What's next in store for Ash?

[Ace-Barn]

Don't remember, but either way the whole argument that this franchise desperately needs Ash's Pikachu to be showcased all the time is based on nothing.

It is amazing how much they push Pikachu. Not only is he the main characters primary pokemon that gets most of the battle and slice of life focus, he is never in his pokeball, he does the title screen for each episode, who's that pokemon around the commercials, is there to introduce the preview for the next episode, has more of a "voice" than the majority of pokemon, and even has a distinct running sound.

Which isn't me saying that Pikachu is the most popular, but it shocked me coming back to the series how many little ways they reinforce Pikachu as the mascot.

 

[Leonhart]

Don't remember, but either way the whole argument that this franchise desperately needs Ash's Pikachu to be showcased all the time is based on nothing.

What other reason is there for Satoshi's Pikachu to be constantly showcased, then? He's gotten the most screen-time out of all the Pokemon in the cast, as well as the majority of the battles in each saga from what I remember. The argument that he has to be showcased a lot is based on what we've witnessed for the past 23 years, and a little common sense.

 

[ShadowForce720]

What other reason is there for Satoshi's Pikachu to be constantly showcased, then? He's gotten the most screen-time out of all the Pokemon in the cast, as well as the majority of the battles in each saga from what I remember. The argument that he has to be showcased a lot is based on what we've witnessed for the past 23 years, and a little common sense.

Well to be fair given how close Pikachu and Ash are combine with the fact that he is Ash’s first Pokémon and it does make sense that as long as Ash is a main character that his Pikachu would be around and used a lot.

I mean it’s kind of a little common sense that Pikachu is going to be with Ash regardless of it’s status.

So just because Ash uses Pikachu a lot doesn’t necessarily mean that the anime needs Ash’s Pikachu.

I mean let’s be honest here it’s common sense that even if the anime doesn’t need Ash’s Pikachu there not just going to have Ash randomly stop using it when Ash is still a main character.

 

[mysticalglacia]

Being honest here, I have a growing fondness for the old formula these days. And while part of that includes wanting to see how Gyms would be interpreted in the anime, a larger part of it is me missing having a consistent storyline and (mostly) consistent character development and progression. Things were structured, which could get stale, yes, but story beats happened in ways that made sense and flowed together as a whole plot. SM haphazardly attempted this to mixed results and Journeys is explicitly not trying at all. PWT matches feel so random as they just happen out of nowhere, so while Ash does have an endgame goal it feels very vague.

That being said, the only way I’d want a traditional series structure back is if the tournaments themselves were done differently and were fitting of Ash’s current status. I miss Ash having a ‘checkpoint’ goal as the narrative went naturally along with it; but the scale would be too jarring if Ash downsized to regular Gyms again next gen.

 

[HolyNova Lucario]

I have an idea of what they can do with Ash in the future, but it depends on whether Gen 9 is going to do something similar. This is slightly fanfiction-ny but bare with me. Why not make Ash travel to a mysterious uncharted region/island, isolated from the rest of the world with never before seen Pokemon. With people who know nothing about Ash (making his status worthless there). With Ash's goal at that time being to explore this unknown and mysterious region/island and cataloguing all the unknown Pokemon for some Professor (Oak or Sakuragi, whoever) and solving the mysteries of the region/island, while also fighting off a mysterious evil organisation of variable strength, with the higher-ups (mainly admins and the leader) reaching Elite 4 and Champion levels of strength. Maybe this could also be the Region where we find and meet Ash's deadbeat Dad.

It would be an interesting take for the anime and a way to avoid incorporating Gyms.

 

[Spider-Phoenix]

It is amazing how much they push Pikachu. Not only is he the main characters primary pokemon that gets most of the battle and slice of life focus, he is never in his pokeball, he does the title screen for each episode, who's that pokemon around the commercials, is there to introduce the preview for the next episode, has more of a "voice" than the majority of pokemon, and even has a distinct running sound.

Which isn't me saying that Pikachu is the most popular, but it shocked me coming back to the series how many little ways they reinforce Pikachu as the mascot.

Speaking only about myself but for me I'm absolutely fine with this. Pikachu is a very cool, charismatic and likeable mascot. Chespin might have stole my heart and the place of my favorite pokémon but Pikachu is quite good on his own and honestly, I never got tired of seeing that mouse in the show.

Unlike, say, Agumon, I can have Pikachu in my weekly watching for another 20 years worthy of TV shows. And then another round until I can no longer watch

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

What's next for Ash?

Continue being an anti-aging, rare Alzheimer case, marketing ploy that has a 1-in-7 league win-rate.

 

[Kazuniya]

Continue being an anti-aging, rare Alzheimer case, marketing ploy that has a 1-in-7 league win-rate.

Not what I asked at all, but thanks for the witty input which, I am sure, will get a few likes. Kudos.

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

Not what I asked at all.

As far as I know, this

I realize it's probably too early to ask this question, but I want to anyway.

What's next for Ash?

is a question this post outright calls a question that it asked. And it's under your name, so...it kind of sounds like you're denying you asked that.

 

[Almighty Zard]

Being honest here, I have a growing fondness for the old formula these days. And while part of that includes wanting to see how Gyms would be interpreted in the anime, a larger part of it is me missing having a consistent storyline and (mostly) consistent character development and progression. Things were structured, which could get stale, yes, but story beats happened in ways that made sense and flowed together as a whole plot. SM haphazardly attempted this to mixed results and Journeys is explicitly not trying at all. PWT matches feel so random as they just happen out of nowhere, so while Ash does have an endgame goal it feels very vague.

if they go back the old formula than give us a new lead, Ash has grown (not in age) beyond that by this point.

As I said before i'd prefer him being a mentor to said new lead, and perhaps if the PWC was to continue on, Ash could do that while the new trainer could focus on gyms.

 

[Leonhart]

if they go back the old formula than give us a new lead, Ash has grown (not in age) beyond that by this point.

As I said before i'd prefer him being a mentor to said new lead, and perhaps if the PWC was to continue on, Ash could do that while the new trainer could focus on gyms.

I've never seen eye-to-eye with the whole mentor angle since to me Satoshi isn't the kind of character that I could envision being a tutor as a full-time activity. He's had his moments in previous sagas where he helped some of his inexperienced friends or COTDs with tips on how to battle or train, but I think he's proven to be too forgetful and ignorant of the basics on many occasions throughout the years to be a consistent teacher.

 

[Ignition]

I want Ash to become like a mixture of Mustard and Red: he goes to an island where he trains up soon to be trainers and battles those who want to challenge him. It’d also be like Steven or Alder in Emerald/B2w2 where someone has to venture out to battle him instead of him being stuck in one place. I doubt this will happen but it just fits Ash for me as the next best thing besides him being on a never ending journey

 

[thedarkdragon11]

After WCS? I think Ash will lose to a Gen. 9 GL counterpart and lose due to a new gimmick...

 

[Almighty Zard]

I've never seen eye-to-eye with the whole mentor angle since to me Satoshi isn't the kind of character that I could envision being a tutor as a full-time activity. He's had his moments in previous sagas where he helped some of his inexperienced friends or COTDs with tips on how to battle or train, but I think he's proven to be too forgetful and ignorant of the basics on many occasions throughout the years to be a consistent teacher.

the fact that he's had those moments leads me to believe it could happen, and besides it's not like he'd be giving up battles either.

if the PWC continues on, Ash could easily do that while the trainer he's mentoring would do gyms.