Would a complete reboot hinder your enjoyment of the anime?

Desdar300

Desdar300

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This is something I've seen people go back and forth on when it comes to the anime but it seems to have gotten worse with XYZ. So hypothetically speaking, if TPC decide to do a start fresh with the Sun and Moon version of the anime with an all new cast of characters and a brand new environment , would any of you long time fans keep watching the show without Ash, TR, or really any of the original main stays? IMO and this is strictly coming from me, I think the time has certainly come because the times have changed. The gen six anime has done wonders for both Ash as a character and as a trainer even doing things that some people would've never saw coming ( Evolving his water starter, getting two dragons, going toe to toe with a Champion's Ace) to the point that I don't think anything afterwards can replicate these feats without feeling contrived. Things are different now Pikachu isn't the number one Pokémon anymore, Pokémon now has stiff competition especially in the anime department so I think a fresh start would really help it out and stick out a lot more. What're your thoughts? I'd love to hear them
 
No point. The new character would do exactly the same thing as Ash does - travel through region, have companions, catch/evolve new pokemon, battle gyms, compete in leagues and lose constantly. I believe Ash is sticking around for a long time. He is most likely heading to Alola after this.
 
I would watch it and I would watch it without feeling compelled to compare it to the original anime series or argue over long old arguments of continuity. A new anime would allow the production team to have more freedom to do anything they want without tying it to Ash. A new anime would not be burdened by comic continuity or character regressions of the past.

I continuously argue that a Sun and Moon anime would work best with a young homesick protagonist moving to a brand new region and then making new brand friends there as he starts his journey. And that cannot be replicated with Ash given his previous adventures.
 
Alexander said:
No point. The new character would do exactly the same thing as Ash does - travel through region, have companions, catch/evolve new pokemon, battle gyms, compete in leagues and lose constantly. I believe Ash is sticking around for a long time. He is most likely heading to Alola after this.
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We don't exactly know that though. If I told anyone about the events of XYZ say a mere five years ago that'd of laughed in my face because of how ridiculous it'd all sound.
New characters mean the writers can get creative and have more freedom to do more with the characters because they aren't established.
Even if the new hero w doing the badge quest they could still mix it up to make it new much like Finding Dorothy did to the original plot of its predecessor
 
I'm still hoping to see Ash become a champion, and then become a mentor to a new badge-collecting trainer in the next region.
 
I think a new hero would make the anime more enjoyable. I think it's time for Ash to retire. He should be by Serena's side for the rest of his life.
 
I haven't watched the anime in a long time, although I'm planning on getting back into it because of all the good things I've heard about the XY series. I wouldn't mind a reboot, but I WOULD like something along the line of Origins that's a more faithful retelling of the games. I'd flip my shit if they made a decent animated adaptation of BW1.
 
It wouldn't hinder my enjoyment at all. Quite the contrary; that's something I've been wanting to happen for a while.

I like Ash and all, but he's just gotten really stale imo. Honestly, nowadays, I tend to focus more on the companions instead of Ash because of how repetitive his story has become. And I sure as heck would love to never see TR again. A fresh new face can do wonders. He could have a different personality and different interactions with other characters, like not being oblivious to love. A new kid may be able to break free of the "patterns" that Ash's team has followed for the past 20 years, such as always getting the early route flying-type. Sure they could just do the same old same old and build his team similar to Ash's, but the possibility of variation is stronger with a different person imo. (Though I will admit that XY has made a lot of great variations in terms of team building). He could also have a different battling style. And best of all, with a new protagonist there will be no need to reset him at the beginning of the region because he'll most likely be a rookie anyway.

I know it most likely won't happen, but I'd love it if the Sun/Moon anime was a complete reboot and used the new player characters as the main characters. But we're probably just going to get another 3 years of Ash yet again. :(
 
A hypothetical reboot wouldn't really affect my enjoyment of the anime. I like Ash, but he's not the main reason I've been watching the show all this time. I watch it because it's fun and I love Pokemon. Starting over with a fresh plate completely wouldn't change that.

However, I do feel that a change to a different protagonist at this point would be virtually pointless since they'd be doing the exact same thing Ash is doing. Not to mention we're far past the point where a complete reboot is even possible. For better or for worse, Ash is going to stick around. Even with his progress in Kalos, he's going to start with a fresh team in the Alola region. Still, if they somehow did decide to reboot the series, I don't think that would significantly effect my enjoyment of the series.
 
Definetely. As I understand it, a reboot means that a new universe is created all of the past continuity is lost, which would be terrible. I don't want XY to be the end of Ash's story after 19 years, as it doesn't have the goodbye feeling and doesn't have any kind of celebration of past protagonists, more like the opposite, it's a soft reboot about the story of a boy and his Greninja. It would be even worst than if the series ended after the Unova league.

In a far future I'd like the idea, as long as the previous series had a closure feeling to it. But in Alola, please no.
 
I had watched so many rebooted anime and TV series (for reference: Gundam, Digimon, Zoid, Macross, Precure, Kamen Rider, and a few tokusatsu Power Rangers), and I keep on chasing them endlessly without any lose of enjoyment whenever a new title comes up. Why would Pokemon not be? I appreciate a reboot already since beginning of Johto!

And just wanted to mention, except Dragonball and Naruto where the story plot have definite progress and protagonist also grow up both mentally and physically, I basically dropped all the long-running anime when its plot started to enter a stagnant status quo without significant progress within ~20 episode span, and especially its plot entered into a weekly one-shot format with so many fillers that one may ignore most of it without too much worry of missing the "important plot". Other than Pokemon, I also lose interest in One Piece, Fairy Tail, Gintama, Keroro Gunsou (this one I got bored just within 5 episodes), etc.

Also wanted to mention, I didn't start watching Pokemon Anime because of Ash Ketchum, and I continue to follow the show not because of Ash Ketchum. Although the existence of him basically has no impact on my watch-and-drop-and-coming-back cycle, the main reason is rather the status quo and boring story plot, and the determining factor for such boredom IMO is Ash Ketchum. If reboot is allowed and new protagonist is to be introduce, then for each saga there needs to be an ending, hence there will be no more plot dragging for the sake of elongation, fillers may not be completely eliminated but at least it will be keep to minimum.

It doesn't matter at all will the new protagonist just do badge quest and Pokemon League like Ash Ketchum or not, at the very least because he/she is a new character, therefore there is no guarantee that the new character is simply a copy of Ash Ketchum, or a complete new character with different personality and characteristics compare to his predecessor. Hence there is expectation for something new and unknown, and hence it is refreshing.
 
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Would a complete reboot hinder your enjoyment of the anime?

Honestly? Yes. Yes it would and I will tell you why.
I watch the anime for Pokemon because I love them; I watch the anime for the battles because again I love them; I watch the anime because of the friendship between Ash and his Pokemon and his companions; I watch the anime and enjoy it because of the bond between Ash and Pikachu; I also watch the anime in large part because of Ash!.

If Ash (and Pikachu) was replaced with someone new, I'll be totally honest here (I'm sure I would not be missed), I would stop watching the anime. I would still buy the games so I can continue to play the games I love but my enjoyment of the anime will be nonexistent. I do not speak for everyone but I am sure that the anime will lose viewers and a lot of them because there are still a lot of Ash fans out there young and old. Ash as a character has had a huge impact on my life; this show and this character came into the world when I needed it the most. I was majorly bullied in fifth grade and when I started watching Pokemon Ash's character and how he was portrayed and just who he was deep down gave me hope that things will get better and they did over time.

I'm sure one day he might be replaced but my hope is that it never happens at all because if there were more people like Ash in the world maybe it wouldn't be so messed up. I watch the anime for a lot of different reasons but the biggest reason is because of Ash; he's my overall favorite character of the anime so if he was not on the show anymore do you honestly think I would still watch it? I know in my heart I wouldn't because if he was replaced it just wouldn't be Pokemon anymore at least to me.
 
I would be fine with a reboot, because they could take this opportunity to try new things with the anime. As long as it kept the quality, a decent story and stay entertaining to watch, I would continue watching it.
 
SatoHaruFan2248 said:
I think a new hero would make the anime more enjoyable. I think it's time for Ash to retire. He should be by Serena's side for the rest of his life.
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I rather have him with Misty, May or Dawn instead. Armourshipping doesn't exist in the anime (at least not for Ash since he is 10). I still doubt the possibility of a reboot as it would copy what Ash has done.
 
I guess you could say it would hinder my enjoyment of the anime because I'd not bother with subsequent series. The pokemon anime for me is Pikachu, Satoshi and the TRio. Also I guess I have less of an interest in any sort of reboot/major changes because I'm probably amongst the most content members of this forum when it comes to the anime's status quo.

Of course the counter-argument is that if I quit Pokemon for good then I might discover what's so good about Real Life?! ;) But, nah.
 
At this rate, it won't be much longer before the anime's cast is down to just Ash, Pikachu, and Team Rocket. No more companions, no more CofD, no more appearances by the other 728+ Pokémon (including Wobbuffet), and no more appearances of Professor Oak, Tracey, Ash's mother, nor any other Pokémon caught by Ash. It would be just them, and them only, and the same plot over and over again.

I support a refreshment of the anime, but it must take place in the same continuity, and have a stronger storyline, and is more suitable for anyone above the age of six. The main request is to demote Ash's role in the story instead of continuing to shove him, Pikachu, and Team Rocket in our faces for the next 19 years. He could be more of a supporting character to a new hero (as long as he's aged to at least eleven). But that will never happen in our lifetimes.

Sakuraa said:
I know it most likely won't happen, but I'd love it if the Sun/Moon anime was a complete reboot and used the new player characters as the main characters. But we're probably just going to get another 3 years of Ash yet again. :(
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3 years? At this rate, 30 years with Ash is more likely, with him remaining 10 all this time.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! From what I gathered some fans seem to use the anime ( and by extension the games) as a means of comfort and they don't want to be taken out of their comfort zone.
Though I think that attitude is all right it can go south pretty quick because it can lead to negative knee- jerk reactions whenever GF, TPC, or even Nintendo try to something different with the franchise.
That persona can be to toxic because it scares developers away from thinking outside the box ( especially since Japanese companies are afraid to take risk as it is).
 
Of course not. Why should it?

If anything, I think it would make me enjoy more.

EDIT: though I'll admit it's a little iffy. Changing the characters might not be THE answer. Like how Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon, and Beyblade keep changing the cast every few years, but those characters really aren't so different/better than the old ones. Or for something closer to home, how Kenta in The Legend of Thunder and Red in Origins are essentially Ash with an extra trait or two (come to think of it, I'm not sure if Red is really any different from Ash at all)...

A lot of us may be tired of Ash, Pikachu, and the TRio, but replacing them with characters that aren't very different from them isn't necessarily the solution the TV Show needs...
 
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