Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of others?

[Cybersai]

After the first BW movie aired and we learned that Iris and Cilan do absolutely nothing in the movie, I have to wonder, why do the writers want EVERY single movie to be about Ash? We're now 15 movies in, and still every single one of them focuses on Ash.

In retrospect, the fact that Max got the main subplot of Movie 6, and May got most of Movie 9 till the end, and that Dawn shared Movie 10's spotlight feels like a miracle. While Ash still saved the day in those 3 movies, at least they had the spotlight shifted to May, Max and Dawn even so slightly to at least get a subplot.

Misty and Brock hardly ever got to do anything in the movies. They were always casted aside. And if the first BW movie is any indication, I don't have much hope for Iris and Cilan to be any different.

Would you have preferred if the movies rotated between focusing on whoever Ash's travel companions were at the time?

 

[Winterdaze]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

Obviously the writers don't want their shounen protagonist to be overshadowed by some girly-girl, who would want to watch that?
Yeah I'm still bitter about him upstaging May in the Manaphy movie, freaking golden Ash >_>

I think the main problem is that the Pokemon movies have become so formulaic, that Ash playing a central role is almost as certain as the movies being about the most recent batch of legendaries. That's not really going to change until the writers start breaking the mold a bit more with their ideas.

 

[Tye Taylors]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I can't argue...I really like the movies being about Ash...but I dislike the fact that the anime is just about him. *sigh* But I must admit I loved when I got to play aura guardian with sir Aaron, so yeah I am ok with it if they have interesting backstory for the movie

 

[Cybersai]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I can understand why the early movies focused on Ash so much, the franchise had just started and it was important to give the main hero a lot of spotlight.

But now....15 episodes in? I mean Ash has been around for over a decade now, why do we still have to have him focused on so heavily? Would it have been such a travesty to see someone else save the day in a movie?

 

[Ashfangirl22]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

Ash is my favorite character, I love that the films are about him the most and show him saving the world/day. I'd be sad if this changed. Don't worry Scott, they still have the series to do things.

 

[Sweet Veil]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

Because Ash is the star of Pokemon. Him and his Pikachu are going to be the main people in focus. May may have had some screen time in the Manaphy Movie but, they aren't going to let a girl have a lot lot lot of time in a male targeted Anime, is it fair? No. But, that's how advertising works being aware of your demographics, and pretty much every Anime has a "Boy with a Go-Getter attitude and silly attitude who eats a lot" as the main character so it's only natural Ash be the star of the movie like it or not.

 

[SolgaleoGX]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I gave up on the movies after the first DP one. They already ignore the plots from the games which could make for better movies, then they make it worse by focusing soley on Ash.

I liked movies 2, 3, 6 and 9 because the limelight is shared with other characters. Misty, Jessie, James and Meowth did something in movie 2. In movie 3 Misty and Brock helped Ash. Movie 6 focused on Max. And movie 9 on May.

 

[Cybersai]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I really hope Iris and Cilan don't just stand in the background for the next 3 BW movies. :/

In the anime it seems like Iris and Cilan are getting to do things Misty/Brock didn't, but their movie treatment so far is the same. Remember how in the Mewtwo movie Misty/Brock didn't really do anything?

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I wouldnt say that every movie necessarily centers only around Ash because his traveling companions got to play some role in several pokemon movies helping toward resolution of story plot.Reason why Ash received biggest slice of cake is not so much surprising considering how he is main star of this show with anime revolving around his journey and development as trainer with movie just reflecting on something which has been already established in show.

Because of this Ash is intended to always save the day in movies in one way or another.It may seem unfair and disappointing but thats how it is.

I really hope Iris and Cilan don't just stand in the background for the next 3 BW movies. :/

In the anime it seems like Iris and Cilan are getting to do things Misty/Brock didn't, but their movie treatment so far is the same. Remember how in the Mewtwo movie Misty/Brock didn't really do anything?

Amount of focus Iris and Cilan are receiving is screen time wise more or less similar to what Misty and Brock received in Kantnly difference is their spotlight being used differently with focus Iris and Cilan are receiving being more centered around development of their own stories.

Also i dont think traveling companions always get short end of stick in pokemon movies.Misty had pretty good role in second pokemon movie with both her and Brock helping Ash quite a bit in third movie about Entei when thy helped against Molly and Unknown creations.

And who can honestly deny Max involvement in Jirachi movie being more or less focused on him?

 

[JennaJayfeather]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I'm REALLY hoping that they'll break that with the next movies that come out. These first *two* were really Ash focused. I'm hoping by lets say, when Meloetta is officialy revealed to be in a movie that it'll be Dento focused (I know I'm a Dento fangirl so I'm bias) I mean, look at how much Meloetta and Dento have in common? With Mamoru Miyano voicing as Dento I think it's really possible. I'm not sure about Iris though. Maybe she could share that movie with him? XD

 

[dman_dustin]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I think its primarily because Ash is the only one who would die for the Pokemon world in order to save it.

I don't see any other character risking their lives like Ash. Ash has always been about big risks in order to save the world he loves so much.

I think that's primarily why the movies center around him because he's willing to take that risk to save it. If the other characters start taking Pokemon attacks, or dangerous stunts, then maybe I can see them having a movie revolving around them instead. But I can't see Ash doing absolutely nothing in a movie since unless the format of the movies were altered, it would be out of character for Ash to not be in the middle of everything.

 

[H.M]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

For once, I want to see some movie-only character save the day, maybe with Ash tagging along.

Either way, Ash is always going to get at least 50% (and higher) of focus at a minimum in each movie. I would love to see some focus on Iris and her interactions with Keldeo in one movie, or Cilan and Meloetta in another (just throwing out some possible human-legendary interaction pairings).

But the main demographics of the anime, young to pre-teen boys, shows who to mainly focus on: the typical shounen hero that's spunky, rash and eats a lot.

 

[투 애니원]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I so would hope for a movie would to focus on all of the three of them. I'm sure with great writing its very possible.

 

[Joshawott]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

Because Ash is the main character.

I'll be honest though, even if the travelling companions don't have the main role, I do want to see them having bigger roles.

 

[Ampharos King]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

The writers are focusing on movie exclusive characters to deal with everything involved in the plotline of the film, including conflict and storytelling. Iris and Cilan's companionship roles have been replaced by Janta and Carlita in the latest BW films. The writers invent characters to fulfill the roles as companions and antagonists in every single film.

The AG films really were the ones that focused on the other characters to a great extent. Max worked alongside Ash to save Jirachi in the sixth film. May and Ash had equally important roles in the ninth film, but the movie exclusive characters in that film did not contribute as much. Dawn simply acted as Ash's sidekick and understudy in the majority of the DP films. Brock and TRio didn't do squat in any of those films.

The writers are going by a formula that has been proven to work time and time again. Invent characters that have some relevance to a legendary pokemon and/or the antagonist of the film. Have that antagonist abuse, trick, or deceive the movie starring pokemon to create a conflict with the main character and the other movie characters. Make the main character work alongside the movie starring pokemon and/or a legendary pokemon in an attempt to stop an antagonist.

If the movies focused too greatly on all of the main characters without going that extra step to develop other individuals, it will be far too similar to the actual anime.

Ash and Pikachu are the main characters of the anime in general so they will get first dibs at the rest of the film's storyline no matter what. The other characters fulfill secondary roles. It will be very difficult for the writers to balance out interactions between Ash, his companions, the movie characters, the movie antagonist, and the starring pokemon in a 90 minute film on equal ground.

 

[The Outrage]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

Perhaps because this anime doesn't have an ensemble cast? I mean, they don't actually need to have Ash, or any of the anime characters in the movies at all, and could just make stand-alone anime movies with the exact same plot and not really affect anything (except maybe having better writing since they have to make one-shot characters memorable). The reason they use Ash is because the series revolves around him and everyone's familiar.

 

[Cybersai]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

The reason they use Ash is because the series revolves around him and everyone's familiar.

The point is why can't Ash play a 50/50 role with one of his travel companions who get a starring role in the movie themselves.

Brock was in 12 movies and he hardly did anything in most of them. Misty didn't do much either.

 

[pokemon fan 132]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

The point is why can't Ash play a 50/50 role with one of his travel companions who get a starring role in the movie themselves.

Brock was in 12 movies and he hardly did anything in most of them. Misty didn't do much either.

I agree about Brock not getting much focus in movies though i liked when he got to to play some role in 4th or 3rd movie for example when battling with Onix against Iron Mask Marauder Tyranitar or third movie where he battled Molly.

And Misty got pretty good subplot in second pokemon movie being even vital to plot in a way since she saved Ash from drowning along with battling in third movie and entering that Alto Mare race with Ash in 5th.

I suppose reason why Ash takes up most of screen time in movies taking almost all glory is because he is most important main character with anime revolving around his journey with movies just reflecting on that.On top of that he always tends to be portrayed as some special kid who has power to change the world even going as far as possessing aura powers in some later movies like "Lucario and Mystery of Mew" being most suitable for role of "chosen one".

Also its not like Ash is always main center of attention.What about Max who didnt had much importance in anime but had pretty big role in "Jirachi Wishmaker"?

 

[Magmortar123]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

It doesn't bother me too much. Sure, it'd be nice to see someone else do something every once in a while, but overall it doesn't make me like the movies any less.

 

[Miar]

Re: Why do you think the writers want every movie to center around Ash instead of oth

I don't care, really, about whether the movies are Ash's or anyone else's. I think they're fine.
But do give Max some credit. He woke Jirachi, and he was the one who was most upset to see him go.