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost?

[Cybersai]

For example, no matter what a character contributed to the anime when they were around, once the next saga begins...it almost feels like they were never there, and any impact they had on Ash seems diminished.

Look at this for example, Misty and Gary motivated Ash in Kanto, but then in DP it was Dawn and Paul, and then in BW Iris and Trip.

Yet...once Misty left the anime, it felt like her significance to Ash and the show diminished. In all the sagas after Misty, she is very rarely mentioned and hardly ever shows up. Once Dawn left the anime, despite her being a co-star, it seems like her importance has now dropped.

Any impact Paul had on Ash, arguably his greatest rival, seems to not matter anymore in BW, as seen by Ash losing to Trip. While watching BW, you can arguably say the Gary and Paul rivalries feel like they no longer mattered.


Part of this, "fresh start" vibe makes it feel like everything the characters did in the previous series, or their impact on Ash, is essentially "undone" by the time the next saga starts.

Do you feel this way? Because when I'm watching BW, it honestly feels like Dawn, Paul, and the other DP characters no longer matter in terms of what Ash gained from them or their impact on the story. Much less ancient characters like Misty and Gary.

When a main character leaves the show, does it feel like their impact is totally gone in the next arc, due to their lack of mentions or influence on the show?

Discuss.

 

[Piplup]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

No, everything they did still counts... they're simply not mentioned at all or rarely mentioned because they're not relevant to the current plot, but it doesn't erase their existence and everything they did...
There's no reason to constantly mention past characters/events just to remind us they exist/happened... when past stuff needs to be mentioned - they're doing it

 

[Sweet Veil]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

"Fresh Start" no, there impact is still here. Ash still traveled through Kanto with Misty and Brock. He still met May and Max in Hoenn. He still had a rivalry with Paul. He still traveled through Sinnoh with Dawn. He still had Barry for a rival. He still met Scott when he conquered the Battle Frontier. He still caught Chikorita, Totodile, Noctowl, Swellow, and all the other Pokemon.

 

[Ranger Jack Walker]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

I'm undecided here. The characters still matter but they no longer have any significant on the next saga.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

Not really because everything they did for Ash and anime plot still counts not making it non existent or like it didnt happened.
Each of them left impact on pokemon series from Brock helping to Ash growing in better trainer serving role as mentor,Misty who motivated him sharing rivalry at times setting up path for future females,May who introduced contests in this show being first additional co.star etc.

All past characters contributed to this shows popularity being important part of story at some point but considering how thy became less relevant to anime when they leave gives out impression how their significance to pokemon series as whole is diminished over the years.

If we are talking about impact which characters leave on fans going by their popularity which is going strong after years of absence as well some character departures(like Mists for example)causing backlash and lot of complaining show how characters are still considered as important part of this show even though thy are no longer relevant to current series plot being reason why they arent mentioned often.

Sadly unless writers change formula stopping with excessive character replacing things will stay that way with past characters continued to be treated like garbage which is put in trashcan so to speak.Adding new characters doesnt bring anything new on table(aside from new face in reality) causing consequence of many previous characters being left to rot in past with open stories(when much more could have been done with them)ending up forgotten just to end up in same boat after 4 years or so anyway being pointless.

It would be much better to reuse some of older characters developing them more being nice change strengthening connection to previous sagas but alas that probably wont happen.

 

[Insanish Danish]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

I would say I'm undecided because on the one hand, when the characters leave there's nothing in the following arc that hints to them ever having been there (aside from cameos and such) but on the other, most of the characters who left have had a significant impact on the show in general, and they still have large fanbases. So I'm not really sure on this one.

 

[Jukain]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

This is very debatable, but I know one thing for certain: Just because they're not in the show anymore doesn't mean they never existed.

 

[Cybersai]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

This is very debatable, but I know one thing for certain: Just because they're not in the show anymore doesn't mean they never existed.

Sure. But that being said, we don't see them in most episodes anymore besides the rare cameos they get, an older characters are very rarely mentioned out of the blue.

While watching Best Wishes, even though it takes place right after DP, it almost feels like Dawn and Paul were never there. Same for old characters like Misty and May.

Anyone remember that back when DP first started, it honestly felt like Dawn was the first coordinator of the show because neither Ash/Brock made any mention of May at all in the first 70 DP eps? I actually remember people being pretty angry that once Dawn said she was a coordinator back in DP3, neither Ash/Brock made any mention of having traveled with a previous coordinator, and May got no mention or reference at all until her cameo in the Wallace Cup.

 

[Jukain]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

Perhaps that is the ultimate intention of the writers. You must not dwell on the past. Does that make any of the characters' deeds less significant? I don't think so. The rest is more of an Ash reset debate, and I will not discuss that here.

 

[Cybersai]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

Or perhaps they feel kids can only stay interested for about 4-5 years, they stop watching the anime, and new kids come in for the next arc.

I don't think the writers ever expected 20+ year old adults from the Kanto days to continue following the anime through each passing arc. I actually think the writers would be surprised how many older fans are still around.

 

[Piplup]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

Or perhaps they feel kids can only stay interested for about 4-5 years, they stop watching the anime, and new kids come in for the next arc.

I don't think the writers ever expected 20+ year old adults from the Kanto days to continue following the anime through each passing arc. I actually think the writers would be surprised how many older fans are still around.

Even if they did intend for the same viewers to continue on, the characters will probably get replaced anyway... it's refreshing, which is important in a long running show like this... so no, the characters weren't replaced simply due to "kids can only stay interested for 4 years"... it's refreshing + advertising

 

[SilverChromeX]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

OR -

They felt that keeping something so repetitive would cause the show to become possibly dull with episodes that have a same plot-mechanism as an earlier one. Since Pokemon is a game and a series that has spread farther across the globe with a larger fan-base, I doubt writers will come to acknowledge that children only watch the show. In some cases, parents would be up early in the morning with their children watching Pokemon. That however is an assumption over in Japan. There are plenty of older Asians who are Pokemon Fans and the writers more than definitely would not think that a cartoon such as Pokemon will remain for children. Especially since the fan base keeps growing and I doubt that we're all children here on the forum or else...

WRITERs, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG! D:<

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

I don't think the writers ever expected 20+ year old adults from the Kanto days to continue following the anime through each passing arc. I actually think the writers would be surprised how many older fans are still around.

Quoted for truth,if pokemon forums like bulbagarden and other various sites are anything to go by as well all kind of petitions,youtube etc amount of older fans who are still sticking with this show is in least hand surprising with there existing thousands of them.

Some could say how people quickly lose interest in pokemon show moving on to other things not having anymore time for such things,but if online situation is anything to go by shows how good number of them despite everything continues to watch this show.Granted in area where i live pokemon hype is nowhere near like it used to be when pokmon was just starting but there is still some notable interest being present around here for it.

Its also intriguing how several people at one point stopped watching this show for one reason or another after few years picking up with this show starting to watch it again.

Even if they did intend for the same viewers to continue on, the characters will probably get replaced anyway... it's refreshing, which is important in a long running show like this... so no, the characters weren't replaced simply due to "kids can only stay interested for 4 years"... it's refreshing + advertising

Characters are being replaced for rather shallow reasons being combination of wanting to add new male or female eye candy for audience,because they dont care about characters they write for and of course advertizing plays certain part in whole thing as well.

Later part of reason applies more to May and Dawn but still current formula is just wrong in my opinion making it feel like any previous character who ever mattered in this show becomes as time goes on forgotten making it feel like he never left impact in first place.
Maybe on fandom but on show its rather different story when its taken in account how references to previous regions and characters are with each passing region mitigated even more .

To me adding new characters doesnt bring anything new on table nor is refreshing causing consequence of many previous characters being left to rot in past forgotten just to end up in same boat after 4 years or so anyway being pointless.I know some will disagree but i dont see point in it.
Instead of this repetitive cycle writers could instead refresh older characters who already has solid groundwork developing them further,updating their pokemon team along with opening new subplots and progressing unfinished ones definitely having potential bringing in end same entertainment value as new ones provide(sometimes even more)pleasing many fans and mantaining viewer interest.
Similar to how other anime like Naruto or One Piece do.

 

[투 애니원]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

The only time I actually feel there is an impact is when they are mentioned in the next series onwards. Other than that I really dont.

 

[Iteru]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

As outlined in the OP, this thread is about the impact on Ash being lost or not.

It is not about why the characters left, if they would leave anyway, if they should leave or if the writers think that people are still watching the show after 10 years.

 

[Lord Clowncrete]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

Yes, the impact is definitely lost..its as if may and misty never existed..till they suddenly reappear for a couple of episodes..

 

[Ampharos King]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

"Impact on Ash?" Well, that is very difficult to tell at this moment. To add to this heated debate, this thread also counted the rivals as part of the "main cast leaving." In my personal view, as far as the current anime is concerned, those characters who left at the end of DP are irrelevant in BW's overall plot. That is not to say that their achievements and progression throughout each of their story arcs are not worth watching in the end. There is some merit to the interactions between Ash and his "former" friends,. When when Ash briefly mentions his past experiences with those individuals to his current "circle of friends," it helps to strengthen their bond even further. It eases the viewer into thinking that their favorite character might make another appearance on-screen one day.

I feel that the fans want the simple validation that their favorite characters are not forgotten over time. This validation would best get across if former rivals or former travelling companions were seen and/or mentioned in the successor region.

In Best Wishes, a series whose regional setting is very distant from the other regions Ash had travelled to in the past, mentioning such events and people would appear to be a complete and utter waste of time on the writer'ss behalf. The writers may not feel that Ash mentioning Dawn or Brock would serve any benefit to him or the companions he is travelling with right now. It may be disappointing to some viewers that their favorite characters and their achievements are not expressly mentioned on-screen, but in a logical perspective, for what greater purpose would those past characters instill on to the present situation? Ash and his current companions are too focused on their own respective goals to really care about the endeavors and hardships of others.

Keep in mind that these things happen in real life as well. You invest the time to befriend one or a few people, be by their side if they are in trouble, and encourage them to follow their life's goals and passions. That friend (or friends) will eventually decide to go out on their own to better prepare themselves to reach that goal. You really cannot stop that friend from changing his or her mind, and you promise to keep in touch. That cycle will repeat again and again, and there may be a point in time when you completely ignore those requests to interact with the people that left your side because you are too focused on addressing your own issues. The cycle will repeat again and again.

This debate really is not going for either direction. In the fan's perspective, it depends on whether or not you were present for the past main character's adventure on-screen to really have a feel for his or her depature. If those characters were by any chance mentioned on-screen, you may be slightly confused because those events that are mentioned in the present occurred before you decided to watch the series. I'll just go with the theory that, in Ash's point of view, he has his own dream to accomplish and he won't stop anybody else from living their own lives as they see fit.

Ash was taken aback when his childhood rival, Gary, decided to quit pokemon battling to become a pokemon researcher. He didn't attempt to stop Gary from partaking in this goal, and wished his best regards. Even after Ash and Gary interacted with each other briefly in DP, they never really forgot who the other person was in relation to their own. Ash respected Gary for his skill, whereas Gary occassionally scolded Ash for being too reckless in battle. That was briefly touched upon in DP so their relationship still had some merit back then. It never seemed to bother Ash that he and Gary were not competitive rivals anymore. It never seemed to bother Ash that Dawn or Brock decided to leave his presence. He expressed some initial shock and surprise after the fact, but he didn't go out to stop them from pursuing their goals.

For the sake of the fans's entertainment, the writers will always spend a great amount of time with these departure scenarios. Ash may not appear to care one way or another, and he may promise that person to interact with him or her once again. Right now, the impact shouldn't be present since Ash is currently dealing with his own situation.

Keep in mind that I am using past events as a reference, because (as of Best Wishes's timeline), Ash has yet to interact with any former main characters or rivals whom he had regularly interacted with in the past.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

In Best Wishes, a series whose regional setting is very distant from the other regions Ash had travelled to in the past, mentioning such events and people would appear to be a complete and utter waste of time on the writer'ss behalf. The writers may not feel that Ash mentioning Dawn or Brock would serve any benefit to him or the companions he is travelling with right now. It may be disappointing to some viewers that their favorite characters and their achievements are not expressly mentioned on-screen, but in a logical perspective, for what greater purpose would those past characters instill on to the present situation? Ash and his current companions are too focused on their own respective goals to really care about the endeavors and hardships of others.

I disagree,mentioning past characters which used to travel with Ash or having them back could benefit for current or any other region plot depending in what manner such thing is executed.Its always welcome to get little throwback in past showing characters who left impact on main hero.

Purpose behind this would not only be to give update about Ash previous traveling companions acknowledging their existence but it would also ultimately serve as bridge of connection to past sagas Ash traveled through strengthening bond between him and his past friends.Whether it was case about Brock who mentored Ash about battling and training helping him to grow as trainer,Misty who served as motivation in his career pushing him forward being sometimes his coach,May because of who Ash get out of his way becoming more mature and ready to take role of mentor to someone else etc,acknowledging in future how they mattered to Ash character and anime storyline at some point leaving influence on him would strengthen connection between Ash and previous regions helping viewers who werent present during that time to better understand what and who influenced Ash in growing in today person and trainer.

Just like return of older pokemon and flashbacks give insight in Ash past,giving reference to his previous traveling companions brings more continuity to this show treating it as entirety rather than individual fraction.
Similar to how return of May and Gary for example in Sinnoh reminded audience how they influenced Ash at one point or another playing important part on his life making it seem like they mattered writers also provided benefit to show plot too with May directly influencing Dawns story helping her to get over emotional issues.
Bringing any previous character back in Unova can serve purpose depending on how many connections they might have with Iris,Cilan or Ash in current region and in what way they could contribute to current plot.

Having them completely ignored with no references being provided now-days make it seem like they never mattered to this show and Ash character with everything he learned from them being portrayed like it was erased making their existence in anime kinda pointless in first place being disrespecting and ignorant imo.

 

[Ampharos King]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

IPurpose behind this would not only be to give update about Ash previous traveling companions acknowledging their existence but it would also ultimately serve as bridge of connection to past sagas Ash traveled through strengthening bond between him and his past friends.Whether it was case about Brock who mentored Ash about battling and training helping him to grow as trainer,Misty who served as motivation in his career pushing him forward being sometimes his coach,May because of who Ash get out of his way becoming more mature and ready to take role of mentor to someone else etc,acknowledging in future how they mattered to Ash character and anime storyline at some point leaving influence on him would strengthen connection between Ash and previous regions helping viewers who werent present during that time to better understand what and who influenced Ash in growing in today person and trainer.

Certain characters may help Ash mature as a trainer or as a person, but expressly mentioning those contributions on-screen in a new region where ash has a new support system in which he can rely on is a waste of time. Ash is largely motivated by what he chooses to do, not as much as the people who helped him along the way. Again, it depends on the context in which certain main characters were mentioned, but in this series, they bear little significance to referencing those things. Iris and Cilan have a strong enough foundation in this series as Ash's supporters that even a quick mention of a similarly niched character in the past will undermine their presence in the group.

Just like return of older pokemon and flashbacks give insight in Ash past,giving reference to his previous traveling companions brings more continuity to this show treating it as entirety rather than individual fraction.

Similar to how return of May and Gary for example in Sinnoh reminded audience how they influenced Ash at one point or another playing important part on his life making it seem like they mattered writers also provided benefit to show plot too with May directly influencing Dawns story helping her to get over emotional issues.

Bringing any previous character back in Unova can serve purpose depending on how many connections they might have with Iris,Cilan or Ash in current region and in what way they could contribute to current plot.

Having them completely ignored with no references being provided now-days make it seem like they never mattered to this show and Ash character with everything he learned from them being portrayed like it was erased making their existence in anime kinda pointless in first place being disrespecting and ignorant imo.

Those events happened in DP, the past series. As of BW, we have yet to see a direct mention of any past main characters in this series because their presence and roles have largely been overshadowed by newer characters.

Certain pokemon like Ash's Caterpie-Butterfree were mentioned as either Ash's "first pokemon" or Ash's "first Bug-type pokemon" in DP. It, more or less, depended on the context. Ash could have mentioned his Butterfree in the Sewaddle episode, but for the sake of time and relevancy, was not forced to do so by the writers.

The closest reference Ash would have made to Brock in Best Wishes! was that Ash failed to notice that there were numerous Nurse Joys in Unova just like in the other regions, and that he was unable to make such differences. Ash might had joked back then that Brock could have easily distinguished between each of the Joys, but that never happened. Such on-screen commentary never happened because that was irrelevant to the current storyline.

The impact of those main characters may not be lost "forever," in the real sense. The current writing style in Best Wishes as far as "continuity" goes. Certain minor characters such as Professor Oak and Giovanni will be kept around for plot significance, but characters whose "15 minutes of fame" had been largely overdone will not get a second calling. Those characters are being replaced by the characters that the writers will focus on right now.

Whatever Misty, May, or Dawn did in the past in Ash's eyes will not strengthen his relationship with Iris. Strictly mentioning Brock as a great chef in front of Cilan will not strengthen their relationship, either. Mentioning those past characters will serve to waste whatever little and precious amount of time reserved for each and every episode. Again, it depends on the context in which those characters will be mentioned, and right now there is no context that necessitates those references.

There are fans who want validation that their favorite characters were not forgotten over time, and there are writers who just want to focus on newer characters, newer situations, and newer pokemon to increase the vitality of this anime.

 

[Cybersai]

Re: When past main characters leave the anime, does it feel like their impact is lost

It probably feels this way because older characters are very rarely mentioned or referenced at all after they leave. Its kind of the same with Ash's older pokemon, it feels like they were never there when you watch the next saga.

When I watch Ash battle Trip, it honestly feels like the whole rivalry with Paul never happened. Any impact Paul had on Ash feels gone now.