It would be rather reckless and bad move to get rid of Ash who has been driving force of anime for past 15 years,being underrated how popular and iconic to audience he really is with complete overhaul doing nothing but ruining positive image pokemon series established about themselves.
Whats the point in following Ash 2.0 passing through same things all over again learning basics, trying to win league carrying Pikachu clone with himself?
I would for sure rather follow continuation of Ash story entering harder challenges, battling various evaluators to defend his reputation and advancing on higher levels as trainer advancing his career of becoming master, beyond simple win of one league. actually having experience behind him with basics being covered.
That would be ultimately more fresh and exciting to see than following alternate version of Ash character going through baby steps all over again.
No he isn't, Pikachu is the mascot. The anime isn't called, "The adventures of Ash," its called, "Pokemon."
As the writers are finally phasing out all the original series characters like Misty/Brock/Gary/Team Rocket....its only a matter of time before Ash is finally wrapped up and they do a real reboot.
Main difference between traveling companions and Ash is that he is driving force of pokemon series with whole story revolving around his journey.
Pokemon anime is about following Ash journey of becoming pokemon master and promoting new pokemon with show being centralized around it.
Everyone else are expendable with people being used to traveling companions getting replaced accepting it(aside from few exceptions).
Trying to use examples of Brock, Misty, TR etc to support "Ash leaving"is like comparing apples to oranges.
Unlike them Ash is actually main star which is representing pokemon series with whole story revolving around it being most popular, iconic and recognized character worldwide. He and Pikachu at this point became integrated within pokemon with people getting used to them so much(many even attached) that pokemon series are associated with this two being their icons.
And that can't be replaced easily at all.
It doesn't have to be Ash's Pikachu. There's a different Pikachu in those Mystery Dungeon shorts yet they act like its the "main" Pikachu with little to no difference.
That would be terrible idea. Ash and Pikachu are already viewed as inseparable couple with fans associating one with another. Removing any of them would tarnish their popularity and connection to series they established.
Needless to say if your going to make replica of Ash with new guy using Pikachu, might as well keep current protagonist instead.
No there wouldn't. Older fans are out of the target audience and younger fans grow up with newer characters like Iris and Cilan. It doesn't matter who are main characters for them because they weren't even born when Ash's story started.
Small kids probably aren't attached to character to same degree like older fans are, but he is still mascot and main face of pokemon series to them being used to character. He is also most recognized anime mascot(along with Pikachu)worldwide and having him replaced after 15 years could confuse young viewers with anime losing its identity,which would in process turn them away from new alternate show.
New guy don't have 15 years behind himself, wouldn't be nowhere near iconic and recognizable to people like Ash is simply not having stamina, same promotional value and charisma to bring in new viewers toward anime like current protagonist does. Not to mention there is no guarantee that he would be accepted among viewers with new character bringing risk of ending up unpopular.
doesn't mean anything, the younger audience could protest against this, just like they did with brock.
That doesn't mean much to writers though. After Misty left people protested on much larger scale and it didn't changed anything.
Brock was never returned because of fans, but because of his "supposed racial issues"showing to be no problem at all.
That's not to say their departures didn't caused many fans to quit show(not so much in Brock case though since he returned anyway)because original cast was iconic to people at that time , and if they could cause so much stir i can imagine that Ash leaving would be 100 times worse received.
Also Cybs, I really wish you wouldn't state your opinion as facts I beg of you to please stop that, like I've said over and over again to you Misty/Brock are not the main characters, only Ash is.
Misty and Brock were main characters too. Difference is that unlike them Ash is driving force, main star of pokemon series.