Now that Ash is leaving how likely will his friends return now?

[Sham]

Title says it all. Some? All? None?

 

[Pokegirl Fan~]

In the 11 episode series most likely
In the new series 50/50 at best

 

[janejane6178]

Zero chance.
I have a feeling the new series will be set in AU :////

 

[Sham]

In the 11 episode series most likely
In the new series 50/50 at best

Yeah def in the special but it's gonna be hard to force some characters in there most definitely

 

[Quinton]

Plot twist: Serena is the protagonist of Ash and Pikachu's sendoff.

 

[Alolan Glaceon]

Everyone kind of got Goh "caught" Mew so I want them to show everyone and how their dreams come true, whether you like the characters or not, showing them with a happy ending would be the best

 

[ChampioN One]

We still don't know if the new anime will be taking place in the same timeline as Ash's or in an AU. To me it seems like it'd be taking place in an AU and there will be no returning characters.

 

[Bortgreen]

Many of his friends are game characters, these might appear but with what we know so far, with no continuity

 

[UltimateNinja]

Specials: Likely a lot of them
New series: None (hopefully) and thats a good thing.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

The only friends I can see returning are Iris since she is Unova’s Champion, Bonnie and Max if they aged enough to go out on their own journeys (preferably together as I think that they have potential to be good friends), all of the Alolan friends including Gladion and Lillie, Goh, Dawn, and Serena. Misty and Brock have too much history with Ash that them returning without him feels wrong, May’s Japanese voice actress retired and I feel like she has accomplished enough to not need to return, Cilan because he was honestly boring as a character and had mostly a one note joke that got old REALLY fast and that’s why I think he shouldn’t return and Clemont shouldn’t because Bonnie should be able to have her own adventures without her brother around all the time.

 

[BobbbidyBob]

If champions from past regions return, I can see them being vague on whether they are the same Ash met or not

 

[Sham]

If champions from past regions return, I can see them being vague on whether they are the same Ash met or not

They couldn’t even acknowledge that Brock and Cilan knew each other or Cilan and Brock. I doubt there would any references tbh

 

[BlueDragonfangirl]

Only by game appearances, not Ash’s friends we know.

 

[kickachu]

look at Goku even though gt was canon by the time he left with shebron he and his friends returned in a special and later on in a new series called dragon ball super

 

[Broseph08]

They probably won't. I think these 11 episodes will be their conclusion as well. I guess there's a chance that Iris will return for BW remakes but even for that, I'm skeptical. Alder is the champion in those games so I think whenever the anime gets around to BW remakes, Alder will champion again just as Steven became champion again in XY for ORAS promotion

I'd say Ash himself is the only one that will cameo. I actually think the new series will open with the Leon battle playing on TV

 

[Broseph08]

It could also he a different continuity

Could be but I think they'll leave it in the same continuity to have Ash being watched by the new protagonists. Just feels like the kinda thing they would do

 

[satopi]

We’ll definitely see them in the Ash mini series. I doubt we’ll see them in the new series. They can’t even come up with a new title for the new saga.

 

[pardusco]

Hopefully not at all

 

[Shayminslicker]

Honestly, if they're getting rid of Ash then I hope his friends won't return either.

 

[Ash Ketchum!]

Professor Oak probably has the strongest chance of anyone, if they keep him around after a time skip.